Krause: Manny’s departure brings bittersweet feelings

Arrivederci, Manny. Hasta la vista, baby. Adios, amigo. Au revoir. Sayonara. Auf wiedersehen. Shalom.In any language, it means the same: Goodbye and farewell.The worst thing about the mad dash to shove Manny out the door isn’t that he’s leaving. He brought that on himself (and like a lot of people, I’ll always wonder whether agent Scott Boras greased the skids for him by whispering in his ear). Ramirez poisoned the waters, and this just became an untenable situation. He was becoming a major-league distraction – the same way Nomar Garciaparra was in 2004. He had to go.And it appears as if the Red Sox are paying a pretty steep price – and taking a mighty big risk – just to get him out the door, too. Craig Hansen may nor may not turn into a major-league pitcher, but if he does, it won’t be here. He’s just too scarred, and gets the Calvin Schiraldis in tight games.I liked Brandon Moss, though, and I think the Red Sox will miss him.But while we’re saying our goodbyes, let’s at least try to balance off the equation. Manny Ramirez was – in my lifetime – the best Red Sox hitter I ever saw (I was 7 years old when Ted Williams retired, so that doesn’t count). There were better players. But there wasn’t a better hitter – and that even includes Jim Rice.Until last year, he was easily the best right-handed hitter in the game through the 2000s (I’d say Albert Pujols of the Cardinals wears the crown now).For all his antics, he had a flair for the dramatic, and that made him – all at once – one of the most ingratiating and most exasperating players of his time (and maybe any time).He could do something totally outside the realm of acceptable behavior and then – in the eighth inning of a crucial game – come in to pinch-hit and, ground a single up the middle to knock in the winning run (as he did in a game on July 31, 2005, against the Minnesota Twins), and then grab the mike, grin, and say he’s “Just Manny being Manny.”He could miss a month of the season with a pulled oblique muscle (to the irritation of an entire Red Sox Nation on tenterhooks as the team’s comfortable lead dwindled to single digits during the dog days of August); and then he could come back, and launch a titanic home run (one that might still be climbing) to win a playoff game ? the way he did last year against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Orange County, Calif.He could make a leaping catch, high-five a fan, and throw to first to double off a runner ? the way he did in Baltimore earlier this year.For all his goofiness and socially inappropriate behavior, he could turn around and run out to left field carrying an American flag upon the occasion of his becoming a US citizen ? the way he did in 2004, to a standing ovation.He was a devastating clutch hitter. From 2003 through 2007 (this year really doesn’t count), he formed one half of perhaps the most lethal one-two punch in baseball (along with, of course, David Ortiz).For all his detractors said about him, he wasn’t the worst left fielder in Red Sox history. And even if he was, he certainly saved his best exploits for when they mattered most ? his assist in Game 3 of the 2004 World Series ? some fabulous catches in crucial series against the Yankees.And, of course, he hit his 500th homer in a Red Sox uniform ? and he was certainly a big part of bringing to Boston two World Series championships – and was the MVP of the title that broke the Curse of the Bambino.Maybe he wore out his welcome, but for me, his stay was most enjoyable.So to Manny, I would say this: You were hoist upon your own petard ? but I’ll miss you just the same.Steve Krause is sports editor of The Item.