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Drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 1991, it didn't take long for Manny Ramirez to validate the team choosing him in the first round. Getting his first opportunity to play full-time in the '95 season, he averaged 36 HR and 123 RBI for six seasons, playing a huge role in the Indians making it to the World Series in '95 and '97. However, he was FA after the '00 season, and with Cleveland not being a big market team, they were unable to secure him for the long-term.

One of the bigger markets, Boston, signed him for $160 million over eight years with a $20 million option for the '09 and '10 seasons. He without hesitation carried over the success he had in Cleveland, but then he showed something else; a personality that quickly stood out over any other. Things like the trademark dreadlocks, disappearing in the dugout and Green Monster, and his unusual interaction with Red Sox Nation that helped create what is known as "Manny being Manny". But all of the antics was allowed, since he averaged just about the same numbers from '01-'06 that he did in that stretch with the Indians, which included being the World Series MVP, helping Boston win in its first championship in 86 years. However, the numbers started to decline in '07, as he had just 20 HR and 88 RBI. But just like what he did in '04, he stepped up when it counted, helping the team win another World Series in '07. In '08, that unique personality finally started to show its ugly side and off the field. Fights in the dugout with players to altercations with the staff to giving up on ground balls led to many in Red Sox Nation to request the organization to cut ties with the disgruntled superstar.

The wish was granted during the trade deadline, as Manny was dealt to the Dodgers in a three-way deal that sent OF Jason Bay from Pittsburgh to Boston. As with Cleveland and Boston, it didn't take long for him to show how much of a great and clutch hitter he still is. During the Dodgers playoff run, he hit .396 with 17 HR and 53 RBI, helping the team win the NL West. Ramirez wasn't done proving how much he really has left in the tank, as he was fantastic in the '08 Playoffs, hitting .520 with 4 HR and 10 RBI, helping the team advance to the NLCS, a feat that eluded the Dodgers for years. But it didn't take long for "Mannywood" to lose its luster. In May of '09, he was suspended 50 games for violating MLB's Performance Enhancing Drug Policy, and not just any old substance, a woman's fertility drug; only Manny. Then it was reported in July that he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs during MLB's 2003 survey testing. The Dodgers did reach the NLCS once again, but Manny for really the first time, was a non-factor in the team's run, producing only 1 HR and 4 RBI.

The struggles rolled into the '10 season, with help from three separate trips to the DL. It reached its pinnacle this past weekend, when Manny was claimed by the White Sox on Friday. Then on Sunday, he made an appearance as a pinch hitter with the bases loaded. The first pitch was a strike, but Manny didn't think so and let home plate umpire Gary Cederstrom know about it, enough so that Cederstrom tossed him. That eventually became Dodgers fans last memory of Ramirez, as he was acquired by the White Sox a day later.

Ramirez has already made a positive impact twice, and both times directly didn't involve him. C A.J. Pierzynski and 1B Paul Konerko delivered three-run HR in the late innings in consecutive wins over the Indians, and both times, Manny was waiting in the on-deck circle. With his history of coming through in the clutch and with another special personality in manager Ozzie Guillen, this has the makings of being a short-term match made in heaven.

This week "At the Market," the special is "West Coast love for the lesser known." I'll talk about an overlooked 3B who's trying to replace an overlooked 3B and a SP who went from a playoff contender to a cellar dweller but is finally getting an opportunity to get noticed.

Kevin Kouzmanoff - 3B - Oakland

From '00-'06, Eric Chavez was one of the league's best 3B that we didn't talk about. During that stretch, he averaged 28 HR and 94 RBI. But it wasn't only his offense that impressed, as he won six straight Gold Gloves from '01-'06. However, back and neck injuries ended his run of success and eventually his full-time role as a member of the Oakland As.

Kevin Kouzmanoff knows what its like to be overlooked. Drafted in the sixth round in the '03 Draft, he got his first real opportunity when he was acquired by San Diego in '07. He showed consistency from '07-'09, hitting around .260 with 20 HR with about 80 RBI and 30 doubles in each of the three seasons. He looked like he was going to be a long-term staple along with All-Star 1B Adrian Gonzalez in San Diego. But with Chavez' injury concerns, Oakland needed an insurance policy and aggressively went after Kouzmanoff, eventually acquiring him in a trade this past offseason.

And what he's done for Oakland so far is consistent with his past production. Batting .260 with 13 HR and 67 RBI, he's on pace to match the averages he put up with San Diego. What has helped him is the lineup in front of him. Batting usually in the fourth or fifth slots, he has teammates like OF Coco Crisp (23 BB, 42 K, 22 SB) , 1B Daric Barton (88 BB, .397 OBP), C Kurt Suzuki (24 BB, 39 K) and DH Jack Cust (50 BB, .399 OBP) that are disciplined hitters that don't strike out much and know how to get on base.

Judging by this and his consistency over the years, I would expect around 5-7 more HR and 12-18 RBI this season. This is a buy and keep for the rest of the season situation.

Ian Kennedy - SP - Arizona

David Wells, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, C.C. Sabathia... Four great pitchers that when they became Yankees, got better and eventually became champions. Not a bad trail for a young pitcher to follow. Unfortunately for Mr. Kennedy, he didn't get to go down that trail of success.  

Drafted in the first round of the '06 Draft by the Yankees, he accumulated just a 1-4 record in 12 starts over a three-year period for the Pinstripes. With the Yankees feeling pretty secure with their pitching staff, Kennedy became expendable. With the team having a need at CF, the team acquired Curtis Granderson from the Tigers in a three-team deal this offseason that also sent Kennedy to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Going from a team like the Yankees to the D-Backs, your chances of your team succeeding go down pretty significantly. But for Kennedy, this was what he was looking for -- a chance to show in a full season what he has to offer on the mound.

It did start out a little sluggish, going 3-6 heading into July. However, ever since, he has flipped that record, going 6-3, with his last two wins being in impressive fashion over the NL West leading Padres (14 IP, 3 ER, 17 K). But the problem is that Kennedy won't see the Padres again this season. Besides a series with HOU and PIT, the D-Backs will see a lot of the Dodgers, Rockies, and Giants in September. And for Kennedy, that's not good news, as he's a combined 1-3 in seven starts vs. the rest of the NL West this season. Add that to the hitter's paradise that Chase Field is, and my conclusion is that I think you need to stay from Mr. Kennedy, at least for this season. 

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