Unwitting Just For Men spokesman Tim McCarver had this to say recently about Manny Ramirez: “It’s extraordinary - the dichotomy between what he was in Boston and what he is in Los Angeles. I mean, talk about wearing out your welcome in a town, and it was a long welcome with the Red Sox. But some of the things he did were simply despicable, despicable - like not playing, refusing to play. Forgetting what knee to limp on. And now it’s washed, it’s gone.”

(Was Manny a dog in The Bean? Karros: Yep.)

Since the comment came out on Tuesday, the whole of L.A. media has cowered at Manny’s feet, castigating McCarver for his unfair characterization. Except perhaps the best-known former Dodger under the age of 80 (who doesn’t lie about hookers and meeting the pope), Eric Karros.

Karros, now a respected TV and radio analyst, not only agreed with McCarver’s comment, but also said Dodger shortstop Rafael Furcal was the key to the NLCS against the Fightin’ Phils (and yes, My Boy Barry has your LA-PHI tickets - at a discount). Read more…

Hideo Nomo is saying sayonara to the summer game, as one of the first Japanese stars of Major League Baseball has announced his retirement.

ESPN hears from Nomo’s agent Don Nomura that his client finally called it quits on Thursday, as the 39-year-old hurler has been teamless since the Kansas City Royals cut him last April.

Guys like Ichiro, Dice-K and Hideki Matsui all have Nomo to thank for their successful (and profitable) careers in America, since Hideo helped pave the way for Japanese players to compete in the States. Read more…