Summer’s end BY SAM PFEIFLE

What with the Red Sox playoffs getting started, it’s worth a quick rehash of my last column before I get to predicting what will happen over the next couple weeks. David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez have only used the past month to prove themselves more Ruthian and Gehrigian than ever before. At September 1, I used their current numbers to project how they’d finish out a third season together, putting them at combined totals of 236 home runs and 760 runs batted in. As great players will do, however, Ortiz and Ramirez actually picked up their pace, finishing out the three-year run at 244 home runs and 766 RBI. Just think what they could have done with those 74 games they missed in 2003. Just think what they’ll do next year if ownership doesn’t buy into the popular notion that Manny must go.

Speaking of popular notions, I know all of you readers are saying to yourselves, "Sure, Ortiz picked up the pace — everyone knows that." But everyone is so wrong it makes me want to puke. September numbers for both players: Manny had 12 dingers and 29 RBI, Ortiz had 11 homers and 30 RBI. Huh. Remarkably similar. Except when Ortiz comes to the plate we get chants of MVP, and when Manny follows there’s a smattering of applause. This is all thanks to the dunderheads who’ve created the popular myth that Manny’s having an "off year," and that we’ve got "a moron in left field." Y’all want to talk about MVP? Manny finished the season with two fewer home runs and four fewer runs batted in than Ortiz, and, oh yeah, led the league in outfield assists while playing just about every day in left field. Off year? Forty-five home runs is the most Manny has ever hit in one season. His total of 144 RBI is only behind the 145 and 165 he had for the Indians in 1998 and 1999. People point to his batting average, but, playing in just five fewer games, Manny hit .333 in 1999 with just 12 more hits than this season. Twelve hits. That’s two per month. Batting average is meaningless for a power hitter.

Oh, but Ortiz has a "flair for the dramatic." Or, is an opportunist. His recent game-winning dinger against the Blue Jays was only possible because of a two-run homer that Manny hit when the team was moribund and down 4-1. Sure, Ortiz is clutch, without question the most clutch Red Sox player in history, but where was Ortiz during the crucial second game of the final Yankees series while Manny was trying to single-handedly win the game with two home runs? Anybody remember the two huge at-Chicago games that Manny won all by himself just after the All-Star game?

Let’s not forget that Ortiz has had Manny hitting behind him all season, while Manny has been backed by the likes of Kevin Millar, John Olerud, the swooning Jason Varitek, and all-my-power-is-suddenly-gone Trot Nixon. National announcers wonder why Ortiz doesn’t get walked intentionally. They seem to be serious. Maybe they’re just bad at sarcasm.

Okay, I’ve been sidetracked — but all I really wanted to write about was Manny anyway. Talking playoffs, I’m not going to get too rah-rah on you. Clement, starting game one against the White Sox on Tuesday before this paper comes out, has been terrible. He’s the new Derek Lowe, though — a confidence-needing headcase — so maybe he’ll catch fire in the playoffs like Lowe did last year. Still, you’ve got to consider the Red Sox lucky if they split in Chicago, then you’ve got to hope Wakefield and Schilling can win the two at home.

With Gehrig and Ruth hitting three and four, anything can happen.