Manny is already being Manny.

The Sox slugger, who said he wanted to be traded over the winter, told the team today that he wouldn't be showing up at camp until March 1, the last day he can report under the collective bargaining agreement.

Terry Francona said that he was "OK with this." What else is he going to say? Criticizing Manny would almost certainly be counterproductive. History shows that when managers get into pissing matches with superstars, the manager almost always comes out on the short end of the stick.

So I'll say what Tito can't, at least not in public. Manny is having his little snit fit that the Red Sox didn't cave in and trade him as he wanted. He's taking things right to the limit to show his displeasure, and he knows there's nothing the Sox can do about it.

So we'll let Manny have his tantrum. He'll come to camp, act like nothing ever happened, and start to hit.

Big Papi had the right shirt for the occassion down at Fort Meyers today...