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Ramirez: 'The sky's the limit'

By SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

TOKYO -- Maybe it was being out of the Western Hemisphere. But for some reason, Manny Ramirez was in a talkative mood before the Sox took on the Hanshin Tigers.

Ramirez, who said he's adjusted to the time difference well and enjoying the plentiful sushi, said he anticipates playing for some time to come even though, at age 35, he's entering the final guaranteed year of his landmark eight-year deal.

"I know what lays ahead,'' he said. "I’m going to get two more years here" -- the Sox hold options for the 2009 and 2010 seasons -- "and then I’m going to get [a four-year contract, either with Boston or on the free-agent market], so it’s going to be six years . . . I’m ready to play. I’ve prepared myself good to play the game. I’m going to go have fun, play the game and that’s it.”

Ramirez is confident that four-year contract after the 2010 season will come from the Red Sox.

"I’m going to finish my career here," he said.

Ramirez heads into this season needing just 10 homers to reach 500 for his career, but he has no plans to stop there.

"I’m going to get to 600 [homers],'' he said. "Why not? The sky’s the limit. There’s no limit. I’m going to play six more years and there’s no doubt I can do it."

Ramirez was asked if 700 homers could be within his reach.

"Like I say, the sky is the limit,'' he said. "I want to be like Julio Franco and play until I’m 50.I’m ready to go. I’m happy. Like I tell them, I’m going to get two more years, than sign a contract for four years and that will be six years. I’m going to finish here. I feel like a baby now.”

Ramirez read the book The Secret, an ode to the power of positive thinking, this spring and it seems to have had some impact.

"Like I told you, the sky’s the limit,'' he said. "There’s nothing impossible in life. If everybody in [the Red Sox clubhouse] gets the same thoughts and we’re thinking right, there’s no way [we won't do well]. We have the same group of guys that won last year so there’s no doubt that we can do it again. Nothing is impossible.''

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 1:07 AM to Projo Mannybeingmanny | Permalink