Shaughnessy's enemy

There is a great Simpson episode which is called "Homer's Enemy" where a Nuclear Plant employee, Frank Grimes, becomes gradually more insanely obsessed with Homer until he eventually gets eaten up by his hatred for Homer's boorish, comical and whimsical ways.

Frank Grimes, meet Dan Shaughnessy.



Shaughnessy's oddball, Quixote like regular verbal assaults on Manny Ramirez are the stuff of legend, however it appears Dan is approaching his own exposed power wires, akin to his twin in anger, Frank Grimes.

In the excellent Simpson's episode Grimes gets so upset at Homer's antics he runs around the nuclear plant screaming;

''Accidents have doubled every year since he became safety inspector. And meltdowns have tripled! Has he been fired? No. Has he been disciplined? No, no!''

Before finally accidentally electrocuting himself on exposed wires.

Now Shaughnessy rants;

Face facts, fans: This is not us "running Manny out of town." Manny has run himself out of town. He did not return your love. He wants out. He quit on the Red Sox. He quit on you.

Hey, settle down there Dan. Why don't you sit the next couple of plays out, get your breath back. The sad thing is, the Globe is home to some of the best baseball journalism in all of America. Bob Ryan and and Eric Wilbur are great reporters, remember this is the paper Peter Gammons once wrote for. The Globe has writers who have different, interesting styles and report loyally on the Olde Towne Nine. However it is all somewhat tainted by the aggressive, arrogant ranting of Shaughnessy though, who's personal attacks on players like Manny, Keith Foulke and others are getting close to being out of hand.

Dan continues his most recent Manny rant;

Manny's enormous talent has allowed him to go through life without rules.

What exactly is he talking about? Has Manny ever been actually disciplined by the Red Sox? Have you ever heard anyone say Ramirez is a bad team mate? No to both questions. He obeys the rules, toes the line and puts up absolutely incredible numbers for the Red Sox, something he has been doing for several years.

My question is, how long before Dan steps over that line, and gets canned by the Globe? Judging by the increased venom of his attacks on Manny it isn't a huge stretch to imagine him finally losing the plot and printing something that offends Red Sox Nation to the point where the Globe can no longer protect him.

That would give us all a little lugubrious pleasure.