Schizophrenia or just memory loss?

Alex has only been hit with 98 pitches in his twelve big league seasons.
Manny has been with only 77 pitches in one more year than A-Rod.

This leads me to conclude that schizophrenia is running rampant through our sport.

"I want to be traded," Manny says! We know he said it, because he's been saying it for months, nay, years, now. A few days ago though this quote showed up on ESPN Deportes:

"There will be no trade. I'm staying in Boston, where I'm familiar with the system and where I have a lot of friends, especially David Ortiz."

Today though Manny's agent says he has no recollection of this conversation, or even this reporter. Here I was bemoaning the state of "journalism" in the English language and apparently it's no better than the fictitious journalism in other languages! You see though, I refuse to believe that the reporter made this up, and if Manny doesn't remember saying it then there are only two possible explanations.

Memory loss or Schizophrenia?

A-Rod made a "statement" a while back that he would be playing for the Dominican during the World Baseball Classic. Following a public outcry he backed off and said that he wouldn't be playing at all.

Then the New York Times reports that A-Rod tells them he's playing for the United States. Just follow the logic for a moment, because now I'm telling you that the NY Times told me that A-Rod told them he'd play for the red, white, and blue.

Now Alex blames the Player's Association for leaking this "news" too soon, when it was never what he wanted to talk to them about to begin with. He's going to stand behind his announcement to skip the tournament, cutting yet another marquee name out of a competition that is quickly becoming a joke.

So, which is this? Is A-Rod suffering memory loss or he is a little schizo too? Regardless of the answer it seems that either baseball players don't communicate that well or the current "journalism" public doesn't listen very well. Regardless, all this news means that A-Rod will only be a Yankee in 2006, Manny won't be playing for those pansies in Boston, (at least this week), and the WBC will be nothing more than a glorified exihibition tournament, and by the time it reaches the finals it won't include a single team that the mainland US gives a rat's ass about.

Thank God the finals are taking place a mere 30 minute drive from my house, because I can't possibly miss it with all the big name players who won't be there!