Quick Hits: O's, Manny and John Gibbons

The Baltimore Sun has an article on their website on Miguel Tejada and how he’s going to be different this year by taking a more active and leadership role with the team. Also, there’s another article about Miggy on orioles.com.

Manny, Manny, Manny: According to CNNsi.com, Julian Tavarez said Manny Ramirez, his teammate, would report March 1 as he did last year when he received permission from the Red Sox to show up late.

Tavarez said: "I spoke to Manny [Sunday] and he said he's going to be here March 1," said Tavarez, a reliever who joined the Red Sox before last season. "He's been going through a tough time because his mom, you know, they told him that she had a tumor.

"It wasn't a tumor. She had surgery in between those ribs. She's at home right now recovering and Manny's there with his mom. He's working out," Tavarez said. "Nobody believes that, but it's the truth about his mom. That's really true."

Terry Francona believes differently.

"That's unfair because I haven't talked to [Ramirez]. There's a lot of, 'he said, she said,' that I'm not too sure is true," Francona said. "If somebody calls me and tells me something happens, it's easier for me to comment than on his publicist [or] Julian, saying this."

Is it always something with Manny (Mike and Ian, don’t flame me…)?

Now, Ramirez is a man of immense talent, and as such, I think he gets away with a lot of the stuff that the 25^th man on the team dare not think of doing. Is it fair, who knows?

I just have a feeling he gets away with it way too often.

John Gibbons: The Blue Jays and manager John Gibbons have agreed to a one-year, $650,000 contract extension, a team official said Monday. He guided them to 87 wins and a second place finish.

However, will he keep his hands to himself – that is the question…