If the Yankees are looking for a combination of domination, then they need to pair Alex Rodriguez with Manny Ramirez.  Now I'm sure you're saying look a player like A-Rod shouldn't need anybody hitting behind him much like Barry Bonds all those years and having table setters in the duo of Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter should lead to superb offensive production.  But why not sandwich the guy between two of the most clutch hitters in the game for the better part of the last decade? 

When the Yankees added Roger Maris back in 1960 even Mickey Mantle's numbers jumped.  Thanks to Maris who won back to back MVP's in '60 and '61, Mantle hit 31 HR's and knocked in 75 in 1959 and topped that with 40 HR's and 94 RBI in 1960 and of course the 1961 season of 54 HR's and 128 RBI. 

In 2003 when he joined Ramirez in Boston, David Ortiz's numbers shot way up from his Twins days.  Ortiz in 2002, 20 HR's and 75 RBI, 2003 with Ramirez 31 HR's and 101 RBI. 

Based on these two examples, coupled with A-Rod's propensity to put up MVP numbers, in fact doing so the last three "odd year's" (2003, 2005, 2007) one would have to assume that A-Rod's production will fly off the charts.  With the pressure of having to carry the lineup by himself lessened by Manny's addition, one can expect A-Rod to put up around 45 HR's and 128 RBI. 

As I've mentioned before, Manny is a flat out RBI machine, makes good teams great and great teams into champions.  In the playoffs which the Yankees are all about, Ramirez has 28 career HR's, a .286 post season average, a World Series MVP and two rings.  What more could one possibly want?  He's been on winning teams everywhere he's been, is from the Bronx and is no doubt chomping at the bit to get back at the Red Sox.  Manny is no worse defensively in the outfield than Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui or Bobby Abreu. 

The Yankees should base this signing as a baseball decision and I would hope that the same team that almost gave Manny's ex-teammate Albert Belle a deal about a decade ago, brought in great "character guys" like Darryl Strawberry, Doc Gooden Steve Howe, Gary Sheffield, Kevin Brown, wouldn't get all high and mighty as if they were above it.

As far as the Boston situation is concerned with Manny, well let's just say the Sawx ownership has never historically taken to brash flamboyant sluggers, all the way back to Babe Ruth.