Post by Fish Troll on Aug 26, 2007 23:46:07 GMT -5
The Marlins’ Ramírez Is the Unknown Shortstop
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: August 26, 2007
Hanley Ramírez wears his pants and jersey with a baggy fit, as if he had to settle for the last uniform handed out. Across the chest is the word Marlins, which means he goes about his business in relative privacy.
So many hits, so few fans to see them. In his second season as Florida’s shortstop, Ramírez has blossomed into a precocious offensive force, slugging home runs and stealing bases as he contends for a batting title.
Acclaim for the 23-year-old Ramírez has yet to match his achievements, because he performs for the National League’s most off-the-radar team. The Marlins rarely play on national television and rank last in the league in attendance, with recent home games sometimes drawing crowds of less than 3,000.
South Florida is missing a great show, as the rest of the country is gradually coming to appreciate Ramírez. Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Orlando Hudson played three games in Miami recently and came away from the series calling Ramírez the league’s most valuable player.
“I’m dead serious,” Hudson said. “Look what he brings to the table. There’s nothing in the game this young man can’t do. If he doesn’t get it this year, he’ll win two or three before his career is over.”
Such superlatives may astound casual baseball fans, given that Ramírez apparently has yet to make much of an impression on them. He finished eighth at his position in the N.L. All-Star voting.
But Ramírez, the Marlins’ leadoff hitter, began last week leading the league in batting average (.340), hits (163) and multihit games (49). He was tied for second in total bases (277) and was third in stolen bases (38). Entering the weekend, his average was .333.
“He may play for the Florida Marlins, but it’s still the major leagues,” Hudson said. “And he’s putting up some monster numbers.”
Ramírez began last week with 23 home runs and ranked sixth in slugging percentage, ahead of Albert Pujols, Ryan Howard and Adam Dunn. He could become the first player in major league history to bat .340 or better with at least 20 home runs and 35 steals.
“I think he’s the most talented person in the game,” his teammate Aaron Boone said. “People in the know know how great this kid has a chance to be.”
Ramírez has a degree of fame. He was the N.L. rookie of the year in 2006, when he hit .292 with 17 home runs and 51 stolen bases.
But Ramírez, a young Dominican, would be the toast of the town in New York, Chicago or Boston. Instead he is overshadowed even in his division by the Mets’ José Reyes, widely acclaimed as the game’s best young shortstop.
The buzz on Ramírez is building, however.
“I hear it from people across in the other dugout on other teams — coaches and managers going, ‘Wow,’ ” Marlins Manager Fredi González said.
Florida first baseman Mike Jacobs said, “People should start paying attention, because he’s doing special things and he’s going to be doing special things for a long time.”
Ramírez was a highly rated prospect when the Marlins acquired him in a payroll purge after the 2005 season. He came from the Boston minor league system with the right-hander Aníbal Sánchez. The Marlins paid dearly, giving up the right-hander Josh Beckett and third baseman Mike Lowell.
“Both sides have to be happy with the trade,” Lowell said. “The Marlins were looking to get some young talent and get rid of some big contracts. Obviously, Josh and I are going to make a lot more money than what Hanley Ramírez is making.”
With a $402,000 salary, Ramírez is one of baseball’s best bargains. Projecting statistics over a full season, he will be paid $1,873 a hit, compared with $101,818 a hit for the Yankees’ $21.6 million shortstop, Derek Jeter.
The only knock against Ramírez is his defense. On Tuesday, he committed his 20th error, most among N.L. shortstops, to cost Florida a game. He made 26 errors as a rookie.
He has a strong arm and the quickness to cover a lot of ground, but he sometimes misplays the most routine grounder. The Marlins dismiss suggestions he should move to the outfield.
Ramírez has been on a tear since opening day, when he went 4 for 4. The Marlins dropped him to third from first in the order in May, but he began swinging for the fences, hit .297 in the No. 3 spot and after six weeks was back batting leadoff.
“If he played in New York or Chicago or one of those big media places, he’d be on billboards,” González said. “But we like him here and hope he stays here for a long time.”
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: August 26, 2007
Hanley Ramírez wears his pants and jersey with a baggy fit, as if he had to settle for the last uniform handed out. Across the chest is the word Marlins, which means he goes about his business in relative privacy.
So many hits, so few fans to see them. In his second season as Florida’s shortstop, Ramírez has blossomed into a precocious offensive force, slugging home runs and stealing bases as he contends for a batting title.
Acclaim for the 23-year-old Ramírez has yet to match his achievements, because he performs for the National League’s most off-the-radar team. The Marlins rarely play on national television and rank last in the league in attendance, with recent home games sometimes drawing crowds of less than 3,000.
South Florida is missing a great show, as the rest of the country is gradually coming to appreciate Ramírez. Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Orlando Hudson played three games in Miami recently and came away from the series calling Ramírez the league’s most valuable player.
“I’m dead serious,” Hudson said. “Look what he brings to the table. There’s nothing in the game this young man can’t do. If he doesn’t get it this year, he’ll win two or three before his career is over.”
Such superlatives may astound casual baseball fans, given that Ramírez apparently has yet to make much of an impression on them. He finished eighth at his position in the N.L. All-Star voting.
But Ramírez, the Marlins’ leadoff hitter, began last week leading the league in batting average (.340), hits (163) and multihit games (49). He was tied for second in total bases (277) and was third in stolen bases (38). Entering the weekend, his average was .333.
“He may play for the Florida Marlins, but it’s still the major leagues,” Hudson said. “And he’s putting up some monster numbers.”
Ramírez began last week with 23 home runs and ranked sixth in slugging percentage, ahead of Albert Pujols, Ryan Howard and Adam Dunn. He could become the first player in major league history to bat .340 or better with at least 20 home runs and 35 steals.
“I think he’s the most talented person in the game,” his teammate Aaron Boone said. “People in the know know how great this kid has a chance to be.”
Ramírez has a degree of fame. He was the N.L. rookie of the year in 2006, when he hit .292 with 17 home runs and 51 stolen bases.
But Ramírez, a young Dominican, would be the toast of the town in New York, Chicago or Boston. Instead he is overshadowed even in his division by the Mets’ José Reyes, widely acclaimed as the game’s best young shortstop.
The buzz on Ramírez is building, however.
“I hear it from people across in the other dugout on other teams — coaches and managers going, ‘Wow,’ ” Marlins Manager Fredi González said.
Florida first baseman Mike Jacobs said, “People should start paying attention, because he’s doing special things and he’s going to be doing special things for a long time.”
Ramírez was a highly rated prospect when the Marlins acquired him in a payroll purge after the 2005 season. He came from the Boston minor league system with the right-hander Aníbal Sánchez. The Marlins paid dearly, giving up the right-hander Josh Beckett and third baseman Mike Lowell.
“Both sides have to be happy with the trade,” Lowell said. “The Marlins were looking to get some young talent and get rid of some big contracts. Obviously, Josh and I are going to make a lot more money than what Hanley Ramírez is making.”
With a $402,000 salary, Ramírez is one of baseball’s best bargains. Projecting statistics over a full season, he will be paid $1,873 a hit, compared with $101,818 a hit for the Yankees’ $21.6 million shortstop, Derek Jeter.
The only knock against Ramírez is his defense. On Tuesday, he committed his 20th error, most among N.L. shortstops, to cost Florida a game. He made 26 errors as a rookie.
He has a strong arm and the quickness to cover a lot of ground, but he sometimes misplays the most routine grounder. The Marlins dismiss suggestions he should move to the outfield.
Ramírez has been on a tear since opening day, when he went 4 for 4. The Marlins dropped him to third from first in the order in May, but he began swinging for the fences, hit .297 in the No. 3 spot and after six weeks was back batting leadoff.
“If he played in New York or Chicago or one of those big media places, he’d be on billboards,” González said. “But we like him here and hope he stays here for a long time.”
A couple weeks ago Ramirez was #1 in BA in the NL with Cabrera as the runner up. The article is right about his defense. He has been a great contribute for making the team #1 in total errors made as his lack of concentration on the field has cost the Marlins and the piss off Benitez some games.
