August 7, 200718 yr Hanley Ramirez and Miguel Cabrera are the main horses this year for the batting title race. May the best Marlin Win! http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basebal...0,5397405.story Teammates Ramirez, Cabrera making run at batting title BY JUAN C. RODRIGUEZ South Florida Sun-Sentinel August 7, 2007 Miguel Cabrera's competition for last season's batting title was 1,000 miles away in Pittsburgh. This year, his biggest obstacle could be next door. Cabrera and teammate Hanley Ramirez, whose lockers are adjacent in the Marlins' clubhouse, entered the week among the National League's top three hitters. Ramirez (.341) and Cabrera (.338) were sandwiching Dmitri Young (.340) before the Nationals played a late game in San Francisco on Monday. With 50 games remaining starting tonight in Philadelphia, Ramirez and Cabrera can make a serious bid to become the 22nd set of teammates since 1900 to finish one-two in a batting race. Nobody is putting it past them. "They have a little thing going between themselves," said hitting coach Jim Presley, who in 2006 watched Cabrera finish second, five points behind Pirates infielder Freddy Sanchez. "They compete all the time. Batting practice, it doesn't matter what they're doing. ? That would be interesting, going into that last week and letting these two guys battle it out for one and two. "Experience-wise, that probably goes to the big third baseman, but the other kid is just unbelievably athletic. If he stays healthy, there's no telling what he can do." What neither player will do is let the pursuit of a batting title cause a rift in their relationship. Since last season's National League Rookie of the Year-winning campaign, Ramirez has gravitated toward Cabrera. The two constantly talk about hitting between at-bats, advising each other what pitch to look for or what kind of breaking ball a reliever throws. That cooperation won't diminish over the final two months. "We're always helping one another," Cabrera said. "In reality, whoever wins it between us, we're going to be happy. Whatever comes, we're both on the same team and we'll try to bring it here. If it's not him, it's me." Added Ramirez: "We're going to take the game seriously, but between us we're going to relax and have fun and enjoy it. I'm the first batter and have to support my team, keep my head up so they can follow me." Baseball history is punctuated with stories of camaraderie and controversy as teammates pursed the batting title. In 1921, Harry Heilmann edged Tigers teammate Ty Cobb by five points. Heilmann's overnight success in part was credited to the start of the lively ball era. Another factor: Cobb's tutelage. The two weren't especially close in previous years, but when Cobb became a player/manager he instructed Heilmann on how to use his wrists more and shift his weight. In 1958, Pete Runnels lost the batting title to Red Sox teammate Ted Williams on the final day of the season. Runnels won batting crowns in 1960 and 1962, but he said losing to Williams was the most enjoyable experience because of the great competition. The 1961 American League batting title came down to a pair of roommates. Norm Cash finished well ahead of Al Kaline, who two years earlier finished second to another Tiger, Harvey Kuenn. Two of the closest races between teammates had their awkward moments. In 1977, George Brett edged Hal McRae on the last game of the season by one point on a suspect play. In his final at-bat against the Twins, Brett lifted a fly ball to left that Steve Brye misplayed into an inside-the-park homer. McRae followed with a groundout to short, clinching it for Brett. On his way back to the dugout, McRae became embroiled in an argument with Twins manager Gene Mauch, who McRae accused of instructing his players to allow Brett to get a base hit. Marlins Spanish TV analyst Cookie Rojas was the second baseman on that Royals team. He said their quest for the title or the final game didn't affect McRae's and Brett's relationship. "Perfectly," Rojas said, asked how they got along. "There was tremendous teamwork on that club. Everybody respected each other. Everybody encouraged each other. Everybody talked together, went out together. We would critique one another without having any disagreements. Everything was about winning." Eight years later, it was Don Mattingly and Dave Winfield who went down to the final game with the title undecided. A four-hit game won it for Mattingly. Everyone from owner George Steinbrenner to a majority of Yankee fans wanted the homegrown Mattingly to come out on top. The clubhouse didn't know who to back. "Not that [the fans] were against Winfield, but they were kind of rooting for Donnie," said former Yankees infielder Bobby Meacham. "For the players, it was kind of a weird feeling. You couldn't pull for either one. You hope you didn't insult one by [congratulating] the other when he got a hit. It was obviously very exciting coming down to the last day." Unlike the Royals' and Yankees' situations where race, age and organizational upbringing created distinctions between the two players, none of that would come into play between Cabrera and Ramirez. "They're both young and know they're good," said Meacham, the Marlins' third-base coach last season. "The competition I'm sure drives both of them, so they both want to win it. If Miguel wins it, I'm sure Hanley will shrug his shoulders, give him a big hug and say, 'I'll win it next year' and vice versa."
August 7, 200718 yr I'm pulling for Miggy to win it, but if either of them do, I'd be thrilled. I'm still bitter over that Freddy Sanchez guy beating out Cabs last season.
August 7, 200718 yr I'm pulling for Miggy to win it, but if either of them do, I'd be thrilled. I'm still bitter over that Freddy Sanchez guy beating out Cabs last season. I'm pulling for Hanley, but I'll be happy if either of them get it. The only reason I want Hanley to win it is that MAYBE people at games will finally start cheering for him as much as they do for Miggie. Hanley lacks the recognition he deserves.
August 7, 200718 yr If the Marlins get around the 78 or so wins I think they have in them, Hanley winning the batting title and Cabs the MVP would be just so amazing.
August 7, 200718 yr it's more like a 9 horse race, but would be nice for one of them to bring it home
August 7, 200718 yr I'm pulling for Miggy since he got beat out by that little wiener Freddy Sanchez last year.
August 7, 200718 yr I think Hanley is Miggie's Jedi Apprentice < _ < > _ > lets hope neither turns to the dark side and the evil empire
August 7, 200718 yr It would be funny if they tied. they would go to the the number follow the third spot after the decimal (I would assume)
August 7, 200718 yr What if they completely tied? with the amount of at bats there are, it's not going to happen
August 7, 200718 yr Author A tie is statististcally improbable but my understanding that total plate appearances would be factored in at that moment
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.