The Marlins? Ram?rez Is the Unknown Shortstop

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: August 26, 2007

 

Hanley Ram?rez 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, Ram?rez 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 Ram?rez 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 Ram?rez. Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Orlando Hudson played three games in Miami recently and came away from the series calling Ram?rez 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 Ram?rez 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 Ram?rez, 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.?

 

Ram?rez 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.?

 

Ram?rez 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 Ram?rez, 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? Jos? Reyes, widely acclaimed as the game?s best young shortstop.

 

The buzz on Ram?rez is building, however.

 

?I hear it from people across in the other dugout on other teams ? coaches and managers going, ?Wow,? ? Marlins Manager Fredi Gonz?lez 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.?

 

Ram?rez 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 An?bal S?nchez. 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 Ram?rez is making.?

 

With a $402,000 salary, Ram?rez 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 Ram?rez 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.

 

Ram?rez 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,? Gonz?lez said. ?But we like him here and hope he stays here for a long time.?

New York Times

Ramirez still has 1 more year left to improve his defense in this farm team before he get send to a real MLB team in Boston.

Still has 1 more year for Ramirez to improve his defense in this farm team before he get sent to a real MLB team like Boston.

uh...i hate to remove the blindfold joe, but he was already there...and im pretty sure he will be here alot longer than 1 year

Ramirez is the top SS in the NL and that is no secret to us or those who meet him in the field of battle. The Media if they choose to ignore him will soon do so no more

Ramirez still has 1 more year left to improve his defense in this farm team before he get send to a real MLB team in Boston.

 

Dumbass.

Ramirez still has 1 more year left to improve his defense in this farm team before he get send to a real MLB team in Boston.

 

 

You're an idiot. Maybe that is just part of your schtick with your SN, if so, my apologies.

Ramirez still has 1 more year left to improve his defense in this farm team before he get send to a real MLB team in Boston.

Ramirez still has 1 more year left to improve his defense in this farm team before he get send to a real MLB team in Boston.

 

go away

Who's alter ego is SN, "Joe Girardi"?

some troll just ignore them instead of feeding them

 

nice article, could be better but nice

Who's alter ego is SN, "Joe Girardi"?

billly koch maybe?

Good article. Kid is a boatload of talent. I still dont get why he is leading off with all that power and speed, he seems like he could be one of the best 3rd place hitters in baseball.

 

With his somewhat worrysome defense at SS, do you guys think the Marlins have plans to move him to CF or keep him at SS?

O-dog is the man.

Good article. Kid is a boatload of talent. I still dont get why he is leading off with all that power and speed, he seems like he could be one of the best 3rd place hitters in baseball.

 

With his somewhat worrysome defense at SS, do you guys think the Marlins have plans to move him to CF or keep him at SS?

He's staying at SS

Good article. Kid is a boatload of talent. I still dont get why he is leading off with all that power and speed, he seems like he could be one of the best 3rd place hitters in baseball.

 

With his somewhat worrysome defense at SS, do you guys think the Marlins have plans to move him to CF or keep him at SS?

 

He's no Jose Reyes.