Precocious Ramirez ready for leadership role with Marlins

 

By STEVEN WINE

AP Sports Writer

 

JUPITER, Fla. - Swinging right-handed, Hanley Ramirez took his first batting-practice cuts of spring training Tuesday, then decided to try his luck from the other side of the plate.

 

His left-handed swing looked fluid, and he made solid contact. But it helped that Ramirez was hitting underhand tosses from a teammate 30 feet away, and he has no plans to start switch-hitting.

 

"Nah," the Florida Marlins shortstop said. "I was just getting my right shoulder loose."

 

It's not as if Ramirez's game needs a dramatic overhaul. He enjoyed a breakout year in his second major-league season in 2007, finishing in the top three in the NL in average (.332), hits (212), doubles (48) and stolen bases (51), and he totaled 29 homers and 81 RBIs batting mostly leadoff.

 

With the offseason departures of Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis, Ramirez becomes the face of the franchise. He said he's ready.

 

"I've got to be the face, and try to do everything right and be an example for the young guys," Ramirez said.

 

The reference to "young guys" sounds funny coming from Ramirez, who's only 24 and wears braces. But the Marlins' perennially tight budget forces them to rely on youngsters to lead, and their precocious shortstop is already the sort of offensive force who commands league-wide respect.

 

Last year an official with an opposing team paid Ramirez a compliment with a facetious proposal to Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria.

 

"One day in Los Angeles somebody told Jeffrey, `We'll trade you the Forum, Kobe Bryant and Dodger Stadium for him,'" Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "That's how people think of him."

 

Two years ago, a payroll purge by the Marlins brought Ramirez to Miami in the trade that sent Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to the Boston Red Sox. Ramirez went on to become NL rookie of the year, batting .292 with 17 homers and 51 stolen bases.

 

Florida pared the budget again in December, trading Cabrera and Willis to the Detroit Tigers for six unproven players. Ramirez was especially sorry to see good friend Cabrera go.

 

"I'm going to be honest - I was a little bit upset, because I learned a lot from him," Ramirez said. "He's a great player, a great hitter. We're going to miss him, but we've got to forget about that.

 

"The good thing is he's in the American League."

 

Even with Cabrera and Willis, the Marlins lost 91 games last year, but Ramirez said he believes they can win in 2008. Florida did set franchise records last year for hits, runs and home runs, in part because their leadoff hitter was always starting something.

 

"There are a lot of teams that panic when they play us," Ramirez said, "because they know we can do a lot of things."

 

He arrived for spring training two days before the first full-squad workout, eager to start swinging and shaking the offseason rust. The Dominican usually plays winter league, but he was forced to sit out this offseason after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder in October.

 

His shoulder now feels fine, he said, and he hopes to take a lot of at-bats this spring to make sure he's ready for the March 31 opener. Gonzalez plans to keep him in the leadoff spot and said there may be room for improvement, despite Ramirez's gaudy statistics last year.

 

"He ended up hitting .332, and there were times in the dugout we were thinking he got himself out," Gonzalez said. "He's a special talent."

 

Ramirez becomes eligible for arbitration after this season, which might soon make him too expensive for the Marlins. But they're on the verge of an agreement for a new ballpark that could change the franchise's financial outlook.

 

Ramirez said he would love to be at shortstop when the new ballpark opens, perhaps in 2011. The trade of Cabrera and Willis didn't sour him on the Marlins.

 

"They know how to treat people. It's a good organization," he said. "I hope I can stay here my entire career."

 

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20080219/APS/802190841

I love Hanley.

 

But everyone knows that it doesn't matter whether they want to leave or not (see. Dontrelle Willis), it's all up to the FO.

thats always good to hear

I sure as hell hope he can stay here his whole career.

 

True story, I'm not making this up at all: Hanley Ramirez is awesome.

Good to hear, but everyone knows he'll be traded for a couple prospects sooner or later

2 mill per over 13 years should do it..

Two thoughts:

1. I'd like to see Hanley be on the team for his entire career, but I don't expect it, and the Marlins have a history and stated policy of not signing players long-term. We can talk about it all we want, but Loria/Beinfest just don't believe in the concept.

2. The Tuscaloosa News? Does Hanley have some tie to this area?

...The Tuscaloosa News? Does Hanley have some tie to this area?

 

It's Steve Wine, beat AP reporter assigned to the Fish (and perhaps other teams), so it's just that for whatever reason it came across the AP wire and they picked it up first. If I went and looked up now it probably is on fifty websites.

 

*** BTW the same story (figuratively) is up flamarlins.com site now so obviously this came in a press conference environment.

I hope his leadership is more like the end of last year where we wanted to destroy the mets and this helps improve his defense. Part of my problem with teams in so fla this year is the appearance that they don't care. Tempers on the fins... none. The heat... shaq cried and cried but didnt seem to try that hard during games and at times I felt like the team lacked effort. And the Marlins manager just seems complacent to have a job.

 

Please... i love ultra-competitive athletes!!!! the kevin browns of the world make me care too

Let's make his be the first long-term Marlins deal ever.

I think he'll prove to be a much better investment than Cabrera would have been.

 

Unfortunately players staying with an entire team these days is something of a rarity. And if you want to get technical, Ramirez has already had ML ABs with two different clubs.

Don't think Loria didn't think about the trade for Kobe, the Forum and the Stadium. Didn't happen only because he didn't want to pick up Kobe's guaranteed contract.

Loria got his stadium so he better sign Hanley as gift to all Marlin fans who have endured his salary dumping sprees.

Two thoughts:

1. I'd like to see Hanley be on the team for his entire career, but I don't expect it, and the Marlins have a history and stated policy of not signing players long-term. We can talk about it all we want, but Loria/Beinfest just don't believe in the concept.

2. The Tuscaloosa News? Does Hanley have some tie to this area?

 

well i mean they did give mike lowell a three year deal.....pau lo duca a three year deal.....antonio alfonseca a 2 year deal......luis castillo a 4 year deal

I don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but they have to get this stadium deal screwed down and get some real numbers from the architects and project managers before they hand Hanley or anyone else a long-term contract.

 

It's a reality. I don't like it any more than the next guy and if I could get him for 5yrs $50m it would be a great deal but as long as they are on the hook for overruns they're going to be frugal.