Wishful thinking
Man, if only they were both wearing Red Sox jerseys in that picture. Ask me, Papi’s been without a buddy named Ramirez in the heart of the Sox’ order for way too long.
Given that Ramirez was one of my confirmed binkies even before he’d stepped into a big-league batter’s box — I’ll forever stick to my story that the reason I so underestimated Dustin Pedroia is because he played alongside the dazzling Ramirez on the ’05 Sea Dogs — you can probably guess how I reacted to the report earlier this week that the Red Sox had inquired about reacquiring their one-time phenom.
Give ’em Ellsbury, give ’em Buchholz, give ’em Lowrie, give ’em whatever it takes from the farm system, save for Lars Anderson. Just make it happen, Theo. BRING BACK HAN-RAM!!
Hey, did I mention that I like Hanley Ramirez?
Sadly, I can’t quite convince myself that the actual chances of this happening — of Ramirez returning all grown up to anchor the lineup of the organization that sent him away in November 2005 for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell — are or were at all realistic. The report and the subsequent fallout strikes me as the usual conjecture and fantasy that is an integral and yet entirely disposable component of baseball’s winter season. It’s fun, but chances are it’s not entirely factual.
After all, Ramirez, who signed a six-year, $70 million extension early last season, doesn’t start making the really huge bucks until 2011, the year before the Marlins are scheduled to move into a new ballpark. It’s difficult to imagine they’d trade their signature player before then — especially since the Marlins, who had a $22 million payroll last season, actually can afford him.
Yes, logic says Hanley Ramirez will remain a Marlin. But we can dream, can’t we? And besides, buried in the gossip, whispers, and buzz, there is some truth to be found — particularly, I believe, in how the Red Sox front office perceives the team’s roster at the moment. Whether the baseball operations staff looked into acquiring Ramirez before or after the Red Sox were jilted by Mark Teixeira, the conclusion must be the same: Theo Epstein and friends are convinced that the Red Sox need to add an elite hitter to the lineup.
Ramirez certainly qualifies. Three full seasons into his big league career, the 25-year-old is the prototype for what a young franchise player is supposed to be . . . at least when he has a Louisville Slugger in his hands. He batted .301 with 33 home runs, 67 RBIs, 125 runs scored, and 35 stolen bases last season. Perhaps most impressively, he walked 92 times, 36 more than his previous career high.
That’s not to suggest Ramirez is a superstar without flaws. The consensus reports on his defense at shortstop are lukewarm at best, and I suspect the Sox targeted him as a center fielder, particularly if Ellsbury was part of the package. And he has some frustrating space-shot tendencies similar to a certain namesake of his. (Yes, it is weird to be writing “Ramirez” over and over again and meaning someone other than Manny.) The respected and usually soft-spoken Andre Dawson, a Marlins special assistant, even questioned Ramirez’s dedication last season not long after he signed his extension. The Hawk’s quote:
”I’d like to see a bit more hunger. That’s what makes you a team leader. His intensity is yet to reach that peak. And I want to see him cut his swing down in RBI situations. He’s over-swinging.”
While Dawson’s words are somewhat alarming, I don’t think the Red Sox should be particularly concerned. After all, they’re more than familiar with the quirks of Ramirez’s personality, having had to discipline him for “maturity issues” more than once when he was the jewel of their farm system. If they’re willing to pursue him so soon after curing themselves of the Manny headache, that tells you all you need to know about the insignificance of those issues.
I am extremely curious as to where this report originated and who the specific sources were. If it came from the Red Sox, a cynic might wonder if they leaked interest in a “hey, look, we’re trying here” sort of way to appease a fan base frustrated that the coveted Teixeira took the pinstriped enemy’s money instead. You can’t tell me such a tactic isn’t in Larry Lucchino’s playbook.
If it originated from the Marlins, however, it makes me wonder if it’s a trial balloon from an organization that’s trying to entice a larger payroll team to make them an offer for Ramirez that they can’t refuse. In other words: If, say, Robinson Cano, Philip Hughes, and a dugout full of other Yankees prospects (and suspects) found themselves wearing teal next season, I wouldn’t be completely shocked. If that happened, I’d also retire to a cabin in the Maine woods to begin working on my Manifesto.
Hey, like I said: Conjecture and fantasy. But if Theo Epstein truly did look into acquiring Ramirez, then I applaud him, because that tells you he’s approaching his job exactly as you’d hope the general manager of your favorite baseball team would: By coming up with creative possibilities to improve the team on the field, then investigating them in the chance — however slim it may be — that they might be doable.
Hanley Ramirez, returning to where it all began? It sure is fun to think about.
And we’re fortunate Epstein apparently thought about it, too.
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As for today’s Completely Random Baseball Card:
See any resemblance to his half-brother?
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