Alexei Ramirez wins Silver Slugger Award

Denied a Gold Glove earlier in the week, which went to Yankees legend Derek Jeter based more on reputation than performance, White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez was named an American League Silver Slugger on Thursday.

Overcoming yet another slow start he batted .221 in April Ramirez rallied and wound up leading all AL shortstops in batting average (.282), slugging percentage (.431), home runs (18) and total bases (252). He ranked second in RBI (70).

Ramirez is the first shortstop in franchise history to win the award, which is presented by Louisville Slugger and honors the best offensive performers at every position in the AL and NL as voted on by managers and coaches.

Offensively, the only knock on Ramirez this season was his habit of swinging at bad pitches, which is why he walked just 27 times in 585 at-bats.

Ramirez, also named the shortstop on The Sporting News AL all-star team, is the ninth player in White Sox history to win a Silver Slugger Award and the first since outfielder Carlos Quentin in 2008.

Defensively, Ramirez committed 20 errors, but among shortstops he had the AL's best UZR rating (10.8), which measures the number of runs saved or lost. Jeter's UZR was –4.7.

Ramirez also had the league's top Plus/Minus rating (+20), which measures the number of plays made above or below average by a fielder. Jeter's Plus/Minus was –17.

“I think he could have won it,” said Sox starting pitcher Mark Buehrle, who did win a Gold Glove on Tuesday. “I think a lot of the errors he got were on balls other guys wouldn't have gotten to. I love him back there.”