After two years, Sox shortstop Ramirez jumps to head of the class
Alexei Ramirez appears to have it all.
He has solid offensive skills, and Ramirez received his first Sliver Slugger Award at the end of the 2010 season after leading American League shortstops in batting average (.282), home runs (18), total bases (252) and slugging percentage (.431) while ranking second with 70 RBI.
Defensively, a case can be made that Ramirez is even more effective.
Yes, Derek Jeter won the Gold Glove last season, but those in the know understand the Yankees’ veteran won on reputation and didn’t come close to playing the position as well as Ramirez.
The White Sox’ 29-year-old shortstop showed his remarkable range by leading AL shortstops with 768 total chances. He did make 20 errors, but Ramirez finished with a stellar 10.8 UZR.
Since the Cuba native speaks very limited English, his all-around talents have been widely overlooked.
That’s where Sox manager Ozzie Guillen comes in.
“Besides winning this thing, I think my job is to promote this kid so he gets the recognition in baseball by being a complete player (and) doesn’t get behind the laurels about Derek Jeter and all those guys,” Guillen told reporters at camp last month. “It’s our job to get him where he should be with the Gold Gloves and All-Star Games, all that other stuff.”
How good is he?As far as AL shortstops are concerned, Ramirez has risen to the top of the heap.
Over the last two seasons, he#146;s first at the position in home runs (33) and RBI (137), second in total bases (462) and third in hits (314).
Ramirez has also shown how good he can be on the defensive end, and he#146;s equally adept when it comes to humility.
Upset about not winning the Gold Glove?
#147;I think it#146;s simply an honor to be mentioned in the Gold Glove conversation.#148; Ramirez said through an interpreter. #147;I#146;ve always said it#146;s not up to me. As long as I#146;m happy with the work I did on the field and as long as my team, my manager and my coaches are happy with what I did on the field, that#146;s all that#146;s important to me.#148;
Where can he improve?Ramirez is entering his third season with the Sox, and he is still trying to adjust to the cold temperatures that are present during the first month or so of the season.
The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder has started slowly three straight years, and he batted .221 last April.
#147;I feel like the baseball season is six months of competition and every ballplayer is going to have that one bad month,#148; Ramirez said. #147;Unfortunately for me, that bad month has been April.#148;
But he gradually heated up and hit .290 with 10 home runs and 37 RBI after the all-star break.
As for patience at the plate, that#146;s another trouble spot. Ramirez drew just 27 walks in 585 at-bats last season and that#146;s the main reason his on-base percentage (.313) was so poor.
Is he still a bargain?Ramirez is a relative steal this season at $2.75 million, and he signed a well-deserved four-year, $32.5 million extension that begins in 2011.
#147;I#146;m so happy with where I#146;m at with the White Sox, what I have done so far and what I#146;m accomplishing,#148; Ramirez said. #147;If I#146;m lucky enough to play for the White Sox my entire career, that#146;s something I hope to do.#148;
While he is still very slight of build despite hitting the weights this winter, Ramirez has never been on the disabled list and he played in 156 games last season.
If Ramirez continues building on his breakout 2010 season, the Sox just might exercise the $10 million club option they hold on the shortstop for 2016.
what if Ramirez gets hurt?Omar Vizquel is almost 44, but he#146;s won 11 Gold Gloves at shortstop and can step right in if Ramirez happens to go down.
The White Sox are also taking a long look at 22-year-old Eduardo Escobar this spring.