Manny Ramirez
Encyclopedia : M : MA : MAN : Manny Ramirez
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| Position | Left Field |
| Team | Boston Red Sox |
| Years of Experience | 12 years |
| Age | 34 |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Bats | Right |
| Throws | Right |
| College | N/A |
| 2006 Salary | ,279,238 |
| Place of Birth | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
| Selection | 1st round amateur draft, 1991. |
| Drafted by | Cleveland Indians |
| Major League Debut | September 2, 1993 |
Manuel Arístides (Manny) Ramírez Onelcida [ra-MEE-res] (born May 30, 1972) is an outfielder in Major League Baseball who has played for the Boston Red Sox since 2001. Previously, Ramírez played with the Cleveland Indians (1993-2000). He bats and throws right-handed. Though originally from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, he grew up in the Washington Heights section of New York City. In 2004, Ramírez became an American citizen.
Career
Through the 2005 season, Ramírez is a career .314 hitter, with a .409 on base percentage and a .599 slugging percentage. He has totaled 435 home runs and 1414 RBI in 1687 games. Even though the 2005 season started off slowly for his standards, he had a strong second half of the year and ended with a .292 avg., 45 home runs, 144 RBIs and 112 runs.
Ramírez is generally considered one of the best all-around righthanded hitters in the American League, hitting right-handed and left-handed pitching equally well. As a fielder he is considered average, with limited range but a good throwing arm. During the 2004 season, he was nominated for play of the year because of a spectacular catch he made in left field at Yankee Stadium to rob Miguel Cairo of a home run. However, in Game One of that year's World Series, Ramírez made two errors in the same inning. In 2005, Ramírez improved his defense dramatically and made several spectacular plays (despite having his share of misadventures), ending the year with a Major League leading 17 outfield assists.
Cleveland years
From 1993 to 2000 Ramírez collected 236 home runs and 804 RBI in 967 games for the Cleveland Indians, including a career-high 45 home runs in 1998, and a team-record career-high 165 RBI in 1999, when he hit .333 with 44 homers and scored 131 runs (also a career-high). He made the American League All-Star team four times, and hit 127 homers and 432 RBI in 415 games over last three seasons. His 165 RBI total in 1999 was the highest by any player since Jimmie Foxx in 1938; and made him the first player to have more RBI's than games played in a non-shortened season since Ted Williams in 1949.
2003 season
In the summer of 2003, after missing several games with pharyngitis, Ramírez was criticized by the Boston sports media and many fans who said he should have played despite the ailment. When it was learned that he had been seen in a hotel bar (Ramírez lived in the hotel in question) with a close friend, Yankees infielder Enrique Wilson, the controversy grew, causing Boston manager Grady Little to bench Ramírez for one game. Despite his strong play in the 2003 post-season, Ramírez's Red Sox lost in heartbreaking fashion to the Yankees in a 7 game showdown in the ALCS. The new Red Sox ownership and management, having to deal with the $20 million a year contract, put Ramirez on irrevocable waivers the following offseason, allowing any team to claim him and thus add him to its roster. However, all 29 other teams passed because of the length and cost of his contract.2004 season
In 2004, nevertheless, Ramírez silenced his critics. He displayed a good attitude and an enthusiasm for playing, two qualities his critics had charged that he lacked. Coupled with impressive play on the field, this absolved Ramírez in the eyes of many Boston fans and sportswriters. He led the American League in home runs (43), slugging average (.613) and OPS (1.009); he also finished 3rd in RBI (130), 6th in on base percentage (.397), 8th in base on balls (82), 10th in runs (108), and posted a .308 batting average.In addition, Ramírez and David Ortiz became the first pair of American League teammates to hit 40 home runs, have 100 RBI, and bat .300 since the Yankees' Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in 1931, and the first Red Sox duo with 40 homers since Tony Armas and Jim Rice (1984). Also along with Ortiz, Ramírez hit back-to-back home runs six times, tying the major league single-season mark set by Hank Greenberg and Rudy York (Detroit Tigers) and Frank Thomas and Magglio Ordóñez (Chicago White Sox).
In the All-Star Game, facing Roger Clemens in the top of the first inning, Ramírez hit a two-run home run, giving his teammates an immediate 3-0 lead. Along with Derek Jeter (a single), Ichiro Suzuki (a double) and Iván Rodríguez (a triple), Ramírez made history as the American League team became the first All-Star team to hit for the cycle during the same inning. His season was capped off by being named the MVP of the World Series as he led the Red Sox to their first title since 1918.
2005 season
- May 15: Reached a major career milestone by hitting his 400th home run off Gil Meche of the Seattle Mariners. Ramírez is one of only 45 major-league baseball players to ever hit this many home runs.
- July 5: Hit his 20th career grand slam —and his third of the season— off Chris Young of the Texas Rangers. Only Lou Gehrig, with 23, has hit more grand slams than Ramírez.
- July 31: Although he is one of the most productive batters in major-league history, Ramírez has been on the trading block every year as the Red Sox have tried to unload the remainder of his $160 million, eight-year contract, often at Ramírez's behest. As the trade deadline approached, the Red Sox discussed a three-team trade with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and New York Mets, but a deal was not reached before the trading deadline. Ramírez even sat on the bench for several games because of the supposed mental toll the situation was putting on him. Some fans dismissed his actions as just "Manny being Manny," while others were genuinely annoyed and even proceeded to boo him after his trade request was announced by the media. The trade deadline behind him, Ramírez began his new life with the Red Sox with a go-ahead, pinch-hit single in the eighth inning, thrilling the Fenway Park crowd that thought he might be traded and giving Boston a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
2005 Offseason
The 2005 Major League Baseball offseason was one of much conflict for Ramírez. After the Red Sox lost in disappointing fashion to the eventual World Series Champion Chicago White Sox, Ramírez expressed once again his desire to be traded and threatened to hold out of Spring Training if he was not. Close friend and teammate David Ortiz warned of the consequences if Ramírez was kept unhappy by the team. In December 2005, Ramírez put up his Ritz-Carlton condominium up for sale. In addition, Johnny Damon cited Ramírez's unhappiness as a factor in Damon signing with the archrival New York Yankees. [[Citing sources citation needed]]Trade rumors circulated with Ramírez possibly going to the Baltimore Orioles or New York Mets, but no deal was reached. As of January 5th, Ramírez stated to ESPN Deportes that he was dropping his trade demands and remain in Boston for the rest of his contract. His agents have since then reported this as false, with Ramirez still being open to a trade. [link]
\"Manny Being Manny\"
Though his talent is undeniable, Ramírez has developed a reputation for mental lapses while playing in the field or running the bases. Viewed by some as innocent and harmless, some Boston fans view Ramirez with an increasing lack of confidence in his sometimes apparent disinterest in playing up to his full capability. Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy has dubbed this "Manny Being Manny," a term that has entered everyday usage among baseball fans in Boston and across the country, to refer to any baseball mistakes or odd behavior by Ramírez both on and off the field. This phrase was coined when on July 18th, 2005, Manny went into the "Green Monster" in between innings to use the bathroom, and when pitcher Wade Miller[link] was ready to begin the next inning, Ramirez was nowhere to be found.Other Incidents of "Manny Being Manny":
- December 10, 2001 - Ramírez claims that he is uncomfortable in his first season with Boston, prompting the new ownership crew to create a separate interview room, to ease Manny's transition with the Red Sox. [link]
- May 18, 2002 - Loses diamond earring sliding into third base during a rehab start with the Pawtucket Red Sox. After the game, 13 PawSox players and the Syracuse grounds crew combed the third base bag area and found the stud, but not the diamond that was worth a reported $15,000. [link]
- September 2, 2002 - Manny requests song "I Get High" by Styles P, which contains obscene lyrics, to be played over the Fenway Park PA.
- September 9, 2002 - Manny hits a soft ground ball in a game against Tampa Bay, then turns and heads back to the dugout without running to first base.
- August 29, 2003 - Manny expresses in an ESPN interview that he would like to play for the New York Yankees. [link]
- August 30, 2003 - Ramírez is reportedly seen at a bar with his friend and at that time Yankee infielder Enrique Wilson despite being asked to be pulled from the lineup because of a sore throat, and the next morning Ramírez missed his doctors' meeting at Fenway Park.[link]
- September 4, 2003- Manny refuses to pinch hit in a game against Philadelphia, to the anger of manager Grady Little, who promptly benches him the next game.[link]
- July 21, 2004 - From his spot in left-center field, Manny inexplicably cuts off a relay throw from centerfielder Johnny Damon, allowing David Newhan of the Orioles to score on an inside-the-park home run. [link]
- July 12, 2005 - Manny went to his outfield position with Oakley sunglasses that were connected to a small MP3 Player; Ramirez claims that batteries were never in the sunglasses.
- July 27, 2005- With Trot Nixon out with an injury to his leg, manager Terry Francona approaches Ramirez about playing on his day off, but Manny refuses to play.
- July 30-31, 2005- Manny inexplicably pulls out of the lineup for two games, because as manager Terry Francona puts it, "he needs to clear his head."
- July 31, 2005- Manny enters the game versus the Minnesota Twins as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the 8th inning. He came in to a standing ovation 54 minutes after the 4:00 trading deadline had passed (he had been booed his two previous games). Ramírez proceded to chop an RBI single up the middle off Juan Rincon that would prove to be the game-winning hit. After the game, Ramirez was quoted as saying, "Forget about the trade man. This is the place I want to be man. It's great man. They love me here man. This is the place to be. 'Manny Being Manny,' it's great man." [link]
- August 24, 2005- Ramírez, up with one out and the bases loaded, grounded into an inning-ending double play, failing to hustle down the line to first base. The Royals would rally to tie the game, and eventually win in extra innings.[link]
- September 21, 2005- In a game against Tampa Bay, Ramírez hit what looked like a routine ground ball to the shortstop, and he stopped running; meanwhile, the shortstop booted the ball and his throw was errant, yet he still threw Manny out. The Red Sox lost the game, and many blame Manny's lackadaisical effort for this.
- July 9, 2006 - After opting out of the upcoming all-star game claiming he had a sore knee, Manny plays every inning with no sign of injury of a 19 inning marathon loss to the Chicago White Sox.
Highlights
- 10-time All-Star (1995, 1998-2006)
- World Series MVP Award (2004)
- 2-time Hank Aaron Award (1999, 2004)
- 8-time Silver Slugger Award (1995, 1999-2005)
- Won American League batting crown (2002, .349)
- Led AL in home runs (43) (2004)
- Led AL in RBI (165) (1999)
- 3-time led AL in slugging percentage (1999-2000, 2004)
- 3-time led AL in OPS (1999-2000, 2004)
- Twice led AL in on base percentage (2002-03)
- Twice led AL in intentional walks (2001, 2003)
- 8-time Top 10 AL in total bases (1996-99, 2001,2003-05)
- 7-time Top 10 AL MVP (1998-2004)
- 8-time Top 10 AL in home runs (1998-2005)
- 7-time Top 10 AL in RBI (1995, 1998, 1999-2001, 2004, 2005)
- 4-time Top 10 AL hitters (1997, 1999-2000, 2003)
- 5-time Top 10 AL in times on base (1997, 1999, 2003-05)
- Member of Major League Baseball's Latino Legends Team
Miscellaneous statistics and facts
- Career rankings among active players and on the All-Time lists
- * .314 batting average - 7th and 76th
- *451 home runs - 6th and 30th
- *1451 RBI - 8th and 58th
- *.409 on base percentage - 9th and 40th
- *.598 slugging average - 4th and 9th
- * 861 extra base hits - 11th and 60th
- *1.008 OPS - 4th and 10th
- *138 intentional walks - 11th and 48th
- *20 grand slams - 1st and 2nd
Trivia
- Ramírez appealed to fans by joining the 2004 Red Sox tradition of growing a unique hairstyle, maintaining a solid set of dreadlocks throughout the season.
- He was featured on the cover of the Electronic Arts Sports electronic game MVP Baseball 2005 [link].
- In 2004, a television advertisement for Boston's Olympia Sports chain of sporting goods stores correctly predicted Ramírez' World Series MVP award. During the 2005 season, the ad aired with a "Last Season" title card and "It Couldn't Happen Again... Or Could It?" at the end.
- Has been given the nickname "Man Ram" by sports media personalities
Personality
- Many stories portray Ramírez as a carefree, sometimes childlike, and often naive individual whose concentration is directed solely on playing baseball. For example, one story took place in his early years with the Cleveland Indians in June 1994. As teammates were gathered in the Indians clubhouse watching news of the O.J. Simpson Bronco chase, Ramirez asked what was going on. A player responded that "they are chasing O.J.," to which Ramirez responded in disbelief, "What did Chad do?" (in reference to their current teammate Chad Ogea, who was likely in the same clubhouse just several feet away).[[Citing sources citation needed]]
- During the 2004 World Series parade, Manny was on a Duck Boat with a sign saying "Jeter is playing golf today, this is better!" [link] This sign had been handed to him by a fan on the parade route.
- After the 2005 season Manny put his Boston condominium up for sale, for $6,900,000 because as many claim he never wanted to come back to Boston. Later, Manny revealed that his wife pressured him to a new home away from the spotlight of Boston. [link]
See also
- List of Boston Red Sox awards
- List of highest paid baseball players
- List of players from Dominican Republic in MLB
- List of AL Silver Slugger Winners at Designated Hitter
- List of AL Silver Slugger Winners at Outfield
- Major League Baseball Showdown
- Top 500 home run hitters of all time
- Manny Ortez
Quotes
- When asked about a slump, "It hurts, it really hurts. I mean, I feel like I am hurting the team myself. When I don't do good, the team doesn't do good. As one of the best players on the team, I feel that I should be doing better."
- On winning the World Series, thus breaking the Curse of the Bambino, "I don't believe in no curses. You make your own destination (sic)."
- When asked about what he does outside of baseball, "I know this might sound funny, but I play baseball. Me and [Jason] Varitek play a bit in the training field. Can't get our minds off it."
- When asked about trade rumors, "It's just Manny bein' Manny man."
External links
- [Official Home Page]
- [Manny Ramírez] at ESPN.com
- [Baseball-Reference.com] - career statistics and analysis
- [Baseball Library]
- [The Top 100 Greatest Cleveland Indians Roster]
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