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The move across the diamond from second base to shortstop had no effect on Ramirez's bat. After swinging at almost everything in his rookie campaign, the talented Cuban showed far more judiciousness at the plate with 31 more walks than 2008. If he can continue making strides when it comes to pitch recognition, his third big league season could yield his best all-around production to date.
It was a good night to be batting in front of Jermaine Dye, who launched two homers and plated four. Still, it was a good night for Ramirez, who is trying to end a frustrating season on a positive note. After a breakout season in 2008, Ramirez has improved his on-base percentage (to a still-meh .338) and base-stealing efficiency but stepped back in most other categories. He is hitting .312 (24-for-77) in September, though, and has a shot at reaching last year's 77 RBI mark if he can get hot.
After getting off to a rough start, Ramirez has managed to put together a very solid season, posting above average power numbers from the shortstop position and contributing in the steals department with 14 stolen bases on the year. Though not an elite option, Ramirez makes for a fine consolation prize once the Hanleys and Derek Jeters of the world are gobbled up.
Ramirez needed a night like this, as he entered Wednesday with just one hit in his last 13 at-bats. While he hasn’t matched the production of his stellar rookie season of a year ago, the gangly shortstop has put together a solid sophomore campaign, batting .277 with 15 dingers, 65 RBIs and 14 thefts.
Ramirez traditionally hits well at the Metrodome, sporting a .339 batting average in 56 at-bats at the ballpark. This will be his last crack at the stadium since the Twins will move to Target Field to open the 2010 season, but Ramirez is a good bet to hit safely on Wednesday.
Ramirez isn't going to match his breakout speed and power totals from 2008, but he's putting together a very decent season, and has a fine .298-3-9 line in 14 August games. While Ramirez has been most productive when hitting in the two-hole -- he has a .292-9-39 line in 233 at-bats there -- he has found himself in the bottom third of the order more often than not over the last month or so. Fantasy owners would obviously love to see that change, but Ramirez's .333 on-base percentage doesn't really warrant a top-of-the-order slot.
Ramirez, who spent the majority of the season's first month and a half trying desperately to keep his average above the Mendoza Line, is now threatening to eclipse his breakout debut totals from '08. On the year, the Cuban Missile is hitting .274 with 14 homers, 12 steals and 53 RBIs.
A huge blast for Ramirez, who turned a 1-0 deficit in the top of the ninth into a 3-1 lead off Seattle closer David Aardsma. The young shortstop has gone yard twice in the last three games and is batting .274 with 52 RBIs and 12 thefts this season.
All questions about his offensive state of mind following a week of inaction with a sprained ankle were answered. The homer was the Cuban Missile's first in 22 games, since July 7, and three hits represented his first such effort since July 1, a 25-game span.
Ramirez, who suffered a sprained right ankle while trying to break up a double play on July 29, has missed the last five games. He's expected back in the lineup in the next few days. The sophomore second baseman has come on strong since a slow start, batting .273 with 11 homers and 12 steals.
No surprise here, as Ramirez had been expected to miss the four-game series vs. the Yankees after rolling his ankle while sliding into second base July 29. Jayson Nix, who's gone hitless in seven at-bats in his first two games while replacing Ramirez, was back at shortstop and hitting ninth.
Although there was no official announcement concerning the result of the X-rays, all signs pointed to Ramirez being out of action for nothing more than the length of his team's four-game series against the Yankees, which ends on Aug. 2. "Well, right now, the report that we have is the problem's not big," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "We're going to wait for two to three days. It's not worth waiting, all of a sudden, another 12 days to get him back. It was good news, nothing's broken. It's just a normal sprain but nothing real serious." Jayson Nix, who went hitless in three at-bats Thursday, will play shortstop in Ramirez's absence.
Ramirez went hard into second on Carlos Quentin's grounder to Twins third baseman Joe Crede, but rolled on the turf in pain after the play ended. White Sox athletic trainer Herm Schneider and manager Ozzie Guillen appeared to be looking at Ramirez's right ankle before he limped off the field under his own power.
It had to happen sooner or later, as Ramirez got off to a scorching 29-for-57 (.509) start in July. The speedy shortstop has hit for the same pop he showed in 2008, but Ramirez's .326 on-base percentage is an improvement over last year's figure and has earned him a move back to the two-hole. That means more stolen base opportunities (he's 12-for-15 thus far) and chances to score runs, which is good news for fantasy owners, even if the Cuban Missile is not hitting .509.
After a rough April, Ramirez has increased his average in each successive month thus far, culminating in a .412/.462/.559 line in nine July games. He looks comfortable in the two-slot of the White Sox lineup and has been more aggressive on the basepaths in his second full season.
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