Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez injured his right thumb in the World Baseball Classic and was sent for an MRI yesterday.
The results were not good.
"The MRI on Hanley Ramirez's right thumb indicates that the ligament
that stabilizes the thumb was torn," the team's statement said, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. ". . .
Dr. Steve Shin, a sports medicine hand specialist at Kerlan Jobe, will
perform the surgery. Hanley will have the thumb immobilized for three
weeks and is expected to return to competition in approximately eight weeks."
Eligible as both a shortstop and third baseman in fantasy leagues, I have lowered Ramirez in both of my rankings.
View my rankings here: Shortstop rankings - Third Base rankings
Showing posts with label Hanley Ramirez. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hanley Ramirez. Show all posts
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Hanley Ramirez to have MRI on thumb
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez injured his right thumb while diving for a ground ball as the Dominican Republic won the World Baseball Classic over Puerto Rico last night.
After suffering the injury in the third inning, HanRam stayed in the game but he left the game after the fifth inning.
"I don't think it's bad," Dominican coach Alfredo Griffin said, per Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.
Ramirez, who was seen wearing a splint, will have an MRI on his thumb on Wednesday.
Eligible at shortstop (second in my rankings) and third base (third in my rankings), Ramirez may be knocked down a spot or two at those positions depending on his status.
Stay tuned ...
After suffering the injury in the third inning, HanRam stayed in the game but he left the game after the fifth inning.
"I don't think it's bad," Dominican coach Alfredo Griffin said, per Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.
Ramirez, who was seen wearing a splint, will have an MRI on his thumb on Wednesday.
Eligible at shortstop (second in my rankings) and third base (third in my rankings), Ramirez may be knocked down a spot or two at those positions depending on his status.
Stay tuned ...
Sunday, March 17, 2013
2013 Fantasy Baseball Rankings - Top 20 Shortstops
Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki is one of the game's most productive players on a per-game basis.
Based on his career numbers, he averages 103 runs scored, 102 runs batted in, 28 home runs and 13 steals in 162 games.
That said, how close will he come to playing 162 games?
Since he played a career-high 155 games in 2007, Tulowitzki has played at least 125 games in only two of the past five seasons. Last year, he played his fewest games (47) since his rookie season.
With Tulo, that is the dilemma.
Currently he is the 19th player off the board in fantasy drafts based on average draft position data from Mock Draft Central. If he plays 150 or so games, he'll be a steal.
If you draft Tulowitzki, make sure you have an adequate back-up plan for if/when he misses time.
The Other Rockies Shortstop (in Fantasy)
When it comes to fantasy sports, eligibility at multiple positions for the players on your roster is never a bad thing.
Provided he can stay healthy for a full season, Tulowitzki is the Rockies' everyday shortstop and Josh Rutledge will be the team's second baseman to open the year. That said, Rutledge spent more time at shortstop in 2012 than second base, and therefore has eligibility at both relatively thin positions.
In the minors and big leagues combined last year, Rutledge hit 21 home runs and stole 21 bases.
While I don't expect a 20/20 year in his first full big league season, a 15/15 season for Rutledge seems more than likely. If you use his big-league numbers of eight homers and seven steals in 73 games last year, he was on pace for 18 home runs and 16 stolen bases.
Likely to hit second in the lineup in front of Tulo, Rutledge will have a shot at scoring 90 runs. Considering he plays half of his games at Coors Field, it's also reasonable to expect him to hit close to .275 like last year.
After the top 12 or so (fantasy) shortstops are off the board, Rutledge is a solid option to target later in your draft. His ADP is currently 252 overall (via Mock Draft Central).
Another 20/20 season for HanRam
Speaking of eligibility at multiple positions, Hanley Ramirez has position eligibility at third base as well. While shortstop is a shallower position than third base, the flexibility is an added bonus for owners that draft HanRam.
While Ramirez once stole 51 bases in back-to-back seasons and hit a career-high 33 homers in 2008, he is unlikely to come close to either number. That said, he should repeat as one of the few shortstop-eligible players to post another 20/20 season.
Ramirez has stolen 20-plus bases every season since 2006. Meanwhile, he has 20-plus homers in five of the past six seasons. The only exception was 2011 when he played just 92 games and hit 10 home runs.
In addition to Ramirez, Washington's Ian Desmond and Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins were the only other players eligible at shortstop to have 20/20 seasons last year.
From 2006 to 2010, Ramirez has a BABIP of at least .327 each season and hit .300-plus in four of those five seasons. In 2011 and 2012 (before the trade to the Dodgers), Ramirez had a BABIP of only .275 and .271, respectively, with the Marlins.
Assuming that his BABIP is closer to his rate with the Dodgers last year (.319), Ramirez should see his average bounce back to the .280 range (or perhaps a bit higher).
Reyes Moves to the AL East
Moving to the American League, Jose Reyes will be playing with his third team in the past three seasons. For Reyes, that is good news.
With all of their offseason moves, the Toronto Blue Jays have one of the most potent lineups in all of baseball. As the table-setter for an explosive offense, Reyes will have an opportunity to score a lot of runs provided he stays healthy.
Coming into the 2013 season, Reyes has averaged 110 runs scored over 162 games. Since 2009, however, Reyes has played close to that number only once (last year). From 2009 to 2011, Reyes missed at least 29 games per season and a total of 191 games during that span.
Although he is a career .291 hitter, Reyes won the NL batting title (.337) in 2011. The only other season he hit above .300 was his rookie year (2003).
Provided he stays healthy for 150 games or so, which is no lock considering his injury history, Reyes should hit around .290 with 100 runs scored and 40 steals.
Here are my shortstop rankings for the 2013 fantasy baseball season (based on Yahoo! eligibility):
1. Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies
2. Hanley Ramirez, Los Angeles Dodgers
3. Jose Reyes, Toronto Blue Jays
4. Starlin Castro, Chicago Cubs
5. Ian Desmond, Washington Nationals
6. Ben Zobrist, Tampa Bay Rays
7. Elvis Andrus, Texas Rangers
8. Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia Phillies
9. Asdrubal Cabrera, Cleveland Indians
10. Martin Prado, Arizona Diamondbacks
11. Derek Jeter, New York Yankees
12. Josh Rutledge, Colorado Rockies
13. Danny Espinosa, Washington Nationals
14. Andrelton Simmons, Atlanta Braves
15. J.J. Hardy, Baltimore Orioles
16. Erick Aybar, Los Angeles Angels
17. Alcides Escobar, Kansas City Royals
18. Marco Scutaro, San Francisco Giants
19. Alexei Ramirez, Chicago White Sox
20. Everth Cabrera, San Diego Padres
For a second opinion, check out Duncan Sanford's shortstop rankings. (Or view our consensus shortstop rankings here.)
Other positions: C - 1B - 2B - 3B - SS - OF - SP - RP
To keep track of our updates, follow us on Twitter @EDSBaseball, LIKE us on Facebook and/or add us to your Google+ circle.
Based on his career numbers, he averages 103 runs scored, 102 runs batted in, 28 home runs and 13 steals in 162 games.
That said, how close will he come to playing 162 games?
Since he played a career-high 155 games in 2007, Tulowitzki has played at least 125 games in only two of the past five seasons. Last year, he played his fewest games (47) since his rookie season.
With Tulo, that is the dilemma.
Currently he is the 19th player off the board in fantasy drafts based on average draft position data from Mock Draft Central. If he plays 150 or so games, he'll be a steal.
If you draft Tulowitzki, make sure you have an adequate back-up plan for if/when he misses time.
The Other Rockies Shortstop (in Fantasy)
When it comes to fantasy sports, eligibility at multiple positions for the players on your roster is never a bad thing.
Provided he can stay healthy for a full season, Tulowitzki is the Rockies' everyday shortstop and Josh Rutledge will be the team's second baseman to open the year. That said, Rutledge spent more time at shortstop in 2012 than second base, and therefore has eligibility at both relatively thin positions.
In the minors and big leagues combined last year, Rutledge hit 21 home runs and stole 21 bases.
While I don't expect a 20/20 year in his first full big league season, a 15/15 season for Rutledge seems more than likely. If you use his big-league numbers of eight homers and seven steals in 73 games last year, he was on pace for 18 home runs and 16 stolen bases.
Likely to hit second in the lineup in front of Tulo, Rutledge will have a shot at scoring 90 runs. Considering he plays half of his games at Coors Field, it's also reasonable to expect him to hit close to .275 like last year.
After the top 12 or so (fantasy) shortstops are off the board, Rutledge is a solid option to target later in your draft. His ADP is currently 252 overall (via Mock Draft Central).
Another 20/20 season for HanRam
Speaking of eligibility at multiple positions, Hanley Ramirez has position eligibility at third base as well. While shortstop is a shallower position than third base, the flexibility is an added bonus for owners that draft HanRam.
While Ramirez once stole 51 bases in back-to-back seasons and hit a career-high 33 homers in 2008, he is unlikely to come close to either number. That said, he should repeat as one of the few shortstop-eligible players to post another 20/20 season.
Ramirez has stolen 20-plus bases every season since 2006. Meanwhile, he has 20-plus homers in five of the past six seasons. The only exception was 2011 when he played just 92 games and hit 10 home runs.
In addition to Ramirez, Washington's Ian Desmond and Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins were the only other players eligible at shortstop to have 20/20 seasons last year.
From 2006 to 2010, Ramirez has a BABIP of at least .327 each season and hit .300-plus in four of those five seasons. In 2011 and 2012 (before the trade to the Dodgers), Ramirez had a BABIP of only .275 and .271, respectively, with the Marlins.
Assuming that his BABIP is closer to his rate with the Dodgers last year (.319), Ramirez should see his average bounce back to the .280 range (or perhaps a bit higher).
Reyes Moves to the AL East
Moving to the American League, Jose Reyes will be playing with his third team in the past three seasons. For Reyes, that is good news.
With all of their offseason moves, the Toronto Blue Jays have one of the most potent lineups in all of baseball. As the table-setter for an explosive offense, Reyes will have an opportunity to score a lot of runs provided he stays healthy.
Coming into the 2013 season, Reyes has averaged 110 runs scored over 162 games. Since 2009, however, Reyes has played close to that number only once (last year). From 2009 to 2011, Reyes missed at least 29 games per season and a total of 191 games during that span.
Although he is a career .291 hitter, Reyes won the NL batting title (.337) in 2011. The only other season he hit above .300 was his rookie year (2003).
Provided he stays healthy for 150 games or so, which is no lock considering his injury history, Reyes should hit around .290 with 100 runs scored and 40 steals.
Here are my shortstop rankings for the 2013 fantasy baseball season (based on Yahoo! eligibility):
1. Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies
2. Hanley Ramirez, Los Angeles Dodgers
3. Jose Reyes, Toronto Blue Jays
4. Starlin Castro, Chicago Cubs
5. Ian Desmond, Washington Nationals
6. Ben Zobrist, Tampa Bay Rays
7. Elvis Andrus, Texas Rangers
8. Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia Phillies
9. Asdrubal Cabrera, Cleveland Indians
10. Martin Prado, Arizona Diamondbacks
11. Derek Jeter, New York Yankees
12. Josh Rutledge, Colorado Rockies
13. Danny Espinosa, Washington Nationals
14. Andrelton Simmons, Atlanta Braves
15. J.J. Hardy, Baltimore Orioles
16. Erick Aybar, Los Angeles Angels
17. Alcides Escobar, Kansas City Royals
18. Marco Scutaro, San Francisco Giants
19. Alexei Ramirez, Chicago White Sox
20. Everth Cabrera, San Diego Padres
For a second opinion, check out Duncan Sanford's shortstop rankings. (Or view our consensus shortstop rankings here.)
Other positions: C - 1B - 2B - 3B - SS - OF - SP - RP
To keep track of our updates, follow us on Twitter @EDSBaseball, LIKE us on Facebook and/or add us to your Google+ circle.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
(Updated) 2012 Fantasy Baseball Preseason Rankings: Top 25 Shortstops
We noted in our first basemen rankings that the position is especially deep in A.L.-only leagues but not very deep in N.L.-only leagues as seven of our top eight-ranked first basemen play in the American League.
For shortstops, it is the opposite.
In our rankings, five of our top six shortstops play in the National League. There is a gap between the top three and the next group of shortstops and all three of those elite shortstops play in the N.L.
Here are some notes on shortstops:
- Since becoming the Rockies everyday shortstop in 2007, Troy Tulowitzki has put up great numbers when he was on the field. Tulo set a career high in runs batted in (105), hit 30 homers for the second time in his career and batted .300-plus for the second straight season in 2011. On the other hand, the 27-year-old missed 19 games last season and has averaged only 134.4 games per season since 2007.
- With the offseason acquisition of Jose Reyes, the Marlins have two of my top three fantasy shortstops. Although Hanley Ramirez will move to third base, he has shortstop eligibility as well. The good news is Reyes hit a career-high .337 and won the N.L. batting crown last year and stole 39 bases despite missing 36 games last year. Like with Tulowitzki, that's the biggest problem with Reyes, who has played 133 games or less in each of the past three seasons.
- Speaking of Hanley Ramirez, he had his worst season of his career and missed 70 games. Ramirez, who hit only .243 last year, is a career .306 hitter that averaged 25 homers and 39 steals per year from 2006 to 2010. Based on his average draft position of 20 from Mock Draft Central, HanRam could easily be one of the biggest early-round bargains after several seasons of being a top-five pick.
- Unlike many shortstops, Detroit's Jhonny Peralta won't help you on the basepaths. For his career, he has a total of nine stolen bases. Unlike many shortstops, Peralta will help you with the power categories. For the fourth consecutive season, Peralta finished with 80-plus runs batted in and he hit 20-plus homers for the fourth time in his career.
- In his four seasons in the big leagues, White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez has been solid and steady if not spectacular. There has been relatively little season-to-season fluctuation in his stats and here are his four-year averages: .279 career hitter, 17 home runs, 12 steals, 75 runs scored and 71 RBIs.
- Although he doesn't turn 22 years old until March 24th, Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro already has already hit .300 in two major league seasons. In fact, Castro finished fourth in all of baseball in hits (207) after Michael Young, Adrian Gonzalez and Jacoby Ellsbury. The Cubs will move Castro, who hit 10 homers and stole 22 bases last year, to third (from leadoff) in the batting order this year.
- Before last season, Cleveland's Asdrubal Cabrera hit a total of 18 home runs in four seasons (1,415 at-bats). Out of nowhere, Cabrera hit 25 home runs (in 604 at-bats) last year. In addition to his power surge, he set career highs in runs scored (87) and runs batted in (92) while tying his previous career high in steals (17).
- In 56 games last year, Dodgers shortstop Dee Gordon ran 31 times and was successful of 24 of those steal attempts. While he will provide absolutely no power (zero homers and 11 RBIs last year), he has the potential to lead the league in steals if he plays 150-plus games.
Here are our top 25 shortstops for the 2012 season:
1. Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies
2. Hanley Ramirez, Marlins
3. Jose Reyes, Marlins
4. Starlin Castro, Cubs
5. Elvis Andrus, Rangers
6. Jimmy Rollins, Phillies
7. Asdrubal Cabrera, Indians
8. Jhonny Peralta, Tigers
9. Alexei Ramirez, White Sox
10. Derek Jeter, Yankees
11. J.J. Hardy, Orioles
12. Erick Aybar, Angels
13. Dee Gordon, Dodgers
14. Marco Scutaro, Rockies
15. Yunel Escobar, Blue Jays
16. Stephen Drew, Blue Jays
17. Emilio Bonifacio, Marlins
18. Rafael Furcal, Cardinals
19. Zack Cozart, Reds
20. Ian Desmond, Nationals
21. Sean Rodriguez, Rays
22. Jed Lowrie, Astros
23. Alcides Escobar, Royals
24. Jason Bartlett, Padres
25. Cliff Pennington, Athletics
Other Positions: C - 1B - 2B - 3B - SS - OF - SP - RP
To keep track of our updates, follow us on Twitter @EDSBaseball and/or LIKE us on Facebook.
For shortstops, it is the opposite.
In our rankings, five of our top six shortstops play in the National League. There is a gap between the top three and the next group of shortstops and all three of those elite shortstops play in the N.L.
Here are some notes on shortstops:
- Since becoming the Rockies everyday shortstop in 2007, Troy Tulowitzki has put up great numbers when he was on the field. Tulo set a career high in runs batted in (105), hit 30 homers for the second time in his career and batted .300-plus for the second straight season in 2011. On the other hand, the 27-year-old missed 19 games last season and has averaged only 134.4 games per season since 2007.
- With the offseason acquisition of Jose Reyes, the Marlins have two of my top three fantasy shortstops. Although Hanley Ramirez will move to third base, he has shortstop eligibility as well. The good news is Reyes hit a career-high .337 and won the N.L. batting crown last year and stole 39 bases despite missing 36 games last year. Like with Tulowitzki, that's the biggest problem with Reyes, who has played 133 games or less in each of the past three seasons.
- Speaking of Hanley Ramirez, he had his worst season of his career and missed 70 games. Ramirez, who hit only .243 last year, is a career .306 hitter that averaged 25 homers and 39 steals per year from 2006 to 2010. Based on his average draft position of 20 from Mock Draft Central, HanRam could easily be one of the biggest early-round bargains after several seasons of being a top-five pick.
- Unlike many shortstops, Detroit's Jhonny Peralta won't help you on the basepaths. For his career, he has a total of nine stolen bases. Unlike many shortstops, Peralta will help you with the power categories. For the fourth consecutive season, Peralta finished with 80-plus runs batted in and he hit 20-plus homers for the fourth time in his career.
- In his four seasons in the big leagues, White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez has been solid and steady if not spectacular. There has been relatively little season-to-season fluctuation in his stats and here are his four-year averages: .279 career hitter, 17 home runs, 12 steals, 75 runs scored and 71 RBIs.
- Although he doesn't turn 22 years old until March 24th, Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro already has already hit .300 in two major league seasons. In fact, Castro finished fourth in all of baseball in hits (207) after Michael Young, Adrian Gonzalez and Jacoby Ellsbury. The Cubs will move Castro, who hit 10 homers and stole 22 bases last year, to third (from leadoff) in the batting order this year.
- Before last season, Cleveland's Asdrubal Cabrera hit a total of 18 home runs in four seasons (1,415 at-bats). Out of nowhere, Cabrera hit 25 home runs (in 604 at-bats) last year. In addition to his power surge, he set career highs in runs scored (87) and runs batted in (92) while tying his previous career high in steals (17).
- In 56 games last year, Dodgers shortstop Dee Gordon ran 31 times and was successful of 24 of those steal attempts. While he will provide absolutely no power (zero homers and 11 RBIs last year), he has the potential to lead the league in steals if he plays 150-plus games.
Here are our top 25 shortstops for the 2012 season:
1. Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies
2. Hanley Ramirez, Marlins
3. Jose Reyes, Marlins
4. Starlin Castro, Cubs
5. Elvis Andrus, Rangers
6. Jimmy Rollins, Phillies
7. Asdrubal Cabrera, Indians
8. Jhonny Peralta, Tigers
9. Alexei Ramirez, White Sox
10. Derek Jeter, Yankees
11. J.J. Hardy, Orioles
12. Erick Aybar, Angels
13. Dee Gordon, Dodgers
14. Marco Scutaro, Rockies
15. Yunel Escobar, Blue Jays
16. Stephen Drew, Blue Jays
17. Emilio Bonifacio, Marlins
18. Rafael Furcal, Cardinals
19. Zack Cozart, Reds
20. Ian Desmond, Nationals
21. Sean Rodriguez, Rays
22. Jed Lowrie, Astros
23. Alcides Escobar, Royals
24. Jason Bartlett, Padres
25. Cliff Pennington, Athletics
Other Positions: C - 1B - 2B - 3B - SS - OF - SP - RP
To keep track of our updates, follow us on Twitter @EDSBaseball and/or LIKE us on Facebook.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
(Updated) 2012 Fantasy Baseball Preseason Rankings: Top 25 Third Basemen
After missing 20 games in 2010, Miami's Hanley Ramirez missed many more games (70) last year and was one of the biggest disappointments in all of fantasy baseball.
Not only did Ramirez miss almost half of the season, but he struggled when he was on the field. HanRam hit a career-low .243 and it was the first time since 2006 that he hit below .300. Several months into the season (June 20th), Ramirez was hitting only .200.
Now there is plenty of change in Miami.
The team is no longer called the Florida Marlins, Ozzie Guillen is the team's new manager and the addition of free-agent shortstop Jose Reyes means that Ramirez will shift to third.
Believed to not be thrilled about the move, Ramirez has recently said the right things about the transition.
“I never said I’m not going to do it,” Ramirez said, per Tom D'Angelo of the Palm Beach Post. “I’m just happy to be here, be back in the spring with my guys, my teammates, everybody’s happy. That’s what we need. We got to stay together through the year. We’re looking good. This is the best team I have been in six years with the Marlins.”
Although he's not initially eligible at third base, Ramirez will be eligible at both shortstop and third base by the middle of April.
Here are some notes on third basemen:
- Despite being walked 100-plus times in each of the past two seasons, Toronto's Jose Bautista has hit 97 home runs during that span and has led the majors in the statistic each season. In fact, there have been only four 40-homer seasons over the past two years and Bautista has two of them. Over the past two seasons, Bautista also has 100-plus runs, 100-plus RBIs and nine steals each season.
- Arizona's Ryan Roberts, who is eligible at second as well as third base, fell just shy of a 20-15 season. Roberts finished the season with 19 home runs and 18 stolen bases, both of which were career highs. Roberts also set career highs in runs scored (86) and runs batted in (65).
- Although he missed almost 30 games and hit a career-low .244, Tampa's Evan Longoria hit 31 home runs, only two shy of his career best set in 2009. Longoria finished last season much better than he started it. Over the past two months, he hit 17 home runs and drove in 46 runs in 55 games.
- Mets third baseman David Wright hit a career-low .255 last year and played his fewest games (102) since his rookie campaign. After five straight seasons hitting .300 or better, Wright has had back-to-back sub-.300 batting averages. Since the Mets moved to Citi Field three seasons ago, Wright has hit a total of only 55 home runs, which works out to one homer in every 27.5 at-bats. While the numbers are bad at Citi Field (32.4 at-bats per HR), they're not great on the road (24.2/HR) during that span either.
- San Francisco's Pablo Sandoval played in only 117 games last year, but he still managed to hit 23 homers, only two shy of the career high he set back in 2009, and drove in 70 runs. After the All-Star break, KungFu Panda hit .325 with 15 home runs and 41 runs batted in over 67 games. Not only is Sandoval eligible at third base, but he is first base eligible as well.
- With Baltimore's Mark Reynolds, you know exactly what you're getting. He's going to simultaneously help you (home runs) and hurt you (batting average). Since 2008, only four players have hit more home runs than Reynolds (141): Albert Pujols (163), Ryan Howard (157), Prince Fielder (150) and Mark Teixeira (144). However, no player has struck out more than Reynolds (834) during that span.
- In his 43 games last year, Toronto's Brett Lawrie gave fantasy owners a sample of what he can do -- hit for power and average and steal bases. The former first-round pick (2008) hit .293 with nine home runs, 25 runs batted in and seven steals.
- Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has not played more than 138 games in any of the past four seasons and played his fewest (99 games) last year since 1995. It was also the first time that A-Rod failed to reach 30 home runs or 100 runs batted in since 1995. Considering he turns 37 in July, it's risky to bank on Rodriguez staying healthy enough to reach 140 games for the first time since 2007.
Here are our top 25 third basemen for the 2012 season:
1. Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
2. Evan Longoria, Rays
3. David Wright, Mets
4. Adrian Beltre, Rangers
5. Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals
6. Brett Lawrie, Blue Jays
7. Pablo Sandoval, Giants
8. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
9. Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox
10. Michael Young, Rangers
11. Aramis Ramirez, Brewers
12. David Freese, Cardinals
13. Ryan Roberts, Diamondbacks
14. Mark Reynolds, Orioles
15. Martin Prado, Braves
16. Mike Moustakas, Royals
17. Lonnie Chisenhall, Indians
18. Pedro Alvarez, Pirates
19. Emilio Bonifacio, Marlins
20. Chase Headley, Padres
21. Chipper Jones, Braves
22. Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays
23. Daniel Murphy, Mets
24. Danny Valencia, Twins
25. Placido Polanco, Phillies
Other Positions: C - 1B - 2B - 3B - SS - OF - SP - RP
To keep track of our updates, follow us on Twitter @EDSBaseball and/or LIKE us on Facebook.
Not only did Ramirez miss almost half of the season, but he struggled when he was on the field. HanRam hit a career-low .243 and it was the first time since 2006 that he hit below .300. Several months into the season (June 20th), Ramirez was hitting only .200.
Now there is plenty of change in Miami.
The team is no longer called the Florida Marlins, Ozzie Guillen is the team's new manager and the addition of free-agent shortstop Jose Reyes means that Ramirez will shift to third.
Believed to not be thrilled about the move, Ramirez has recently said the right things about the transition.
“I never said I’m not going to do it,” Ramirez said, per Tom D'Angelo of the Palm Beach Post. “I’m just happy to be here, be back in the spring with my guys, my teammates, everybody’s happy. That’s what we need. We got to stay together through the year. We’re looking good. This is the best team I have been in six years with the Marlins.”
Although he's not initially eligible at third base, Ramirez will be eligible at both shortstop and third base by the middle of April.
Here are some notes on third basemen:
- Despite being walked 100-plus times in each of the past two seasons, Toronto's Jose Bautista has hit 97 home runs during that span and has led the majors in the statistic each season. In fact, there have been only four 40-homer seasons over the past two years and Bautista has two of them. Over the past two seasons, Bautista also has 100-plus runs, 100-plus RBIs and nine steals each season.
- Arizona's Ryan Roberts, who is eligible at second as well as third base, fell just shy of a 20-15 season. Roberts finished the season with 19 home runs and 18 stolen bases, both of which were career highs. Roberts also set career highs in runs scored (86) and runs batted in (65).
- Although he missed almost 30 games and hit a career-low .244, Tampa's Evan Longoria hit 31 home runs, only two shy of his career best set in 2009. Longoria finished last season much better than he started it. Over the past two months, he hit 17 home runs and drove in 46 runs in 55 games.
- Mets third baseman David Wright hit a career-low .255 last year and played his fewest games (102) since his rookie campaign. After five straight seasons hitting .300 or better, Wright has had back-to-back sub-.300 batting averages. Since the Mets moved to Citi Field three seasons ago, Wright has hit a total of only 55 home runs, which works out to one homer in every 27.5 at-bats. While the numbers are bad at Citi Field (32.4 at-bats per HR), they're not great on the road (24.2/HR) during that span either.
- San Francisco's Pablo Sandoval played in only 117 games last year, but he still managed to hit 23 homers, only two shy of the career high he set back in 2009, and drove in 70 runs. After the All-Star break, KungFu Panda hit .325 with 15 home runs and 41 runs batted in over 67 games. Not only is Sandoval eligible at third base, but he is first base eligible as well.
- With Baltimore's Mark Reynolds, you know exactly what you're getting. He's going to simultaneously help you (home runs) and hurt you (batting average). Since 2008, only four players have hit more home runs than Reynolds (141): Albert Pujols (163), Ryan Howard (157), Prince Fielder (150) and Mark Teixeira (144). However, no player has struck out more than Reynolds (834) during that span.
- In his 43 games last year, Toronto's Brett Lawrie gave fantasy owners a sample of what he can do -- hit for power and average and steal bases. The former first-round pick (2008) hit .293 with nine home runs, 25 runs batted in and seven steals.
- Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has not played more than 138 games in any of the past four seasons and played his fewest (99 games) last year since 1995. It was also the first time that A-Rod failed to reach 30 home runs or 100 runs batted in since 1995. Considering he turns 37 in July, it's risky to bank on Rodriguez staying healthy enough to reach 140 games for the first time since 2007.
Here are our top 25 third basemen for the 2012 season:
1. Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
2. Evan Longoria, Rays
3. David Wright, Mets
4. Adrian Beltre, Rangers
5. Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals
6. Brett Lawrie, Blue Jays
7. Pablo Sandoval, Giants
8. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
9. Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox
10. Michael Young, Rangers
11. Aramis Ramirez, Brewers
12. David Freese, Cardinals
13. Ryan Roberts, Diamondbacks
14. Mark Reynolds, Orioles
15. Martin Prado, Braves
16. Mike Moustakas, Royals
17. Lonnie Chisenhall, Indians
18. Pedro Alvarez, Pirates
19. Emilio Bonifacio, Marlins
20. Chase Headley, Padres
21. Chipper Jones, Braves
22. Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays
23. Daniel Murphy, Mets
24. Danny Valencia, Twins
25. Placido Polanco, Phillies
Other Positions: C - 1B - 2B - 3B - SS - OF - SP - RP
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Monday, June 6, 2011
Marlins place Hanley Ramirez on disabled list
For the first time in his major league career, Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez has been placed on the 15-day disabled list (DL) with a back strain.
The move is retroactive to May 30th, which means Ramirez will be eligible to come off the DL on June 14th when the Marlins open up a four-game series against the Phillies.
"I think I feel better today, way better than yesterday and the day before," Ramirez said (via the Miami Herald). "Today is the first day where I feel like everything is coming along. My lower back is getting looser and my hip is better."
So, how soon will he be back on the field?
While Ramirez hopes it's as soon as possible, Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez said, "Nobody knows, not even him."
The Marlins called up left-hander Brad Hand, who was 7-1 with an ERA of 3.53 in Double-A this year. Hand will start Tuesday's game.
Ramirez has struggled -- .210 batting average, four home runs, 17 runs batted in and 11 stolen bases in 48 games this season.
The move is retroactive to May 30th, which means Ramirez will be eligible to come off the DL on June 14th when the Marlins open up a four-game series against the Phillies.
"I think I feel better today, way better than yesterday and the day before," Ramirez said (via the Miami Herald). "Today is the first day where I feel like everything is coming along. My lower back is getting looser and my hip is better."
So, how soon will he be back on the field?
While Ramirez hopes it's as soon as possible, Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez said, "Nobody knows, not even him."
The Marlins called up left-hander Brad Hand, who was 7-1 with an ERA of 3.53 in Double-A this year. Hand will start Tuesday's game.
Ramirez has struggled -- .210 batting average, four home runs, 17 runs batted in and 11 stolen bases in 48 games this season.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Hanley Ramirez misses third straight game, DL decision to come Friday
Earlier in the week, Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez described his back pain as the "worse pain I've ever had in my life, in my career."
Today he missed his third consecutive game.
Per Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post, the Marlins will decide whether or not to place Ramirez on the disabled list on Friday.
The Marlins have Thursday off and then begin a four-game series against the Brewers on Friday.
“We can’t keep going with only one shortstop,” manager Edwin Rodriguez said today (via Capozzi). “Pretty soon we have to make a decision.”
Ramirez is hitting only .210 and has four home runs, 17 runs batted in and 11 stolen bases.
Today he missed his third consecutive game.
Per Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post, the Marlins will decide whether or not to place Ramirez on the disabled list on Friday.
The Marlins have Thursday off and then begin a four-game series against the Brewers on Friday.
“We can’t keep going with only one shortstop,” manager Edwin Rodriguez said today (via Capozzi). “Pretty soon we have to make a decision.”
Ramirez is hitting only .210 and has four home runs, 17 runs batted in and 11 stolen bases.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Hanley Ramirez is day-to-day
Considering Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez needed assistance to get off the field in yesterday's game, it certainly could have been worse.
Bill Hall's attempt to break up a double play resulted in a left leg bruise for Ramirez, who is considered day-to-day, per Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.
Through seven games, Ramirez is hitting only .207 with no home runs and one stolen base.
There's no official word yet on his status for tonight's game against the Astros.
Bill Hall's attempt to break up a double play resulted in a left leg bruise for Ramirez, who is considered day-to-day, per Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.
Through seven games, Ramirez is hitting only .207 with no home runs and one stolen base.
There's no official word yet on his status for tonight's game against the Astros.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Ian Kinsler could miss first four days of season, or not
One of the big knocks on Rangers' second baseman Ian Kinsler is his ability (or, lack thereof) to stay healthy. (The other major knock is his relatively low batting average as he's a career .253 hitter.)
After all, he's averaged only 129 games per season in his four-year Major League career.
Now Kinsler, who's ankle is feeling better, said he was "95 percent certain" that he'd be ready for Opening Day on April 5th, per Anthony Andro of the Dallas Morning News.
Otherwise, he could end up on the disabled list making him eligible to return on April 11th.
"If I miss four days, it's a lot better to miss four days than to miss 15," Kinsler said, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "It's always fun to be part of Opening Day; you've got the huge flags and the planes, and the stadium is packed."
Although there are several players who have the ability to put up 30-30 seasons, such as Matt Kemp (Dodgers) and Hanley Ramirez (Marlins), only one player had a 30-30 season in 2009.
That was Ian Kinsler, who played a career-high 144 games.
Kinsler is the consensus second player at second base drafted in fantasy baseball behind Philadelphia's Chase Utley and will cost you a second-round pick.
After all, he's averaged only 129 games per season in his four-year Major League career.
Now Kinsler, who's ankle is feeling better, said he was "95 percent certain" that he'd be ready for Opening Day on April 5th, per Anthony Andro of the Dallas Morning News.
Otherwise, he could end up on the disabled list making him eligible to return on April 11th.
"If I miss four days, it's a lot better to miss four days than to miss 15," Kinsler said, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "It's always fun to be part of Opening Day; you've got the huge flags and the planes, and the stadium is packed."
Although there are several players who have the ability to put up 30-30 seasons, such as Matt Kemp (Dodgers) and Hanley Ramirez (Marlins), only one player had a 30-30 season in 2009.
That was Ian Kinsler, who played a career-high 144 games.
Kinsler is the consensus second player at second base drafted in fantasy baseball behind Philadelphia's Chase Utley and will cost you a second-round pick.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Hanley Ramirez hit on wrist, won't play Tuesday
Florida Marlins SS Hanley Ramirez left last night's game against the New York Mets in the first inning when John Maine hit him in the wrist with a pitch.
MRI results show that Ramirez doesn't have any broken bones.
However, he won't play Tuesday night and there's a good chance that he won't play Wednesday night either.
Ramirez says he's seeing more inside pitches "know what's going to happen if I throw my hands out front."
On the season, Ramirez is hitting .292 with 2 HRs and 12 RBIs and took an eight-game hitting streak into last night's game.
MRI results show that Ramirez doesn't have any broken bones.
However, he won't play Tuesday night and there's a good chance that he won't play Wednesday night either.
Ramirez says he's seeing more inside pitches "know what's going to happen if I throw my hands out front."
On the season, Ramirez is hitting .292 with 2 HRs and 12 RBIs and took an eight-game hitting streak into last night's game.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Marlins' fans mad at Hanley?
Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez is the object of ire from Marlins' fans per South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
In Friday's game, closer Matt Lindstrom blew a 3-0 lead in the ninth inning. In total, Lindstrom gave up seven earned runs in 2/3 of one inning.
However, the base-running of Ramirez in the fifth inning is the source of frustration for many Marlins' fans.
He admired a shot off the wall for his double. Hustle woulda, coulda, shoulda put him on third. Then, he failed to tag up when Ross Gload lined out to left-center. Then, he decided to attempt to steal third while Dan Uggla was batting and got thrown out.
In Friday's game, closer Matt Lindstrom blew a 3-0 lead in the ninth inning. In total, Lindstrom gave up seven earned runs in 2/3 of one inning.
However, the base-running of Ramirez in the fifth inning is the source of frustration for many Marlins' fans.
He admired a shot off the wall for his double. Hustle woulda, coulda, shoulda put him on third. Then, he failed to tag up when Ross Gload lined out to left-center. Then, he decided to attempt to steal third while Dan Uggla was batting and got thrown out.
"We would have won the game because I would have tagged?" Ramirez said. "I tell you what, it's 162 games. Everybody's going to make mistakes. That's in the past."The Marlins, who are in first in the N.L. East with an 11-6 record, are on the verge of back-to-back sweeps by Pennsylvania teams this week if Philadelphia wins Sunday's game.
"We talked about a lot of stuff," [Marlins manager Fredi] Gonzalez said. "Everything's fine. Players make mistakes. Not only young players but 15-year veterans make mistakes. It happens."
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