Monday night Florida Marlins star shortstop Hanley Ramirez was removed from the game in the second inning by his manager Fredi Gonzalez for failing to hustle after a pop-up that he’d booted down the left field line...allowing 2 runners to score.
Tuesday afternoon he was left out of the lineup against the DiamondBacks and Gonzalez said Ramirez would remain out of it until he apologized to his teammates. Prior to the game, Ramirez blasted his manager saying he’d never played in the major leagues and didn’t know what it was like to play hurt.
In the first inning of the game on Monday Ramirez had fouled a 93 mile per hour fastball off his ankle. Gonzalez responded by saying Ramirez was right....he hadn’t played in the majors...but he knew what it took and the effort it took.
Before he was removed from the game..it appeared Gonzalez asked Ramirez if his ankle was bothering him. It also appeared Ramirez indicated it wasn’t. That’s when Gonzalez sent him to the clubhouse.
The defending National League batting champ didn’t seem to have the support of his teammates over the incident either. Wes Helms told reporter Joe Capozzi, “ I can’t overlook it. I know people say that’s just the way he is. But, you know what? That’s not the way the game is played.”
When asked if he should apologize Helms said “It would be good.”
When asked about apologizing before today’s game, Ramirez responded, “For what?”
Gonzalez told reporters that other players were playing hurt Monday night and it didn’t effect their effort. Singling out Cody Ross, Gonzalez said he was hit on the knee by a 95 mile per hour pitch but played the whole game and made a diving catch and drove in a run.
Did Gonzalez do the right thing in pulling Ramirez during the game and embarrassing him? I think so, but what do you think?
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