Hanley Ramirez's Disappointing Season In Jeopardy

Hanley Ramirez is having the worst season of his career and everybody has taken notice. Okay, by everybody, I mean fantasy owners, the dozen or so of real-life Marlins fans and Logan Morrison. Over 92 games, Ramirez has 10 home runs, 20 steals and a .243/.333/.379 line. He was also giving away his usual share of runs in the field with his special brand of short stop defense which doesn't always require a glove. Ramirez's 1.4 fWAR (Fangraphs wins above replacement) places him 57th in the National League in between Dan Uggla (1.4 fWAR) and Ryan Howard (1.3 fWAR). But all of that might be over now...

There’s a growing sense in the Marlins clubhouse that shortstop Hanley Ramirez won’t be back, either.

That’s not to say that Ramirez (sprained left shoulder) definitely won’t be back. But his return would surprise many people in the organization.

Hanley had surgery on the same shoulder after the 2007 season. And he said the sprain he suffered Aug. 2 while chasing a dropping fly ball was some of the worst he’d ever felt in his career.

Marlins manger and resident octogenarian Jack McKeon acknowledged not having Ramirez was a big blow to the line-up. And it's true. Since McKeon took over on June 20th, Ramirez was hitting a much more respectable .302/.382/.496 line. I'm almost certain this was due to a heart-to-heart conversation Trader Jack and Hanley shared over a handful of Werther's Originals.

Howeva, if Ramirez's season is over, it does loan credence to some of Twitter star (@LoMoMarlins) Logan Morrison's controversial jabs at the Marlins' franchise player. Morrison was recently and unexpectedly sent down to Triple-A New Orleans after these comments...

"What we don't have is experience and a veteran who is in the lineup every day that can be an anchor for us. We don't have it," Morrison told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Morrison was asked if Ramirez could be that player.

"I guess, but he's not there every game," Morrison said of Ramirez, who was placed on the disabled list Wednesday for the second time this season. "It's 162 games. It's not a 100-game season."

Fair enough. This would be Ramirez's first sub-140-games-played season in his MLB career but I have a feeling Morrison spends more time on Twitter or Netflix than Fangraphs.

In conclusion, I can't believe I wasted the second pick in my fantasy league on Ramirez. And LoMo, shoot me an email or tweet, I live in New Orleans. We should go to the Quarter and work on our hitting (on women).

Curveballs for Jobu

Curveballs for Jobu is Offbasepercentage's daily trip around the ballparks.

Todays honorary bat boy is Benny Agbayani.

Marlins 6, Mets 2.

Josh Johnson wasted no time proving that last year's breakout performance was no fluke by taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning. Of course, it was against the Mets who seem to just ooze futility as an organization these days. I may have had a few questionable comments about the Marlins John Buck signing but he made me look like a fool (more of a fool?) by hitting a grand slam. Everbody's favorite baseball tweeter @LomoMarlins also added a homer. Carlos Beltran returned to the Mets lineup going 1-4, so there's that.

White Sox 15, Indians 10.
If Indians fans knew they'd get 10 runs on opening day, they probably would have been ecstatic. But they still got routed by the Sox in a game that was never even close. Adam Dunn launched one in his Sox debut. Thanks to MLB.TV, I didn't have to listen to Hawk Harrelson which is why my laptop isn't smashed into bits right now.

Blue Jays 13, Twins 3.
Blog enemy Carl Pavano tossed some BP for the fellas at the Rogers Center giving up seven earned over four innings. J.P. Arencibia, Jose Bautista and Adam Lind all took Pavano yard. The young Jays catcher wasn't finished either as he hit another homer in the 8th inning. Justin Morneau went 0-4 in his first game back from a season ending concussion that cost him half of last season.

Dodgers 4, Giants 3.
The defending champs fell to 0-2 but Brandon Belt hit his first career home run. I've watched a few of his plate appearances and I don't see any way that the Giants can send him down unless I just jinxed him and he goes on a 0-46 un-tear.

Orioles 4, Rays 1.
Who had Jeremy Guthrie outdueling David Price? Price looked filthy at times and struck out seven over seven but allowed all four earned runs. Brian Roberts hit a triple which is good for my fantasy team because I wasn't sure he was still alive. Mark Reynolds only struck out once, much to my chagrin.

Pirates 6, Cubs 3.
Andrew McCutchen is good at the baseball. The Cubs, not so much.

Royals 2, Angels 1.
Kila Ka'aihue hit the walk off home run against Michael Kohn as Rehab's "Drinking Problem" played in my bedroom.

Also played...
Rangers 9, Red Sox 5.
Mariners 6, A's 2.
Phillies 5, Astros 4.
Diamondbacks 7, Rockies 6 (11).