Ramirez is making a case
If the MVP were decided today, who'd be the choice in the American League?
Voters can't ignore Manny Ramirez.
''Who's having a better year than Manny?" said Red Sox slugger David Ortiz. ''What would we do without Manny?"
It's the same conclusion Sox management reached before the trading deadline. Mike Cameron, Aubrey Huff, and Adam Dunn were among the players the Sox would have reportedly received in return for Ramirez, but only Dunn (33 homers) would have come close to making the same impact in the Sox lineup.
As the Sox get ready for a big weekend series against the White Sox, there's no question that Ramirez has benefited from having Ortiz hitting in front of him and a table-setter such as Johnny Damon, who will also get MVP consideration. Ramirez comes up with a lot of runners on base, and lately he hasn't stranded many.
Mike Barnett, who assists hitting coach Ron Jackson and helps coordinate video for studying, marvels at what Ramirez does to set up a pitcher.
''He's one of the smartest hitters you'll ever see," said Barnett. ''There's no count where a pitcher can say he has an advantage against Manny. He has so much power to all fields. When he's on, Manny adjusts so well to the way pitchers are throwing to him. It's fun to watch."
Ramirez has 10 homers and 26 RBIs in his last 21 games, hitting .358 (24 for 67) during that span. He has 32 homers and a league-high 107 RBIs through 113 games, only slightly below the RBI pace he set in 1999, when he drove in a career-best 165 for the Indians. After hitting just .253 through May, Ramirez has raised his batting average to .288. His OPS of .985 is second (behind Alex Rodriguez) in the league among players with more than 400 plate appearances.
Ramirez's stiffest competition for MVP will come from the Yankees' Rodriguez (AL-best 33 homers, 90 RBIs, .314 average, 1.015 OPS) and Gary Sheffield (.305-23-87), Baltimore's Miguel Tejada (.319-22-75), Texas's Mark Teixeira (.279-31-94), and Los Angeles's Vladimir Guerrero (.315-23-81), as well as teammates Damon (.338 average and 89 runs both AL highs) and Ortiz (.291-26-93).
There's a long way to go, but for all the chaos involving Ramirez this season, the Sox slugger might have his best shot at winning an MVP. The highest he's finished in voting is third, in both 1999 and last season.
Wells still waiting
David Wells, who starts tonight against former White Sox teammate and Cy Young candidate Mark Buehrle, could hear from Major League Baseball by today about a possible date for his appeal hearing. All parties would have to agree to the date and location, and Wells wants to be present so he can tell his version of his July 2 ejection that earned him a six-game suspension.
According to Wells's agent, Greg Clifton, there's a chance the hearing could take place in Anaheim, Calif., when the Sox play the Angels next week.
Wells is in jeopardy of losing a $300,000 incentive he earns for each start between Nos. 21-30. A six-game suspension would cost the lefthander a start, and Wells is hoping to get his penalty at least cut in half. After the Rangers' Kenny Rogers had his 20-game suspension reduced to 13 by an arbitrator Tuesday, Wells might have a good case.
Second thoughts
According to a team source, one scenario the Sox are considering is to release second baseman Mark Bellhorn after his 20-day rehab stint at Pawtucket, get him through waivers, and then outright him to Pawtucket and call him up when rosters are expanded Sept. 1. Judging by recent remarks from manager Terry Francona, the team likes what it gets out of Alex Cora as a utility infielder, and Tony Graffanino has been solid as the starter. Heading into last night's game, his ninth with the PawSox, Bellhorn was batting .152 (5 for 33), with only two extra-base hits, one walk, and 10 strikeouts . . . The Sox are being very careful in how they use Manny Delcarmen, so not to damage his confidence. The Sox think Delcarmen is a long-term answer in the bullpen, and while recent struggles by Chad Bradford (eight of 11 inherited runners have scored) suggest Delcarmen might be more useful in a righthanded setup role, the Sox don't want to push it right now . . . General manager Theo Epstein said it's difficult to make a deal right now because players must clear waivers, however, he's not averse to doing something if it can help the team. ''We're always looking at things and sifting through possibilities," he said. ''Right now our team is winning and playing well. We signed a couple of veteran pitchers in Ricky Bottalico and Matt Perisho and we'll see how they do." Both the righthanded Bottalico and the lefthanded Perisho will be evaluated by Sox scouts this week . . . Epstein had no comment on his contract extension talks with ownership. Epstein's current deal expires at the end of the season . . . Is Gabe Kapler faster than he was last season? The outfielder beat out a ninth-inning infield hit Wednesday night on a ball hit to the strong-armed Michael Young in the shortstop hole, helping to ignite the Sox' nine-run frame. ''I'm probably a bit faster from a lack of playing," Kapler said. ''While I was in Japan, the eating for me was tough. So I didn't eat as much and so I'm probably a little bit lighter. I don't think I'm a lot faster than last year. I mean, I always work on my speed in the offseason because that's part of my game. I felt fresh the first couple of days but then you get entrenched in the daily grind again."
