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The Ramon Ramirez file: What you should know about the Sox' new reliever
The Red Sox have traded outfielder Coco Crisp to the Royals for pitcher Ramon Ramirez.
Who?
Our thoughts exactly. Here's what we were able to dig up about the 27-year-old reliever:
SCOUTING REPORT
 (Getty Images Photo) |
A summation of new Red Sox reliever Ramon Ramirez from a major league scout who watched him six times live this season (courtesy of Nick Cafardo):
"Throws 92-95 [mph] with a heavy, late-life fastball . . . Gets away with mistakes over the middle of the plate because his fastball has so much late life . . . second-best arm in that bullpen [to Joakim Soria] . . . Likes to challenge hitters . . . Definitely a setup man with potential to be a closer down the road . . . Plus fastball, plus slider, has a splitter or something that resembles a splitter . . . Average command . . . Deceptive delivery makes it hard for righthanded hitters to pick up his fastball . . . Hitters can't pick up his arm slot on the backside . . . Needs to tweak his off-speed pitches . . . Can throw his slider too hard . . . Very athletic. Fields his position well . . . Has an above-average 1.22 [second] release point [from the breaking of his hands to catchers mitt] on his slide step, 1.3 from the windup . . . Works fast."
Major league facts and figures
- He made his major league debut on April 14, 2006 and didn't allow a run until May 15, setting a Rockies rookie record for scoreless relief innings to start a career (15 1/3). It was the longest such streak since 2001.
- He posted a 2.92 ERA in the first half of the 2006 season before hitters figured him out. His July ERA was 6.23, and his second-half ERA was 4.11.
- Despite the struggles, he set Colorado franchise marks for ERA (3.46) and strikeouts (61) by a rookie reliever. Opponents hit just .230 against him, second-best on the team behind closer Brian Fuentes (.209).
- He struggled in spring training in 2007 and elbow problems limited him to 22 appearances (8.31 ERA, 1.55 WHIP).
- Former Colorado teammate Jose Mesa took Ramirez under his wing in 2007.
- He had issues last year with some former teammates, allegedly throwing at ex-Rockies batterymate Yorvit Torrealba.
- After pitching in nine spring games in 2008 and posting a 1.42 ERA with 13 strikeouts and three walks in 12 2/3 innings, he was traded to the Royals for a player to be named later (Jorge De La Rosa).
- He spent the entire 2008 season with the Royals, going 3-2 with one save and a 2.64 ERA as the bridge to closer Joakim Soria.
- His 21 holds in 2008 ranked him seventh (tie) among American League relievers, and he was among AL relief leaders in innings (71 2/3 IP, 11th) and strikeouts (70 K, 13th).
- His 71 appearances were the 10th-best in the AL and the 10th-highest total in Royals history.
- Has struck out 146 hitters in 156 2/3 innings for his career.
- Stats against the Red Sox: 3 innings in 3 appearances, 2 hits, 3 strikeouts, no runs allowed.
- In his only appearance at Fenway (May 20, 2008) he faced the heart of the Red Sox order, and whiffed Dustin Pedroia, forced a David Ortiz tapper to first, and struck out Manny Ramirez swinging.
- According to ESPN's Peter Gammons, he had the second-lowest home runs per innings pitched rate in the AL last year. He has allowed 9 home runs in his career.
- He held righties to a .153 average, lowest in the AL and third-best in the majors among pitchers with at least 50 games. Only Chicago's Carlos Marmol (.103) and Philly's Brad Lidge (.105) were better.
- Another key stat: In 2008, batters swung at 33.3 percent of his pitches outside the strike zone. Among AL relievers with more than 50 innings pitched, only Jonathan Papelbon (34.3 percent) and Mariano Rivera (36.3) had a better rate.
- He is under Boston's control for at least two more seasons and is not arbitration eligible until 2011. He made $397,000 in 2008.
Before reaching the majors
- The vitals: Born Aug. 31, 1981. He is 27 years old. Stands 5-foot-11, 190 pounds.
- Born in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, the same birthplace of former Diamondbacks infielder Tony Batista.
- The Rangers signed him as a 15-year-old free agent on Dec. 27, 1996, though Texas believed him to be 16.
- He hit .245 in 39 games for the Rangers' Dominican Summer League squad in 1997. He failed to progress at the plate and was released on June 4, 98.
- According to a story, he worked in a Coca-Cola bottling factory after the Rangers released him.
- He spent the late 90s on the fringes of pro baseball, presumably learning how to pitch.
- He joined the Hiroshima Carp Dominican Republic academy in 2000 and in 2002, pitched in two games for the Carp in Japan.
- The Yankees picked him up via the posting system in Feb. 2003 for $300,050.
- That year, he shot up the ranks, from the Single-A Tampa Yankees to Triple-A Columbus, going 3-10 with a 4.43 ERA in 20 games.
- Baseball America ranked him the No. 5 pitcher in the Yankees' system for 2003.
- In 2004, he was sent down to Double-A ball after going 0-3, 8.50 to start the year at Triple-A. With Double-A Trenton, he went 4-6, 4.62 in 18 starts. According to Baseball-Reference, he led the league in strikeouts per 9 innings ratio with 10.1 K/9 IP.
- In 2005, Ramirez again struggled in Triple-A, going 1-3 with a 5.33 ERA in 6 games. He was demoted again, going 6-5 with a 3.84 ERA in 15 games for Trenton.
- Just before the 2005 trade deadline, he was traded to Colorado with righthanded pitcher Eduardo Sierra for righthanded pitcher Shawn Chacon.
- Ramirez was assigned to Double-A Tulsa and went 2-1 with a 5.33 ERA in 9 games.
Information from Globe and Boston.com Staff, MLB.com, the Red Sox' public relations department, The Denver Post, Baseball-Reference.com and other sources were used in this report.
IT WOULD BE SO MUCH NICER IF YOU WOULD INSERT A "PRINT ENTRY" OPTION AFTER EACH ENTRY SO THE USER DOES NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LONG PROCESS TO PRINT JUST WHAT HE WANTS.
ON THE TRADE: IT IS A GOOD ENABLING TRADE! WE GET A GOOD RELIEF PITCHER, COCO GETS A FIRM STARTING POSITION. AND, THE REDSOX GAIN FLEXABILITY: THEY CAN MOVE MASTERSON TO THE ROTATION, AND SIGN BALDELLI AS THE FOURTH OUTFIELDER!
Being the skeptic I am, if this guy is so good (and he sounds VERY good), how are we getting him for a fifth wheel (albeit a very good fifth wheel) like Crisp?
Looks like a typically well-researched Red Sox move. Good trade! (Crisp is gonna regret his demands for a trade, though.)
. Sounds like Ramon has landed in the right place.Coco was a good player for the red sox when he was't injured. we have a good centerfielder along with some great potential in the minor leagues. Hope some time is spent with exposito the fine looking catcher that probably will be going to Salem this year. Looks like he may be the only catcher in the system who will be able to play in the majors. Although Lars Anderson is coming along quickly you can't pass up onn Texiera. They will find a place for him.
sounds like a much younger, more effective Mike Timlin
I hate the red sox, so like a child I hope he does poorly and the trade bites the red sox in the ass.
Give him # 24, so I dont have to buy another jersey !!!
It'd be nice if you turned off your caps lock. Idiot.
I like this trade. Seems thought out. I remember Ramirez' arm this year. He was deceptive, chucks it hard. Let him and Delcarmen battle it out, and don't trade Masterson, he's a stud. Wonder weather Ramon can handle the Boston stage and media scrutiny though.
Crisp finally got healthy and played up to his salary into the playoffs. Perfect time to move him. Spread his $5.75 mil. toward a good fourth outfielder and more pitching. As good as his glove was, his arm was below average. I never liked his breakfast cereal name form the get-go.
COULD YOU NOT PRINT IN CAPS? I FIND IT EXTREMELY ANNOYING.
HERE'S AN IDEA, IT'S CALLED COPY AND PASTE.
Dear Robert who hates the red sox - Eat your heart out! Hahaa!
Sounds pretty awesome, except for the injury report and the fact that he threw at a teammate. That Fenway appearance? Well, i must have been off that day, gave tix away to a friend, but he does sound and seem like the real deal.
As for Robert, 5:27 p.m.: Try the new Yankee Stadium, and the old, and getting older by the minute, Brian Cashman. At least you might get seats, if Steinbrenners might wish to let morons like you into the Bronx; just pay your $8 toll and drive by on BQE, while waving bye-bye to the First Division of the American League East.
Thaks, Theo, thanks John Henry, thanks Tom Werner, and best regards to the ALCS co-mps.
Fink
My last picture of Coco was him standing at the dougout rail watching without any expression as everyone around him was jumping for joy at a home run or scored a-go ahead tally. Unhappy camper. Good luck Coco
I have to say I'll miss Coco ... the guy should be a starting CF on most teams unfortunately he'll be wasting X many years in worthless K.C. And he thought Cleveland was bad! After losing Johnny (the trader) Damon to the Bronx, Coco was a GREAT replacement. Everyone knew we couldn't keep Coco around for next year; hopefully Ramirez has the junk to bolster the pen.
Robert, I can't stand people like you. Why are you on a Boston site reading Red Sox articles if you hate our kind so much. Go to New York sites instead and read articles about your man crushes Derek "I drink wine coolers" Jeter and Alex "my lips are purple" Rodriguez.
It's hard to get excited about a trade for a set up reliever. Although I'm sure he will do better than Mike Timlin would have done in 2009. I look for a lot of doubles out of Crisp playing on that KC carpet. Of course, that won't put them any closer to being a contender in the Al Central.
the trade appears to be good-still need another fielder for crisp.do not like the idea that buchollz can take mastersons place
.
I have to admit that I am a Yankees fan from Brooklyn. I think this was a great trade and is just another example of how your GM has been outsmarting the league for years. I'm happy that your new ownership came along to relieve your pain. I understand. The Yankees didn't win for 12 years (1965-1976) Admit it, we need our rivalry and our living and dying on every pitch. We're not Californians where the most important thing at the ballpark is the food. Let's respect each other. I don't understand how you guys let the Devil Rays beat you. I thought you would have won the series in 5 games. I feel your pain once again. Help us eliminate the Rays next year and put them back in the cellar where they belong so that we may square off against each other. Good Luck it looks like the Steinbrenner's may be back to their old obnoxios spending ways.
KC fan here, love reading comments of others, esp in this case wanted to guage what you Red Sox fans thought about Crisp - personally, I think it's a good trade for both teams: BoSox will have a good setup guy (and closer in a pinch) in RamRam - he was very effective as setup for Joakim "The Mexicutioner" Soria and should do well for Papelbon
from our side: Crips gives us am excellent CF (albeit with weak arm) and much improved speed and baserunning skills - he's fiery and our clubhouse needs that - great bunter as well, and switch hitter, so that gives us a lot of flexibility overall he plays even near his "potential" you'll see a vastly improved KC team this year
From a adamant royals fan's perspective:
Watching almost all the royals games this year (as sometimes disapointing as they were) Ramon Ramirez, or RamRam as he went by here, was one of the most dominant arms out of our 'pen. Great life in his fastball as stated above but, it was his changeup that was by far one of the most dominant pitches you could see in baseball today. Definitely his out pitch. Look forward to seeing aggressive approach to every batter, no fear with this guy. Though, be in for some struggles late in the season as the royals used him 76 times this year. Two years ago we used a pitcher in the same way- Joel Peralta - and the next year his ERA ballooned over 5.5 and never was the name. Dayton Moore seems to know how to make a solid bullpen except it's on a year-to-year basis as he's shown no reservations in keeping the good ones around (i.e., RamRam, Leo Nunez, David Riske, Octavio Dotel, all in the last two years) and still keeping our 'pen as one of the best, cheapest in the league.
Good luck Sox fans (but really not)
all you have to do is highlight the spot you want. go to file > print> click on selection
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