In his second season in Boston, Hanley Ramirez is settling into a leadership role, Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald writes. In the piece, Ramirez addresses a variety of topics, but perhaps the most interesting is his view of the Red Sox and Marlins franchises. “It’s way different,” he says. “Down there, we were just happy to be there and make it to the big leagues. We didn’t have that kind of pressure. Here, it’s about winning, it’s about success and winning.” Ramirez also describes how Mookie Betts looks to him for advice. Lately, of course, Ramirez has mostly led with his bat, hitting .356/.415/.746 in September even before his two-homer outburst today against the Yankees. After a torrid second half in which he’s run his season line up to .290/.361/.503, Ramirez’s current four-year, $88MM contract looks wildly more successful than it did this time last season. Here’s more from around the big leagues.
- Dodgers starter Scott Kazmir developed a blister on his finger after pitching a simulated game Sunday, MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick writes. Manager Dave Roberts says he doesn’t yet know how serious the blister is, but it has to be an annoying development for both player and team. Kazmir has been out since late August with neck inflammation, and the Dodgers are trying to decide who will start for them in the playoffs besides Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill and Kenta Maeda. Kazmir has a 4.59 ERA, 8.9 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9 in 135 1/3 innings so far this season.
- Another injured starter trying to return to action, Stephen Strasburg of the Nationals, played catch on flat ground Saturday, writes MLB.com’s Bill Ladson. Strasburg suffered a flexor mass strain earlier this month and later told reporters he wasn’t sure if he would be able to return for the postseason. Playing catch on flat ground is dramatically different from pitching in a game, but it appears he’s at least taken a first step toward coming back. The 28-year-old has a 3.60 ERA, 11.2 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 in 147 2/3 innings in 2016.
It would be to Dodgers advantage if Kazmir missed the playoffs.
Hanley should win AL Comeback Player of the Year with how hes turned it around this season
100% agree with you, he’s playing like an allstar again, now just hope Pablo will win the Al comeback Player next year!
…Hope Pablo…. retires. You think he’ll be better than the rookies? Pfft.
I believe Pablo will be a salary dump next year, they simply don’t need him…..
Who would take him and his salary? My guess is Boston will pay all of his $$.
Boston might just trade him and pay the majority of his remains $
In my world that is exactly what salary dump means
Yes Natsfan. Its called a salary dump
Yes sir. I keep forgetting about Sandoval…. hope he gives me a reason not to next year.
He’s going to be short term anyway. Moncada, even though he seems not quite ready and neds some time at Pawtucket befor MLB action in 2017 and lets not forget Sam Travis, the 1b Boston drafted 2nd round in 2014, was fast tracked thru the system (like Benentendi), also a teammate of his at Arkansas and already would have gotten MLB time, had he not missed half the season at Pawtucket this year with a torn Achilles.
Travis has hit at every level and has a great eye at the plate. Was figured to be the natural replacement when ortiz retired to take over at 1st, so I wouldn’t be giving Sandoval any time yet. Shaw walked right in during ST this year and took it away before the injury put him on the shelf. Another rookie could put him out to pasture for good.. Big contract or not.
That contract and player wasn’t Dombrowski’s problem and think he has some leeway over it.
Travis was a teammate of Kyle Schwarber not Benintendi
Also Sam Travis could definitely be in Boston at some point in 2017!
I agree that Sandoval currently doesn’t seem to have a place on this team going forward. Moncada will most likely be the starter at 3rd by Memorial Day next year
And Schwarber and Sam Travis were teammates at Indiana while Benintendi was at Arkansas
He’ll be one of the favorites, cano might also for the same reason.
The Doyers must be collecting blisters… Hill, Kazmir, Anderson… Any others?
While it is encouraging to hear that Strasburg is starting a throwing program the true test begins when he starts throwing off a mound. Throwing from a flat ground position doesn’t require the extra extension out front with the baseball like throwing from the mound. That little bit of added extension from the mound trying to get that downward plane will be the true test of how his elbow is progressing .
I would think the Nats need a healthy Strasburg to get to the world series, the Dodgers need Kershaw not Kazmir.