Manny Being Grampy: Rangers Sign Ramirez
Lately it occurs to me what a long, strange trip it’s been.
– Truckin, The Grateful Dead
Jul 7, 2013; Round Rock, TX, USA; Round Rock Express designated hitter Manny Ramirez (99) greets fans before a game against the Omaha Storm Chasers at the Dell Diamond. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports
This is a story that simply won’t go away. This week the Texas Rangers signed Manny Ramirez to a minor league contract. That’s right kids. The 41-year old Manny Ramirez.
The veteran masher, whom the the Rangers recently signed to a minor-league contract, is poised for a comeback at least as a DH down the stretch as the Rangers look to complement switch-hitter DH Lance Berkman, recently placed on the DL with a hip injury, in the second half of the season.
This season Ramirez batted .352/.422/.555 for the EDA Rhinos of Taiwan’s Chinese Professional Baseball League. Apparently that was good enough for the Rangers to give Ramirez a shot. Editorial comment: good luck with that.
Sunday night, Ramirez will be in the lineup and batting cleanup for Triple-A Round Rock of the Pacific Coast League and is expected to play the full nine innings.
“I can do it,” Ramirez said during a Sunday news conference. “I’ve been thinking about this day almost for a week. I’m just like a little kid going back and playing the game that I love.” I’ve been thinking about this for almost a week? Classic Manny.
If Ramirez’s Triple-A stint goes well, then he may see part-time duty as a DH for Texas.
Ramirez has 2,574 hits; 555 homers; 574 doubles; a .996 OPS; and nine top-10 MVP finishes during his major-league career.