Hanley Ramirez arrived in Fort Myers for Red Sox spring training and told the media that his goal is to win the Gold Glove award at first base this year.
That’s right folks, you read that correctly. Make-shift first baseman, Hanley Ramirez, told the media earlier that his goal this year is to win the Gold Glove award at first base.
I’m going to be honest with you, when I first found out about what Ramirez said, I almost laughed harder than anyone should in public. GOLD GLOVE!? Does he realize that the Gold Glove award goes to the best defensive fielder at each position? And Hanley believes he can win it!? I’m sorry, but that warm Florida air must be getting to him because up here in New England, people continue to view Ramirez as nothing but a sinking ship.
When designated hitter David Ortiz calls it a career after the 2016 season, Ramirez seems to be the guy that will be taking his spot and becoming the new DH. But Ramirez may have other plans.
"“What if I win a Gold Glove?” Ramirez said, per NESN’s Ricky Doyle. “What is going to happen next year? It’s too far [away]. I don’t make those decisions. I have a boss.”"
What’s going to happen next year? I can think of something that may happen. When I look in my crystal ball and see what will happen in the future, (hypothetically speaking of course) I see Ramirez “hustling” down to first base, snapping a hamstring, limping his way to the dugout, and then seeing him next on the 15-day disabled list. When Hanley goes down, Travis “Mayor of Ding Dong City” Shaw will take over and continue what he did in the last two months of the 2015 season where he had a slash of .310/.365/.625 in August.
I do love Ramirez’s confidence. I’d rather have him be thinking positive than seeing him dreading the fact he has to learn a new position.
"“I know that area in the infield,” Ramirez explained. “It’s different. Like I say, I’m really happy to be back in the infield. It’s been a while that I haven’t taken ground balls in a real game and I’m really excited.”"
Besides the fact that one of his goals is to win a Gold Glove, he also wants to make sure that all of his fellow infielders can trust him.
"“We’re going to work a lot.” Ramirez explained. “I just want to make my infielders comfortable. Catch the ball and throw it. That’s the main key right now. I told Bogey [shortstop, Xander Bogaerts] right away, ‘Just throw the ball in this area and you’ll be fine. Don’t worry, I got you.’ Pedey [second baseman, Dustin Pedroia], he don’t make bad throws, I’m always going to hit you in the chest.”"
This is just me being a negative Nancy but I bet that he probably told the pitching staff last season that if a ball was hit his way, they wouldn’t have to worry…because he’s got them.
Next: Red Sox need to win season-opening series
Like I said before, I’m not upset about Hanley Ramirez having big goals in 2016. But the last thing that anyone wants to watch is him playing first base like he played left field.