Someone hit me on the head!

So I'll dance!

Yeah I'll dance!

Well we know what SOMEONE does in their free time!

 

Hanley Ramirez

Born on this date, Hanley Ramirez.

"Now, are they winning without me?" - responding to Marlins President David Samson who said "We just realized we couldn't win with him" after he traded Ramirez to the Dodgers

So Hanley is wearing number 13 for the Dodgers

Thousands of fans with "Ramirez 99" jerseys NOT happy!

Ok, here is the situation so far

*Hanley Ramirez blatantly loafs by barely jogging after a ball on the field that he inadvertently kicked while trying to make a play.

*Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez says he needs more effort than that and benches Ramirez.

*Ramirez says that "oh by the way" he is injured and was giving full effort on the play. He also says Gonzalez doesn't know anything about playing hurt because he never played in the major leagues and says he doesn't really respect him anyway. (ouch!)

*Ramirez' teammates led by Wes Helms say they like Hanley but would need an apology for the lack of hustle before they would welcome him back.

*Ramirez says he is not apologizing to anybody for anything and his teammates loaf too. (gulp)

I think the Marlins need a really good conflict resolution mediator more skilled than anybody they probably have in their HR department.

Dr. Phil?

Jesse Jackson?

Wesley Clark?

Too bad Morton Downey Jr. isn't still alive.

Something isn't right with Cecil

In yesterday's game against the Marlins, Astros manager, Cecil Cooper made a rather mind-bending decision in the 6th inning when he intentionally walked journeyman Nick Johnson to pitch to Hanley Ramirez who is leading the National League in hitting.

It didn't work. Anybody surprised?

Ramirez hit a run-scoring single which broke open a close game eventually ending in a 8-6 win for the Marlins.

I did see the highlights and the several hundred Marlins fans there appeared ecstatic.

Fast forward to this morning where the following conversation took place between Astros owner, Drayton McLane and Cecil Cooper:

McLane: First off. Is everything ok at home?

Cooper: Yep, just fine. Is this about that Nick Johnson/Hanley Ramirez thing last night?

McLane: Well, yes. Lately, you have kind of had us all a little worried.

Cooper: Look. Johnson is left-handed. Ramirez is right-handed. I was setting up a righty/righty match-up with Brian Moehler on the mound. It just didn't work out.

McLane: But Ramirez is leading the league in hitting and hits everybody. We do want you to use some independent judgement with these things.

Cooper: (rolls eyes) It was righty/righty. That is how you are supposed to do it.

McLane: What are Moehler's numbers against Ramirez anyway?

Cooper: Hell if I know! We had a righty/righty match-up!

(Pause)

McLane: Did I ever tell you how important this team is to me?

Cooper: It was righty/righty!

(Silence)

McLane: Are you sure everything is ok at home? We've got programs you know.