Editorials

Despite Struggles, Dodgers Need To Re-Sign Hanley Ramirez

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And did I mention that Ramirez has led shortstops in all of those categories in both seasons he has been in LA? In 2013, Ramirez hit .345 with 20 home runs and 10 stolen bases in just 86 games. (Note: with only 304 at-bats, he technically didn’t qualify for end-of-season awards).



Imagining Ramirez qualified, we’d notice that he led shortstops in OBP by .011 (.402), slugging by .098 (.638) and wRC+ by 50 (191).

To even imply that Ramirez isn’t an elite offensive weapon at shortstop is a disservice. And if he’s gone, who is going to replace him?

Erisbel Arruebarrena

The chief candidate is Erisbel Arruebarrena — the Cuban defensive whiz who spent most of 2014 in the Minors. Between four different levels on Minor League ball, Arruebarrena hit .259 with an OPS of just .721 in 68 games. Of course, as a 24-yeard old defensive-minded player in his first season in the United States, that isn’t all bad.

So is there a clear choice in all of this?

For me, the answer is yes, and for one simple reason. As an observer who watched the Dodgers score just six runs in their final three playoff games, my vote is (and will always be) for more offense.

While this lineup looks sexy on paper (and still will even without Ramirez), the fact is that it simply hasn’t produced up to expectations — and any major subtraction from the lineup will only make that disappointment more pronounced.

It’s easy to see this year’s .283 average from Ramirez and be disappointed — then again, looking at his replacements will bring even more of the same.

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13 Comments

  1. Well said/written. As a fan, I/we can get caught up in the emotion of a moment or frustration of a seemingly failed season, but Jeff Spiegel’s piece snaps all that emotion back to rational, reasonable and a wiser thought.

  2. I don’t think he is a necessary resign. We have the two Cuban guys who can play shortstop.

    1. neither can hit….at least they have not done so at the major league level…

    2. But they haven’t proven much yet. We’ll get a bigger look at them in spring training. If Hanley is willing to take a pay cut in order to win, I’m all for it. If not, he can feel free to sign w/ the Yankees who overpay players.

  3. Love Han Ram as a player….and he was a lot better in the field the last two months…..if healthy, he is awesome

  4. The Dodgers need to get Tulo El Chulo from Colorado to be their Short stop in 2015!

    1. Even if the trade Tulo, they would never send him to LA, and they would ask way to much from us, especially for a talented yet injury prone player.

    2. yeah, and maybe we can get Molina from the Cards….and well other teams are in the mood to trade their best assets we might as well get Cashner from the Padres and Madison from the Giants…

  5. As long as he is okay with moving to third base in 2016 when Uribe leaves and Seager is ready.

  6. I would like to see how his numbers from this season stacked up against third baseman around the league. You have to imagine if we do re-sign him it would be with the thought that he would eventually move to third. I’m not down on the guy I have been following him since he was in Boston’s system and he has been one of my favorites but to imagine him as our short stop for the next 5 years is a scary thought.

  7. To simply put it: Resign Hanley.

    The bigger problem is the bullpen. Sign some bullpen pitchers.

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