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2009 MLB National League East Notebook
There probably is no ceiling to how good Florida shortstop Hanley Ramirez’s career is going to be.
Currently nursing a groin injury, Ramirez is on pace to hit 20 home runs, drive in 85 runs and steal 23 bases. Ramirez hit 62 home runs in the last two seasons but has run into delivering a bunch of solo shots. He drove in 81 and 67 runs respectively.
At 6-3 225, Ramirez is one of the great talents in the game. He is a career .310 hitter and is hitting .329 this season but has hit only eight home runs and has 34 RBIs. Of course, he has been a danger on the basepaths with 146 stolen bases for his career.
Ramirez has been slowed by some nagging injuries including the current groin problem. Ramirez is going to be as good as he works.
PHILADELPHIA
It’s really hard to understand what has happened to Phillies second baseman Jimmy Rollins.
A career .274 hitter, Rollins has really struggled this year batting .217. Strikeouts are not the problem because he has only 29 through his first 276 at bats.
He’s just not making very good contact anywhere. Rollins is hitting a horrid .195 at hitting friendly Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia and is batting .202 against left-handers.
Rollins was dropped in the order to sixth to try and get him out of his doldrums. He has since returned to the leadoff spot. But sooner or later, manager Charlie Manuel is going to have to decide if he wants to continue with Rollins or make a switch.
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NEW YORK
First baseman Carlos Delgado’s return to the lineup in August following hip surgery. Delgado has been riding an exercise bicycle. As expected, he’s probably not going to start swinging a bat until around July 4.
Of course, how effective Delgado can be when he returns is another story because power hitters really need their hips in order to turn on pitches. Delgado is at 473 career home runs. He’s hit only 4 this year.
Should he come back, the Mets are hoping will create some infusion but that remains to be seen.
ATLANTA
Right-hander Javier Vazquez is one of those pitchers whose ability and numbers don’t add up in the win column.
Vazquez threw a complete game in a loss to Cincinnati on June 17 but lost, 4-3. Throughout his career between the Braves, Arizona, Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees and Montreal, Vazquez has been a great control pitcher. In 2,355 innings, he has allowed only 620 walks and recorded 2,120 strikeouts.
But a lack of run support has been his nemesis as he is only 131-135 for his career.
WASHINGTON
Rumors over manager Manny Acta’s tenure as Nationals manager are back. Reports surfaced over the weekend that Acta would be fired within days and would be replaced by bench coach Jim Riggleman.
Acta said he spoke with Nationals management recently and was told that it was only a rumor. However, given that the Nationals are hovering around 30 games below .500 and one of the worst teams assembled this decade, it’s really hard to see how Acta is going to make it to the All-Star break.
By Kevin Lonnquist
MLBcenter.com Staff Writer
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