Jon Lester Speaks Out About His Dislike For Hanley Ramirez

[BoSox21]

Lester was asked if by some miracle he and Ramirez, back when they were eager minor leaguers, had perhaps gone out for a pizza one night and talked about someday playing in the All-Star Game.

 

It was a cheese ball question, but, well, you never know.

 

Lester’s answer, however, was anything but cheese ball. And it served as yet another reminder that the Red Sox really do have a throwback pitcher in their midst, a man with a Bob Gibson-type personality who, even in the glow of the All-Star Game, is willing to point out who is in his corner and who is not. Mark down Hanley Ramirez as not being on the Lester family’s Christmas card list.

“I’d have a better chance of being struck by lightning than me and him getting a pizza together,” he said. “You can take that for what it’s worth. But there was no chance on God’s green earth that I was getting a pizza with him.”

 

Jon Lester’s thoughts on Hanley Ramirez say a lot - Steve Buckley - Boston Herald

 

Outstanding!

[yeszir]

Awesome.

[Rdsxmbnt]

Nice, probably won't be seeing Hanley in town anytime soon though

[VA Sox Fan]

Another reason to like Lester.

[Dojji]

Heh. It's nice to see someone get past all the generic face-saving catch phrases and actually SAY something, even if it's a bit unflattering to another player I like.

 

Realistically, I think we all know that Hanley is Jeter's successor in NY anyway.

[BoSox21]

What surprised me, and Buckley points this out, is that the answer came after such a clear cheese ball question. Lester is just fantastic.

[Palodios]

I've never heard Lester talk like that about anyone. This changes my opinion of Hanley immensely, especially after Ortiz was talking about him like he was a son to him.

[BoSox21]

This changes my opinion of Hanley immensely' date=' especially after Ortiz was talking about him like he was a son to him.[/quote']

 

His leisurely jog after he booted that ball wasn't enough for you?

[Palodios]

His leisurely jog after he booted that ball wasn't enough for you?

 

I've only seen Hanley play once and that was spring training. So yeah, after the way he and Ortiz treated eachother, I felt skeptical about some of the criticism on him.

[italstallianion]

I think they need to hug it out.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

lol, If he can't even give a reason for not liking Hanley then he shouldn't say anything in my opinion. Have some balls and say what your problem is.

[BoSox21]

Lester is and was known as a quiet, reserved gamer. Hanley is and was known as a primadonna with attitude problems. I think the problem is and was obvious.

[Spudboy]

This article may help fans to understand what Lester said and did not say.

 

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/red-sox/alex-speier/2009/06/19/hanley-ramirez-offers-reminder-about-what-could-have-be?page=

[Keeper]

lol' date=' If he can't even give a reason for not liking Hanley then he shouldn't say anything in my opinion. Have some balls and say what your problem is.[/quote']

 

Lester is and was known as a quiet' date=' reserved gamer. Hanley is and was known as a primadonna with attitude problems. I think the problem is and was obvious.[/quote']

 

This.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

Yeah, the problems with Hanley are obvious, but he's still a damn good player and I'd rather have him here at SS then anyone we've had recently. When it comes down to it who gives a f*** how he acts? It's about how he produces, and he produces well. Either way I think talking s*** to the media and not straight up saying what your problem is with someone is pretty lame, regardless if it's well known about that other person's actions.

[Palodios]

This article may help fans to understand what Lester said and did not say.

 

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/red-sox/alex-speier/2009/06/19/hanley-ramirez-offers-reminder-about-what-could-have-be?page=

 

This article points out something interesting. Pedroia was the defensive player of the year at shortstop in the NCAA. If he was that good in college at SS, it makes you wonder if maybe they should have made him a SS this offseason.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

This article points out something interesting. Pedroia was the defensive player of the year at shortstop in the NCAA. If he was that good in college at SS' date=' it makes you wonder if maybe they should have made him a SS this offseason.[/quote']

 

Wow, really? I never knew that.

[Dojji]

i have no doubt in my mind that Pedroia would have been an adequate SS, but he's a great 2B. Replacing our slapdash SS situation with a slapdash 2B situation isn't an upgrade and Pedroia is frankly an awesome second baseman, so if it works don't fix it.

[msubulldogs21]

I think most people have come to realize that Hanley is a douche now.

[Dojji]

He could still come play for me anyday.

 

When the Marlins figure out that the guy who should be the face of their franchise is Josh Johnson and not Hanley, I hope the Sox are ready to swoop in with a credible offer and he can come back and play 3B for us..

[redsoxrules]

He could still come play for me anyday.

 

When the Marlins figure out that the guy who should be the face of their franchise is Josh Johnson and not Hanley, I hope the Sox are ready to swoop in with a credible offer and he can come back and play 3B for us..

 

didn't you bitch about when Manny was on this team and was being a douche and was glad when he was gone ?

[Dojji]

Me? No, I was one of the few Manny defenders, until it was abundantly clear that the trade rumors were being driven by Manny.

[Space Man]

I would love the production from Hanley, but it isn't worth it to have his lack of hustle, in my opinion.

 

Questioning Pedroia's ability to play short is the same mistake everybody that has questioned him this far has made. He was the NCAA DPOY! That is not the San Pee Pee League... People have said he couldn't do any of the things he has done, and what happened? That's right...laser show.

[Dojji]

if you could come up with a 2Bman in this organization who's better than Scutaro it might be worth the experiment, if you can't do that you're taking a risk without any realistic potential to gain anything.

 

When Pedroia played SS in 2006 one of the first things you noticed was that he was a little light in the arm department, especially throwing from the hole, and the step and a half MLB players have over college players was making a difference in the form of infield hits. That's one of the areas where playing 2B really is easier than SS and probably why he's over there. Sure, a guy can improve at throwing out baserunners, but why bother when you have another positional running sore that was as bad or worse at the time than SS that the guy can lock down forever and not have to worry about it.

 

When you thrown in the fact that Mike Aviles was moved from SS to 2B down in KC because trying to play SS with a weaker than average arm resulted in him needing TJS, I just think the FO called this one right.

 

EDIT: I'm on aspirin for a toothache, so if I don't find and correct all the places where I spell things phonetically, which I always do when I'm on painkillers, please understand.

[Palodios]

Of the guys available in free agents that could play SS, and 2B, Scutaro was the safest bet, and the only of those other guys who turned out better was Al-gon, but no one could have predicted his season. I only brought up the SS comment because I found it interesting-- they said he played SS in college, but that's a pretty big award.

[jacksonianmarch]

He could still come play for me anyday.

 

When the Marlins figure out that the guy who should be the face of their franchise is Josh Johnson and not Hanley, I hope the Sox are ready to swoop in with a credible offer and he can come back and play 3B for us..

 

If Hanley got dealt, a Justin Smoak type prospect would need to go back and frankly, the sox dont have that right now with Casey Kelly struggling in AA and no big name on the cusp. The sox system, after all their promotions (Lester, Buchholz, Youk, Pedroia, Papelbon, Delcarmen, etc etc etc) is a bit bare at the top with true blue chip players. In a yr, Kelly will probably be up there and in 3 yrs or so your HS talent from a yr ago should start shining through

[Palodios]

I think the Sox farm is in better shape than it has been for a few years. The Westmoreland tragedy was a major hit to the organization, but the team has several guys within a year from the majors, and well, after the wave that ended in 2007, there really haven't been those kinds of guys in the depth chart. They definitely have enough 4 star prospects to make a deal happen, but I still seriously doubt they're going to make a major deal.

[jacksonianmarch]

I think the Sox farm is in better shape than it has been for a few years. The Westmoreland tragedy was a major hit to the organization' date=' but the team has several guys within a year from the majors, and well, after the wave that ended in 2007, there really haven't been those kinds of guys in the depth chart. They definitely have enough 4 star prospects to make a deal happen, but I still seriously doubt they're going to make a major deal.[/quote']

 

Pal, I agree completely that the entire farm is in better shape now than it has been previously. Thing is, the sox hit so hard on their prospects that they have created a ridiculously high standard. Fact is, they have more talent from AAA to the DSL than they have had in my memory. THe problem is, when it comes to major, franchise player trades, most teams want upper level talent and the sox just dont have a major chip in the upper levels. Give them 2 yrs and that problem will be rectified

[Dipre]

As much as it pains me to say it, Jacko's right, the Sox farm system is currently extremely bottom-heavy due to the amount of prospects either graduating or being used as trade chips.

[example1]

As much as it pains me to say it' date=' Jacko's right, the Sox farm system is currently extremely bottom-heavy due to the amount of prospects either graduating or being used as trade chips.[/quote']

 

Except I don't think he's right about Kelly. He's being challenged at a high level and is adjusting. Apparently those who are watching him still see tons of promise and think he'll be a top of the rotation guy.