Cycling: While Floyd Landis tries to throw Lance Armstrong under the bus, the seven-time Tour de France winner is out West riding in the Tour of California. And in Stage 5 he’s riding in honor of LaTrice (Haney) Vaughn, a nurse who helped Armstrong during his fight with cancer. Yeah, such a jamoke, huh Floyd? Here’s Armstrong talking about yesterday’s honoree, the Stage 4 ride and LaTrice:
MLB: Milton Bradley doesn’t want to talk with the media about his issues, but he will say he’s glad to be back with the Mariners. "I don’t have all the answers. I’m not saying I’m cured or whatever you may call it," Bradley told the Tacoma News Tribune. "But I’m working ever so hard and I’m committed to this process and it’s going to be an ongoing thing. It’s the best thing for me. And I’m glad I took this time."
MLB meets NHL: George Brett isn’t too optimistic about Kansas City landing an NHL or NBA team. He knows a bit about it having unsuccessfully tried to buy the Royals a while back. "No one stepped up in the past," Brett tells the Kansas City Star. "So for someone to step forward in the future, that means there’s gotta be someone new in town. And I don’t know anybody new in town with the deep pockets to do that."
NASCAR: Who is James Edward Neal, you ask? A former C-list NASCAR driver who got busted doing up to 140 mph on the California highways after trying to elude police in a high-speed chase. Even at 56, a racer should be able to elude a cruiser, right? As scribe Jay Busbee points out, equipment failure gets the best of ’em.
Cycling: While Floyd Landis tries to throw Lance Armstrong under the bus, the seven-time Tour de France winner is out West riding in the Tour of California. And in Stage 5 he’s riding in honor of LaTrice (Haney) Vaughn, a nurse who helped Armstrong during his fight with cancer. Yeah, such a jamoke, huh Floyd? Here’s Armstrong talking about yesterday’s honoree, the Stage 4 ride and LaTrice:
MLB: Milton Bradley doesn’t want to talk with the media about his issues, but he will say he’s glad to be back with the Mariners. "I don’t have all the answers. I’m not saying I’m cured or whatever you may call it," Bradley told the Tacoma News Tribune. "But I’m working ever so hard and I’m committed to this process and it’s going to be an ongoing thing. It’s the best thing for me. And I’m glad I took this time."
MLB meets NHL: George Brett isn’t too optimistic about Kansas City landing an NHL or NBA team. He knows a bit about it having unsuccessfully tried to buy the Royals a while back. "No one stepped up in the past," Brett tells the Kansas City Star. "So for someone to step forward in the future, that means there’s gotta be someone new in town. And I don’t know anybody new in town with the deep pockets to do that."
NASCAR: Who is James Edward Neal, you ask? A former C-list NASCAR driver who got busted doing up to 140 mph on the California highways after trying to elude police in a high-speed chase. Even at 56, a racer should be able to elude a cruiser, right? As scribe Jay Busbee points out, equipment failure gets the best of ’em.
ST. LOUIS — One locker stall at a time, Hanley Ramirez worked his way around the Florida clubhouse to offer his apologies.
A few hours later, the Marlins star was back in a more familiar, comfortable place: batting third and playing shortstop. The team was ready to put the unsightly outburst that led to a benching behind them.
"He told us he was sorry and he was wrong … and he wouldn’t let it happen again," teammate Wes Helms said Wednesday. "Doing it that way is a lot easier than doing it front of a whole crowd.
"Whatever way he does it, we just wanted him to do it, and he did it. So now it’s done with," he said.
Ramirez singled in his first two at-bats against Jaime Garcia of the St. Louis Cardinals. He was roundly booed before he came up the first time and there was no reaction when he stepped to the plate leading off the third.
Two days after pulling Ramirez for not hustling, manager Fredi Gonzalez handled his clear-the-air chat with the two-time All-Star like a father with a son that’s been grounded. Then Gonzalez put out the lineup card that included the reigning NL batting champion, and tossed away an alternate card he had prepared just in case.
"I think we’re all parents here," Gonzalez said.. "Sometimes our children will say something that hurts, but it’s no big deal, we still love them.
"After this is all said and done, 10-15 years down the road we’ll sit down and say: ‘What a privilege to get a chance to manage this type of ballplayer.’"
Ramirez didn’t play Tuesday after taking shots at his manager and teammates. Gonzalez considered the matter old news after chatting for five or 10 minutes with Ramirez in the manager’s office — Ramirez stood just inside an open door — several hours before a game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Gonzalez seemed surprised when more than a dozen members of the media were waiting for his daily briefing, which on this day was all about Ramirez.
Asked whether the benching had made a point, he told reporters who had been critical of Ramirez that "you guys made the point."
"People make mistakes, it happens, it really does. We’re human beings, you know," Gonzalez said. "Sometimes it happens because you’re mad at yourself, sometimes it happens because you lose concentration."
A team spokesman said Ramirez did not plan to speak with the media, although the shortstop did a telephone interview with ESPNDesportes.
"I regret that all this has gotten so ugly," Ramirez said in Spanish. "It wasn’t my intention to create a distraction.I feel bad that things got to this point; the team and the fans don’t deserve it."
Helms said the apologies were said quickly, with little embellishment.
"I’m pretty sure he said the same thing to everybody. It didn’t take long," Helms said. "Just I’m sorry, won’t happen again."
Helms said he told Ramirez, "Hanley, you’re better than that," and said Ramirez responded, "I know. I shouldn’t have said the things I said."
Gonzalez had no concerns how he was viewed for putting his foot down with a star player.
"This wasn’t about me or him, this was about doing the right thing, it’s about playing the game the right way," Gonzalez said. "I just see a guy that loves the game and respects the game of baseball and tries to leave it the same way or better when we’re done."
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa supported his fellow manager.
"I don’t want to disrespect Hanley, I know he’s a great talent," La Russa said. "We see him in spring training, we have a good relationship, our club, our coaches and him.
"But I think Fredi did the right thing."
La Russa said the Ramirez blowout was a sign of the times.
"It’s more frequent ever since talented players started feeling like they were entitled," La Russa said. "They grew up without people telling them what was right and wrong. So this happens a hell of a lot more often than it used to, a ton of times more often than it used it, and it happens often enough without it being real public."
Ramirez accidentally kicked a ball about 100 feet and then jogged leisurely after it, allowing two runs to score on Monday night, and wasn’t in the lineup on Tuesday.
Earlier Monday, Ramirez fouled a ball off his left shin and was tended to by a trainer, then grounded into a double play and failed to run full speed down the line. He was taken out of the game.
"It’s his team. He can do whatever," Ramirez said the next day, mixing in an expletive. "There’s nothing I can do about it."
Ramirez was hitting .293 with seven homers and 20 RBIs and is the Marlins’ highest-paid player, in the third year of a six-year, $70 million contract.
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
ST. LOUIS — One locker stall at a time, Hanley Ramirez worked his way around the Florida clubhouse to offer his apologies.
A few hours later, the Marlins star was back in a more familiar, comfortable place: batting third and playing shortstop. The team was ready to put the unsightly outburst that led to a benching behind them.
"He told us he was sorry and he was wrong … and he wouldn’t let it happen again," teammate Wes Helms said Wednesday. "Doing it that way is a lot easier than doing it front of a whole crowd.
"Whatever way he does it, we just wanted him to do it, and he did it. So now it’s done with," he said.
Ramirez singled in his first two at-bats against Jaime Garcia of the St. Louis Cardinals. He was roundly booed before he came up the first time and there was no reaction when he stepped to the plate leading off the third.
Two days after pulling Ramirez for not hustling, manager Fredi Gonzalez handled his clear-the-air chat with the two-time All-Star like a father with a son that’s been grounded. Then Gonzalez put out the lineup card that included the reigning NL batting champion, and tossed away an alternate card he had prepared just in case.
"I think we’re all parents here," Gonzalez said.. "Sometimes our children will say something that hurts, but it’s no big deal, we still love them.
"After this is all said and done, 10-15 years down the road we’ll sit down and say: ‘What a privilege to get a chance to manage this type of ballplayer.’"
Ramirez didn’t play Tuesday after taking shots at his manager and teammates. Gonzalez considered the matter old news after chatting for five or 10 minutes with Ramirez in the manager’s office — Ramirez stood just inside an open door — several hours before a game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Gonzalez seemed surprised when more than a dozen members of the media were waiting for his daily briefing, which on this day was all about Ramirez.
Asked whether the benching had made a point, he told reporters who had been critical of Ramirez that "you guys made the point."
"People make mistakes, it happens, it really does. We’re human beings, you know," Gonzalez said. "Sometimes it happens because you’re mad at yourself, sometimes it happens because you lose concentration."
A team spokesman said Ramirez did not plan to speak with the media, although the shortstop did a telephone interview with ESPNDesportes.
"I regret that all this has gotten so ugly," Ramirez said in Spanish. "It wasn’t my intention to create a distraction.I feel bad that things got to this point; the team and the fans don’t deserve it."
Helms said the apologies were said quickly, with little embellishment.
"I’m pretty sure he said the same thing to everybody. It didn’t take long," Helms said. "Just I’m sorry, won’t happen again."
Helms said he told Ramirez, "Hanley, you’re better than that," and said Ramirez responded, "I know. I shouldn’t have said the things I said."
Gonzalez had no concerns how he was viewed for putting his foot down with a star player.
"This wasn’t about me or him, this was about doing the right thing, it’s about playing the game the right way," Gonzalez said. "I just see a guy that loves the game and respects the game of baseball and tries to leave it the same way or better when we’re done."
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa supported his fellow manager.
"I don’t want to disrespect Hanley, I know he’s a great talent," La Russa said. "We see him in spring training, we have a good relationship, our club, our coaches and him.
"But I think Fredi did the right thing."
La Russa said the Ramirez blowout was a sign of the times.
"It’s more frequent ever since talented players started feeling like they were entitled," La Russa said. "They grew up without people telling them what was right and wrong. So this happens a hell of a lot more often than it used to, a ton of times more often than it used it, and it happens often enough without it being real public."
Ramirez accidentally kicked a ball about 100 feet and then jogged leisurely after it, allowing two runs to score on Monday night, and wasn’t in the lineup on Tuesday.
Earlier Monday, Ramirez fouled a ball off his left shin and was tended to by a trainer, then grounded into a double play and failed to run full speed down the line. He was taken out of the game.
"It’s his team. He can do whatever," Ramirez said the next day, mixing in an expletive. "There’s nothing I can do about it."
Ramirez was hitting .293 with seven homers and 20 RBIs and is the Marlins’ highest-paid player, in the third year of a six-year, $70 million contract.
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Stan McNeal analyzes three hot topics in Major League Baseball:
Strike 1: The calm before the Strasburg
The Nationals have been one of baseball’s feel-good stories so far.
Stephen Strasburg is expected to make his major-league debut next month.
Their 38-year-old catcher, Pudge Rodriguez, is hitting .333 and earning accolades for his positive influence. Their who-knows-how-old bargain starter, Livan Hernandez, has been one of the NL’s best pitchers (1.46 in 49 1/3 innings). The defense, whose poor play resulted in 28 unearned runs at this point last season, has improved enough to allow only 10 unearned runs so far. And even after a five-game losing streak, Washington was 20-20 and owned the majors’ best turnaround from this point last season (when it was 12-28).
And Stephen Strasburg still is scheduled to arrive early next month.
Let’s hope he does. If he isn’t in the majors soon, the already "out of whack" expectations — as described by Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo — will be such that Strasburg will have to throw a no-hitter in his first game to live up to them. And if his debut comes against the Pirates, a no-no might not be enough.
The Strasburg hype is reaching LeBron James-to-the-NBA proportions. "Good comparison," Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman admits.
The Nationals are trying to temper the anticipation. They protect Strasburg from the media, and Rizzo insists they are thinking about the big picture. "I have developed players in the past and that’s why I got the job," Rizzo says. "I feel comfortable with his developmental schedule. It’s best for him long-term."
The club, meanwhile, goes about its business. Manager Jim Riggleman says "I never hear Stephen’s name come up" in the clubhouse "except when we get some reports when he pitches."
But when the Nationals hear the reports, it’s difficult even for them to not get excited. "You hear about guys who throw hard and all that and once they get here, it’s 91 to 93 and they’re a regular righthanded pitcher," Zimmerman says. "He’s definitely different. He’s really the first person I’ve ever seen who’s had a lot of hype and actually lives up to it."
That analysis was based on spring training and the minors. The countdown to the majors continues.
Strike 2: Early-season disappointments
With the season at the quarter mark, the biggest flops:
Aramis Ramirez has struggled at the plate.
Mariners’ offense. The pitching — third in the AL — is about as good as advertised. The offense — last in the AL — is even worse than expected. Six regulars were hitting .220 or lower before Wednesday night’s game against the Blue Jays. Ken Griffey Jr.’s bat shows no signs of waking up, either. He has one hit since the nap story broke.
Red Sox’s pitching. Having the AL’s worst ERA (4.94) isn’t what general manager Theo Epstein had in mind when he talked about an even greater emphasis on defense and pitching. He has to be wondering a bit about Josh Beckett’s contract extension, too. Beckett has been so bad (7.29 ERA) that the team actually had to be a bit relieved when an injury (back stiffness) was found.
Cubs. Their pitching hasn’t been terrible (4.27 ERA) and their offense ranks in the top five in the NL, but something isn’t right. Look no further than three of Chicago’s highest-paid players — Derrek Lee (.674 OPS), Aramis Ramirez (.527 OPS) and Carlos Zambrano, who has been a flop in the bullpen (5.59 ERA) and the rotation (7.45).
Matt Holliday’s hitting. His .289 average and .357 on-base percentage aren’t terrible, but Holliday is sixth on his own club in RBIs. That isn’t the kind of Albert Pujols protection the Cardinals were projecting when they re-signed Holliday for $121 million. He was moved into the 3 hole ahead of Pujols this week.
Andre Ethier’s broken pinkie. Ethier wasn’t likely to win the Triple Crown. But it would have been nice to see him healthy for a full season to give it a go.
Strike 3: Early-season surprises
The Rays. What should scare opponents about their major league-leading record: Their offense hasn’t clicked yet. Ben Zobrist (no homers after hitting 27 last season), Carlos Pena (.191 batting average) and B.J. Upton (.217) figure to get hot at some point.
Rangers lefthander C.J. Wilson as a starter. The converted reliever had a rough outing Tuesday when he allowed seven earned runs in 4 1/3 innings against the Angels. Until then, Wilson had given up only eight earned runs total in seven starts.
Justin Morneau, 1B, Twins. You know he loves seeing his name above Joe Mauer’s among the batting average leaders. What is really impressive: Morneau leads the AL in OBP (.482) and slugging (.694).
The Padres. Their pitching has been the best in the NL, and three scouts in the past week have told me it is legit. Too bad their offense isn’t.
Ubaldo Jimenez, SP, Rockies. A no-hitter, a 7-1 record and a 1.12 ERA. Memo to Tim Lincecum: You have more new competition than Roy Halladay for the NL Cy Young award.
Stan McNeal analyzes three hot topics in Major League Baseball:
Strike 1: The calm before the Strasburg
The Nationals have been one of baseball’s feel-good stories so far.
Stephen Strasburg is expected to make his major-league debut next month.
Their 38-year-old catcher, Pudge Rodriguez, is hitting .333 and earning accolades for his positive influence. Their who-knows-how-old bargain starter, Livan Hernandez, has been one of the NL’s best pitchers (1.46 in 49 1/3 innings). The defense, whose poor play resulted in 28 unearned runs at this point last season, has improved enough to allow only 10 unearned runs so far. And even after a five-game losing streak, Washington was 20-20 and owned the majors’ best turnaround from this point last season (when it was 12-28).
And Stephen Strasburg still is scheduled to arrive early next month.
Let’s hope he does. If he isn’t in the majors soon, the already "out of whack" expectations — as described by Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo — will be such that Strasburg will have to throw a no-hitter in his first game to live up to them. And if his debut comes against the Pirates, a no-no might not be enough.
The Strasburg hype is reaching LeBron James-to-the-NBA proportions. "Good comparison," Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman admits.
The Nationals are trying to temper the anticipation. They protect Strasburg from the media, and Rizzo insists they are thinking about the big picture. "I have developed players in the past and that’s why I got the job," Rizzo says. "I feel comfortable with his developmental schedule. It’s best for him long-term."
The club, meanwhile, goes about its business. Manager Jim Riggleman says "I never hear Stephen’s name come up" in the clubhouse "except when we get some reports when he pitches."
But when the Nationals hear the reports, it’s difficult even for them to not get excited. "You hear about guys who throw hard and all that and once they get here, it’s 91 to 93 and they’re a regular righthanded pitcher," Zimmerman says. "He’s definitely different. He’s really the first person I’ve ever seen who’s had a lot of hype and actually lives up to it."
That analysis was based on spring training and the minors. The countdown to the majors continues.
Strike 2: Early-season disappointments
With the season at the quarter mark, the biggest flops:
Aramis Ramirez has struggled at the plate.
Mariners’ offense. The pitching — third in the AL — is about as good as advertised. The offense — last in the AL — is even worse than expected. Six regulars were hitting .220 or lower before Wednesday night’s game against the Blue Jays. Ken Griffey Jr.’s bat shows no signs of waking up, either. He has one hit since the nap story broke.
Red Sox’s pitching. Having the AL’s worst ERA (4.94) isn’t what general manager Theo Epstein had in mind when he talked about an even greater emphasis on defense and pitching. He has to be wondering a bit about Josh Beckett’s contract extension, too. Beckett has been so bad (7.29 ERA) that the team actually had to be a bit relieved when an injury (back stiffness) was found.
Cubs. Their pitching hasn’t been terrible (4.27 ERA) and their offense ranks in the top five in the NL, but something isn’t right. Look no further than three of Chicago’s highest-paid players — Derrek Lee (.674 OPS), Aramis Ramirez (.527 OPS) and Carlos Zambrano, who has been a flop in the bullpen (5.59 ERA) and the rotation (7.45).
Matt Holliday’s hitting. His .289 average and .357 on-base percentage aren’t terrible, but Holliday is sixth on his own club in RBIs. That isn’t the kind of Albert Pujols protection the Cardinals were projecting when they re-signed Holliday for $121 million. He was moved into the 3 hole ahead of Pujols this week.
Andre Ethier’s broken pinkie. Ethier wasn’t likely to win the Triple Crown. But it would have been nice to see him healthy for a full season to give it a go.
Strike 3: Early-season surprises
The Rays. What should scare opponents about their major league-leading record: Their offense hasn’t clicked yet. Ben Zobrist (no homers after hitting 27 last season), Carlos Pena (.191 batting average) and B.J. Upton (.217) figure to get hot at some point.
Rangers lefthander C.J. Wilson as a starter. The converted reliever had a rough outing Tuesday when he allowed seven earned runs in 4 1/3 innings against the Angels. Until then, Wilson had given up only eight earned runs total in seven starts.
Justin Morneau, 1B, Twins. You know he loves seeing his name above Joe Mauer’s among the batting average leaders. What is really impressive: Morneau leads the AL in OBP (.482) and slugging (.694).
The Padres. Their pitching has been the best in the NL, and three scouts in the past week have told me it is legit. Too bad their offense isn’t.
Ubaldo Jimenez, SP, Rockies. A no-hitter, a 7-1 record and a 1.12 ERA. Memo to Tim Lincecum: You have more new competition than Roy Halladay for the NL Cy Young award.
Sporting News Audio is a weekly series of conversations with Sporting News experts during the MLB season. In this installment, Chris Bahr discusses the tough tests the Tampa Bay Rays and San Diego Padres will face this week as they try to prove they’re legitimate contenders.
Sporting News
Sporting News Audio is a weekly series of conversations with Sporting News experts during the MLB season. In this installment, Chris Bahr discusses the tough tests the Tampa Bay Rays and San Diego Padres will face this week as they try to prove they’re legitimate contenders.
MLB: It seems some BoSox fans are a little miffed that Theo Epstein took in a Pearl Jam concert rather than watching the Sox get beat by the Yankees on Monday. Fly’s with Globe staffer Nick Cafardo, who tells Boston fans to give it a rest. Cafardo writes, "For the past two weeks Epstein has been all over the country, watching amateur players the Sox might consider in the June draft. He had just returned to Boston Monday. He’s doing what executives do this time of the year — cross-checking prospects the scouting staff has recognized as the best players in the country. … According to a team source, Epstein has watched every pitch of every game while on the road. There’s nothing he isn’t up on. And if he had been in New York, what could he have done — tackle Alex Rodriguez so he couldn’t come to the plate and tie the game with a homer in the ninth?"
• It’s never a long ride from cheers to jeers in New York, and Joba Chamberlain is hearing it from the famously tough (some could say fickle) Yankees fans.
NBA: The Indiana Pacers are employing the old "if you don’t build us a new palace, we’re leaving" strategy in an effort to get public funding for running Canseco Fieldhouse. The Indianapolis Star asks some experts about how likely it is the Pacers would really move, and if so, where?
NASCAR: Tired of that ever-so-neutral female voice on your nav system? TomTom is introducing a new line of voices using NASCAR and IRL drivers Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti, Fly’s sister publication SportsBusiness Journal reports. TomTom is an associate sponsor for all three drivers in their respective series. TomTom users can download a driver’s voice at tomtom.com/racevoices. Montoya’s turn-by-turn directions are available in either English or Spanish.
GOLF: The latest rumors on the Tiger Woods-Elin Nordegren divorce are all neatly packaged for you in one place on USAToday.com. The highlight is a Chicago Sun-Times report that Tiger wants a lifetime confidentiality clause, which would prevent Elin from doing a book or TV deal or giving any interviews about their marriage.
MLB: It seems some BoSox fans are a little miffed that Theo Epstein took in a Pearl Jam concert rather than watching the Sox get beat by the Yankees on Monday. Fly’s with Globe staffer Nick Cafardo, who tells Boston fans to give it a rest. Cafardo writes, "For the past two weeks Epstein has been all over the country, watching amateur players the Sox might consider in the June draft. He had just returned to Boston Monday. He’s doing what executives do this time of the year — cross-checking prospects the scouting staff has recognized as the best players in the country. … According to a team source, Epstein has watched every pitch of every game while on the road. There’s nothing he isn’t up on. And if he had been in New York, what could he have done — tackle Alex Rodriguez so he couldn’t come to the plate and tie the game with a homer in the ninth?"
• It’s never a long ride from cheers to jeers in New York, and Joba Chamberlain is hearing it from the famously tough (some could say fickle) Yankees fans.
NBA: The Indiana Pacers are employing the old "if you don’t build us a new palace, we’re leaving" strategy in an effort to get public funding for running Canseco Fieldhouse. The Indianapolis Star asks some experts about how likely it is the Pacers would really move, and if so, where?
NASCAR: Tired of that ever-so-neutral female voice on your nav system? TomTom is introducing a new line of voices using NASCAR and IRL drivers Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti, Fly’s sister publication SportsBusiness Journal reports. TomTom is an associate sponsor for all three drivers in their respective series. TomTom users can download a driver’s voice at tomtom.com/racevoices. Montoya’s turn-by-turn directions are available in either English or Spanish.
GOLF: The latest rumors on the Tiger Woods-Elin Nordegren divorce are all neatly packaged for you in one place on USAToday.com. The highlight is a Chicago Sun-Times report that Tiger wants a lifetime confidentiality clause, which would prevent Elin from doing a book or TV deal or giving any interviews about their marriage.
As offseason practices — which are more important than most realize — continue throughout the NFL, plenty of players aren’t participating.
Sure, the sessions are voluntary. But no one really views them that way. If a player isn’t volunteering to participate, it’s usually because of something related to dissatisfaction with his current contractual status.
Titans RB Chris Johnson has yet to attend an offseason practice.
There are three general types of holdouts: the good, the bad and the ugly. Let’s explore some of the players who fall into one of these categories this year:
The Good
A player who is not under contract has every right to stay away from voluntary workouts. He also has the right to stay away from mandatory drills, including but not limited to training camp and the preseason.
For any player, the ultimate leverage comes from withholding services. And a player who is not signed does nothing wrong when he stays away.
The fact that some unsigned players choose to sign a waiver that would pay them their full salary for 2010 creates the sense that all players not under contract should choose to do the same. But players angling for a long-term contract have only limited protection when they practice without a contract. They’ll get only the money they would have earned had they signed whatever offer was tendered to them. The possibility of scoring a big-money, multiyear deal hangs in the balance — and a serious injury suffered while practicing without a contract could keep them from ever getting the huge contract they all covet.
So while Broncos linebacker Elvis Dumervil and others are practicing in the hopes of securing such a huge contract, players like Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards do nothing wrong by staying away.
There’s another type of holdout that can be defended: Players who have been saddled with a rookie deal based on draft position but who have made disproportionately significant contributions on the field. For example, Titans running back Chris Johnson and Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson have become superstars, yet they’ll make low base salaries for the balance of their rookie deals.
Though their teams can give them new deals at any time, they’re under no obligation to do so. So while the players could possibly continue to provide skills and abilities far in excess of their pay grades, the teams will realize a disproportionate benefit, and the players will bear the risk of injury until they get new deals.
In the past, the league’s performance-based pay system helped fill the void. The less a player made in relation to his total snaps, the more he’d receive from the league-wide fund created to address the inequity. In 2010, however, the performance-based pay system has gone the way of the salary cap. Which has gone the way of the dodo bird.
Which means players like Johnson and Jackson have a better chance of owning a dodo bird than of breaking the bank in the near future.
The Bad
Last year, Jets running backs Leon Washington and Thomas Jones were unhappy with their contracts. Washington had a slotted rookie deal, and his worst fears ultimately were realized when he suffered a badly broken leg before he got a long-term contract. Jones, however, already was under a veteran deal, and had pocketed plenty of money during the first two seasons of the contract he had signed after joining the Jets. So he had no legitimate right to complain.
This year, Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson is playing the role of Thomas Jones. Johnson, arguably one of the top two receivers in the league, is due to receive a $5.8 million base salary this year. But his cap number is $8.14 million because of bonuses he has already received; that isn’t grossly out of proportion to the $10 million annual average for Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
When Johnson signed a long-term deal in 2007, the contract was near the top of the market. Fitzgerald scored his four-year, $40 million deal a year later — a risk that’s present whenever any player agrees to a multi-year contract.
So even though Johnson may not like his contract right now, he needs to realize he is in a far different position than the rookies who have yet to cash in. Johnson has already cashed in, and he apparently wants to cash in even more now.
The Ugly
This year also features head-scratching holdouts involving veterans who were drafted by the Titans.
Tight end Bo Scaife, Tennessee’s franchise player in 2009, signed a restricted free-agent tender that, under current rules, guarantees him $4.9 million in 2010. Scaife is, in fact, under contract, but he’s staying away from voluntary workouts.
Again, he has the right to do that. But there’s no reason for it. Plus, Scaife will earn nearly $5 million this year after catching 45 passes for 440 yards and one touchdown last year.
We should all be so underpaid.
Then there’s Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who left the Titans in 2009 to sign a four-year, $48 million contract with Washington. He’s staying away because he doesn’t want to play nose tackle in the team’s new 3-4 defense. It’s likely he thinks he can force a trade. The Redskins would be wise to get rid of him. Then again, they would have been wise to never get him in the first place.
Regardless of whether he’s ultimately successful, Haynesworth is confirming the suspicions of those who feared he would change once he got paid. Now he wants to do things his own way.
Mike Florio writes and edits ProFootballTalk.com and is a regular contributor to Sporting News. Check out PFT for up-to-the minute NFL news.
As offseason practices — which are more important than most realize — continue throughout the NFL, plenty of players aren’t participating.
Sure, the sessions are voluntary. But no one really views them that way. If a player isn’t volunteering to participate, it’s usually because of something related to dissatisfaction with his current contractual status.
Titans RB Chris Johnson has yet to attend an offseason practice.
There are three general types of holdouts: the good, the bad and the ugly. Let’s explore some of the players who fall into one of these categories this year:
The Good
A player who is not under contract has every right to stay away from voluntary workouts. He also has the right to stay away from mandatory drills, including but not limited to training camp and the preseason.
For any player, the ultimate leverage comes from withholding services. And a player who is not signed does nothing wrong when he stays away.
The fact that some unsigned players choose to sign a waiver that would pay them their full salary for 2010 creates the sense that all players not under contract should choose to do the same. But players angling for a long-term contract have only limited protection when they practice without a contract. They’ll get only the money they would have earned had they signed whatever offer was tendered to them. The possibility of scoring a big-money, multiyear deal hangs in the balance — and a serious injury suffered while practicing without a contract could keep them from ever getting the huge contract they all covet.
So while Broncos linebacker Elvis Dumervil and others are practicing in the hopes of securing such a huge contract, players like Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards do nothing wrong by staying away.
There’s another type of holdout that can be defended: Players who have been saddled with a rookie deal based on draft position but who have made disproportionately significant contributions on the field. For example, Titans running back Chris Johnson and Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson have become superstars, yet they’ll make low base salaries for the balance of their rookie deals.
Though their teams can give them new deals at any time, they’re under no obligation to do so. So while the players could possibly continue to provide skills and abilities far in excess of their pay grades, the teams will realize a disproportionate benefit, and the players will bear the risk of injury until they get new deals.
In the past, the league’s performance-based pay system helped fill the void. The less a player made in relation to his total snaps, the more he’d receive from the league-wide fund created to address the inequity. In 2010, however, the performance-based pay system has gone the way of the salary cap. Which has gone the way of the dodo bird.
Which means players like Johnson and Jackson have a better chance of owning a dodo bird than of breaking the bank in the near future.
The Bad
Last year, Jets running backs Leon Washington and Thomas Jones were unhappy with their contracts. Washington had a slotted rookie deal, and his worst fears ultimately were realized when he suffered a badly broken leg before he got a long-term contract. Jones, however, already was under a veteran deal, and had pocketed plenty of money during the first two seasons of the contract he had signed after joining the Jets. So he had no legitimate right to complain.
This year, Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson is playing the role of Thomas Jones. Johnson, arguably one of the top two receivers in the league, is due to receive a $5.8 million base salary this year. But his cap number is $8.14 million because of bonuses he has already received; that isn’t grossly out of proportion to the $10 million annual average for Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
When Johnson signed a long-term deal in 2007, the contract was near the top of the market. Fitzgerald scored his four-year, $40 million deal a year later — a risk that’s present whenever any player agrees to a multi-year contract.
So even though Johnson may not like his contract right now, he needs to realize he is in a far different position than the rookies who have yet to cash in. Johnson has already cashed in, and he apparently wants to cash in even more now.
The Ugly
This year also features head-scratching holdouts involving veterans who were drafted by the Titans.
Tight end Bo Scaife, Tennessee’s franchise player in 2009, signed a restricted free-agent tender that, under current rules, guarantees him $4.9 million in 2010. Scaife is, in fact, under contract, but he’s staying away from voluntary workouts.
Again, he has the right to do that. But there’s no reason for it. Plus, Scaife will earn nearly $5 million this year after catching 45 passes for 440 yards and one touchdown last year.
We should all be so underpaid.
Then there’s Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who left the Titans in 2009 to sign a four-year, $48 million contract with Washington. He’s staying away because he doesn’t want to play nose tackle in the team’s new 3-4 defense. It’s likely he thinks he can force a trade. The Redskins would be wise to get rid of him. Then again, they would have been wise to never get him in the first place.
Regardless of whether he’s ultimately successful, Haynesworth is confirming the suspicions of those who feared he would change once he got paid. Now he wants to do things his own way.
Mike Florio writes and edits ProFootballTalk.com and is a regular contributor to Sporting News. Check out PFT for up-to-the minute NFL news.
Going into last season, the New York Giants looked like the team to beat in the NFC. They had boosted an already strong front seven and seemed set to have their typical disruptive defense.
Instead, in a surprising turn, the team that produced the most sacks in the league during its Super Bowl season in 2007 (53), finished in a tie for an 18th last year with 32. The Giants’ notable offensive strength, the running game, plummeted from first in 2008 into a tie for 17th.
Jason Pierre-Paul was brought in to help give a boost to a flagging defensive line.
Even more shocking was the fact they started last season 5-0. Hopes for a second championship in three years, however, faded fast after a blowout loss at eventual Super Bowl winner New Orleans in Week 6 led to a four-game skid.
Former Giants quarterback Phil Simms, now CBS’ lead NFL analyst, also was high on them a year ago. He says their defense was thrown off by the lack of effectiveness up front.
"They played like they still had the pass rush when they won the Super Bowl, and they got absolutely destroyed," Simms said.
The lack of consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks sent aftershocks everywhere:
• The Giants produced just 13 interceptions while allowing 31 touchdown passes. Only the Lions had a bigger difference.
• In addition to getting ripped by the Saints, 48-27, the Giants also gave up 40-plus points four other times, including twice to division rival Philadelphia.
• As the Giants trailed in more games, their run defense also slipped. And because they often were forced into shootouts, it led to the subsequent drop in rushing attempts and production on the offensive side of the ball.
It was clear that the loss of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who became the Rams’ head coach last offseason, was a big deal. And the Giants made his replacement, Bill Sheridan, the scapegoat.
Enter new coordinator Perry Fewell, charged with lighting a fire under the defense, to restore the intensity that once went with its aggressiveness. Along with hiring Fewell, the Giants drafted yet another pass rusher, Jason Pierre-Paul, in the first round.
Those changes are a start, but it also will require a "restart" from the incumbent players, such as end Osi Umenyiora, to help the front four regroup and again become a dominant force.
"Last season, they were still in that window to win two or three Super Bowls," Simms said. "They’re now a team in transition, and we’ll see how it goes."
The Giants can’t afford to slide any further. Dallas and Philadelphia already trumped them last season, and Washington looks ready for a surge.
The Cowboys have confidence after ending their playoff win drought. The Redskins are rearmed with familiar foe Donovan McNabb at quarterback. McNabb’s old team, the Eagles, have a promising youth movement in full effect.
Knowing the intensity that comes in division play, you can bet none of those teams is about to take the sleeping Giants lightly.
"You can never count them out," Cowboys All-Pro nose tackle Jay Ratliff said. "They will still give you four tough quarters every time."
Going into last season, the New York Giants looked like the team to beat in the NFC. They had boosted an already strong front seven and seemed set to have their typical disruptive defense.
Instead, in a surprising turn, the team that produced the most sacks in the league during its Super Bowl season in 2007 (53), finished in a tie for an 18th last year with 32. The Giants’ notable offensive strength, the running game, plummeted from first in 2008 into a tie for 17th.
Jason Pierre-Paul was brought in to help give a boost to a flagging defensive line.
Even more shocking was the fact they started last season 5-0. Hopes for a second championship in three years, however, faded fast after a blowout loss at eventual Super Bowl winner New Orleans in Week 6 led to a four-game skid.
Former Giants quarterback Phil Simms, now CBS’ lead NFL analyst, also was high on them a year ago. He says their defense was thrown off by the lack of effectiveness up front.
"They played like they still had the pass rush when they won the Super Bowl, and they got absolutely destroyed," Simms said.
The lack of consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks sent aftershocks everywhere:
• The Giants produced just 13 interceptions while allowing 31 touchdown passes. Only the Lions had a bigger difference.
• In addition to getting ripped by the Saints, 48-27, the Giants also gave up 40-plus points four other times, including twice to division rival Philadelphia.
• As the Giants trailed in more games, their run defense also slipped. And because they often were forced into shootouts, it led to the subsequent drop in rushing attempts and production on the offensive side of the ball.
It was clear that the loss of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who became the Rams’ head coach last offseason, was a big deal. And the Giants made his replacement, Bill Sheridan, the scapegoat.
Enter new coordinator Perry Fewell, charged with lighting a fire under the defense, to restore the intensity that once went with its aggressiveness. Along with hiring Fewell, the Giants drafted yet another pass rusher, Jason Pierre-Paul, in the first round.
Those changes are a start, but it also will require a "restart" from the incumbent players, such as end Osi Umenyiora, to help the front four regroup and again become a dominant force.
"Last season, they were still in that window to win two or three Super Bowls," Simms said. "They’re now a team in transition, and we’ll see how it goes."
The Giants can’t afford to slide any further. Dallas and Philadelphia already trumped them last season, and Washington looks ready for a surge.
The Cowboys have confidence after ending their playoff win drought. The Redskins are rearmed with familiar foe Donovan McNabb at quarterback. McNabb’s old team, the Eagles, have a promising youth movement in full effect.
Knowing the intensity that comes in division play, you can bet none of those teams is about to take the sleeping Giants lightly.
"You can never count them out," Cowboys All-Pro nose tackle Jay Ratliff said. "They will still give you four tough quarters every time."
Yankees DH Nick Johnson had successful wrist surgery today, according to The Star Ledger in New Jersey.
Johnson, who is hitting just .167 with two homers and eight RBIs this season, isn’t expected to rejoin the Yankees’ lineup until at least mid-June.
In more encouraging injury news, center fielder Curtis Granderson (groin) shagged fly balls in the outfield without any pain earlier this week, according to the newspaper.
Granderson, who hasn’t played since May 1, is hitting .225 with two homers and seven RBIs this season. There is no official timetable for his return.
Sporting News staff reports
Yankees DH Nick Johnson had successful wrist surgery today, according to The Star Ledger in New Jersey.
Johnson, who is hitting just .167 with two homers and eight RBIs this season, isn’t expected to rejoin the Yankees’ lineup until at least mid-June.
In more encouraging injury news, center fielder Curtis Granderson (groin) shagged fly balls in the outfield without any pain earlier this week, according to the newspaper.
Granderson, who hasn’t played since May 1, is hitting .225 with two homers and seven RBIs this season. There is no official timetable for his return.
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers weren’t pointing fingers at each other at the end of April when a five-game losing streak put them six games out of first place. And now that they’re back within striking distance of the NL West lead, the only finger that concerns them is Andre Ethier’s broken right pinky.
Ethier was placed on the 15-disabled list Tuesday for the first time in his five-year career, four days after a freak mishap in the indoor batting cage at San Diego’s Petco Park left him with a fracture in the top knuckle of his finger after it slipped off the knob and shifted to the other side of the bat handle.
"It’s disappointing. I took pride in playing every day and playing through some of the nagging stuff," Ethier said. "This is a year that has challenged me more in terms of playing every day.
"There was the knee that held me out the last couple of games in spring training, and then there was the ankle thing in the second game of the season. Those are bigger things that you expect to hold you out, but a small little chip of a bone off your pinky, that was the last thing I thought about at this point."
The Dodgers made the move before their game against Houston, which happened to be Andre Either Bobblehead Night.
"Whenever you lose one of your beat hitters, obviously it’s something that you’ve got to figure out a way to make up for," general manager Ned Colletti said. "He’s a middle-of-the-order bat, and his ability to hit in the clutch is well above average."
Ethier has 11 walkoff hits since the end of the 2008 season, six of them home runs. His two game-ending hits this season were an RBI single on April 15 against Arizona and a grand slam on May 6 against Milwaukee.
"Individual performance is nice and definitely makes you feel a little bit better about yourself at the end of the night," Ethier said. "But when we’re sitting two games out at this point in time after being six out, that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, not to be out there and help keep this thing going."
Ethier entered Tuesday leading the majors with a .392 average and 38 RBIs, and also was tied for the league lead in home runs with 11.
"What makes it bad is the team part," Ethier said. "We’re really coming together as a team, and it’s been a long month and a half to get ourselves into the position we’ve gotten ourselves into right now. So to be missing time because of something like that is the tough part."
The Dodgers’ entered Tuesday on en eight-game winning streak, their longest since a nine-game stretch in 2006. The primary reason is a pitching staff that has fashioned a 1.75 ERA over the past eight games.
"We really haven’t skipped a beat because of the pitching, but you know long-term you’re going to miss Andre because of what he brings to the table," manager Joe Torre said. "We just thought the safest thing was to do was what we did with him. I think it could be anywhere from two to three weeks. If it’s longer, it’s longer. But we have to make sure we take care of it now. I’m just glad we have the bench we have."
The Dodgers recalled outfielder Xavier Paul from Triple-A Albuquerque. Paul played nine games for Los Angeles this season.
"We’re not going to go out and make a trade for somebody, because, what do we do with him when Ethier comes back? Right now we just have do get through this short-term," Colletti said. "Last year we lost Manny (Ramirez) for 50 games (because of a drug suspension), so things like that happen. Let’s see how it goes."
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers weren’t pointing fingers at each other at the end of April when a five-game losing streak put them six games out of first place. And now that they’re back within striking distance of the NL West lead, the only finger that concerns them is Andre Ethier’s broken right pinky.
Ethier was placed on the 15-disabled list Tuesday for the first time in his five-year career, four days after a freak mishap in the indoor batting cage at San Diego’s Petco Park left him with a fracture in the top knuckle of his finger after it slipped off the knob and shifted to the other side of the bat handle.
"It’s disappointing. I took pride in playing every day and playing through some of the nagging stuff," Ethier said. "This is a year that has challenged me more in terms of playing every day.
"There was the knee that held me out the last couple of games in spring training, and then there was the ankle thing in the second game of the season. Those are bigger things that you expect to hold you out, but a small little chip of a bone off your pinky, that was the last thing I thought about at this point."
The Dodgers made the move before their game against Houston, which happened to be Andre Either Bobblehead Night.
"Whenever you lose one of your beat hitters, obviously it’s something that you’ve got to figure out a way to make up for," general manager Ned Colletti said. "He’s a middle-of-the-order bat, and his ability to hit in the clutch is well above average."
Ethier has 11 walkoff hits since the end of the 2008 season, six of them home runs. His two game-ending hits this season were an RBI single on April 15 against Arizona and a grand slam on May 6 against Milwaukee.
"Individual performance is nice and definitely makes you feel a little bit better about yourself at the end of the night," Ethier said. "But when we’re sitting two games out at this point in time after being six out, that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, not to be out there and help keep this thing going."
Ethier entered Tuesday leading the majors with a .392 average and 38 RBIs, and also was tied for the league lead in home runs with 11.
"What makes it bad is the team part," Ethier said. "We’re really coming together as a team, and it’s been a long month and a half to get ourselves into the position we’ve gotten ourselves into right now. So to be missing time because of something like that is the tough part."
The Dodgers’ entered Tuesday on en eight-game winning streak, their longest since a nine-game stretch in 2006. The primary reason is a pitching staff that has fashioned a 1.75 ERA over the past eight games.
"We really haven’t skipped a beat because of the pitching, but you know long-term you’re going to miss Andre because of what he brings to the table," manager Joe Torre said. "We just thought the safest thing was to do was what we did with him. I think it could be anywhere from two to three weeks. If it’s longer, it’s longer. But we have to make sure we take care of it now. I’m just glad we have the bench we have."
The Dodgers recalled outfielder Xavier Paul from Triple-A Albuquerque. Paul played nine games for Los Angeles this season.
"We’re not going to go out and make a trade for somebody, because, what do we do with him when Ethier comes back? Right now we just have do get through this short-term," Colletti said. "Last year we lost Manny (Ramirez) for 50 games (because of a drug suspension), so things like that happen. Let’s see how it goes."
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
MIAMI — Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez defended his play Tuesday and took shots at his manager and teammates, a day after he was pulled from a game for not hustling.
Ramirez, a two-time All-Star and last year’s NL batting champion, wasn’t in manager Fredi Gonzalez’s starting lineup against Arizona. On Monday night, he accidentally kicked a ball and then lightly jogged after it, allowing two runs to score.
The controversial play came in the second inning.
"It’s his team. He can do whatever," Ramirez said, mixing in an expletive. "There’s nothing I can do about it."
"That’s OK. He doesn’t understand that. He never played in the big leagues," he said.
Responded Gonzalez: "He’s right, but I know how to play the game."
"I played six years in the minor leagues and I know what it takes to play this game and I know the effort it takes to play this game," he said.
It seemed unlikely Ramirez would say he was sorry.
"We got a lot of people dogging it after ground balls," he said. "They don’t apologize."
The trouble for Ramirez started in the first inning Monday night after he fouled a ball off his left shin and was tended to by a trainer. He grounded into a double play and did not run full speed down the line.
Ramirez’s costly misplay came the next inning after Tony Abreu’s looper fell near him in short left field. Ramirez booted the ball about 100 feet toward the left-field corner and slowly chased it.
"I wasn’t trying to give up," Ramirez said. "That was the hardest I could go after the ball."
Ramirez was replaced by Brian Barden an inning after the play. Gonzalez, in his fourth season at Florida’s manager, confirmed Ramirez was yanked for not hustling in the 5-1 loss.
Ramirez is hitting .293 with seven homers and 20 RBIs this year. He is the Marlins’ highest-paid player after signing a $70 million, six-year contract in 2008, and has become the face of a franchise that moves into a new ballpark in 2012.
For all his talent, however, there have been occasions in which some speculated Ramirez didn’t always hustle. Nothing ever reached this level, though.
Barden started in place of Ramirez on Tuesday and drove in two runs during an 8-0 win over Arizona. Ramirez, who was on the field for batting practice, didn’t comment after the game.
"It’s our team. I’m just the guy that makes the lineup," Gonzalez said. "I can’t control everybody going 4 for 4, but you can control the effort."
Ramirez said he lost some respect for Gonzalez for the episode.
"A little bit. We got 24 more guys out there," Ramirez said. "Hopefully they can do the same things I can do. They’re wearing the Marlins uniform."
Veteran infielder Wes Helms hopes Ramirez apologizes to his teammates.
"I can’t overlook it," Helms said. "I know people say that’s just the way he is, but you know what? That’s not the way it is. That’s not the way the game’s supposed to be played.
"And that’s what we want from Hanley. We want him to be that guy that goes out there every day … and busts his butt and does anything he can for his this team. That right there will earn the respect of not only his teammates, but everybody in the league."
Teammate Dan Uggla, a two-time All-Star second baseman, supported Gonzalez’s decision.
Last September in a game against the Atlanta Braves, Uggla and Ramirez got into a heated discussion after the star shortstop left a game early with a strained hamstring.
"I think Skip needed to do what he needed to do, which was take Hanley out of the game at that time," Uggla said. "Does that mean we love Hanley any less? No, we have all made mistakes. We’ve all done things like, ‘Oh, maybe I shouldn’t have done that.’ But you move on, you move forward you get past it."
Cameron Maybin, who hit a three-run homer Tuesday, also sided with Gonzalez.
"I think if it happened to anybody else in here, I think other teammates would feel the same way about it," Maybin said. "As long as you are playing hard nobody can really say anything bad about you. We definitely support Fredi’s decision and we thought it was the right decision."
Gonzalez, who did not want to discuss the Ramirez situation after Tuesday’s win, previously said he hoped the situation doesn’t draw focus from his team.
"If it’s handled the right way, I think it could be good," he said. "If it’s not, it could be distraction, it could grow into some ugly stuff. But let’s wait and see what happens. Let’s not make a mountain out of a molehill just yet."
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
MIAMI — Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez defended his play Tuesday and took shots at his manager and teammates, a day after he was pulled from a game for not hustling.
Ramirez, a two-time All-Star and last year’s NL batting champion, wasn’t in manager Fredi Gonzalez’s starting lineup against Arizona. On Monday night, he accidentally kicked a ball and then lightly jogged after it, allowing two runs to score.
The controversial play came in the second inning.
"It’s his team. He can do whatever," Ramirez said, mixing in an expletive. "There’s nothing I can do about it."
"That’s OK. He doesn’t understand that. He never played in the big leagues," he said.
Responded Gonzalez: "He’s right, but I know how to play the game."
"I played six years in the minor leagues and I know what it takes to play this game and I know the effort it takes to play this game," he said.
It seemed unlikely Ramirez would say he was sorry.
"We got a lot of people dogging it after ground balls," he said. "They don’t apologize."
The trouble for Ramirez started in the first inning Monday night after he fouled a ball off his left shin and was tended to by a trainer. He grounded into a double play and did not run full speed down the line.
Ramirez’s costly misplay came the next inning after Tony Abreu’s looper fell near him in short left field. Ramirez booted the ball about 100 feet toward the left-field corner and slowly chased it.
"I wasn’t trying to give up," Ramirez said. "That was the hardest I could go after the ball."
Ramirez was replaced by Brian Barden an inning after the play. Gonzalez, in his fourth season at Florida’s manager, confirmed Ramirez was yanked for not hustling in the 5-1 loss.
Ramirez is hitting .293 with seven homers and 20 RBIs this year. He is the Marlins’ highest-paid player after signing a $70 million, six-year contract in 2008, and has become the face of a franchise that moves into a new ballpark in 2012.
For all his talent, however, there have been occasions in which some speculated Ramirez didn’t always hustle. Nothing ever reached this level, though.
Barden started in place of Ramirez on Tuesday and drove in two runs during an 8-0 win over Arizona. Ramirez, who was on the field for batting practice, didn’t comment after the game.
"It’s our team. I’m just the guy that makes the lineup," Gonzalez said. "I can’t control everybody going 4 for 4, but you can control the effort."
Ramirez said he lost some respect for Gonzalez for the episode.
"A little bit. We got 24 more guys out there," Ramirez said. "Hopefully they can do the same things I can do. They’re wearing the Marlins uniform."
Veteran infielder Wes Helms hopes Ramirez apologizes to his teammates.
"I can’t overlook it," Helms said. "I know people say that’s just the way he is, but you know what? That’s not the way it is. That’s not the way the game’s supposed to be played.
"And that’s what we want from Hanley. We want him to be that guy that goes out there every day … and busts his butt and does anything he can for his this team. That right there will earn the respect of not only his teammates, but everybody in the league."
Teammate Dan Uggla, a two-time All-Star second baseman, supported Gonzalez’s decision.
Last September in a game against the Atlanta Braves, Uggla and Ramirez got into a heated discussion after the star shortstop left a game early with a strained hamstring.
"I think Skip needed to do what he needed to do, which was take Hanley out of the game at that time," Uggla said. "Does that mean we love Hanley any less? No, we have all made mistakes. We’ve all done things like, ‘Oh, maybe I shouldn’t have done that.’ But you move on, you move forward you get past it."
Cameron Maybin, who hit a three-run homer Tuesday, also sided with Gonzalez.
"I think if it happened to anybody else in here, I think other teammates would feel the same way about it," Maybin said. "As long as you are playing hard nobody can really say anything bad about you. We definitely support Fredi’s decision and we thought it was the right decision."
Gonzalez, who did not want to discuss the Ramirez situation after Tuesday’s win, previously said he hoped the situation doesn’t draw focus from his team.
"If it’s handled the right way, I think it could be good," he said. "If it’s not, it could be distraction, it could grow into some ugly stuff. But let’s wait and see what happens. Let’s not make a mountain out of a molehill just yet."
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
