Courtesy of AllVoices.com
Manny Ramirez, regarded by many as one of the greatest power hitters of this generation, abruptly announced his retirement from Major League Baseball Friday under suspicion of drug use.
Playing nearly 20 seasons in the Major Leagues, Ramirez racked up 555 homeruns, nearly 2,600 hits and over 1,800 RBI’s. Only time will tell if the once-great slugger will be enshrined into the Hall of Fame.
Now that Ramirez has retired, the Tampa Bay Rays must find someone to fill the now vacant designated hitter role. The team had signed him to a one-year, $2 million contract over the offseason hoping that he could fulfill that role, but he managed only one hit in seventeen at-bats for a .059 average.
Casey Kotchman could begin seeing more at-bats for the Rays, seeing as he was called up to take the roster spot opened by Ramirez’s retirement. The first baseman has played 646 games at the major league level with the Los Angeles Angels, Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, and Rays. He was hitting .250 for the team’s AAA affiliate.
Johnny Damon could be spending less time on the field and more time at the plate with Ramirez’s recent retirement.
Courtesy of Zimbio.com
Johnny Damon, signed to a one-year contract in January with the Rays, could be seeing more time at the DH spot with Ramirez gone. He has been playing some left field and first base in 2011. Throughout his career, he has over 2,500 hits and 215 homeruns, along with nearly 400 stolen bases.
Regardless of who takes over for Ramirez, his legacy will always be one that is seen as impressive yet questionable. Anyone who puts up power numbers like his is bound to see some respect, yet his suspected drug use could cause a blockage in his road to Cooperstown.
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