NewsHot-hitting Hanley finding groove at plate
Florida (18-19) vs. Los Angeles (25-13), 1:10 p.m. ET
By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com
05/16/09 10:43 PM ET
MIAMI -- Slumps have a tendency of maintaining very poor shelf life when you're as talented as Hanley Ramirez.Take this season, for example.
The Marlins' superstar shortstop began '09 as the team's No. 3 hitter for the first time in his career -- he was primarily Florida's leadoff man his previous three years in the big leagues -- and struggled to get going early on.
Twenty-seven games later, though, Hanley is back to being, well, Hanley.
Ramirez comes into the finale of a three-game series against the Dodgers at Land Shark Stadium leading the Marlins with a .354 batting average to go along with six home runs and 20 RBIs, making his 13-for-53 start to the season a distant memory.
"Chasing some pitches out of the zone," is what Ramirez attributed some of his early struggles to. "That's all it's about -- patience. Just hit a strike and don't miss your pitch."
While currently riding a 13-game hitting streak, Ramirez hasn't missed many.
During that stretch, the 25-year-old is batting .490 with four home runs and eight RBIs. If he gets another hit on Sunday, he'll tie his career-best 14-game hitting streak, set from June 24-July 7, 2008.
Going into April 20, Ramirez's batting average stood at a spectator .245, but since then, he's batting .429 and has raised his average 109 points.
"When he gets hot, he's as good as you're ever going to be," said outfielder Cody Ross, who considers Ramirez the best offensive shortstop in the game today. "It's fun watching him go out there every day and see what he's going to do when he's going good."
While Hanley credits busting out of his early slump to patience, hitting coach Jim Presley said it was just a matter of Ramirez playing catch-up.
"I think the biggest difference is that the [World Baseball] Classic set him back," he said. "He spent two or three weeks doing that. He probably got some work in there, but not as much. Then the shoulder injury [which forced him to miss a couple of Spring Training games in mid-March] set him back a couple of weeks. Then a month goes by, and he's himself again."
The Marlins' lineup has not been a strength thus far, as inconsistencies in several spots made them the 29th-ranked team in the Major Leagues with a collective .239 batting average going into Saturday's game.
But there have been no problems with Ramirez and the guy batting behind him.
"You walk him, you have the Mexican hitting behind you," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said about Ramirez and cleanup hitter Jorge Cantu, who comes in batting .273 with eight home runs and 33 RBIs. "Pick your poison and be careful. Like some of the other guys, like [Chase] Utley and [Ryan] Howard, or [Ryan] Ludwick and [Albert] Pujols, or Chipper [Jones] and [Brian] McCann.
"I don't know if [Ramirez has] just gotten hot, [or] he's gotten comfortable. But he's been pretty good. And we know he can do it."
Pitching matchupFLA: LHP John Koronka (0-1, 9.64 ERA)
With Anibal Sanchez on the disabled list, Koronka was given his first shot in more than two years away from the Major Leagues, and it went swimmingly until the second time through the Brewers' order Tuesday. He allowed a trio of home runs -- two to Prince Fielder -- and coughed up a 3-0 lead in the second inning and wound up taking defeat. His final line was ugly -- five earned runs in 4 2/3 innings, with seven hits and three walks permitted. Still, Gonzalez indicated that the 28-year-old would get another shot. LAD: LHP Clayton Kershaw (1-3, 5.21 ERA)
Kershaw lost for the third time in his last five starts, in a 5-2 setback at Philadelphia on Tuesday. The lefty gave up only four hits through six innings, but he couldn't find the plate. He yielded a season-high five walks as his ERA ballooned from 4.91 to 6.00. If there was one positive, the six innings were the longest Kershaw went since an April 15 start against the Giants. Tidbits
While coming around third base to score on Emilio Bonifacio's single in the eighth inning on Saturday, Alfredo Amezaga said he felt a pinch in his left knee, which he sprained while playing in the World Baseball Classic this March. The super-utility player did not come out for the top of the ninth, as Bonifacio went to center field. But Amezaga said it was unrelated to his previous injury because it was on the inside part, and he doesn't expect to miss any time. Gonzalez said he'll be re-evaluated on Sunday. ... With a win on Saturday, the Marlins not only snapped their own five-game losing streak, but also a five-game losing streak against the Dodgers at Land Shark Stadium. Florida has now won just three of its past 12 home games against Los Angeles dating back to 2006. ... With 14 doubles, Ramirez went into Saturday's game tied for the National League lead and was on pace for 61 this season. The club record for doubles in a season is 50, set by Miguel Cabrera in 2006. ... Catcher John Baker got a rare start behind the plate against an opposing left-hander on Saturday, as Gonzalez said he didn't want to sit him three days in a row. Ronny Paulino is expected to get the start on Sunday against Kershaw. In 15 plate appearance against left-handers this season, Baker is 2-for-12 with two walks and a hit by pitch. ... With a single in the eighth inning, Bonifacio set a career-best eight-game hitting streak. Tickets
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• WAXY 790, WAQI 710 (Español) Up next
• Monday: Marlins (Ricky Nolasco, 2-4, 7.78) vs. Diamondbacks (Dan Haren, 3-4, 2.09), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Marlins (Josh Johnson, 3-0, 2.50) vs. Diamondbacks (TBD), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Marlins (Chris Volstad, 2-3, 3.35) vs. Diamondbacks (TBD), 7:10 p.m. ET
Alden Gonzalez is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
