Blue56
09-07-2003, 10:56 AM
Mlb.com
It seems almost certain the Braves will find a spot on their postseason roster for Horacio Ramirez, but the young rookie southpaw said he'll understand if he must be the odd man out.
"Obviously, I want to [be on the roster]," Ramirez said. "But if I'm not, I'll understand. My time will come to pitch in October. Until then, I'll have to be patient."
If added to the postseason roster, Ramirez would likely be asked to make the transition from a starting role to relief.
"I'm willing to do whatever they want me to do," said Ramirez, who received his 12th no-decision of the season on Friday night to leave his record at 9-4 with a 4.17 ERA.
"He's had a lot of bad luck this year," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "He has pitched well enough to have won at least 15 games this season."
Ramirez's performance in Friday's game against the Pirates certainly enhanced his chances of pitching in October. He allowed two runs on three hits, while pitching nine innings for the second time this season.
Throughout his professional career, Ramirez has been utilized mainly as a starter. Each of his 25 appearances this year have come in a starting role, and half of his 16 career minor league relief appearances came in 1998 with Class A Eugene.
While it is always a gamble to move a starter into a relief role, Ramirez's numbers seem to suggest that he could be productive out of the bullpen. He has limited left-handed hitters to a .200 batting average and has proven to be stingy with men on base.
"I've always been able to work myself out of jams because I've always had to," said Ramirez, who has allowed opponents to hit .267 off him with the bases empty. "It's not a situation I always want to put myself in, but I'm always confident that I can get out jams."
With runners in scoring position, Ramirez has limited opponents to a .231 batting average. With two outs and runners in scoring position, that average drops to .212.
"He's been on a roll for a long time now," Cox said of Ramirez. "He pitched well at the end of last year, in the Arizona Fall League and all year long for us up here. He's shown that he's going to be around for a long time."
It seems almost certain the Braves will find a spot on their postseason roster for Horacio Ramirez, but the young rookie southpaw said he'll understand if he must be the odd man out.
"Obviously, I want to [be on the roster]," Ramirez said. "But if I'm not, I'll understand. My time will come to pitch in October. Until then, I'll have to be patient."
If added to the postseason roster, Ramirez would likely be asked to make the transition from a starting role to relief.
"I'm willing to do whatever they want me to do," said Ramirez, who received his 12th no-decision of the season on Friday night to leave his record at 9-4 with a 4.17 ERA.
"He's had a lot of bad luck this year," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "He has pitched well enough to have won at least 15 games this season."
Ramirez's performance in Friday's game against the Pirates certainly enhanced his chances of pitching in October. He allowed two runs on three hits, while pitching nine innings for the second time this season.
Throughout his professional career, Ramirez has been utilized mainly as a starter. Each of his 25 appearances this year have come in a starting role, and half of his 16 career minor league relief appearances came in 1998 with Class A Eugene.
While it is always a gamble to move a starter into a relief role, Ramirez's numbers seem to suggest that he could be productive out of the bullpen. He has limited left-handed hitters to a .200 batting average and has proven to be stingy with men on base.
"I've always been able to work myself out of jams because I've always had to," said Ramirez, who has allowed opponents to hit .267 off him with the bases empty. "It's not a situation I always want to put myself in, but I'm always confident that I can get out jams."
With runners in scoring position, Ramirez has limited opponents to a .231 batting average. With two outs and runners in scoring position, that average drops to .212.
"He's been on a roll for a long time now," Cox said of Ramirez. "He pitched well at the end of last year, in the Arizona Fall League and all year long for us up here. He's shown that he's going to be around for a long time."