GaryMrMets
05-27-2004, 01:57 PM
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/sports/8770577.htm
Posted on Thu, May. 27, 2004
NYC takes rookie by storm
NEW YORK - Elizardo Ramirez, the Phillies' fresh-faced righthander just called up from Class A, was awed. No, not by Mets hitters Mike Cameron, Eric Valent and Todd Zeile, whom he retired in order in his major league debut Tuesday, eighth-inning mopup work in a 5-0 loss.
It was everything else.
He was awed by the Empire State Building and its fellow skyscrapers, the lack of the World Trade Center, the team's posh hotel, the shopping district on 42nd Street where his teammates bought him some big-league threads.
"It's beautiful. I've never seen anything like this; so many people. All the buildings," said Ramirez, 21, a Dominican Republic native who is filling Billy Wagner's spot in the bullpen. He hadn't been outside of Florida when he was added to the roster Sunday.
He celebrated his debut by calling his mother. And his goat.
As for the hitters, well, "I throw strikes." He did it so well, he's in the midst of his fifth straight outstanding minor league season: 5-1 with a 2.44 ERA, featuring control and fearlessness despite an average fastball.
"He's got poise," said veteran reliever Roberto Hernandez, a New Yorker. "Everybody from Africa to Cuba to the Dominican knows New York City."
Now, Ramirez knows it better.
Posted on Thu, May. 27, 2004
NYC takes rookie by storm
NEW YORK - Elizardo Ramirez, the Phillies' fresh-faced righthander just called up from Class A, was awed. No, not by Mets hitters Mike Cameron, Eric Valent and Todd Zeile, whom he retired in order in his major league debut Tuesday, eighth-inning mopup work in a 5-0 loss.
It was everything else.
He was awed by the Empire State Building and its fellow skyscrapers, the lack of the World Trade Center, the team's posh hotel, the shopping district on 42nd Street where his teammates bought him some big-league threads.
"It's beautiful. I've never seen anything like this; so many people. All the buildings," said Ramirez, 21, a Dominican Republic native who is filling Billy Wagner's spot in the bullpen. He hadn't been outside of Florida when he was added to the roster Sunday.
He celebrated his debut by calling his mother. And his goat.
As for the hitters, well, "I throw strikes." He did it so well, he's in the midst of his fifth straight outstanding minor league season: 5-1 with a 2.44 ERA, featuring control and fearlessness despite an average fastball.
"He's got poise," said veteran reliever Roberto Hernandez, a New Yorker. "Everybody from Africa to Cuba to the Dominican knows New York City."
Now, Ramirez knows it better.