Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen had a problem with Hanley Ramirez alright, but it had nothing to do with the former Rookie of the Year’s attitude or demeanor. The Sun-Sentinel’s Juan C. Rodriguez has the quote:
Hanley Ramirez had a great attitude with bad performance for me. From Day 1 when we talked to today he was great with me. What he was in the past? That’s their problems. I’m not saying this because he just got traded. I wish he had a bad attitude and produced. I would take that.
If Ramirez was a clubhouse cancer, as some have claimed, Guillen surely would have gone ahead and fired with both barrels here. He’s not one to hold back. Many expected Ramirez would sulk after being switched from shortstop to third base to make room for Jose Reyes, but he didn’t, at least not outwardly. Whether some disappointment or frustration took a toll on his performance is anyone’s guess. Guillen would have put up for some surliness in return for an extra 30 points of average and a dozen more runs batted in.