3 Cleveland Indians takes: Jose Ramirez, making baseball fun again

2. Cleveland Indians: J-Ram making baseball fun again

For those tired of modern baseball and its three true outcomes, check out Jose Ramirez running the bases during Wednesday night’s win. Ramirez produced a little league triple en route to the Tribe’s third straight win over the Orioles.

On the season, Ramirez is batting .274, which I find to be incredible because of the massive shift defenses deploy when he’s at the dish. When batting lefty, the 2nd baseball usually plays shallow right rifled while the shortstop plays right center.

With a 2.7 bWAR, Ramirez has cracked 15 homers.

Ramirez’s ascendence into an elite talent is one of the biggest surprises in franchise history. When he came through the minors, his glove always looked MLB ready, but few thought he’d hit enough to be an everyday player.

Then, Ramirez switch form shortstop to third base, and I don’t think people realize what a big move it was. Third base was manned by greats such as Jim Thome, Matt Williams and Travis Fryman in the 90s, but it became a black hole for more of the 200s.

The Indians traded Coco Crisp to the Red Sox for the late Andy Marte after the 2005 season, hoping he’d take the job for 10 years. It didn’t work out. Lonnie Chisenhall came through the system as a highly touted third baseman, as well. He salvaged his big-league career as a right-fielder.

Case Blake had a good season at third in 2007, but the Tribe finally has a top-tier talent at the position. Ramirez is an MVP candidate and coincidentally, the lat Indian to win an MVP also played third–a gentlemen by the name of Al Rosen back in 1953.

Let’s get Jose into the All-Star game by voting here.