Ramirez speaks--as long as it's not cockfighting

cubbyfanforever · #1 Feb 19th 2008, 5:19 pm

Ramirez speaks--as long as it's not cockfighting
By Paul Sullivan, 11:33 a.m.

MESA, Ariz. -- Following in the footsteps of Sammy Sosa, Aramis Ramirez was the last to arrive in Cubs camp on Tuesday.

Unlike Sosa, Ramirez took a low-key approach and blended into the background.

Looking healthy and in good spirits, Ramirez declined to address his off-season involvement in cockfighting and said he didn't have a difficult time getting over his 0-for-October performance in the postseason.

"I had a great season, I just had three bad games," he said. "It happens. (Arizona) was hot. They played good. But that wasn't the reason we lost. We just didn't play well."

It took only a minute or so before Ramirez was asked about cockfighting following a recent New York Times story revealed he was heavily into the sport, which is popular -- and legal -- in the Dominican Republic.

Reporter Gail Fischer of Comcast SportsNet began, "Aramis, a lot has been made about cockfighting ..."

"I've got no ... I'm not going to let you finish that question," Ramirez interrupted. "I'm not going to talk about that. That's personal. It's a different culture down there. I'm from the Dominican. So let's talk about baseball."

I then asked Ramirez if he was surprised such a big deal was being made of his connection to cockfighting.

"I said I'm not going to talk about that," he repeated. "Like I say, I've just got to say it's a different culture in the Dominican, and that's it."

OK, so let's talk a little baseball.

Now that Kosuke Fukudome is a Cub, Ramirez is likely to be helped out by having a productive No. 5 hitter behind him in the lineup, assuming Fukudome bats there. The Cubs No. 5 hitters -- mostly Cliff Floyd, Mark DeRosa, Matt Murton and Michael Barrett -- ranked last in the National League with 75 combined RBIs.

But Ramirez said it wont make any difference to him.

"I swing at everything," he said. "I don't take too many walks, so I don't know. I've got to see how it plays out. But I don't know how much different it's going to make. I'm not a guy that's going to take a pitch. ... I just swing at pretty much everything."

TheBenjamin · #2 Feb 19th 2008, 5:23 pm

he has no reason to talk about cockfighting. Its perfectly legal in his home country, and is like horse racing in ours. It is a custom. Deal with it. He is not on trial. However, I wouldnt be surprised to hear the chicken dance played when he goes up to bat at visiting ballparks.

anyway, my only beef with him is this. He says he is completely dedicated to cockfighting. Has he ever said he was completely dedicated to the Cubs? Or to winning a World Series? How about showing up at the last minute for ST?

And as far as his swinging at everything as he puts it, I dont have a problem with it, cause he rarely strikes out

that is all

cubbyfanforever · #3 Feb 19th 2008, 5:28 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBenjamin

he has no reason to talk about cockfighting. Its perfectly legal in his home country, and is like horse racing in ours. It is a custom. Deal with it. He is not on trial. However, I wouldnt be surprised to hear the chicken dance played when he goes up to bat at visiting ballparks.

anyway, my only beef with him is this. He says he is completely dedicated to cockfighting. Has he ever said he was completely dedicated to the Cubs? Or to winning a World Series? How about showing up at the last minute for ST?

And as far as his swinging at everything as he puts it, I dont have a problem with it, cause he rarely strikes out

that is all

He does mention in this article he thinks we can do it this year,he mentions how great we are as fans and a great city..............http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...tnered=rss_chc

TheBenjamin · #4 Feb 19th 2008, 5:31 pm

yes, but he never says he is dedicated to the Cubs. Sure, he thinks we can do good, but I want him to say he is dedicated to baseball, dedicated to the Cubs like he says he is dedicated to the roosters

cubbyfanforever · #5 Feb 19th 2008, 5:36 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBenjamin

yes, but he never says he is dedicated to the Cubs. Sure, he thinks we can do good, but I want him to say he is dedicated to baseball, dedicated to the Cubs like he says he is dedicated to the roosters

I would just settle for .300 avg. 30 HR. 100 RBI this year and that is all I want from him.

TheBenjamin · #6 Feb 19th 2008, 5:43 pm

i just want him to be as dedicated to winning a championship in baseball as he is as raising a championship rooster

cubbyfanforever · #7 Feb 19th 2008, 5:48 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBenjamin

i just want him to be as dedicated to winning a championship in baseball as he is as raising a championship rooster

This is the thing with him ,I used to say that he did not hustle,I used to say he did not run out a groung ball and I used to say he did not give it a 100%,then I used to say he just is not motivated at times,but at the end of every year that he has been a Cub,I look at what he has done,I do not question him anymore.

TheBenjamin · #8 Feb 19th 2008, 5:52 pm

he rarely does hustle to beat out a grounder, unless its to beat out a DP when a runner is going to score. If there is a DP he doesnt get an RBI. Yea, at the end of the year he has his stats, but I want him to be as dedicated to baseball as he is to cockfighting

cubbyfanforever · #9 Feb 19th 2008, 6:01 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBenjamin

he rarely does hustle to beat out a grounder, unless its to beat out a DP when a runner is going to score. If there is a DP he doesnt get an RBI. Yea, at the end of the year he has his stats, but I want him to be as dedicated to baseball as he is to cockfighting

Well,show me quotes on other players on the Cubs that mentions that they are dedicated to Cubs or baseball 100%.

TheBenjamin · #10 Feb 19th 2008, 6:03 pm

maybe they dont, but they also dont say they are dedicated to other "sports".