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Marlins manager just spoke with Marlins beat writers in the lobby of the Anatole hotel, where owner Jeffrey Loria just passed on his way to another meeting with Dan Lozano, the agent for Albert Pujols.
Reports have the Marlins’ 10-year offer to Pujols at $200 million. Meanwhile, Ozzie talked about a variety of issues — from his plans with the batting order to Hanley moving to third base.
Here’s an edited transcript.
Do you really think the Marlins will get Albert Pujols?
“Who came up with that? Joey (cora) Sent me a text. He said, ‘Everybody here thinks you guys are getting Pujols.’ Not that I know. They can get me whoever they want – I’m not paying! That’s their money!’’’
Talk about Hanley Ramirez going to third base.
“I’m going to let Hanley (alone) for a little while. I talked to him when I was in Miami, before we got Reyes. He has to understand it’s for the ballclub and he’s going to be a better player to have those two guys in front of him (Reyes and Emilio Bonifacio).
“Moving him to the side… I played the game. I know what it’s like. The last thing we’re going to do is just slap this kid in the face and ‘OK, you move out there.’ Having this kid at third base I think we are a better ballclub. He’s a little bit upset about it. I don’t blame him, I would too. But in the meantime he has to understand moving him he’s going to be fresh.
“He’s going to take care of himself a little bit better because you don’t have to be a shortstop moving all over the place. And the two guys who are going to hit in front of him, they’re pretty good. I mean, we help him, besides putting numbers on the board, to win a championship.’’
He said Reyes will bat first, Bonifacio second.
“We’ll have those rabbits in front of him. It’s going to make it easy for him to get RBI. That third base situation? Don’t worry about it. Just sit there and catch it. Whatever is his there, catch it. I don’t expect him to be no Gold Glover out there.
“Is it going to (have to) make an adjustment? Yes. It comes with time. We’ve got a lot of time to do that. But I don’t blame him one bit to be, I don’t say upset, it’s kind of like confused about what’s going on. We talked to him before and we will talk to him again. Right now I am not going to do it because I think right now it’s too fresh.
“The other thing is about the media. They focus on everything. I saw on MLB (Network TV) talking about how Hanley is gonna have to move to third base. You watch that, you say… This ballclub is Hanley’s club. I said that at my first press conference. I said that a couple of weeks ago and I say that today. Whoever we bring aboard is to help him, and the ballclub, obviously, but this is still Hanley Ramirez’s club. I don’t care who’s coming on board, it’s Hanley’s club…
“I don’t blame him. He has a right to be upset. He’s a human being. He was the shortstop. Meanwhile, I think the guy we are bringing is going to help him to get better.’’
Thinks the move to third base will help him focus better on offense.
“Yes. And besides that he will be healthier. He will be stronger. He won’t have to worry about so much (stuff). At shortstop, you have to worry about a lot of things. You don’t have to chase balls in the outfield if you kick it!’’
Do you think he will eventually come around and embrace third base and not sulk to the point that it affects his play?
“I hope not. I hope not. I hope he understands our situation. Carrying it on the field? I expect every player to go out there and play the game right. That’s all I ask. I don’t ask you for anything else.
“My goal this year is to make Hanley Ramirez have a smile on his face and play the game they it should be played. That’s it. If Ramirez plays the way I think he knows he can play, he has a chance to win the MVP. With those two guys in front of him and a couple of guys behind him. he has a chance to have a great season.’’
What might your batting order look like next year? “Right now it’s too early, if we get Pujols or we get this guy. There are so many scenarios there.’’
Where WOULD you bat Pujols?
“I think Pujols would be batting fourth.’’
Mike Stanton fifth or Logan Morrison sixth?“(Stanton) fifth and LoMo sixth, yes.
Reports have the Marlins’ 10-year offer to Pujols at $200 million. Meanwhile, Ozzie talked about a variety of issues — from his plans with the batting order to Hanley moving to third base.
Here’s an edited transcript.
Do you really think the Marlins will get Albert Pujols?
“Who came up with that? Joey (cora) Sent me a text. He said, ‘Everybody here thinks you guys are getting Pujols.’ Not that I know. They can get me whoever they want – I’m not paying! That’s their money!’’’
Talk about Hanley Ramirez going to third base.
“I’m going to let Hanley (alone) for a little while. I talked to him when I was in Miami, before we got Reyes. He has to understand it’s for the ballclub and he’s going to be a better player to have those two guys in front of him (Reyes and Emilio Bonifacio).
“Moving him to the side… I played the game. I know what it’s like. The last thing we’re going to do is just slap this kid in the face and ‘OK, you move out there.’ Having this kid at third base I think we are a better ballclub. He’s a little bit upset about it. I don’t blame him, I would too. But in the meantime he has to understand moving him he’s going to be fresh.
“He’s going to take care of himself a little bit better because you don’t have to be a shortstop moving all over the place. And the two guys who are going to hit in front of him, they’re pretty good. I mean, we help him, besides putting numbers on the board, to win a championship.’’
He said Reyes will bat first, Bonifacio second.
“We’ll have those rabbits in front of him. It’s going to make it easy for him to get RBI. That third base situation? Don’t worry about it. Just sit there and catch it. Whatever is his there, catch it. I don’t expect him to be no Gold Glover out there.
“Is it going to (have to) make an adjustment? Yes. It comes with time. We’ve got a lot of time to do that. But I don’t blame him one bit to be, I don’t say upset, it’s kind of like confused about what’s going on. We talked to him before and we will talk to him again. Right now I am not going to do it because I think right now it’s too fresh.
“The other thing is about the media. They focus on everything. I saw on MLB (Network TV) talking about how Hanley is gonna have to move to third base. You watch that, you say… This ballclub is Hanley’s club. I said that at my first press conference. I said that a couple of weeks ago and I say that today. Whoever we bring aboard is to help him, and the ballclub, obviously, but this is still Hanley Ramirez’s club. I don’t care who’s coming on board, it’s Hanley’s club…
“I don’t blame him. He has a right to be upset. He’s a human being. He was the shortstop. Meanwhile, I think the guy we are bringing is going to help him to get better.’’
Thinks the move to third base will help him focus better on offense.
“Yes. And besides that he will be healthier. He will be stronger. He won’t have to worry about so much (stuff). At shortstop, you have to worry about a lot of things. You don’t have to chase balls in the outfield if you kick it!’’
Do you think he will eventually come around and embrace third base and not sulk to the point that it affects his play?
“I hope not. I hope not. I hope he understands our situation. Carrying it on the field? I expect every player to go out there and play the game right. That’s all I ask. I don’t ask you for anything else.
“My goal this year is to make Hanley Ramirez have a smile on his face and play the game they it should be played. That’s it. If Ramirez plays the way I think he knows he can play, he has a chance to win the MVP. With those two guys in front of him and a couple of guys behind him. he has a chance to have a great season.’’
What might your batting order look like next year? “Right now it’s too early, if we get Pujols or we get this guy. There are so many scenarios there.’’
Where WOULD you bat Pujols?
“I think Pujols would be batting fourth.’’
Mike Stanton fifth or Logan Morrison sixth?“(Stanton) fifth and LoMo sixth, yes.
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