Alexei Ramirez News: Pro Sports Daily

Gordon Beckham will bridge language barrier with Alexei Ramirez

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November 19

Chicago Tribune

columnist Fred Mitchell

"Unless Gordon Beckham improves his Spanish, or shortstop Alexei Ramirez expresses himself better in English, the biggest challenge for the White Sox's new double-play combination might be communication on the field. "We're going to have to talk about that," Beckham said Wednesday from his home in Atlanta. "From what I have heard from (former Sox second baseman Chris Getz), it is kind of difficult to communicate with Alexei. I will make sure we know the signals we can give each other, or different words we know in each other's language so we can figure out who is covering the bag." General manager Ken Williams announced Beckham will be switched from third base to second after the White ..."

Chicago White Sox GM says Alexei Ramirez better at shortstop than Gordon Beckham

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November 11

Chicago Tribune

"Ken Williams offered a simple explanation Tuesday as to why the White Sox will keep Alexei Ramirez at shortstop and move Gordon Beckham from third base to second for the 2010 season despite shortstop being Beckham's natural position. "Because Alexei is better than Gordon at short," Williams said during a media session at the general managers' meetings at the O'Hare Hilton. Ramirez's 20 errors and a brief benching by manager Ozzie Guillen raised questions from fans about Ramirez's ability to play shortstop. Williams acknowledged Beckham can play short. "That's not the issue," Williams said. "Alexei is a special guy and for him not to play for four years at the position regularly and go do ..."

Chicago White Sox rally for 8-7 victory in 10th

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August 15

Chicago Tribune

"Jose Contreras might have used up his last chance as a White Sox starter Friday night. About three hours after manager Ozzie Guillen characterized his upcoming start as "huge," Contreras turned in one of his most disappointing outings of the season. Contreras blew all of a six-run lead that he had been staked to after two innings. Fortunately for Contreras and the Sox, Alexei Ramirez hit a tiebreaking home run on an 0-2 pitch off left-hander Craig Breslow in the 10th inning for an 8-7 victory. Asked if he'll keep Contreras in the rotation, Guillen said: "I don't have any choice. As long as he's here, we've got to keep sending him out there. Our options aren't much. "Maybe [Saturday], we ..."

White Sox win 3-1 in 9th on Alexei Ramirez homer

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August 13

Chicago Tribune

"The addition of Alex Rios presents two issues for White Sox players when they arrive at the ballpark. Check egos at the door. Check the lineup. The first objective shouldn't be a problem, according to manager Ozzie Guillen. "It came from Paul Konerko -- '[Forget] feelings, it's all about winning.' " Guillen said Tuesday night before the Sox needed Alexei Ramirez's three-run home run off closer David Aardsma with one out in the ninth inning to seize a 3-1 victory over the Mariners. "That's what we do here. We hurt your feelings, that's easy, call your agent, your agent will call [general manager Ken Williams], and then Kenny will do something about it." Before Ramirez's homer, the Sox were ..."

Ramirez to the rescue

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August 12

Chicago Sun-Times

"In the world of Ken Williams, no one, and the general manager means no one, will feel comfortable playing the White Sox in the postseason as they are now constructed. That sounded real nice coming from the mouth of the general manager on Tuesday, but as he put it, ''Well, there's the rub.'' That rub he's talking about? For them to create havoc in October, they first have to make sure they can take care of business during the rest of August and September. A baby step toward that goal was taken Tuesday against Seattle. Shortstop Alexei Ramirez hit a three-run homer off former Sox reliever David Aardsma in the ninth to lift the Sox to a 3-1 comeback win at Safeco Field. ''If we would have ..."

Bobby Jenks and Alexei Ramirez unavailable to Chicago White Sox again

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August 5

Chicago Tribune

"The White Sox were considerably short-handed entering their showdown Tuesday night with the American League West-leading Angels. Closer Bobby Jenks went to Rush University Medical Center before batting practice Tuesday in an effort to alleviate his kidney stone problems. Jenks has pitched only once since suffering pain stemming from the kidney stones Thursday. Manager Ozzie Guillen didn't think Jenks would be sidelined beyond Tuesday night, but Jenks was in obvious pain before leaving the clubhouse. Also, shortstop Alexei Ramirez missed his fifth consecutive start because of a sore right ankle. Ramirez fielded grounders four hours before the game but was moving gingerly. Guillen ruled out ..."

Ramirez's ankle better; reliever Nunez promoted

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August 2

Chicago Sun-Times

"Shortstop Alexei Ramirez's sprained right ankle is improving, and he should be able to return Wednesday. That news allowed the White Sox to bolster their short-handed bullpen Saturday. The Sox sent infielder Brent Lillibridge back to Class AAA Charlotte one day after he was summoned and recalled right-hander Jhonny Nunez. Nunez, 23, had a combined 3-0 record and 2.45 ERA in 33 relief appearances at Class AA Birmingham and Charlotte. Minor-leaguers were hitting .219 against Nunez, whom the Sox acquired from the New York Yankees as part of the Nick Swisher deal in November. Ramirez suffered his injury in the series finale Wednesday against the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome. ''Ramirez is ..."

Ball in Missile's court

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June 27

Chicago Sun-Times

"The message has been sent to Alexei Ramirez. What he does with it now, that's on him. But he might want to take it to heart considering that Ozzie Guillen is the sender and inevitably the executioner. Upset with what Guillen called ''lazy'' defense in the victory Thursday over the Los Angeles Dodgers, including a lapse that allowed the Dodgers to tie the score in the seventh inning, the White Sox manager called out Ramirez after the 13-inning game and made it a topic for discussion Friday. ''One thing about it, I don't care if he hates me or if he loves me, but this kid has an unbelievable future,'' Guillen said. ''This kid can be one of the best in the game. My job is to get him there. ..."

Guillen still frustrated with Alexei Ramirez

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June 27

Chicago Tribune

"White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen compared his frustration over Alexei Ramirez to a situation he witnessed in 1998 with Braves manager Bobby Cox and young center fielder Andruw Jones. Guillen, unlike Cox, didn't pull Ramirez off the field in the middle of a game, but Guillen stressed that his shortstop isn't maximizing his talents. Guillen resisted the temptation to talk to Ramirez before Friday's game, one day after Ramirez made his second error on a routine play that led to the tying run in the seventh inning of the Sox's 13-inning victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. "I should [talk to Ramirez], just to get it out of my system," Guillen said. "But I'm going to let him go because I ..."

Quick start courtesy of Podsednik, Ramirez helps Buehrle cruise

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June 22

Chicago Sun-Times

"At some point, a decision will have to be made -- maybe the toughest decision the duo of general manager Ken Williams and manager Ozzie Guillen have had to make since making the White Sox relevant again. And while Sunday's 4-1 victory over Cincinnati plays into the decision-making process -- every win does -- it inevitably will come down to one thing: ''Your heart and your gut feeling will tell you exactly what kind of ballclub you have,'' Guillen said. That's all well and good, but even after taking two of three from the Reds at Great American Ball Park, Guillen admittedly still isn't sure what kind of club he's putting out there each day. ''I wish me and Kenny and the coaching staff saw ..."

White Sox shortstop Ramirez sued in Dominican

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May 29

Chicago Tribune

"Dominican Republic - Chicago White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez is being sued for $20 million for allegedly violating a contract he signed with local talent scouts before inking a major league contract. In documents presented to the prosecutors office in the Peravia judicial district southeast of the Dominican capital, Ramirez and his agent Jaime Torres are alleged to owe Julio Martinez and Ramon Fernandez $450,000 from a signing bonus. The plaintiffs are also asking for an additional $131,156, which represents 5 percent of Ramirez's income from two years in the majors, the documents say. The $20 million claim is for damages and violating the contract. "A contract exists and they have not ..."

White Sox's Alexei Ramirez may have found a home batting second

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May 26

Chicago Tribune

"The White Sox have used 33 different lineups in their first 43 games, but there is one spot that probably won't be changed soon. That's the second spot, where Alexei Ramirez has shown signs of snapping out of a slump that has lingered for most of the season. Ramirez entered Monday night's game against the Los Angeles Angels batting .304 in his last seven games and has batted three of the last four games in the second spot. "I think for now, we're going to keep Alexei there at second," fill-in manager Joey Cora said. "First, he's swinging better, and it's better for us." Cora added that being sandwiched with Scott Podsednik at the leadoff spot and Jermaine Dye, Jim Thome, Paul Konerko and ..."

White Sox's Alexei Ramirez eager for 2nd chance

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May 9

Chicago Tribune

"Alexei Ramirez is expected back in the White Sox lineup Saturday night after sitting out the last two games, plus Wednesday's rainout, in an effort to clear his mind. "It has been OK, it has been good," Ramirez said through an interpreter. "I've been able to study and think about what I've been doing. I haven't been doing right when I bat. I had some time to get in the batting cage and focus on a couple of little things, but it actually has been pretty good." Asked if he could get in an offensive groove like he did last season after a slow start, Ramirez never wavered. "Last year I felt almost worse than I have this year," he said. "As far as knowing I can do the job, I've never lost that. ..."

White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez benched

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May 7

Chicago Tribune

"Manager Ozzie Guillen took the first step toward shaking up an inconsistent White Sox roster by temporarily benching struggling shortstop Alexei Ramirez. Ramirez, the runner-up to Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria in the 2008 American League Rookie of the Year balloting, is batting .211 and hasn't adjusted to Guillen's liking. "I'm not going to say this is the doghouse," Guillen said before Wednesday night's game against Detroit was postponed by rain. "I'm not going to say I'm punishing him for that. But we are letting people know, just not him. We have to play as a team." The Sox kept their rotation intact so that Mark Buehrle will get another day of rest when he faces the Tigers, with Jose ..."