Former longtime Marlins first baseman Jeff Conine called out Hanley Ramirez on the radio last week. Conine said Ramirez doesn’t work as hard as he should, and that he would probably trade him.
The criticism is nothing new for Hanley — just read this, this, and this to get caught up. But Hanley didn’t enjoy the public beatdown and he responded.
“I think he wants to be Mr. Marlin forever,” Ramirez said of Conine. “It won’t happen. I’m coming, baby. I think I’m going to be Mr. Marlin. That’s my goal now. I wasn’t thinking about that (before Conine’s comments).
“If he’s got a problem, just come over and talk to me like a man,” Ramirez said. “Don’t be a chicken, talking on the (radio), because whatever you say is going to stay out there.”
Hanley does have a point there. The problem is he’s taken criticism in the past but nothing seemed to change him. At least Conine has managed to motivate him.
Now Ramirez is talking about being the next Mr. Marlin and about becoming the first Marlin in the Hall of Fame. Conine’s comments weren’t respectful, but they may produce the desired effect, which is lighting a fire under Ramirez’s butt.
