The Official Site of Hanley Ramirez

Fri, Mar 20th 2009, 11:14

Hanley expects to play Opening Day

The Marlins are going to continue to take a day-by-day approach with ailing shortstop Hanley Ramirez.

Ramirez was originally in the lineup against the Nationals at Space Coast Stadium on Wednesday, but he was a late scratch 10 minutes before the bus left for Viera, Fla.
Before the Marlins’ game against the Phillies at Roger Dean Stadium on Thursday, Ramirez spoke about his sore right shoulder — which has him listed as day-to-day — and said he’s going to be ready by Opening Day “for sure.”

“You have to have in mind what’s your limit,” said Ramirez, who hasn’t played in a Spring Training game since he served as the designated hitter Saturday in Fort Myers, Fla. “So before I went to the [Classic], I didn’t play nine innings. And I played in the first game right away nine innings, and I made a lot of throws.”

Ramirez, however, added he didn’t hurt himself playing at the Classic.

“I think it was here [in Jupiter],” Ramirez said. “Because you have to get yourself ready to go to the [Classic], so you have to throw long loss and try to get ready.”

Ramirez took some batting practice before Thursday’s game and said the shoulder does not bother him when he hits. For now, he’s not sure when he’ll throw, but manager Fredi Gonzalez said Ramirez could throw a little on Thursday or Friday.

“We’ll leave that to the trainers,” Gonzalez said.

“He took a little bit of practice here early, and we’ll see how that develops.”

Ramirez, coming off a 2008 season in which he batted .301 with 33 home runs and 125 runs scored, hasn’t played in fewer than 153 games in his first three full seasons in the Major Leagues.

The 25-year-old star shortstop is not listed on the travel squad to go to Lake Buena Vista, Fla., and play the Braves on Friday.

“When you’re trying to get ready for the season and something like this happens, [it’s frustrating],” Ramirez said. “But you just have to keep your head up, try to get out of it and try to go back out there.

“I’m just getting treatment and trying to get better. It just hurts. I started earlier — for the [Classic] — too soon. But it’s getting better.”

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Video: Hanley talks with reporters