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Wed, Mar 24th 2010, 13:29
Hanley's approach transcends spot on field
Outside of Hammond Stadium, the Spring Training home of the Twins, there are street signs that feature the names of former Minnesota greats.
Players such as Kirby Puckett and Harmon Killebrew are recognized on street signs lining the parking lot.
Someday, Joe Mauer promises to join the list.
The Marlins made their lone trip to face to Twins in Fort Myers on Wednesday. The matchup meant the 2009 batting champions from their respective leagues were in the same ballpark.
Even though Mauer wasn’t in the starting lineup, Hanley Ramirez was at shortstop for Florida.
In 2009, Ramirez won the National League batting crown with his .342 average, while Mauer paced the American League with a .365 mark.
In recent years, Ramirez has had a chance to meet Mauer, and the shortstop has great respect for the Minnesota catcher.
“He’s a nice person, a great person, a great player,” Ramirez said. “He comes to play. He knows how to play the game.”
Traditionally, catchers and shortstops aren’t prime candidates to win batting titles because they play demanding positions. Consider, before Mauer won his first crown in 2006, you had to go back to Ernie Lombardi with the Boston Braves in 1942 to find a catcher who won a batting title.
Ramirez, meanwhile, is the first NL shortstop to win the title since Dick Groat with the Pirates in 1960.
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