White Sox rookie Bryan Ramos doesn't know much about '62 Mets, but he knows what he can control
SAN DIEGO — The 1962 New York Mets record? It might be on your mind — it’s been in all the papers as the White Sox challenge that team’s dreaded mark for most losses in a season — but Sox rookie Bryan Ramos isn’t thinking about it.
“I don’t think about any records,” Ramos told the Sun-Times. “I’m just think about playing baseball. Get to the field, forget about things I can’t control and do the best I can with things I can control.”
Which is exactly what interim manager Grady Sizemore wants from all his players.
"My message to them from the start was not to worry about that," Sizemore said before the Sox (36-119) played the Padres hoping to avoid tying the '62 Mets record of 120 losses in a season. "I’m not talking about it with them and they’re not talking about it with me. I don’t know how they’re handling it but I know they’re handling their business as far as what I want them to do, what we talk about in meetings. Things to work on, improve from the night or series before."
On that front, Ramos feels like he’s checking the right boxes.
“To be honest I’m pretty happy with the way I’ve been playing,” Ramos said, despite a .177/.233/.291 hitting line in 26 games. “I think I’ve been doing a pretty good job for my first year in the big leagues.”
Ramos, .257/.342/.426 hitter with 64 homers in five seasons in the Sox' minor league system, and Miguel Vargas, the major leaguer acquired at the trade deadline in the three-team deal with the Cardinals and Dodgers, are splitting time down the stretch as the Sox assess their future on the hot corner. Vargas can play the outfield and Ramos could be asked to expand his versatility to second base or the outfield.
In 35 games, Vargas is struggling offensively with a .108/.223/.162 line. Yoan Moncada is better than those playing, but he's in the last year of his contract with the Sox and after joining the team on the road trip coming off his latest injury rehab assignment, has been glued to the bench.
Given more time to show what he can do, Ramos said his focus is not forcing anything in the field.
“You make a diving play and if you don’t have a chance,” he said, "keep the ball so no one advances or gets a free a base. Decisions you have to make right away.”
Decision in a big-league batter's box are challenging as well.
“The pitchers here are smarter,” Ramos said. “They know how to command pitches better. They’re not afraid when they’re behind in some counts to throw you a slider. At Triple-A, maybe on 3-0 you get a cookie. Here they might paint the corner.”
Going to spring training in February with major league experience will be invaluable, Ramos said.
“I’ve played here so I know what I have to keep working on in the offseason,” Ramos said. “I’ve learned a lot of things, new things, being around guys who have played a while in the big leagues. I’ve been around guys. I’ll go to spring training next year trying to make the team.”
Keller replaces Paddy in scouting department
David Keller was hired to take a leading role in the international scouting operation, three weeks after international scouting chief Marco Paddy was fired, a source confirmed. Keller, who will have a special assistant to the general manager title, was a Mets special assignment scout the last eight seasons. He has also worked for the Red Sox and Marlins.
More changes are coming in the international department.
“We’re in the works of building a new academy,” GM Chris Getz said after Paddy was dismissed. “More focused on the scouting process, it’s different from what you’ll see on the amateur side, we need to make a little bit more of a comprehensive approach.”