Elizardo Ramírez
Encyclopedia
Elizardo Ramírez de Paula (born January 28, 1983, in Villa Mella, Dominican Republic
) is a Major League Baseball
pitcher
in the Texas Rangers
organization.
Ramírez is a typical finesse pitcher, with an average fastball
that he throws anywhere from 88-92 MPH. He also throws an average curveball
and an average changeup
.
in with the Philadelphia Phillies
, Ramírez played with the Dominican Phillies , Gulf Coast Phillies
, and Clearwater Threshers
.
on August 11, 2004, as the player to be named later
in an earlier trade involving starting pitcher
Cory Lidle
. Ramírez spent the season with four teams: Clearwater Threshers, Reading Phillies
, and Chattanooga Lookouts
before making his major league debut with the Philadelphia Phillies.
and Cincinnati Reds.
while the Reds were on the all-star break and started a few games early in the season for the Louisville Bats before being called-up to the Cincinnati Reds. On August 2, Ramírez had a 4.22 ERA
and at the time was the 3rd most consistent starting pitcher for the Reds. What followed was one of Jerry Narron
's most infamous debacles to date. On August 12, the Reds were in extra innings with the Phillies when Narron used Ramírez in relief. He pitched 1/3 inning and took the loss when Narron intentionally walked the strikeout
prone Ryan Howard
to load the bases with nobody out to move the winning run to third base
. Even so, the very next day, Ramírez still made his regularly scheduled start, pitching 1.1 innings and giving up 5 earned run
s. His season ended on the disabled list
.
during the off-season, Ramírez started with the Triple-A Oklahoma Redhawks
, before being called-up on June 4. In his season debut that same day, Ramírez gave up eight runs in 2 2/3 innings of relief. He was designated for assignment on June 8.
, to a minor league contract.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
) is a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
organization.
Ramírez is a typical finesse pitcher, with an average fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
that he throws anywhere from 88-92 MPH. He also throws an average curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
and an average changeup
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
.
2000-03 seasons
After signing as a free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in with the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, Ramírez played with the Dominican Phillies , Gulf Coast Phillies
Gulf Coast Phillies
The Gulf Coast League Phillies are the Rookie Level minor league affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.The team plays in Clearwater, Florida primarily at the Carpenter Complex. The GCL Phillies played some games at the Joe DiMaggio Complex in Clearwater in 2009 while the Carpenter Complex was...
, and Clearwater Threshers
Clearwater Threshers
The Clearwater Threshers are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the Florida State League. Since 2004, the team competes in the West Division....
.
2004 season
Ramírez was acquired by the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
on August 11, 2004, as the player to be named later
Player to be named later
The concept of the "player to be named later" is most often associated with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball trades.-Description:...
in an earlier trade involving starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
Cory Lidle
Cory Lidle
Cory Fulton Lidle was an Americanright-handed baseball pitcher who spent nine seasons in the major leagues with seven different teams. His twin brother Kevin Lidle also played baseball, as a catcher for several minor league teams...
. Ramírez spent the season with four teams: Clearwater Threshers, Reading Phillies
Reading Phillies
The Reading Phillies are a minor league baseball team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, playing in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. Since the 1967 season, they have been the AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies....
, and Chattanooga Lookouts
Chattanooga Lookouts
The Chattanooga Lookouts are a minor league baseball team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. They are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team, which plays in the Southern League, has been a Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club since the 2009 season. The Lookouts...
before making his major league debut with the Philadelphia Phillies.
2005 season
In , Ramírez split time between the Triple-A Louisville BatsLouisville Bats
The Louisville Bats, which play in Louisville, Kentucky, are the AAA minor league baseball affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The team, formerly known as the Louisville RiverBats, plays in the International League...
and Cincinnati Reds.
2006 season
In , Ramírez made one start for the Dayton DragonsDayton Dragons
The Dayton Dragons are a Class A minor league baseball team from Dayton, Ohio affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds. They play in the Midwest League at Fifth Third Field.The Dragons came to Dayton in 2000...
while the Reds were on the all-star break and started a few games early in the season for the Louisville Bats before being called-up to the Cincinnati Reds. On August 2, Ramírez had a 4.22 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
and at the time was the 3rd most consistent starting pitcher for the Reds. What followed was one of Jerry Narron
Jerry Narron
Jerry Austin Narron is a former Major League Baseball catcher and manager. He currently serves as the bench coach of the Milwaukee Brewers. During an 8-year playing career, he played from 1979–1987 for three different teams...
's most infamous debacles to date. On August 12, the Reds were in extra innings with the Phillies when Narron used Ramírez in relief. He pitched 1/3 inning and took the loss when Narron intentionally walked the strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
prone Ryan Howard
Ryan Howard
Ryan James Howard is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies. Nicknamed "The Big Piece", Howard stands and weighs . He bats and throws left-handed....
to load the bases with nobody out to move the winning run to third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
. Even so, the very next day, Ramírez still made his regularly scheduled start, pitching 1.1 innings and giving up 5 earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
s. His season ended on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
.
2007 season
In , Ramírez made three starts in four appearances for the Reds and became a free agent after the season.2008 season
After signing with the Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
during the off-season, Ramírez started with the Triple-A Oklahoma Redhawks
Oklahoma RedHawks
The Oklahoma City RedHawks are a minor league baseball team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros...
, before being called-up on June 4. In his season debut that same day, Ramírez gave up eight runs in 2 2/3 innings of relief. He was designated for assignment on June 8.
2009 Season
On January 1, , Ramírez re-signed with the Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, to a minor league contract.