Hanley Ramirez Talking His Way Out Of Florida?

(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Is Hanley Ramirez talking his way out of South Florida? 

Marlins fans would certainly hope he is not, though his antics this season are certainly a growing concern.

In yet another bout of immaturity, the Marlins star player chose to speak out to the media regarding an 88 mph fastball he took off of the elbow in the sixth inning of yesterday's game. The pitch, coming from Toronto Blue Jays reliever Dirk Hayhurst, came two innings after a pitch found its way into Jeremy Hermida.

Hanley Ramirez apparently spent some time on the phone with friend Manny Ramirez, he of 50-game suspension fame, during the off-season, as this is not the first time Hanley has been Hanley in the past few months.

During winter ball season, Hanley was quick to note that he wanted to play, despite recovering from an injury and the team instructing him they would prefer he find a different means to staying in shape. 

Shortly thereafter, the team insisted the All-Star shortstop trim his dreadlocks and tone down the flashy jewelry. Though not a popular rule, team manager Fredi Gonzalez is not the first Major League manager to enforce this rule, and it's not the first time Hanley has been forced to abide by it, as former Marlins skipper Joe Girardi enforced it.

Hanley responded to the rule by calling out the front office, asking for a trade, and going so far as to produce apparel with his message "eloquently" scrawled across it.

After what should have been a joyous clubhouse yesterday afternoon, Hanley was quick to steal the spotlight back from the sweep, and his fellow teammates who outproduced him in nearly every way during the series. 

That Josh Johnson pitched a complete game, once a rarity for the Fish, nor the fact that the team's slumbering lumber woke up over the weekend would not stop the 25 year old from speaking out.

When speaking to reporters after the game, instead of discussing the issue with his teammates or coach, Ramirez quipped, "Everybody knows it, I think Fredi Knows it. (JJ) knows it. (Hayhurst) was throwing strikes." This despite him hitting Jeremy Hermida, who has been one of the Marlins best hitters and biggest surprises this season, early in the game.

Hanley went on to tell reporters, in Spanish, that he will soon be afraid to approach the plate in the same manner if he keeps getting hit, and the team does not retaliate, according to media in the clubhouse.

Whether the team or league will seek penalty from Ramirez for calling for retaliation is yet to be determined, but manager Fredi Gonzalez took action by throwing out the media and accusing them of trying to stir up issues in the clubhouse. 

The Marlins were leading the team from Toronto 8-3 with a runner at third and two outs at the time of the plunking, so Hanley was going to get pitched around either way. The fact that he is the team's star, and theoretically biggest offensive threat did not help his cause. 

Hayhurst will never say the truth on the pitch, most likely, due to the financial implications of admitting such a thing.

When a cost-conscience team has you signed to a long-term deal, and you are the center of their offense and marketing, it is best not to tick off the higher ups. Joe Girardi did it, and that did not work out well for him in Miami.

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