Hanley Ramirez Has Taken His Game to the Next Level

Hanley Ramirez has established himself as a good player since being acquired for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell couple of years ago. Ramirez has taken advantage of the opportunity to be an everyday player by playing well since his arrival.

Since then, he received a long-term extension from the Marlins. He has continued to play well, and this year, he has a chance to be an All-Star starter at shortstop.

Ramirez is campaigning for the selection with his performance as of late. Prior to last night's game between the Marlins and the Nationals, he shared the NL Player of the Week award with Chad Gaudin for driving in 15 runs and hitting a couple of grand slams against the Orioles.

Last night, he had three hits and a RBI in the Marlins' 4-2 victory over the Nationals at Land Shark Stadium.

It's no coincidence Ramirez's output has resulted in Marlins victories. When a team's best player produces day in and day out, that team wins its fair share of games, and that's why the Marlins are playing well right now.

Ramirez is showing what a superstar is all about by performing every game. It's fun to know he will come through as soon as he is swinging the bat, and that feeling provides fear for the opposing pitcher.

He is playing with confidence right now. When a hitter is hot, he can hit anyone, and that's been the case here.

What's great about him is he is getting better and better each year, and his RBI are a reflection of that. This could be the year he reaches 100 or more RBI.

He's had good at-bats this year, and he is not striking out as much as he was when he was first playing every day.

Everyone gets caught up with numbers too often when defining a player, but the true indication of those numbers comes when a player steps up in the clutch, and Ramirez has been doing that this season, which is another reason why he has improved as a player from last year to this year.

The Marlins are going to need him to keep doing this in the second half because he is the only guy that is a legitimate offensive threat on that team. Dan Uggla and Cody Ross are good players, but they only hit well in spurts.

He has to be what Jimmy Rollins was to the Phillies couple of years ago—a great shortstop leading his team to the playoffs.

The casual fans do not know much about Ramirez, but they will get to know him if he continues to play like this all way to October.

Pitching still wins games, and the Marlins' starters are making a difference.

With that said, it's all about who swings the bat.

The Marlins will go as far as Ramirez takes them.