CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Over the last 162 games, Jose Ramirez leads baseball with 99 extra base hits.
His 29 homers since the start of the 2020 season are also the most in the game.
So pardon manager Terry Francona for once again stating the blatantly obvious Friday afternoon.
"He's one of the best players in baseball,” Francona said prior to Friday’s series opener with the Twins. “I've tried to tell people that. When people would ask about Frankie [Lindor], I'd say 'don't forget about Jose'. He's just one of the very best players. He can beat you with his legs too.”
Ramirez is currently riding a five-game hit streak in which he is 7-for-16 (.438) with 4 doubles, one home run, 3 RBI, 5 runs scored and 2 stolen bases.
His 12 home runs are tied for third-best in the bigs this year, but it’s not just his bat that impresses Francona.
“I think he’s a veteran that really pays attention,” Francona said. “He doesn’t do anything but watch the game. He’s smart. He's a really smart baseball player."
Lethal weapon – Reliever James Karinchak is a major factor as to why Cleveland’s pen leads baseball with a 2.57 ERA entering play this weekend.
Karinchak has allowed just one earned run in 19 1/3 innings this season. His 0.47 ERA is tied for fourth-lowest and his 36 strikeouts are second best in baseball to date.
“He has been a weapon,” Francona said. “That’s the [best way I can describe it]. I mean, his numbers are silly. We probably nitpick so much. We worry when he goes 3-2 on a lot of people but there’s not a lot of walks. There’s certainly not a lot of hits.
“His fastball profiles – I know the board will say 96, 97 but I think it profiles better than that, and his breaking ball is filthy. And he competes like crazy.
He’s fun to watch, man.”
Francona marvels at Karinchak’s fastball and how he is able keep hitters off balance with it.
“There’s life to it too,” Francona said. “We see a lot of guys throw 95 but he gets his fastball by a lot of hitters.”
Late scratch – Twins DH Nelson Cruz was scratched from the Twins starting lineup with bruised wrist. Cruz was originally slated to hit cleanup.
Max Kapler replaced him in the lineup but was put in the third spot and right fielder Alex Kirilloff moved down from third to cleanup. Left fielder Trevor Larnach was moved from fifth to sixth in the lineup and first baseman Miguel Sano up from sixth to fifth.
Hot ticket – The Indians announced Friday afternoon that the opener against the twins sold out at 40% capacity.
Less than 500 tickets are available for Saturday afternoon’s game.
Up next – Series continues Saturday afternoon at 4:10. RHP Shane Bieber (4-3, 3.17) vs. RHP Kenta Maeda (2-2, 5.26).
