Tendarian
05-12-2004, 09:29 AM
Ramirez misses first game of year to become U.S. citizen
By HOWARD ULMAN
AP Sports Writer
BOSTON (AP) — Manny Ramirez had a good reason to miss his first game of the year with the Boston Red Sox. He went to Miami to become a U.S. citizen.
With the support of team management, Ramirez left Boston after Sunday's 8-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals. He was expected back for Tuesday night's second game of a three-game series against Cleveland.
“He was going to get a day off (Saturday), but something neat came up,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. “It turns out he's down in Miami to become a United States citizen. It's been a long process, and today is the day.”
Not even a player of Ramirez's accomplishments — an AL batting championship in 2002 and a $20 million salary — could schedule it for a Red Sox off day.
“It's the timing,” Francona said. “If he didn't do it today, we're not talking about (a delay of) weeks or months. It's like, maybe, a year.”
General manager Theo Epstein said, “It's an excused absence.”
Without Ramirez, Brian Daubach started in his place in left field and Kevin Millar replaced him in the cleanup spot against Cleveland on Monday night.
Ramirez “has our full support on this,” Francona said. “He went about it the right way.”
After Sunday's games, Ramirez was third in the AL with a .369 batting average, tied for third with eight homers and second with 45 hits in 31 games. He has hits in his last six games, batting .435 with three homers in that stretch.
Ramirez, who turns 32 on May 30, was born in the Dominican Republic and came to the United States at age 13. He graduated from George Washington High School in the Bronx, New York, and lives in Fort Lauderdale.
Ramirez didn't tell all his teammates about Monday's appointment. David Ortiz, one of his friends on the team, said he didn't have any details.
“All I know is that he's going down to Florida (Monday) to do some personal business,” Ortiz said.
“I guess it's something very important to him,” said Ortiz, who graduated from high school in the Dominican Republic and isn't a U.S. citizen. “You know how that works. When they give you a day, you've got to show up. Otherwise, they delay.”
Ramirez led the AL with a .349 batting average in 2002 and was second to teammate Bill Mueller last season at .325.
“When you decide to do it, you just go for it,” Ortiz said. Ramirez “will be back here ... happy.”
What a great story with all the turmoil in the world and everyone being antiamerican heres a multi millionaire yearning to be free. This guy has had his troubles in the past with "foot in mouth" syndrome but im glad he thinks this is the place to be.
By HOWARD ULMAN
AP Sports Writer
BOSTON (AP) — Manny Ramirez had a good reason to miss his first game of the year with the Boston Red Sox. He went to Miami to become a U.S. citizen.
With the support of team management, Ramirez left Boston after Sunday's 8-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals. He was expected back for Tuesday night's second game of a three-game series against Cleveland.
“He was going to get a day off (Saturday), but something neat came up,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. “It turns out he's down in Miami to become a United States citizen. It's been a long process, and today is the day.”
Not even a player of Ramirez's accomplishments — an AL batting championship in 2002 and a $20 million salary — could schedule it for a Red Sox off day.
“It's the timing,” Francona said. “If he didn't do it today, we're not talking about (a delay of) weeks or months. It's like, maybe, a year.”
General manager Theo Epstein said, “It's an excused absence.”
Without Ramirez, Brian Daubach started in his place in left field and Kevin Millar replaced him in the cleanup spot against Cleveland on Monday night.
Ramirez “has our full support on this,” Francona said. “He went about it the right way.”
After Sunday's games, Ramirez was third in the AL with a .369 batting average, tied for third with eight homers and second with 45 hits in 31 games. He has hits in his last six games, batting .435 with three homers in that stretch.
Ramirez, who turns 32 on May 30, was born in the Dominican Republic and came to the United States at age 13. He graduated from George Washington High School in the Bronx, New York, and lives in Fort Lauderdale.
Ramirez didn't tell all his teammates about Monday's appointment. David Ortiz, one of his friends on the team, said he didn't have any details.
“All I know is that he's going down to Florida (Monday) to do some personal business,” Ortiz said.
“I guess it's something very important to him,” said Ortiz, who graduated from high school in the Dominican Republic and isn't a U.S. citizen. “You know how that works. When they give you a day, you've got to show up. Otherwise, they delay.”
Ramirez led the AL with a .349 batting average in 2002 and was second to teammate Bill Mueller last season at .325.
“When you decide to do it, you just go for it,” Ortiz said. Ramirez “will be back here ... happy.”
What a great story with all the turmoil in the world and everyone being antiamerican heres a multi millionaire yearning to be free. This guy has had his troubles in the past with "foot in mouth" syndrome but im glad he thinks this is the place to be.