The Manny Effect Already Benefitting White Sox

Manny Ramirez has only played one game thus far with his new team, but his mere presence in the White Sox lineup has already paid dividends for Ozzie Guillen’s club as it pushes toward a division title. Both AJ Pierzynski and Paul Konerko hit game-winning home runs in Cleveland while no. 99 stood on deck.

It may just be a coincidence, as some suggest, but it’s not much of a stretch to say that whoever is hitting in front of Ramirez will see better pitches to hit. In his first start with the White Sox, he hit fifth behind Konerko and only provided a bloop single in a 1-3 day at the plate.

Konerko is already having an MVP type of year, hitting .319 with 33 home runs and 99 RBI entering the weekend series at Boston. Should Guillen continue to put Ramirez behind Konerko in the lineup, the batting average should climb and, with a little luck, Konerko could reach the 40 homer plateau.

The addition of Ramirez bolsters an already strong lineup, as the White Sox are in the top five in the majors in team batting average (.271) and home runs (155). They are also in the top 10 in baseball in runs batted in and hits. These numbers should only improve with Ramirez in the lineup and hitting behind Konerko.

Ramirez can, at times, be a destructive clubhouse guy, but with leaders like Konerko, Mark Buehrle and Pierzynski, Guillen shouldn’t have too much trouble keeping the mercurial slugger in line. Ramirez now has something to play for; a division title, and when he has that kind of purpose and drive, he can be a force in any lineup. He also hits well at US Cellular Field, with a lifetime .338 average on the south side.

The Sox have bullpen issues right now, but the lineup at Guillen’s disposal could simply outslug teams until Matt Thornton and JJ Putz return to health. Rookie Chris Sale will be a crucial member of the ‘pen for the time being. The hope is that they don’t lose too much ground to the Twins before they meet again at US Cellular Field starting September 14th and the Ramirez acquisition should help them toward that goal.

September 3, 2010 – Steve Jankowski Manny Ramirez has only played one game thus far with his new team, but his mere presence in the White Sox lineup has already paid dividends for Ozzie Guillen’s club as it pushes toward a division title. Both AJ Pierzynski and Paul Konerko hit game-winning home runs in Cleveland [...]