July 11--Shortstop Alexei Ramirez fueled one of the White Sox's best defensive games of the season Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field, especially notable given his many lapses this year in the field.
Sox manager Robin Ventura said he thinks Ramirez has looked better over the last couple of weeks.
"Defensively, being aware of what he's doing and how's he playing, there's probably a step up from where he was," Ventura said. "It's just been better baseball from him. Average-wise, you're going to see that go up. I think every year, at the end of the year, he'll be at .270. So eventually that will get there.
"But I think defensively has been kind of the shining star for him right now from how the first part of the year started to where he is now."
Ramirez said he felt "very happy" about the team's defense in the 1-0 victory over the Cubs -- and his part in it Friday. It came a day after he sat out with a sore left foot. He said the foot, which he fouled a ball off Wednesday, still is painful but feels good enough to start again Saturday in the second game of the City Series, where the Sox will try to continue their solid defense behind ace Chris Sale.
"The key is concentration, try to be ahead of the play, try to keep your focus on every pitch and what the hitter can do," Ramirez said through a team interpreter. "If you're concentrating on what you have to do, things are all of a sudden going to be good for you."
Last year at this point, Ramirez was one of three Sox All-Stars, but his first-half problems put him nowhere near such a selection this season. He is hitting .226 with 17 extra-base hits and 26 RBIs in 81 games this season. He also has 10 errors and some cringe-worthy moments in the field.
Ramirez is obviously not satisfied with his play.
"I'm not happy with my performance in the first half, but I think it's going to turn around in a good way for me," Ramirez said. "The break and the All-Star Game is going to help me readjust and to think about what we can do in the second half."
Ramirez's future in Chicago seems up in the air. The Sox have a $10 million club option for him in 2016, but it remains to be seen whether the team will pick it up or use its $1 million buyout. He also could be a potential trade target, if the Sox decide to sell and if other teams believe his play really is taking a turn for the better.
It's unclear whether Ramirez's contract status has weighed on him.
"I just don't try to think about it," Ramirez said. "I just try to play my game because it is something I can't control. It's not in my hands to stay here or go. It's the team's decision, and my only concern right now is to play hard every day and try to win games."
