Did Hanley Ramirez Steal Jorge Cantu’s Thunder By Taking The Team’s MVP Award?

The Florida Marlins’ season was built on a lot of promise, and that promise took a lot to bring down. Like half a season long’s worth. But even though the fans never showed up and the team kept on losing, one member of the team never backed down and didn’t mind playing hurt. That main is “tell it like it is” Mexican little league lover Jorge Cantu. Even his manager Fredi Gonzales says Cantu was the team’s most consistent player all year. So when it was time to give out the team’s Most Valuable Player award, given out by the South Florida chapter of the Baseball Writers Association if America, had no choice to give it out to… Hanley Ramirez. And some of the team couldn’t be more angry.

“A lot of people on this team deserved that award,” [Ramirez] said. And apparently some of his teammates agree. Several players privately grumbled that they thought Jorge Cantu was the team’s most valuable player. Cantu went into Sunday batting .279 with 29 home runs and 93 RBI. Manager Fredi Gonzalez has said he thinks Cantu has been Florida’s most consistent player.

Ramirez has made 21 errors so far, three fewer than his total last year. But he said he plans to work on his defense this winter at home in the Dominican Republic and “maybe play in the Winter League.”

Maybe hone his fielding skills in the off season–sounds like MVP talk to us. Maybe Cantu should introduce him to the little leaguers so Ramirez could get some of their work ethic to rub off on them… and while they’re practicing go in and steal that MVP award out of Hanley’s house. It’s only fair.
Ramirez named Marlins MVP; some say Cantu snubbed [Palm Beach Post]
Image [Sports Illustrated]