“Ramirez joins White Sox”

Ramirez joins White Sox

Posted: 01 Sep 2010 03:50 AM PDT

Wednesday, September 01, 2010 12:00 AM |

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By Tom Withers

Associated Press

CLEVELAND — Behind trendy, white-framed sunglasses with rose-colored lenses, his dreadlocks pulled neatly together with a rubber band, Manny Ramirez walked to the front of the interview room wearing Chicago's silver and black for the first time.

As he approached the dais, Ramirez adjusted the Velcro straps on his batting gloves.

Make no mistake. He's here to hit.

"I just want to play baseball," he said through White Sox bench coach Joey Cora, who served as Ramirez's translator during a brief news conference bordering on bizarre.

Already, Manny's being himself.

Ramirez began the next phase of his colorful career Tuesday when he officially joined the White Sox, who claimed the 12-time All-Star off waivers for the final month of the playoff chase. Manager Ozzie Guillen will give him his first start today when the teams conclude their series with a day game.

Ending a media boycott that began in spring training with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ramirez spoke only in Spanish to reporters, who wondered if he would conform to Chicago's personal-appearance policy and cut the flowing dreadlocks he has worn for the past several years.

"That's a stupid question," Ramirez said. "I'm here to play baseball and that has nothing to do with playing baseball."

Ramirez was asked how he feels physically.

"Like a 25-year-old," he said.

He said only God knows how long he can keep playing, but Ramirez said he remains driven.

"I still have that fire to compete," he said. "As long as I have that fire to compete, I'm going to keep playing. As soon as that fire leaves, it's time to go."

Ramirez has long had a reputation for being lackadaisical. His casual stride and style make it look that way. Guillen is sure he will get the most the 38-year-old Ramirez can give.

"He will hustle. He will. You treat Manny with respect and he's fine," Guillen said. "All I want him to do is drive in runs. He will run. I don't say he's going to run like Juan Pierre. But he will run like Manny. I wish he can play every day, but I don't know. He's not 15 anymore.

"Right now, I can't say we are a better team because Manny hasn't played. He is not the same player as when he went to LA. He was the type of player who could carry a team in the past. Do we want that to happen? Of course we do. But we'll be happy if he comes in and helps."

Guillen isn't worried about Ramirez's appearance and will leave those issues to White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.

"That's Jerry's problem," Guillen said. "That is not in my rules. As a manager, I appreciate Jerry's rules, but the only thing I can do is bench him. We brought him here to play. I stay away from that. If I was Manny, I would try to keep the chairman happy."

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