It’s never good to wish a guy onto the disabled list, not even players on another team. But there are times when a trip to the DL might be a blessing in disguise to help a guy fully recover from whatever ails them. It worked for Matt Kemp in 2013 when he was finally able to get his hamstring and his shoulder right. Unfortunately for Matt, in his second game back from the DL he severely rolled his ankle on what he himself called a stupid half-stumble/half-slide at home plate that derailed him not only for the rest of the season but for the entire postseason as well.

And then, of course, there’s Hanley Ramirez, who seriously injured his right thumb during the very last game of the 2013 World Baseball Classic only days before opening day 2013. Hanley subsequently returned two months later only to fall victim to a hamstring injury that would keep him out until June 4, 2013.

It’s impossible not to acknowledge Hanley’s courage for trying to play through his various injuries, but it’s also impossible to deny that doing so is hurting the Dodgers more than helping them.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

When a completely healthy Ramirez finally did return to the Dodgers, he had what can only be described as a MVP-caliber remainder of the season with an incredible triple slash of .345/.402/.638 for an alien-like 1.040 OPS, along with 20 home runs and 57 RBIs. Unfortunately, his (and the Dodgers’) postseason was cut short when an errant 95 MPH fastball by Cardinals right-hander Joe Kelley fractured a rib and sealed the Dodgers fate.

It’s hard to argue that this wasn’t the defining moment of the 2013 NLCS for the Dodgers. (Photo credit – Wally Skalij)

With the All-Star break only days away, Ramirez has had anything but an MVP-caliber season. He has suffered with a thumb injury to that same surgically repaired right thumb, and abrasion to his right ring finger that quite possibly prevented Clayton Kershaw’s June 18 no-hitter from being baseball’s 24th perfect game and has been used only as a pinch hitter in the last 10 games.

In Wednesday’s disappointing 5-4 loss to the Cleveland Indians Ramirez’s long list of lingering injuries possibly cost the Dodgers the game (or at least the tying run) when he was unable to score from first base on Andre Ethier’s clutch double in the bottom of the ninth because of what appeared to be yet another hamstring issue or the on-going calf issue.

You don’t need to be a rocket scientist (or even a doctor) to realize that Hanley’s shoulder is not right. And while the cortisone injection that he received over a week ago may have relieved the discomfort, it most certainly did not solve the problem, nor did it do anything for his chronically ailing right thumb, his ring finger, his calf or his hamstring.

No one can argue that a healthy Hanley Ramirez is a tremendous force for the Dodgers and an absolute  nightmare for opposing pitchers. The problem is Hanley hasn’t been healthy, completely healthy, for several years and it is quite possible that he may never again be so.

Since 2011 Ramirez has appeared in more than 92 games only once – in 2012 when he appeared in 93 games with the Marlins and 64 games with the Dodgers. In 2013, his first full season with the Dodgers, he appeared in a total of 86 games and as of Wednesday afternoon he has appeared in 77 games so far this season, which is actually very good. But what isn’t good is that he is hitting only .271 with 11 home runs which, under normal circumstance, isn’t all that bad – except for the fact that Hanley is a career .300 hitter (on the nose) and has averaged 20 home runs per season in his 10 years in the MLB. But where Hanley’s persistent injuries are so blatant is in his defense. In his  73 games this season, he has committed a team-high 10 errors in 262 chances for a fielding percentage of .962, which ranks 13th in the National League (out of 15) and 24th in the MLB (out of 30) among everyday shortstops.

While the Dodgers would certainly miss Hanley’s .300 bat (which he hasn’t had all season) if he were to go on the disabled list for however long it would take for him to get completely healthy, they can get by without his .271 (or lower) bat which he has had all season. Additionally, the Dodgers are 6-4 in the 10 games that Ramirez has missed in the last two weeks.

There is little doubt that because Hanley is in his walk year, he is constantly lobbying Dodgers manager Don Mattingly to play every day, let alone trying to avoid a trip to the DL. But when it is costing the Dodgers wins (and an occasional perfect game), perhaps it would be best to simply shut Ramirez down and allow his shoulder, his thumb, his ring finger and anything else that might be bothering him to heal completely so that he can return to the team healthy for the stretch run and the postseason.

By the way and in case you were wondering, Cuban shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena is currently hitting .357 with the Albuquerque Isotopes, and since his call-up to the Dodgers on June 6 utility infielder Miguel Rojas is hitting .246 and playing absolutely stellar defense.

Ironically, today, July 3, is the drop-dead day in which Ramirez can be placed on the DL and be eligible to return for the Dodgers first game after the All-Star break – which will be Friday, July 18 against the Cardinals in St. Louis. Because of this, it is being widely speculated that Ramirez will be placed on the DL prior today’s game in Colorado.

It’s okay Hanley, we got this.