Giants may live to regret letting prolific slugger Ramirez leave

The Yomiuri Giants hit fewer singles, doubles, triples and home runs in 2011 than they did in 2010. The Kyojin also drove in fewer runs and struck out more.

Being that the Giants are the Giants, it was hardly surprising they would, fairly or unfairly, find someone to shoulder all the blame, and amiable slugger Alex Ramirez was the fall guy.

Ramirez had his worst season in Japan, but he wasn't the sole reason for the Giants' struggles. But with a contract due to expire, he was an easy target.

Changes after such a down season are understandable, but it's possible the Giants jettisoned the wrong player.

With Ramirez left unsigned, the Kyojin essentially swapped him for a younger, less productive version of himself during free agency, signing former Yokohama BayStars slugger Shuichi Murata, as Ramirez headed to the BayStars.

Defensively, the move was fairly savvy.

Murata isn't the best fielder in the world, but he's durable and should hold down third base, which allows Michihiro Ogasawara to focus on first base and solidifies the NPB's most fluid corner infield situation. There may also be gains made in the outfield, depending on who replaces Ramirez in left field.

But is the slight bump in run prevention Murata offers more valuable than what Ramirez could produce with his bat?

Both sluggers had down years in 2011, though Ramirez was slightly better, hitting .279, with an on-base percentage of .322, slugging percentage of .453, 23 home runs and 73 RBIs. Murata put up a 253/.321/.423 line, going deep 20 times and driving in 70 runs. Ramirez also posted a superior 5.13 runs created per 27 outs to Murata's 4.39.

Ramirez's higher rate of production holds up over a larger sample size. Over the past five seasons, Ramirez (in 56 more games) has more extra-base hits (384 to 286), more homers (177 to 153) and more RBIs (552 to 442). He also holds a .404 to .375 edge in weighted batting average, which takes all the aspects of hitting and weighs them in proportion to their actual run value.

Murata's last big year was in 2008, when he posted a .323/.397/.665 line, with 46 homers and 114 RBIs. But career numbers of .274/.325/.545 suggest that was somewhat of a positive aberration.

Star is born: A big season by Alex Ramirez in his first season with the BayStars might leave Giants fans scratching their heads. KYODO

Both players suffered with the introduction of the NPB's new ball in 2011, which dulled offensive production around Japan.

But Murata hit just .257 with 26 homers and 88 RBIs in 144 games in 2010, and wasn't much better last season. Considering the drop Ramirez took from 2010 (.304, 49 homers, 129 RBIs) to 2011, he may far outpace Murata by just approaching his usual rate of production, especially with a year adjusting to the new ball already under his belt.

Murata is a fine player, but with the upgrades the Giants made on the mound, coupled with the NPB's new offensive environment, one could argue Yomiuri would be in a better position with Ramirez — unless of course Murata has another big year.

With Shinnosuke Abe and Hisayoshi Chono in the lineup, the Giants should be strong whether Murata produces or not.

But if the Kyojin fall short of the pennant again, they may regret it if the missing piece has a resurgent year in Yokohama.

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Ramirez, Tono guide Giants to win over Eagles

Getting the job done: Giants coach Takayuki Onishi congratulates slugger Alex Ramirez (right) after his solo home run in the sixth inning on Friday at Tokyo Dome. Yomiuri defeated the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles 4-2. KYODO PHOTO

Brand new ball, same old Rami-chan.

Alex Ramirez snapped a long homer-less drought with a tiebreaking shot in the sixth inning and Shun Tono won for the first time in six starts as the Yomiuri Giants topped the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles 4-2 on Friday in front of a crowd of 40,039 at Tokyo Dome.

"I was able to come through with a hit to tie the game in the first inning and happy I hit the go-ahead home run in the sixth," Ramirez said.

The home run was the first for Ramirez in 13 games, and the first by a Giants player at Tokyo Dome since Ramirez went deep against the Hanshin Tigers on May 5.

"It's been a long time since I hit a home run," Ramirez said. "So it was good I could hit one tonight and especially for our home fans and Tono."

Tono (2-5) won his start on Opening Day, didn't get a decision in his second outing and lost the next five before helping the Giants beat the Eagles.

"He finally got a win," Giants manager Tatsunori Hara said. "He's a tough pitcher, so if he keeps pitching like this, he will win many more."

Tono allowed a run to score on a wild pitch in the first, but went on to throw six innings of one-run ball.

"I gave up a run in the first without allowing a hit, but I was able to settle down after that," Tono said.

Tono allowed five hits and struck out six. Yuya Kubo and Jonathan Albaladejo each worked a scoreless inning in relief and Levi Romero earned his 11th save of the season despite allowing a run in the ninth.

"I'm glad I helped Tono today," Ramirez said. "He's been pitching great and he's been showing that he's our No. 1 guy. We haven't been able to produce lately, but today we did.

Hopefully we can continue helping him."

Ramirez finished 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. The home run in the sixth was his ninth of the year.

Ramirez had a chance to break a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning with two outs and a runner on first, but Daisuke Fujimura was thrown out trying to steal second.

The Giants slugger made the most of the next opportunity, sending the first pitch of the sixth inning into the stands in left field.

Hisayoshi Chono finished 2-for-4 and drove in a run for Yomiuri and Shigeyuki Furuki was also credited with an RBI.

Veteran Takeshi Yamasaki led the way for the Eagles at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double. Motohiro Shima recorded the team's only RBI with a groundout in the ninth.

Rookie Takahiro Shiomi (1-2) was charged with the loss after allowing three runs on seven hits in 5? innings.

The Eagles got off to an early lead with Tono's wild pitch allowing Ryo Hijirisawa to score from third in the first.

Ramirez tied the score with an RBI single in the bottom half of the inning, then put the Giants ahead with his homer in the sixth.

Yomiuri added an insurance run on an RBI groundout by Furuki in the sixth, and Chono had an RBI single in the seventh.

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