Ramirez sets new doubles record

Jose Ramirez set a new record for doubles in a season, cracking his 73rd two-bagger last night in a 6-5 win over Blue Ridge.

Philly's switch-hitting 3B  led off the 4th inning lashing a double to left-center field off Jose Quintana, eventually scoring on an Adam Lind single. The hit broke the record previously held by Matt Stairs, who smashed 72 doubles for Newark in 2008, and the two are now the only players in DMBL history to reach 70 doubles in a year. The 25-year-old Dominican leads the DMBL in hits (187) and extra base hits (108) and still has 18 games remaining to add to his record, setting his sights on an unprecedented 80 doubles.

In fact, on his current pace, he could finish with 81 doubles. With 73 doubles in 591 at-bats, Ramirez clubs a double about once every 8 at-bats (9.1 v. RHP and 6.3 v. LHP). Batting third in the Green Rage lineup, he could get as many 4 at-bats in the remaining 18 games as Philly remains in the playoff hunt, 4 1/2 out of the sixth seed. If Ramirez averages 3.5 at-bats down the stretch, that's 63 more at-bats this season and if he keeps his pace, he would knock another 8 doubles, finishing with 81.

It's been a big year for Ramirez. He took home the All-Star Game MVP at midseason and matched a league record just a few weeks ago when he smashed four homers in a game, becoming the 6th player in league history to achieve the feat.

Meanwhile, in Tucson...

Avisail Garcia's trip to the disabled list in August may have actually helped him tighten his grip on the 2018 batting crown. The Tucson RF/DH will miss 26 games after joining a flash mob. At the time, he was leading the league in batting (.344) after a strong May.

Missing almost a month has frozen his average at .344 but he should return in about a week. He logged just enough plate appearances (507) before his DL stint to qualify for the batting crown (502) and should return with about a dozen games remaining in Tucson's schedule.

Fortunately for Garcia, with about 20 games remaining for most teams, no one has gone on a tear in his absence. Through Friday's DMBL games (Sept. 8, DMBL), teammate Marcell Ozuna (.317) and Allentown's Mike Trout (.313) still trail far behind and early-season leaders Daniel Murphy (.298) of Philly and Austin Barnes (.298), traded from Hoboken to Hillsborough, have fallen off as well. Meanwhile, Ramirez has risen to 3rd (.316), and with Vancouver's J.D Martinez climbing to .300, that leaves just five players above. 300 -- in the entire league, when usually there's closer to .300 hitters.

If Garcia sits upon his return from the DL, the batting crown is his. But the Scorpions are still battling Arkansas for the Clemente Division so they aren't likely to sit one of their best hitters in meaningful games. Even a major swoon when Garcia returns probably wouldn't hurt his average enough to lose the batting race.

The 27-year-old Venezuelan has made 112 starts, mostly in right field with some time at DH, usually batting second in the Scorpions lineup and other times as low as seventh. If Garcia were to - somehow - go 0-for-4 in each of his final 12 games (0-for-48), his average would plummet to .312.

More realistically, if he were to get just one hit in every other game, assuming the same number of at-bats (6-for-48, still a meager .208), his average would decline to just .324, putting him in striking distance for others. A more pedestrian .250 (12-for-48) by Garcia could keep him just out of reach of others even if they get hot, finishing the season at .335.

Everyone chasing Garcia has to improve their average by at least 7 to 10 points. To reach .324, Ozuna - who leads off the Scorpions lineup versus lefties - would have to go 25-for-66 (.378) in Tucson's last 18 games, assuming an average 3.5 at-bats per game. If he really cranks it up down the stretch (30-for-66, .455), Ozuna would finish just short of .332.

Fewer at-bats favors Garcia. Assuming only 3 at-bats per game in his final 12, an 0-fer (0-for-36) would see his average drop to .319. A hit in every 4th game over his final 12 (3-for-36, just .083) would sustain a final average of .325. So, unless someone really starts tearing it up, and Garcia needs time to heat up, it looks like the 2018 batting title is Garcia's to lose.