7/11: Open Game Thread

Happy Free Slurpee Day!

Erasmo Ramirez will make his 2013 debut for the Seattle Mariners today, as he toes the rubber in the finale of a four-game series against the Boston Red Sox at Safeco Field. The M's seek a series split after winning the opener, only to be followed by a couple losses in which they watched the Sox pound them with 11 runs in each of the second and third games.

After being an assumptive lock for the rotation out of spring training, Ramirez started the year on the shelf. He made a start for Double-A Jackson back at the end of May before spending all of June in Triple-A Tacoma's rotation. The results were mixed: He started off strong, summoning howls from those* tired of seeing Jeremy Bonderman and Aaron Harang get knocked around. While he hasn't been quite as dominant the last few times out, Bonderman was still awful, so promoting Erasmo was an easy choice, really.

Here's what the 23-year-old Nicaraguan did during his stint with the Rainiers:

* Everyone

Last night, David Ortiz surpassed Edgar Martinez on the all-time hit list amongst designated hitters. This, naturally, sparks the conversation about the DH and their place in the Hall of Fame. I find it hard to believe that Ortiz won't be enshrined one day. The voters may make him wait a year or two, because, who knows why, but he should get in with relative ease in my eyes.

Unfortunately, it is the Hall of Fame. While we can point to Edgar's offensive numbers in all things not homers, and opposing pitchers like Mariano Rivera listing him as a guy they feared facing, the fact is that he just doesn't have the fame amongst voters that a guy like Ortiz has. We can cherry pick stats -- such as Edgar's 66.6 fWAR to Ortiz's 39.9 -- but we know that none of that matters. Ortiz has two rings and plays in Boston. It's one of the unfortunate things about those 1995, 1997, 2000 and 2001 teams falling a little short. Maybe even just making the World Series a couple times and seeing Edgar having some insane numbers in the Fall Classic would put him over the top.

Then again, Bert Blyleven was on two championship teams. So who really knows.

My question for you all today: Does David Ortiz get enshrined during his first five years of eligibility? And will that upset you -- as an Edgar supporter -- or can you separate the two and see Ortiz for what he's done on two title teams?

Lineups

4. David Ortiz (L) DH

RHP Ryan Dempster

RHP Erasmo Ramirez

No Dustin Ackley again. I'm sure the beat writers will be asking questions, but you've got to think there something up with his thumb, right? He played several games in a row recently, so maybe not, but that doesn't mean it hasn't re-aggravated. Don't let that distract you from my question above!