Marlins Give Hanley Ramirez More Jewelry To Not Wear On The Field

Last year, Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez bristled when, during spring training, the team imposed a ban on long hair and wearing jewelry while on the field. Upon seeing the news, the star threw a tantrum, scrawling a bitter protest message on his shirt before angrily saying he wished to be traded.

Eventually, cooler heads prevailed and Ramirez went on to bat an NL-leading .342. In a move to reward his success, and perhaps to poke a little fun at the melodramatic standoff of a year ago, Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria this weekend surprised his star with a diamond pendant in the shape of the All-Star's batting average from last season.

"We don't wear jewelry on the field but I know Hanley likes it off the field," Loria said after Ramirez collected two more hits Saturday in Florida's 3-2 loss to St. Louis.

Ramirez's necklace has 394 diamonds. "I told him, if you hit .394 this year, we'll do something else," Loria said.

Well, if he does go on to hit .394, you'll wish you had stuck six more diamonds in there. It's not only Hanley, however, who is getting showered with riches from the ownership. The first 5,000 fans arriving at the Marlins' home opener will receive an appreciably less valuable facsimile. It being the Marlins, the question for Loria becomes what he'll do with the 2,000 he won't be able to give away.

(H/T to Slanch Report)

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