Here some questions and his answers from tonight’s brief conference call with the Boston media:
(Please note, Ramirez gave his answers in Spanish and they were translated by Red Sox employee Ed Romero)
Q: What do you recall from your one game pitching at Fenway Park?
A: “I felt great pitching there. I recognized all of the history. It was a magnficent event to be playing in that city and that park.”
Q: What is it like to know you are going from a losing team to a winning team?
A: “Above all I thank God for opportunity to play in Boston. (I know) Boston will be in it, as they have been last couple of years. It is an exciting opportunity to be on that club.”
Q: Do you know anybody on the team?
A: “I don’t many guys on the major league roster, other than talking to David Ortiz when we were in the Dominican Republic.”
Q: You are noted for being fearless on the mound. Why is that?
A: “As for my demeanor, I like being aggressive and I like attacking strike zone.”
Q: What do you see your role being?
A: “It doesn’t matter what inning it is. It’s up to the team to decide.”
Q: Do you have any fears about playing in the pressure-cooker in Boston?
A: “I have heard that to be honest, but I feel Boston, aside from pressure, is a great place to play. I will do my best to ignore the pressure and try to give 200 percent to the team. I don’t think it will be an issue.”
Q: What led to an improved 2008 for you?
A: “More than anything, thank God I was healthy. My arm was in the best shape. I worked on improving changeup, fastball and command, all being better than before. And it was.”
Q: When did you develop the split-changeup?
A: “I’ve thrown pitch for about three years now. I improved my fastball command that has helped me with more command for (split-changeup).”
Q: What do you think about the Fenway fans almost feeling as if they are right on top of you?
A: “I was discussing that exact thing with my father a little while ago. There is a sense history at that stadium, packed with all these fans there. (When I played my first game at Fenway) it was like a major league momenent for me. I recalled the history and everyone that played on this field. I had a great amount of joy. It was a very pround moment for me. The support of fans makes you want to give it 110 percent.”
