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New York Post
38 minutes ago
- New York Post
Dallas GOP mayor, new top cop buck sanctuary trend to ‘do what's right'
It's been nearly a month since Daniel Comeaux was sworn in as the new chief of police in Dallas, TX, where he is taking a different approach to immigration enforcement than his predecessor and working to align with the state's sanctuary policies. 'We're gonna do what's right. We're always gonna be there to help our federal partners,' Comeaux told Fox News Digital during an interview. Advertisement 'If there's a federal agency that's doing an operation, and they need our assistance, we'll be there to help them, as long as they're doing what's by the law, and they're doing it with respect and the right way, DPD will be there to assist,' he continued. Comeaux also has the support of Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, who said during a previous interview with Fox News that he would support efforts by President Donald Trump to deport undocumented migrants accused of violent crimes. 'Of course, we'd support that,' Johnson said during the interview. 'Of course, we'd stand by President Trump in an effort to get rid of people in our country illegally who have violent criminal records or who commit violent criminal acts here.' 4 Daniel Comeaux took his oath to lead the Dallas Police Department on April 11, 2025. City of Dallas Advertisement Texas has taken a hard stance against illegal immigration, particularly during the Biden administration. The state deployed authorities to its border with Mexico and took on a campaign of busing migrants to Democrat-run cities to bring attention to the flow of illegal immigrants into the US. Johnson, who has served as Dallas' mayor since 2019, made headlines in 2023 when he announced he was switching from the Democrat party to the Republican, explaining his decision in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, 'American cities need Republicans.' Dallas, one of the top 10 largest cities in the US, saw a significant decrease in crime after Johnson took office in 2019. According to the Associated Press, Dallas is the largest city in the US to be led by a GOP mayor. Advertisement Johnson told Fox News Digital in 2021 he attributed that success to three things — a strong police chief, having 'a budget that reflects public safety being your city's top priority' and ensuring there's 'community buy-in' for crime reduction. 4 DEA's Houston Division Special Agent in Charge Daniel Comeaux displays photos of a pill made by a drug cartel, left, and one made by a pharmaceutical manufacturer, right, during a press conference at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center in Houston in April 2023. Houston Chronicle via Getty Images 'Mayor Johnson has made public safety his top priority in Dallas, and the city has now achieved a remarkable four-consecutive years of violent crime reduction,' the mayor's office told Fox News Digital. 'The mayor supports President Trump's agenda for making America safe again and believes cooperating with federal law enforcement to stop violent criminals — particularly illegal immigrants who have no right to be in our city or in our country — helps keep Dallas safe.' Advertisement While Johnson made his position clear on immigration enforcement, his stance differed from former DPD Interim Chief Michael Igo, who previously said his department would not turn in or report anyone in the country illegally who calls 911 for help. 'The Dallas Police Department is not assisting any federal agency on detaining people that are either documented or undocumented in the city of Dallas,' Igo previously said to attendees at Familia Bethel Internacional church in Dallas, according to CBS News. 4 Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson speaks during an introductory press conference for the Dallas Wings' WNBA basketball draft selections Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Dallas. AP Igo also told the parishioners that federal immigration officials said no arrests or raids would be carried out in churches, schools or hospitals, although he did say that illegal immigrants with outstanding warrants were at risk of deportation. Comeaux, who also has a different take on the issues than his predecessor, said while he wouldn't necessarily call it aligning with President Donald Trump's agenda, he said his department would 'do what's right by law enforcement.' 'If we come in contact with anyone that doesn't have status, we will call the proper federal agency and let them handle it,' Comeaux said. 'We're not initiating any investigations. We're not initiating any programs. So everyone should feel free to go with their business as normal.' Comeaux reiterated that if any of theirfederal partners needed assistance in any way, they would be there to assist. Comeaux, who has been on the federal side of law enforcement for the past few decades, most recently served as the special agent in charge of the DEA field office in Houston. Advertisement He said one of his biggest focuses is working to get felons off the streets. 'Anyone that has a felony warrant, at any moment, know that we could be the ones knocking at your door. It might not be the mailman knocking at your door, it might be us. So if you have a felony warrant, we are trying to get you off the streets,' Comeaux warned. 'We'll get you to the necessary court that you need to be in. But we're very aggressive in getting anyone off the street that has felony warrants. We'll keep everybody safe here in Dallas,' he continued. Advertisement Comeaux added that another feature the city has in place to protect the public is a camera system. 4 Comeaux, who has been on the federal side of law enforcement for the past few decades, most recently served as the special agent in charge of the DEA field office in Houston. Dallas police department 'One great thing about Dallas is we have so many camera systems in place. We see what's happening across the city and everyone needs to understand that and know that if you're in this area, if you commit crimes in Dallas, it's very likely that we're seeing you, we're watching you, and we're coming to get you,' he vowed. Comeaux also issued a warning to anyone looking to bring violence to the city or break the law to think again. Advertisement 'Not in this city. I've been a crime fighter, I've been a protector for my entire career, ever since I was 21 years old,' he said. 'Pick another city. Don't come to Dallas, you're not welcome.' When asked what motivated Comeaux to leave the DEA's office and get back into policing, he reflected on an incident when he started his career as a Houston police officer at 21. 'I'll never forget those moments when I was working the streets, and I was able to really make a difference. I was unable to help an elderly person one day and that has really stuck with me for my entire law enforcement career,' the chief shared. Advertisement 'And I always knew I wanted to circle back to local law enforcement and I wanted it to be in a city that can really be influential throughout the entire United States and Dallas was one of those.' Fox News Digital's Michael Dorgan, Louis Casiano, and Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.
Politico
an hour ago
- Politico
Baraka v. Habba
Presented by Good Wednesday morning! It's a week before the primary, and Newark mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ras Baraka isn't ready to let those headlines about his arrest at an ICE facility fade. On Tuesday, he filed a lawsuit against Interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba and Ricky Patel, the special agent in charge at homeland security investigations in Newark. Is it a publicity stunt or a legitimate lawsuit? Why not both? It might be tough to overcome Habba's prosecutorial immunity, but the details that came out about the arrest shortly after were pretty damning for Habba, as demonstrated by Magistrate Judge André Espinosa's dressing down of her office when it dropped the charges. Espinosa's speech, in which he reminded Habba's office that its role 'is not to secure convictions at all costs, nor to satisfy public clamor, not to advance political agendas,' is quoted in full in the lawsuit. So are Habba's comments made on Fox News about the arrest, some of which are contradicted by video evidence, including Baraka being allowed within Delaney Hall's gated area and leaving after being told to. So is Habba's pledge to 'turn New Jersey red.' The suit alleges false arrest, malicious prosecution and defamation. Habba tried to head off the lawsuit by breaking the news herself Tuesday night. 'My advice to the mayor — feel free to join me in prioritizing violent crime and public safety,' she wrote on Twitter. 'Far better use of time for the great citizens of New Jersey.' Lawsuit aside, it's obvious that this arrest never should have happened. That's not my opinion. The facts are plain. What's not established, but could through discovery if the lawsuit proceeds, is whether there's evidence it was done for political purposes, as Baraka claims. Read more about it here FEEDBACK? Reach me at mfriedman@ WHERE'S MURPHY — In Perth Amboy at 10 a.m. for a solar power event QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'I don't understand what's happening. There are six names here. Six! How am I supposed to know which one the important people want me to pick? Where are the instructions?' — A fake New Jersey Democratic primary voter made up by InsiderNJ columnist Joey Novick HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Thom Ammirato, Jim Manion, Rick Thigpen WHAT TRENTON MADE END OF THE LINE — Federal judge suggests new ballot design law is unconstitutional, by POLITICO's Daniel Han: The federal judge overseeing the litigation that ended the county line system in New Jersey is suggesting that the state's new ballot design may not pass constitutional muster. U.S. District Court Judge Zahid Quraishi said in a Tuesday court filing that 'the amendments likely do not remove the unconstitutional practices alleged.' He did not make any decisions on the new law, which shifted New Jersey's primary ballots to an office block ballot design based on his ruling last year. He also invited the plaintiffs to amend their complaint to address the state's new ballot design law. 'He didn't make any rulings that any particular aspect of the new law was unconstitutional,' attorney Brett Pugach, who represents the plaintiffs in the case, said in a phone interview. 'But he seemed to acknowledge that there may be features of the new law that retain unconstitutional aspects of the prior county line system.' — Judge dismisses Camden County Democrats from county line lawsuit, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: A judge has dismissed the Camden County Democratic Committee's defense of the county line in a federal lawsuit, ruling the party doesn't have standing to continue. Judge Zahid Quraishi granted the motion by plaintiffs, who include Democratic Sen. Andy Kim and the Working Families Party, to dismiss the Camden County Democrats, leaving the Bergen and Union County clerks as the sole remaining defendants. The Camden County Democrats were the last party arguing that there is a constitutional right to to use the 'county line.' TRUST FAIL — Immigrant Trust Act stalls as senators say AG advised against it, by POLITICO's Daniel Han: Senate President Nick Scutari does not plan to advance high-profile immigration legislation, citing concerns that doing so could undermine the state's existing pro-immigrant protections. Scutari said his concerns stem from a similar sentiment from state Attorney General Matt Platkin. Another state senator confirmed to POLITICO that Platkin has expressed concerns that passing the Immigrant Trust Act. … could open the state to litigation that could undermine New Jersey's existing practice that limits state and local cops from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement. … When asked whether he would advance the bill, Scutari said 'no.' 'I think you should ask the attorney general his position on it,' Scutari told POLITICO when asked why he would not advance the legislation. 'His position is that he has a directive that's stood up to judicial scrutiny. Anything that we can do is probably [going to] mess that up.' I KNOW HOW YOU DID LAST SUMMER — 'NJ Transit looks to improve services ahead of fare hike and major events,' by WHYY's P. Kenneth Burns: 'NJ Transit dealt with a lot last summer. More than 1,800 trains were canceled because of Amtrak's infrastructure issues, the weather or mechanical problems. Agency CEO Kris Kolluri said his team is working hard and preparing to ensure that riders have a smoother experience going forward. 'That is the plan,' he said. 'We not only have to worry about our regular commuting service, we also have to focus on those very big special events where a mass transit system has to work.'' MURPHY IS GOING TO NEED IT IN 7 MONTHS — 'Governor says cuts to federal funding for upgrading unemployment systems 'undermine' workers,' by New Jersey Monitor's Sophie Nieto Munoz: 'Gov. Phil Murphy criticized the federal government for terminating programs aimed at modernizing the unemployment insurance system, which suffered under the stress of hundreds of thousands of claimants applying for jobless benefits at the height of the pandemic. 'At a time of increased uncertainty about the U.S. economy, the last thing the federal government should be doing is taking away resources from states' unemployment insurance systems,' Murphy said in a statement Monday. … The Trump administration is terminating $400 million in funds for states across the country to modernize their unemployment systems, money that was authorized in the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act passed under the Biden administration. … New Jersey received nearly $25 million for its upgrades. The grant money was expected to be accessible for tech upgrades through 2028.' MISSING REPORTS — While most super PACs backing candidates for governor filed 11-day preelection reports Friday with the Election Law Enforcement Commission, a couple were notably absent: One backing Democrat Ras Baraka and one backing Republican Bill Spadea. The pro-Baraka super PAC, One New Jersey United, had nearly $500,000 in the bank when it last disclosed with the Federal Election Commission in April. But had it filed an 11-day preelection report with ELEC, it would have shown what it's raised and spent up to May 27. The pro-Spadea PAC, Legacy of Liberty, is more opaque. It registered with ELEC earlier this year but did not file an 11-day report. The super PAC was best known for arranging and then aborting a fundraiser featuring Lara Trump, who backed out because of rules prohibiting Fox News hosts from such events. It announced two ads, but it's not clear whether they aired. ELEC only requires independent expenditure groups to publicly disclose if they've spent at least $7,500 on electioneering within 30 days of the primary. It's possible that Legacy of Liberty did not. But One New Jersey United spent at least $15,000 on online ads as of mid-May, according to AdImpact. I reached out to both super PACs but didn't hear back. —Senator: Bill to allow teens to vote in school boards not expected to advance immediately —'NJ electric bills are about to jump 20% — who's to blame and what can you do?' — 'Physical therapy facility built for Fulop's wife raises more ethical questions' —'How should NJ spend its share of national opioid settlement funds?' —'Brennan & Bhalla call for N.J. ban on rent-setting algorithms ahead of Hoboken vote' —'Make N.J. affordable. Fight for freedoms. I'm Sean Spiller, running of N.J. governor' —'MVC issue causes voter to be disenfranchised' TRUMP ERA EXPECT PROTESTS FROM WIND TURNBINE OPPONENTS WHO CITED WHALE SAFETY — 'Trump paves way for revival of natural gas pipeline through New Jersey, under Raritan Bay,' by MyCentralJersey's Mike Deak: 'The fight is back on. Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line (Transco), citing executive orders signed by President Trump on his inauguration day, has applied to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the reissuance of permission to construct and operate the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) project, which calls for about 23 miles of a natural gas pipeline that would pass through Central Jersey then under Raritan Bay to Long Island. FERC's permission for Transco, which is owned by Oklahoma-based Williams which handles roughly more than a third of the nation's natural gas, to undertake the project lapsed about a year ago after both the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation denied the necessary Transco has asked FERC to reauthorize the project by Aug. 29 so the company can begin construction by the end of the year. Transco is not proposing any changes to the plan. Transco said it has already begun talks with officials in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania to obtain the permits' —'Anti-offshore wind groups seek to kill project Trump halted, then revived' FINALLY, SOMEONE'S STICKING UP FOR THE BANKERS — 'Feds seek to ditch settlement over alleged redlining with North Jersey bank,' by The Record's Daniel Munoz and Michael L. Diamond: 'The Trump administration is asking a judge to drop a 2022 settlement the Justice Department had reached with North Jersey-based Lakeland Bank — which was later absorbed by Provident Bank — over allegations of redlining against Black and Hispanic customers. While Provident Bank said it will continue to provide low-cost mortgages to underserved communities, the motion by the U.S. Justice Department to abandon the settlement has drawn the ire of community advocates and legal experts, who say it would make it easier for banks to engage in redlining. 'It goes without saying it's a good thing when financial institutions are complying with those consent orders, but when you take away the teeth — the actual enforcement — who's to say that they will continue to comply,' said Leila Amirhamzeh, director of community reinvestment for New Jersey Citizen Action' MR. SMITH STAYS IN WASHINGTON — 'As the Medicaid debate rages, can NJ Republicans answer these questions?' by The Record's Charles Stile: 'Two New Jersey Republican congressmen quelled a rebellion last month in Ocean County — the heart of Trump Country in New Jersey — over looming steep cuts to Medicaid. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-Cape May, and Rep. Chris Smith, R-Monmouth, spoke to several members of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners who were drafting a resolution opposing cuts to the popular and lifesaving health coverage program for working-class and poor Americans … the Ocean County commissioners are now poised to do an about-face after being assuaged by Van Drew and Smith that the 'Big Beautiful' takes aim only at the undeserving who milk the system with 'waste, fraud and abuse.' Undocumented migrants who rely on Medicaid will also see their benefits cut … But as the bill now moves to the Senate, the nagging, unanswered doubts about the legislation and those talking-point claims of relatively pain-free Medicaid cuts need to be publicly addressed by New Jersey Republicans in the congressional delegation. Perhaps instead of sending out carefully scrubbed statements and talking privately to political allies eager for reassurance, it's now time — possibly in a town hall setting — for Van Drew, Smith and maybe Rep. Thomas H. Kean Jr. to answer some of those questions. They won't go away.' — ''Back the Boss' signs in Asbury Park show support for Springsteen in tussle with Trump' LOCAL LEPORE JUDGMENT — 'N.J. judge suspended after ignoring warnings about his social media behavior,' by NJ Advance Media's Colleen Murphy: 'A New Jersey municipal judge has been suspended by the New Jersey Supreme Court for two months without pay after a state ethics panel found his personal Facebook activity crossed the line into judicial misconduct. Judge Robert M. LePore, who serves part-time in Point Pleasant Beach, was formally disciplined for publicly supporting law enforcement, political candidates, and local businesses on social media—behavior the New Jersey Supreme Court said undermined the appearance of impartiality expected from the bench. … LePore 'liked' a Facebook group that criticized New Jersey's bail reform laws, a system he helps enforce, and he maintained visible ties to local attorneys, realtors, and political candidates on the platform.' NEIL YOUNG'S HARVEST OF GOLD — 'Weed money is flowing to some South Jersey communities,' by The Press of Atlantic City's Bill Barlow: 'Middle Township expects some additional revenue from its first cannabis dispensary this year. But officials don't yet know what that number will be. 'It's still too early to tell,' said Neil Young, the township's chief financial officer. … A benefit for towns allowing cannabis sales is a provision allowing them to charge a 2% tax on local sales, which can offset local taxes. West Cape May took in more than $200,000 from cannabis taxes last year, according to that community's budget document, while Egg Harbor Township made more than a half million dollars from weed sales in 2024. Atlantic City, which has sought to position itself as the cannabis capital of the East, did not do as well, according to numbers released by the city. In 2023, the first year for legal cannabis sales in Atlantic City, the city took in $88,704 from cannabis taxes, according to numbers provided by city spokesman Andrew Kramer. In 2024, the collection was $242,444. The city is still collecting cannabis revenue, so numbers could change, Kramer said.' AT A FAMILY STRIP CLUB!?— 'N.J. couple admits to operating 'house of prostitution' at family owned strip club,' by NJ Advance Media's Nicolas Fernandez: 'A husband and wife have pleaded guilty to charges related to operating a prostitution ring at their family owned gentleman's club, authorities said. An investigation of the illicit side business at XXXV Club started in 2022. Authorities alleged that the strip club, located on Route 35 in Sayreville, had spent years operating a 'house of prostitution' inside the club and failed to pay taxes on cash payments received from the illegal activities.' … They originally faced more serious charges, including money laundering and racketeering.' SUEKORSKY —'Hoboken to sue to halt non-essential helicopter activity: 'The FAA has failed us',' by Hudson County View's John Heinis: 'The City of Hoboken will be filing a lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after they failed to halt non-essential helicopter activity, officials said today. 'Enough is enough. Our residents should not have to bear the constant noise, air pollution, and safety risks of unnecessary helicopter tourism,' Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a statement. … Legal action against the FAA arises out of its failure to perform oversight responsibilities, particularly in enforcing altitude restrictions over urban residential areas, city officials proclaimed on Tuesday.' —'Paterson budget rejection prolongs city's fiscal impasse' —Snowflack: 'The battle of Monmouth - for the true Republican' —'Atlantic County employee accused of stealing county fuel for his private business' —'Manalapan mayor's wife accused of $5K theft from home where she worked' —'Surfer tackled by [Belmar] cop takes plea deal in beach badge case' EVERYTHING ELSE —'Off-duty state cop charged in 100-mph encounter that left motorcyclist dead' —'Cops violated man's civil rights by putting tracker on car in driveway, judges rule' —'Bill Ritter steps down from 5 p.m. 'Eyewitness News,' Here's why and what's next' —'Wellpoint New Jersey, Jackals to rename field at historic Hinchliffe Stadium'
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Somehow, Guardians star José Ramírez remains MLB's best-kept secret
NEW YORK — The last time the Cleveland Guardians visited Yankee Stadium, during the ALCS in October, the customary José Ramírez prompt surfaced in a press conference with New York manager Aaron Boone. Why is Cleveland's six-time All-Star third baseman so underrated? Boone dismissed the notion altogether, saying the suggestion that Ramírez isn't appreciated made him 'want to rip my arms off and throw (them) at the TV.' Advertisement There's at least something to it, though. Ramírez hides from the spotlight in Cleveland. He puts up sparkling numbers, but he hasn't won an MVP award, delivered a signature postseason moment or set a bunch of records, like behemoths Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani. No matter the reason, even after six All-Star Game nods and six top-six MVP finishes, he's routinely mentioned as one of the sport's underrated stars. For years, Ramírez has shrugged off the idea. He's never craved attention. 'He's one of the best, and we think, in here (the clubhouse), the best in the league,' said teammate David Fry. 'I think it's the fact that he doesn't talk a whole lot and we're not a big market. If he were a Yankee, he'd probably be talked about 24/7 on TV. But because he's in Cleveland and doesn't want the spotlight, it doesn't get talked about as much.' For anyone unfamiliar with how Ramírez became an unheralded star — or for anyone itching for a reminder — here's a primer on baseball's best-kept secret: Ramírez will spend most or all of his career in Cleveland, a David in a land of big-market Goliaths. No New York or Los Angeles circus, no mind-bending contract figures, no commercials or ad campaigns. No attention, which fuels the persistent chatter about him flying under the radar. He did once have his own salsa brand, plus a medium-roast coffee blend (with notes of cocoa and hints of nuts and citrus). Ramírez only ever cared about being noticed when he ran amok on donkey-filled baseball diamonds in the Dominican Republic, with scouts fixated on everyone else, not the runt of the teenage prospect corps. Ramón Peña discovered him in 2009 — almost by accident. Peña coveted catcher Jorge Alfaro, but he became enamored with the 140-pound slap hitter. Even with flashy batting averages and stolen-base totals, Ramírez was never considered a can't-miss prospect in the minor leagues. He was usually the smallest guy on the field, which led Cleveland's evaluators to forecast him as the successor to utility man Mike Aviles. Instead, he's tracking to carve out space between Tim Raines and Pee Wee Reese in the Baseball Hall of Fame directory. And in Cleveland, for a franchise that dates to 1901, he could wind up on the Mount Rushmore of performers, in large part because of his longevity with the club, a rarity for a franchise that tends to ship out stars before they achieve generational wealth. Advertisement Ramírez woke up on the final day of spring training in 2022 and directed his agent to end several weeks of choppy negotiations with the Guardians' front office and strike a deal. The Guardians were prepared to trade him to the San Diego Padres or Toronto Blue Jays if they couldn't agree to terms that afternoon. The team had split-squad duties in Arizona, so the necessary parties were spread across the valley — and the country. General manager Mike Chernoff was flying back to Cleveland. Ramírez finished a five-inning assignment at Chase Field, and convened with president Chris Antonetti and assistant GM Matt Forman in the manager's office to exchange final offers. Agustín Rivero, the team interpreter and Ramírez's lifeline, left his post as first-base coach in Scottsdale and, in his navy uniform, hailed a Lyft to Chase Field. Owner Paul Dolan, in Cleveland, and agent Rafa Nieves, in California, joined on the phone. Chernoff landed in Cleveland and convinced his Uber driver to keep private the franchise-altering conversation he was about to overhear. 'Five stars and an extra tip,' Chernoff said. With everyone present in one form and one time zone or another, they hammered out the details, which guaranteed Ramírez $141 million over seven seasons, plus a no-trade clause. They sped through the process so DeMarlo Hale, the manager that day at Chase Field, could shower and change in his office, the most inconceivable negotiating room imaginable. Ramírez is tethered to Cleveland through the 2028 season, when he'll be 36 years old — 19 years after he signed with the franchise. 'So many guys in this game are about building their brand,' Fry said. 'He just wants to win.' Ramírez's 13th big-league season is tracking to be one of his most prolific. He is batting a career-best .330 with a .939 OPS. He has exhibited no signs of slowing down, even at 32. He snapped a 21-game hitting streak, his longest as a big-leaguer, on Friday, but he has since rattled off three consecutive multi-hit games. He's on pace for 30 homers, 36 doubles and 44 stolen bases. Advertisement After a couple of rocky seasons at the plate, Ramírez blossomed in 2016, with a .312 average, 46 doubles and 22 stolen bases. The following season, he added power to his repertoire, as he totaled 91 extra-base hits, including 29 homers. The year after that, he drew 106 walks, racked up 81 extra-base hits (with 39 homers) and swiped 34 bases. Those gaudy totals have since become the standard, not the surprise. He has two third-place finishes in the MVP balloting and one second-place finish since the start of 2017. Ramírez is adept at yanking fastballs into the outfield seats, and pitchers often find themselves without a choice but to challenge him with precisely the pitch he craves, because he refuses to chase or whiff at anything else. That's how a guy who gives up eight inches and about 60 pounds to Jim Thome could threaten Thome's franchise home run record (337) as soon as the 2027 season. 'When he's struggling, he's hitting, like, .250, .260, which, for everybody else is a great year,' Fry said. 'And then he has a switch where he's like, 'I'm going to go be the best player in the world. I'm just going to steal every base. Now I'm going to hit doubles and homers.' He's incredible.' José Ramírez blasts his 10th home run of the year, giving him his 10th straight season with 10+ homers 💪 — MLB (@MLB) May 31, 2025 In the summer of 2015, Ramírez was demoted to Triple-A Columbus, where Rouglas Odor served as both the hitting coach and first-base coach. Ramírez reached first one day and was nearly picked off by a right-handed pitcher. He stood up, brushed the dirt off his jersey and took an even larger lead off the bag. 'I'm like, 'What are you doing?'' Odor recalled. Then, Ramírez stole second. The close call, Ramírez later told Odor, only motivated him more to swipe second base. Advertisement 'I thought, 'Man, this kid is special,'' Odor said. Through the years, Ramírez has consistently registered above-average sprint speed, but nothing that would suggest he's a threat to steal 30-plus bases. 'It's his intelligence,' Odor said. Ramírez routinely ranks at or near the top of the leaderboard for FanGraphs' base running metric. Even at the age of 31 last year, he piled up a career-high 41 steals. He's always searching for a way to gain an extra 90 feet, either when an outfielder takes a circuitous route to a single or when an infielder leaves a base unattended or, simply, whenever he pleases. 'He hustles every day,' said Guardians pitcher Tanner Bibee. 'He doesn't dog it down the line. He's looking for an extra 90 feet at all times. And he brings the best out of everyone else. There's a reason everyone respects him. I hope he knows that. But everyone in here respects him so much, because of all that.' In late May, Ramírez stood on third base with one out and the Guardians trailing the Tigers by one in the eighth inning. Odor, now the Guardians' third-base coach, told him that on any hard-hit grounder, he would stand no chance to score, so he needed to get caught in a rundown so the club still had a scoring threat. Angel Martínez socked a grounder to first base, where Spencer Torkelson charged and threw home. Ramírez never hesitated, dashing down the line 'before contact,' Odor said. A nifty plunge into the plate evened the score. 'There are just very few people in the game who score on that ball,' said Guardians manager Stephen Vogt. 'The jump he gets, the slide, you name it. He's one of the best baserunners, if not the best baserunner, in baseball.' Ramírez fell one homer short of a 40/40 season last year, and he would have been the second player ever (along with Alfonso Soriano) with 40 homers, 40 steals and 40 doubles in a season. The storyline was buried beneath coverage of Ohtani's pursuit of 50/50, and Ramírez officially missed the milestone when rain washed away the Guardians' regular season finale. Advertisement Ramírez claimed he didn't care too much about the statistical feat, but he admitted in March that he used it as motivation to trim fat and add muscle over the winter. He has joked at times about aiming for a 50/50 season, or an 80/80 season or, even, a 100/100 season, and with his dry sense of humor, it can be difficult to decipher what he actually deems attainable, especially since he followed up his 80/80 proclamation with, 'Nothing's impossible.' He needs 34 homers and 41 steals to become the ninth player in league history with 300 of each. He needs 84 homers and 91 steals to join Barry Bonds as the only players with 350 of each. No one would have predicted such an ascent. And, as Judge and Ohtani ambush the record books and, understandably, hog the headlines, many are still learning how a stocky, long-overlooked, 5-foot-8 infielder has charted a path that could lead to Cooperstown. 'It's the beauty of baseball,' Vogt said. 'It doesn't matter what size you are, what you look like, where you're from. If you can hit, you can hit. If you can field, you can field. If you can pitch, you can pitch. That's the beauty of baseball. Size does give you some advantage sometimes, but it's all about the skill, the art. And José just continues to amaze me every single day, getting to watch him play. He's right up there with (Judge and Ohtani).'
