Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Former MLB All-Star Manny Ramirez has been released by the Sydney Blue Sox of the Australian Baseball League.

• Perth Heat Vs Sydney Blue Sox Tickets
• Perth Heat Vs Sydney Blue Sox Score
• Perth Heat Vs Sydney Blue Sox
• Perth Heat Vs Sydney Blue Sox Game

The Blue Sox signed Ramirez, 48, to a one-year deal in October. The team started the season in mid-December, but Ramirez did not play in either of its first two games due to an oblique injury.

The marquee Blue Sox slugger will suit up against defending champions Melbourne Aces to get the domestic baseball season underway. Perth Heat will host Canberra Cavalry on Friday night in Perth. Perth Heat is an Australian Baseball League club based at Empire Ballpark in Thornlie, Western Australia.

The Blue Sox haven't played since Dec. 17 because of a COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney, which has prohibited competition.

The Blue Sox announced Ramirez's release over the weekend and cited an 'ongoing medical issue' that has prevented him from playing.

'This is extremely disappointing for the Sydney Blue Sox, but we owe it to our fans and the other teams to make a decision now,' Blue Sox CEO Adam Dobb said Sunday in a news release.

'The level of investment to get him here meant this was never a public relations stunt. It was never was our intention to have him not participate in the ABL this season.

'We are unable to comment further and wish to respect all of our current players and staff by continuing preparations for the remainder of the ABL season. We are doing everything we can to get restarted.'

The Blue Sox's next scheduled game is against the Perth Heat on Jan. 20 at Empire Ballpark in Perth.

'I just got released from the team because I got injured and I can't participate in the games,' Ramirez told the Sydney Morning Herald. 'Like everybody, your emotions get down [when released], but you've got to move on.'

Ramirez's decorated MLB career included 12 All-Star selections, nine Silver Slugger awards, a batting title, two World Series wins and a World Series MVP award.

He spent eight seasons with the Cleveland Indians, eight with the Boston Red Sox, three with the Los Angeles Dodgers, one with the Tampa Bay Rays and one with the Chicago White Sox.

His MLB playing career ended in 2014. Ramirez has also played in the Japanese Shikoku Island League Plus and Chinese Professional Baseball League.

Ramirez, who was suspended twice during his MLB career for performance-enhancing drug policy violations, denied that another violation led to his release from the Blue Sox.

The 2013 Australian Baseball League (ABL) postseason was held from 2 to 9 February 2013. It was scheduled to start on 1 February, but the first game of the preliminary final series was postponed due to wet weather, and was the first game of a doubleheader the following day. The postseason was contested by three of the six teams participating in the regular season, with the teams with the best winning percentages qualifying.

The preliminary final series was hosted by the Sydney Blue Sox at Blue Sox Stadium in Sydney, against the Perth Heat. The Heat won the series two games to nil, to then face the Canberra Cavalry at Narrabundah Ballpark in Canberra in the championship series. Canberra defeated Perth two games to nil to win their first ABL championship and be awarded the Claxton Shield. It was the first time a team from the Australian Capital Territory won the Claxton Shield

Format[edit]

At the conclusion of the regular season, the postseason will involve the teams in a two-round structure. Each round will consist of a best-of-three game series between the respective teams. The first-placed team will directly qualify for the championship series, and the second- and third-placed teams will play each other in the preliminary final series, the winner of which will qualify for the second place in the championship series.^[1]

Bracket[edit]

Perth Heat Vs Sydney Blue Sox Tickets

Perth Heat Vs Sydney Blue Sox Score

Qualification[edit]

The Sydney Blue Sox were the first team to clinch a postseason berth, when they defeated the Brisbane Bandits in the first game of their second series at Blue Sox Stadium in Sydney, the final series of the regular season.^[2] In the second game of the same series the following night, the Blue Sox clinched a home postseason series by beating the Bandits again.^[3] The Canberra Cavalry clinched their first ABL postseason berth that same night, when they defeated the Adelaide Bite at Norwood Oval in Adelaide. The win also guaranteed a regular season finish no lower than second, and like the Blue Sox assured the Cavalry oh hosting a home postseason series.^[4]

Perth Heat Vs Sydney Blue Sox

The final makeup of the postseason bracket was not determined until the final day of the regular season. The Cavalry guaranteed themselves first place and a place in the championship series when they beat the Bite in their final game. This win also confirmed the Blue Sox would finish in second place and host the preliminary final series.^[5] The Perth Heat qualified for the final postseason position when they defeated the Melbourne Aces at Baseball Park in Perth in their final game. The win eliminated the Bandits from contention.^[6]

Preliminary final[edit]

The Sydney Blue Sox hosted the Perth Heat in the preliminary final series at Blue Sox Stadium. The Blue Sox and Heat split their season series 4–4. The four game series played in Sydney in November 2012 was also split 2–2.^[7] Over the three ABL seasons played up until this series, Perth has the better record head-to-head against Sydney, with a record of 18–9.^[8][9][10] The two teams have met in one postseason series before, in the 2011 major semi-final: the Perth Heat won the series 2–0 in Sydney.^[11]

The first game of the series was scheduled to be played on 1 February, but was postponed due to wet weather. It was rescheduled to be the first game of a doubleheader the following day.^[12]

Game 1[edit]

Game 2[edit]

Championship series[edit]

The Canberra Cavalry will host the Perth Heat in the championship series at Narrabundah Ballpark. The Cavalry won their season series against the Heat 6–2. The four game series played in Canberra in January 2013 was won by Canberra 3–1. Over the three ABL seasons played up until this series, Canberra has the better record head-to-head against Perth, with a record of 13–12.^[13][14][15] The two teams have not previously met in a postseason series; Canberra qualified for the postseason for the first time in 2013.^[5]

Perth Heat Vs Sydney Blue Sox Game

Game 1[edit]

Game 2[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^'Playoff Procedures - Format for 2012/13 season'. Australian Baseball League. Archived from the original on 29 January 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
2. ^'SportsDay Live, Friday January 25'. The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
3. ^Handley, Tom (26 January 2013). 'Sox rip Bandits, clinch home Postseason series'. Australian Baseball League. Retrieved 27 January 2013. 13-run rout is biggest of season for Sydney
4. ^Munoz, Jessica (26 January 2013). 'Cavalry into Postseason behind Buschini's big bat'. Australian Baseball League. Retrieved 27 January 2013. Second baseman records three hits, four RBI in win
5. ^ ^abMunoz, Jessica (27 January 2013). 'First Place'. Canberra Cavalry. Australian Baseball League. Retrieved 27 January 2013. Canberra finish regular season with win to capture regular season crown
6. ^'Perth Heat rise to the occasion'. The West Australian. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
7. ^Staudinger, Krista (30 January 2013). 'Preliminary Final preview: Champs take on Sox'. Australian Baseball League. Retrieved 1 February 2013. Perth trying to reach third straight ABLCS; Sydney going for first
8. ^'2010 game-by-game results - Perth Heat'. Perth Heat. Australian Baseball League. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
9. ^'2011 game-by-game results - Perth Heat'. Perth Heat. Australian Baseball League. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
10. ^'2012 game-by-game results - Perth Heat'. Perth Heat. Australian Baseball League. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
11. ^Maun, Tyler (28 January 2011). 'Perth sweep Sydney away to Round 2 at BOP'. Sydney Blue Sox. Australian Baseball League. Retrieved 1 February 2013. Three runs in third, eighth send Heat to Championship Series
12. ^Suttor, Matt (1 February 2013). 'Preliminary Final game one postponed'. Sydney Blue Sox. Australian Baseball League. Retrieved 1 February 2013. Sox-Heat battle rescheduled for Saturday doubleheader
13. ^'2010 game-by-game results - Canberra Cavalry'. Canberra Cavalry. Australian Baseball League. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
14. ^'2011 game-by-game results - Canberra Cavalry'. Canberra Cavalry. Australian Baseball League. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
15. ^'2012 game-by-game results - Canberra Cavalry'. Canberra Cavalry. Australian Baseball League. Retrieved 2 February 2013.