Ramon Martinez signed as a free agent on August 2, 2008. He was placed in Triple-A New Orleans until the roster expansion occurred to close the season. Ramon made his Mets' debut on September 7, 2008. It came as a pinch-hitting performance in a Mets loss to the Philadelphia Phillies at Shea Stadium. Just one of the critical losses that would allow the Phillies to eclipse the Mets and claim the National League Eastern Division title. Martinez's inspired play gave Mets' manager, Jerry Manuel reason to insert Ramon into the lineup. "Why? I just like the way he performed," Manuel said, "You reward guys who come in and give you good at-bats, starting double plays, those types of things." Actually the veteran infielder played so well that he received a majority of the starts at second base to finish the 2008 campaign. Moving ahead of the injured Damion Easley and slumping Luis Castillo on the depth chart. Ramon even drew the starting assignment at second base for the final game in Shea Stadium history. The seventh game appearance for him during his first season in New York.Ramon Martinez signed his card in the set for my friend Noel when the Leones de Ponce faced the Indios de Mayaguez in a Puerto Rican Winter League game on December 17, 2009.
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