Aramis Ramirez

Aramis Ramirez
Photograph at Fansedge

Aramis Ramirez started his playing career with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1998. At the time he was only 19 years old and the youngest in the player at that time.

He played for the Pirates until he was traded to the Chicago Cubs in July 2003. He played sparingly until 2001 when he had his breakout year. The hit 34 home runs and drove in 112 runs while batting .300. He dipped somewhat in 2002 but came back in 2003. That is when he was traded to the Cubs.

Ramirez has been a leading hitter and RBI producer since joining the Cubs. His best asset was being able to come through in the clutch, especially in the seventh inning or later. His bat wins ball games.

His fielding while adequate but won't win him any gold gloves. He has improved since coming to the Cubs. Third base has been a problem position since the time of Ron Santo. Since the 1973, the last year Santo played for the Cubs, 97 different players have at that position until Aramis Ramirez came to town. I have noticed this year, 2010, more than any other time that Ramirez does not get in front of hard hit balls and plays them to the side. That means he lets a lot of hits through. I wonder if the Cubs were in a race if it would be different.

Ramirez is one of the main reasons the Chicago Cubs have been contenders the last few years. He was the beginning of the player acquisitions that Jim Henry was putting together. Ramirez solidified third base. He drives in 100 runs per year, hits 30 home runs and bats near .300. He is also the best clutch hitter on the club.

Unfortunately for 2009 he went on the disabled list with a dislocated shoulder May 8th and didn't return until July 6. The club missed him and it showed in the standing. Going into 2010 the Cubs were hoping for a bounce back year.

The Cubs 2010 season went downhill in the first half of the season as neither he or Derrek Lee ever got of the ground. We find out at the end of the year that the injury to his thumb he was discounting the first half of the year was more than a passing problem. Ramirez finally started swinging the bat after the All Star break but by that time is was too late. The season was already over.

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