Ramirez is the main problem.

[CubfaninCA]

Jones, Pierre & Neifi are hated so they get the blame, but Ramirez makes a quarter of the budget for offense and has been awful.

 

He has to have the worse batting average of any clean-up hitter, and he never was a good fielder. Yes, Pierre and Jones need to get better, but if Ramirez continues to struggle, this team's done. Can't rely on Maddux, Marshall and Walker to save the season.

Edited May 4, 2006 by CubfaninCA

[Ding Dong Johnson]

No, Ramirez is part of the problem. Big difference. Prior to Lee's injury, they were scoring more than 5 runs a game. Now, they're struggling to get more than ZERO. Unless Aramis can make up all those runs himself, he can't be singled out.

[Big Fergie J]

While I agree that ARam isn't the only problem, he doesn't seem to want to take on any type of leadership role w/ DLee hurt.

 

I have no firsthand knowledge of course but just watching him in the dugout he seems to just be looking around at all the younger guys and saying to himself "Whats going on here".

 

I like the guy but his work ethic leaves a little to be desired IMHO.

[CubfaninCA]

No, Ramirez is part of the problem. Big difference. Prior to Lee's injury, they were scoring more than 5 runs a game. Now, they're struggling to get more than ZERO. Unless Aramis can make up all those runs himself, he can't be singled out.

 

Jones are Pierre are getting hammered. Ramirez was a .930 ops guy. He's at .711 now. At least Jones is kinda close to his career ops and plays d. I can't defend Pierre tho.

 

Ramirez should be the one getting the bulk of criticism. He's making $11 million, but is playing like a $2 million player.

 

I altered the title a tad bit.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I like the updated thread title better. At least he's playing solid defense. He isn't doing much of anything with the bat.

[rocket]

it'd be nice to see him stop sucking.

[treebird]

also the fact that we give up like 6 runs every day

 

that's a problem too

[Ding Dong Johnson]

also the fact that we give up like 6 runs every day

 

that's a problem too

 

Only if we don't score 7.

[cheapseats]

While I agree that ARam isn't the only problem, he doesn't seem to want to take on any type of leadership role w/ DLee hurt.

 

What do you consider leadership and how does it help a team win ball games?

 

I don't care if Aramis uses his teammates' toothbrushes, dresses like a woman, and speaks using only farting noises in the clubhouse. All I care about is his regaining his usual form on the field, and we have no reason to believe he won't.

 

How would taking on a leadership role change the club's production on the field? Is he going to teach Jacque how to hit lefties or give him baserunning advice (don't run to third base on fly balls would be a nice start)? Is he going to help Z with his control or help Rusch quit giving up gopher balls? Maybe he can show Pierre how to get the ball out of the infield or work with Ronny on throws to first?

[oldstyle81]

Aram is a slow starter, always has been, go look at last years numbers, only slightly better. It dosent help that he has NO protection in the lineup either. the leadership thing is a joke, some people can do it, some cant, you cant force someone to be a leader. Aram not hitting is only a small part of the problem.

[treebird]

also the fact that we give up like 6 runs every day

 

that's a problem too

 

Only if we don't score 7.

 

then aramis isnt a problem cause we seem to a score a run every 12 innings so if the pitching could just not give up anything for that long we'd win everyday

[Chocolate Milk]

I think that our main problem is that our team, at this point, isn't very good.

[Caryatid]

Ramirez's production, relative to what is expected from him, is easily the most disappointing thing. Say what you will about the whipping boys (Perez, Jones, Pierre), but Ramirez is producing as far, if not SIGNIFICANTLY farther, below his career numbers than are any of these other players.

 

Hendry should be blamed for signing the mediocre three mentioned parenthetically above. RAMIREZ, and only Ramirez, should be blamed for his inability to do much of anything right now.

[goonys evil twin]

Yep, Aramis is a major problem right now. His lack of offense hurts a lot, the the relative decline from what you might expect him to produce and what he is producing is much more significant than every other player. He needs to step up.

 

 

Of course, the difference is, his past gives you more hope that he'll improve soon, so despite being the most shocking decline from expectations, he doesn't bring many worries from fans who know he'll get over it.

 

Many of the other non-producers were pretty much expected to be non-producers, so that just pisses people off.

[Big Fergie J]

While I agree that ARam isn't the only problem, he doesn't seem to want to take on any type of leadership role w/ DLee hurt.

 

What do you consider leadership and how does it help a team win ball games?

 

I don't care if Aramis uses his teammates' toothbrushes, dresses like a woman, and speaks using only farting noises in the clubhouse. All I care about is his regaining his usual form on the field, and we have no reason to believe he won't.

 

How would taking on a leadership role change the club's production on the field? Is he going to teach Jacque how to hit lefties or give him baserunning advice (don't run to third base on fly balls would be a nice start)? Is he going to help Z with his control or help Rusch quit giving up gopher balls? Maybe he can show Pierre how to get the ball out of the infield or work with Ronny on throws to first?

 

Leadership takes on many different forms.....it doesn't have to be a vocal "rah-rah" guy but leadership by example is something Ramirez could do....like running the basepaths hard, more quality at bats, etc.

 

Leadership does not imply holding Juan Pierre's hand....these are well-compensated professional ballplayers and when an All-Star like Lee is hurt everyone else has to pick up the slack.

[oldstyle81]

Yep, Aramis is a major problem right now. His lack of offense hurts a lot, the the relative decline from what you might expect him to produce and what he is producing is much more significant than every other player. He needs to step up.

 

 

Of course, the difference is, his past gives you more hope that he'll improve soon, so despite being the most shocking decline from expectations, he doesn't bring many worries from fans who know he'll get over it.

 

Many of the other non-producers were pretty much expected to be non-producers, so that just pisses people off.

 

in the past week he is hitting .275, still below normal but he is improving

[cheapseats]

Hendry should be blamed for signing the mediocre three mentioned parenthetically above. RAMIREZ, and only Ramirez, should be blamed for his inability to do much of anything right now.

 

Right. That's why many here complain about Jones, Pierre, and Perez. They're mediocre players. They'll probably do better than they're doing right now, but they'll still be mediocre players who are getting paid a lot of money.

 

Jones, Pierre, Perez, and Rusch make more than $15 million combined. That's more than the entire Florida roster. It's enough to pick up a top tier free agent.

 

Okay, so we blame Ramirez for his slow start. So what? Do you think he's playing poorly on purpose? He started slow last year and ended up with a great season.

 

It's fair to blame Ramirez for his struggles, but it's not fair to blame him for the team's struggles. Cubs management, ownership, and coaching gets credit for that.

[oldstyle81]

Pierre is more of a problem than ARAM, lets face it he has a OBP similar to that of another guy name Corey with a similar average. We are paying pierre way to much money to not hit the ball out of the infield

[oldstyle81]

Hendry should be blamed for signing the mediocre three mentioned parenthetically above. RAMIREZ, and only Ramirez, should be blamed for his inability to do much of anything right now.

 

Right. That's why many here complain about Jones, Pierre, and Perez. They're mediocre players. They'll probably do better than they're doing right now, but they'll still be mediocre players who are getting paid a lot of money.

 

Jones, Pierre, Perez, and Rusch make more than $15 million combined. That's more than the entire Florida roster. It's enough to pick up a top tier free agent.

 

Okay, so we blame Ramirez for his slow start. So what? Do you think he's playing poorly on purpose? He started slow last year and ended up with a great season.

 

It's fair to blame Ramirez for his struggles, but it's not fair to blame him for the team's struggles. Cubs management, ownership, and coaching gets credit for that.

 

 

Its not like the top of the order is getting in scoring position anyways.

[cheapseats]

While I agree that ARam isn't the only problem, he doesn't seem to want to take on any type of leadership role w/ DLee hurt.

 

What do you consider leadership and how does it help a team win ball games?

 

I don't care if Aramis uses his teammates' toothbrushes, dresses like a woman, and speaks using only farting noises in the clubhouse. All I care about is his regaining his usual form on the field, and we have no reason to believe he won't.

 

How would taking on a leadership role change the club's production on the field? Is he going to teach Jacque how to hit lefties or give him baserunning advice (don't run to third base on fly balls would be a nice start)? Is he going to help Z with his control or help Rusch quit giving up gopher balls? Maybe he can show Pierre how to get the ball out of the infield or work with Ronny on throws to first?

 

Leadership takes on many different forms.....it doesn't have to be a vocal "rah-rah" guy but leadership by example is something Ramirez could do....like running the basepaths hard, more quality at bats, etc.

 

Leadership does not imply holding Juan Pierre's hand....these are well-compensated professional ballplayers and when an All-Star like Lee is hurt everyone else has to pick up the slack.

 

I'm all for good baserunning and quality at-bats.

 

But the idea that everyone has to "pick up the slack" with Lee out implies that they could have been playing better than they were when he got hurt or that they weren't properly motivated beforehand.

 

The real problem is that the offense would be average at best if Lee hadn't gotten hurt. No amount of leadership is going to turn Jacque Jones into Ted Williams.

[jjgman21]

the excuse of "slow starter" people keep giving Aramis has got to stop. there's been a couple seasons where April was one of his best months.

 

he's pull happy and trying to hit everything out of the park. it would not surprise me if he's been coached to do that, because the Cubs have turned many good, natural all-field hitters into pull happy freaks, but he needs to make the adjustment and return to driving outside pitches to rightfield right fricken now.

 

Cubs OBP

#1 .292

#2 .370

#3 .409

 

Aramis RBI - 10

 

PATHETIC! he's killing us.

[jjgman21]

Hendry should be blamed for signing the mediocre three mentioned parenthetically above. RAMIREZ, and only Ramirez, should be blamed for his inability to do much of anything right now.

 

Right. That's why many here complain about Jones, Pierre, and Perez. They're mediocre players. They'll probably do better than they're doing right now, but they'll still be mediocre players who are getting paid a lot of money.

 

Jones, Pierre, Perez, and Rusch make more than $15 million combined. That's more than the entire Florida roster. It's enough to pick up a top tier free agent.

 

Okay, so we blame Ramirez for his slow start. So what? Do you think he's playing poorly on purpose? He started slow last year and ended up with a great season.

 

It's fair to blame Ramirez for his struggles, but it's not fair to blame him for the team's struggles. Cubs management, ownership, and coaching gets credit for that.

 

 

Its not like the top of the order is getting in scoring position anyways.

 

39% of his plate appearances this year have been with runners in scoring position

51% of his plate appearances this year have been with runners on.

 

it is fair to blame Aramis in part for some of the Cubs failure. the people in front of him are doing their jobs for the most part. he is failing. find me a successful team with the cleanup hitter doing as poorly, and you found yourself a team with really good pitching.

[Andy]

The 2001 Sammy Sosa had a team like this and they won 88 games.

 

If the current 2006 team continued on, they'd probably win 75 or less.

 

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it'd be nice if Aramis could put the team on his back and carry us for a while.

[rocket]

The 2001 Sammy Sosa had a team like this and they won 88 games.

 

If the current 2006 team continued on, they'd probably win 75 or less.

 

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it'd be nice if Aramis could put the team on his back and carry us for a while.

 

It's kind of unfair to ask Aramis to put up Sammy's 2001 numbers.

[Caryatid]

Okay, so we blame Ramirez for his slow start. So what? Do you think he's playing poorly on purpose? He started slow last year and ended up with a great season.

 

It's fair to blame Ramirez for his struggles, but it's not fair to blame him for the team's struggles. Cubs management, ownership, and coaching gets credit for that.

 

1. If the excuse is that "Ramirez isn't doing this on purpose," then doesn't that apply to everyone, including Baker, Hendry, and all the standard whipping boys? Trying hard shouldn't be an excuse for anyone.

 

2. Of course Ramirez shouldn't be blamed for the team's struggles. But he also shouldn't get a pass now because he's done well in previous seasons. This team needs him now, and he's not getting the job done.