Hey Aram, Thome's hustle won a game today

[USSoccer]

I like Ramirez both his effort leaves a lot to be desired at times. If his groin really is that ginger, then he needs to get in better shape. Either way, effort isn't something that should be a sometimes thing. I don't care if your Aramis Ramirez or Barry Bonds. Hustle the four or five times you are expected to run hard per day.

 

Questioning the shape he's in is one thing. Questioning his effort is entirely different.

 

I'm dissapointed that he's not noticeably in better shape after all the noise about winter conditioning that was made. However, I don't notice a lack of effort on his part.

 

If in 3 weeks he's hitting .290, I'll bet there will be far fewer cries about his effort.

[RynoRules]

Lack of hustle = direct reflection on manager, IMO.

 

Ozzie will savage you both publicly and privately if you don't hustle. Dusty will blame it on the rain.

[BigSlick]

Who's Jim Thome?

 

Someone who is going to hit 45+ homers this year.

[srbin84]

Who's Jim Thome?

 

Someone who is going to hit 45+ homers this year.

 

And would have won the Cubs the Series in 2003 IMO if we signed him.

[RynoRules]

Who's Jim Thome?

 

Someone who is going to hit 45+ homers this year.

 

And would have won the Cubs the Series in 2003 IMO if we signed him.

 

He'd of stopped Alou from having a toddler-like tantrum, prevented Gonzo from booting a routine grounder, helped Prior pitch, and forced Dusty to get off his behind to go out and calm everyone down?

[srbin84]

Who's Jim Thome?

 

Someone who is going to hit 45+ homers this year.

 

And would have won the Cubs the Series in 2003 IMO if we signed him.

 

He'd of stopped Alou from having a toddler-like tantrum, prevented Gonzo from booting a routine grounder, helped Prior pitch, and forced Dusty to get off his behind to go out and calm everyone down?

 

No, he would have overcome all of those things with production. We wouldn't have even played the Marlins in the NLCS, probably division series as the NL reg. season champ. Everything would have unfolded differently.

[NewUserName]

Is Mike North on northsidebaseball.com? Next someone in here is going to say they would rather have joe crede than ARam.

 

If aram isnt hustling it is also the managers fault for letting him get away with it. Personnally it doesnt bother me mostly because it is exagerated. When he COSTS the team games for not hustling let me know. Personnally I am more concerned about his lack of production so far. Which with his history is probably going to change. However he is the best remaining offensive player on this team and until the last 2 games has been bad.

 

To go with ARams poor offensive production so far here is a list of other things that bother me about the Cubs more than his lack of hustle.

1. juan pierres OBP

2. Zambranos control

3. Jock Jones playing against lefties

4. Bynum, Hairston and Perez nuff said

5. GM expecting to compete with Glendon Rusch as a 3rd starter

6. Sac Bunts not a fan of them and really hate them when we dont execute them in situations that call for them, really really hate them when our best hitter is called on to do one

7. Roberto Novoa

8. If we cant hit why dont we at least try to take 1 more pitch per AB as a team.

9. Angel Guzman and Rich Hill. I will give them some slack because they are rookies however their poor performance so far certainly bothers me more than ARams lack of hustle.

10. The talent and money that was paid for this collection of players!!

[anemic offense]

IMO there needs to be a middle ground with Aram and his hustle. For one, I don't think anyone around here wants him "going all out" (a majority of the time) on the basepaths because we know he's one false step away from going down with another hamstring injury. On the same token, his stare downs and nonchallantness (spelling???) out of the box (especially on the hard hit balls) are bleeping ridiculous. It's pretty sad when a major leaguer HAS TO BE TOLD to run to first base. I don't car who it is.