Ramirez Injury Thread

[rynefan]

I don't think even Rammy can sufficiently help this pathetic offensive team. Might as well go under the knife (if the prognosis is that would be "better" for him long term) & come back for 2010. I'm so sick of the impotence of this team right now

 

I was going to write pretty much the same thing. The starters are doing a great job and the hitting is just disgusting. It's pretty much hard to watch. I can't see this team staying in contention long enough for Aram to make a difference whenever he does come back.

[Electron Blue]

I don't think even Rammy can sufficiently help this pathetic offensive team. Might as well go under the knife (if the prognosis is that would be "better" for him long term) & come back for 2010. I'm so sick of the impotence of this team right now

 

I was going to write pretty much the same thing. The starters are doing a great job and the hitting is just disgusting. It's pretty much hard to watch. I can't see this team staying in contention long enough for Aram to make a difference whenever he does come back.

 

He has missed more than a month -- a very substantial part of the season. When he left we were exactly 2.5 games out of first. We are now 2.5 games out of first.

 

My point isn't that Aramis is not important to the team -- he is very much so. But the starters (and as of late, the bullpen) have been doing well enough. Our pitching, thus far, has kept us in the race. I see no reason that we won't be able to contend, at this rate, when he eventually comes back.

[JGalt73]

Via Will Carroll:

 

Will Carroll: I think we're looking at the All-Star Break on the positive side. Ramirez is a more interesting proposition in that, despite having a severe injury, once it's healed, it's usually healed fully. It should only affect him at the plate and even then, guys can play through it, especially if they're willing to show some abandon (think B.J. Upton from the '08 playoffs).

[dew1679666265]

Via Will Carroll:

 

Will Carroll: I think we're looking at the All-Star Break on the positive side. Ramirez is a more interesting proposition in that, despite having a severe injury, once it's healed, it's usually healed fully. It should only affect him at the plate and even then, guys can play through it, especially if they're willing to show some abandon (think B.J. Upton from the '08 playoffs).

 

Am I reading that wrong or is that completely opposite of everything we've heard about his injury? Everything I've heard to this point is that it would likely continue nagging him even after he returns and could hurt his overall performance.

 

If this report is true - and if I'm reading it right - this could be terrific news.

[Keener98]

Via Will Carroll:

 

Will Carroll: I think we're looking at the All-Star Break on the positive side. Ramirez is a more interesting proposition in that, despite having a severe injury, once it's healed, it's usually healed fully. It should only affect him at the plate and even then, guys can play through it, especially if they're willing to show some abandon (think B.J. Upton from the '08 playoffs).

 

How exactly does 1 "show some abandon"?

[JGalt73]

From Will's chat:

 

Mike (Chicago): Is there a real chance that Aramis Ramirez' injury will recur, will need surgery sooner rather than later, and that he won't contribute much this year at all?

 

Will Carroll: Chance? Yes. The shoulder has some internal damage and if it's lax, then yes, it could pop out again. I don't think they'll let him back if they feel there's a significant risk, but remember that the injury was a bit of a fluke. He fell in just the wrong way with the wrong force and pow, his shoulder's out.

[Sammy Sofa]

My positivity is tempered by this news coming from the gaping source of despair of awfulness that is WC.

[Tracer Bullet]

i may be complete mistaken, but I thought Carroll was generally very good when it came to injury stuff and just terrible with...well, everything else.

[Old Style]

Via Will Carroll:

 

Will Carroll: I think we're looking at the All-Star Break on the positive side. Ramirez is a more interesting proposition in that, despite having a severe injury, once it's healed, it's usually healed fully. It should only affect him at the plate and even then, guys can play through it, especially if they're willing to show some abandon (think B.J. Upton from the '08 playoffs).

 

How exactly does 1 "show some abandon"?

You have to be gritty. Since Aramis is not white, I'm not sure he can be gritty.

[sporrer17]

I suffered almost an identical shoulder injury to Ramirez a few years ago, and I had it pop out about 3 more times before finally having surgery and getting it corrected (probably 5-6 months after the initial dislocation).

 

I would say we ought to be careful with him, but the only options are having surgery right now and shutting him down for the season...or hoping/praying it doesn't happen again until the season is over. With the current state of the Cubs' offense, we know what the choice will be.

[jersey cubs fan]

Via Will Carroll:

 

Will Carroll: I think we're looking at the All-Star Break on the positive side. Ramirez is a more interesting proposition in that, despite having a severe injury, once it's healed, it's usually healed fully. It should only affect him at the plate and even then, guys can play through it, especially if they're willing to show some abandon (think B.J. Upton from the '08 playoffs).

 

Oh, well that's good. Wait, I mean that's the whole freaking problem. I don't care if Aramis can come back and play third base. I care if he can come back and hit. Ramirez has always reminded me of a slightly more refined version of Soriano. He doesn't have a particularly patient approach at the plate, but he does draw more walks and strike out less frequently. His production, however, relies on his violent swing making contact. He's not going to be Theriot dumping it into right, and he's certainly not going to leg out many infield hits or turn singles in the gap into doubles. He has to hit the ball hard to be of value to this team. Can he? I don't know, but I don't think you can grit your way to power.

[Soul]

Via Will Carroll:

 

Will Carroll: I think we're looking at the All-Star Break on the positive side. Ramirez is a more interesting proposition in that, despite having a severe injury, once it's healed, it's usually healed fully. It should only affect him at the plate and even then, guys can play through it, especially if they're willing to show some abandon (think B.J. Upton from the '08 playoffs).

 

Oh, well that's good. Wait, I mean that's the whole freaking problem. I don't care if Aramis can come back and play third base. I care if he can come back and hit. Ramirez has always reminded me of a slightly more refined version of Soriano. He doesn't have a particularly patient approach at the plate, but he does draw more walks and strike out less frequently. His production, however, relies on his violent swing making contact. He's not going to be Theriot dumping it into right, and he's certainly not going to leg out many infield hits or turn singles in the gap into doubles. He has to hit the ball hard to be of value to this team. Can he? I don't know, but I don't think you can grit your way to power.

 

You can't grit your way to power, and that's the whole problem, and Carroll himself was the one saying all the doom & gloom about Ramirez, and now he's coloring it the opposite...and...and..

 

Color me totally and completely confused at this point.

 

I'm just going to assume ARam will not be the same until I see otherwise.

[hardcorecubfan]

Via Will Carroll:

 

Will Carroll: I think we're looking at the All-Star Break on the positive side. Ramirez is a more interesting proposition in that, despite having a severe injury, once it's healed, it's usually healed fully. It should only affect him at the plate and even then, guys can play through it, especially if they're willing to show some abandon (think B.J. Upton from the '08 playoffs).

 

How exactly does 1 "show some abandon"?

You have to be gritty. Since Aramis is not white, I'm not sure he can be gritty.

 

and he isn't under 5'9" that is a big grit factor

[Vanilla Ice]

Via Will Carroll:

 

Will Carroll: I think we're looking at the All-Star Break on the positive side. Ramirez is a more interesting proposition in that, despite having a severe injury, once it's healed, it's usually healed fully. It should only affect him at the plate and even then, guys can play through it, especially if they're willing to show some abandon (think B.J. Upton from the '08 playoffs).

 

How exactly does 1 "show some abandon"?

You have to be gritty. Since Aramis is not white, I'm not sure he can be gritty.

B.J. Upton is black.

[David]

I guess this was never posted...

 

News: If all goes well, Ramirez (shoulder) is expected to start taking batting practice by Monday, the Cubs' official site reports. "Between now and this next road trip [which starts Monday], he'll start taking batting practice," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said.

Spin: That's progress, but his target continues to be a return by the All-Star break. "The swing is going to be the toughest thing and probably diving [on defense], but I can't control that," Ramirez said. "Hopefully, I'll be back before the break."

[Little Slide Rooter]

I guess this was never posted...

 

News: If all goes well, Ramirez (shoulder) is expected to start taking batting practice by Monday, the Cubs' official site reports. "Between now and this next road trip [which starts Monday], he'll start taking batting practice," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said.

Spin: That's progress, but his target continues to be a return by the All-Star break. "The swing is going to be the toughest thing and probably diving [on defense], but I can't control that," Ramirez said. "Hopefully, I'll be back before the break."

 

This is actually huge, because everything Ive heard previously has been after the all star break. The way Lees hitting, and Bradleys pulling it together and Kosukes and Geo are showing signs of life and were 2.5 games back, the folks in Missouri and Wisconsin are probbly starting to get a bit nervous.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Anyone know if Aramis took BP today and how it weant?

[Schwarber Fan]

Anyone know if Aramis took BP today and how it weant?

 

He did not according to Len

[Little Slide Rooter]

During yesterdays game, they mentioned theyd give an update on Aramis' health. Did anyone catch it?

[David]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-23-cubs-brite-chicago-jun23,0,1856003.story

 

"I don't know yet," Ramirez said. "I don't know where Lou got that from. But I'm getting close. I just don't have a day yet."

 

Well, what's a day here or there when Ramirez has missed 48 of them?

 

Ramirez has gone from dry swings with a light fungo bat to real swings with his real bat in soft-toss drills. The next step, live batting practice, should come on this road trip to Detroit and the South Side. Maybe. And then comes a minor-league rehab stint of a few days.

 

After taking swings, Ramirez is sure about one thing concerning the pain:

 

"It's going to be there for a while. It's getting better, but it's going to be there.

 

"When I start playing, it will still be there. It can't go away in two months; maybe [during] the off-season."

 

Ramirez said he had no trouble extending the left arm while taking ground balls, but the left arm to a right-handed swinger is perhaps the most important piece. It drives the ball and extends the bat.

[Keener98]

That doesnt sound good at all.

[David]

Yea. Hopefully, he can still hit effectively despite the pain.

 

 

Even if he can't, he still can't be worse than Blanco/Miles. We just shouldn't expect anything great.

[E.J.]

That doesn't sound good AT all. He's going to be playing in pain when he returns? If there is anyone who's going to have issues, it's Aram with his violent swing.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Maybe a trade for some insurance wouldnt be a bad idea.

[Soul]

I always considered it obvious that Ram wouldn't be 100% again in '09. Not a surprise, but still disheartening.