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Aramis and Clutch Hitting

It has becoming increasingly clear to me throughout the past two seasons that Aramis has quietly (though maybe not to us Cubs fans) become one of the best clutch hitters in the game. Today's home run was just another great example. Over the past two years I remember the homer against the Brewers, a two-run triple against the Reds that tied the game in the ninth inning, his late homer against the Pirates this year that gave us the lead (which we blew), the same against the Rockies, and the two-run double in Pittsburgh on Saturday.

I'm sure there are other examples, but my question is this. How many other hitters in the game today would you rather have up in a clutch situation? Maybe Pujols, but I can't think of any others. Is Aramis Ramirez the best clutch hitter around, I certainly think he is top-5, maybe top-3.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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I'd have to take Manny too

There have been studies and arguments about whether clutch really even exists. The answer to the question of who you want up is simple, the team’s best hitter(s). For the Cubs that includes Ramirez. The only other two I would there are Lee and Ward.

In any case, I’ve never seen anything from Ramirez to indicate his performance goes up in tough situations. His splits seem to indicate that too. All the “clutch” stats are close to his career numbers but not significantly better.

by rlpete on May 27, 2008 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions  

Aramis

He only seems to be clutch when Derrek Lee is healthy…

by ak123 on May 26, 2008 9:18 PM CDT reply actions  

I think Aramis is an outstanding second banana not to dog. He’s great to be the second best pffensive player but might not do well as top dog.

We are all waiting for that glorious October night when we finally win it all. Until then we will continue to cheer, never do the wave and hope.

by puckishcubsfan on May 26, 2008 9:26 PM CDT reply actions  

Ramirez is better than Derrek Lee

No contest in fact. If you polled a sample of major league managers and front office personnel on who they would rather have in their lineup Ramirez would win hands down. This isn’t to take anything away from Lee.

"It is never too early to start beefing up your obituary."

by MDBNIU on May 26, 2008 10:43 PM CDT up reply actions  

I respect your opinion...

but opinions are opinions. Derrek Lee is the MOST feared guy in the lineup - and is the leader of this team. This is HIS team. We are no where as good without him. Aramis is one HELL of a player. But Derrek Lee is our team. He is Batman - Aramis is Robin.

by Unique on May 26, 2008 11:39 PM CDT up reply actions  

No way Aramis is Robin

If Lee is Batman, Aramis can be Superman, or some other equal superhero. No way is he the subordinate rookie hero.

"Is there anything he can't do?" ~Len Kasper, 4/5/08, on Kosuke Fukudome

by JohnM on May 27, 2008 5:19 AM CDT up reply actions  

Green Arrow.

Lee is Batman. Aramis is Green Arrow. DeRosa is Green Lantern. Theriot is Robin. Fonty is… I dunno, Plastic Man or something.

Soriano is the Flash. Fukudome is Captain Marvel. Z is Superman. Soto is Punisher.

2008: The year we put it all together.

by drewishdrewid on May 27, 2008 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions  

Nice!

I especially like Theriot as Robin and Z as Superman

"There are no curses here...Games are won and lost on the baseball field" - Lou Piniella

by El Borto on May 27, 2008 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions  

Flash

I thought The Flash was the fastest man alive????

by ak123 on May 27, 2008 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions  

Yeah

and Soriano is supposed to be fast.

2008: The year we put it all together.

by drewishdrewid on May 27, 2008 10:05 PM CDT up reply actions  

BS

You’re entitled to your opinion, but I’m entitled to think its asinine. And if you polled dentists aged 37 – 51 I guarantee they would tell you the same.

"This is an environment of welcoming, and you should just get the hell outta here." --Michael Scott

by Reddevil on May 27, 2008 2:00 AM CDT up reply actions  

Let us know when the poll

of major league managers is finished. Afterall you know the results already…......................CESAR ISTURIZ IS GOD

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on May 27, 2008 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions  

He is a god

Just happens to be that his is the realm of celebratory “handshakes”

"There are no curses here...Games are won and lost on the baseball field" - Lou Piniella

by El Borto on May 27, 2008 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions  

I've seen many Cubs-Pirates games over the years with the PIT announcers

via MLB.TV. Every series against the Cubs, they always stop to make a nice comment about Aramis, about how he blossomed once he went to the Cubs, how his fielding improved, how he became more consistent, etc. They really like him and hold no ill will toward him as a former Pirate player who went on to greater success elsewhere. They have, as many in Chicago have, also commented on the second banana thing, corroborating that theory. (Of course, Aramis himself said how great it was to not have to be “the man” when he joined a team with Sosa and Alou. Moises apparently took him under his wing in 2003/2004 as well).

Now, the point of this comment: in the last series, the announcers went further with their comments. They talked about how too much was put on Aramis’s shoulders in the clubhouse in Pittsurgh, saying that he was unfairly blamed by other players there. After a long pause, one of them said something to the effect of: “too bad those players weren’t moved instead of Aramis”. And it seemed to be more about their attitudes/clubhouse presence [bad apples?], rather than their performance (although I could be inferring that wrong!). Anyway, it seems he’s missed back there for more than his bat.

"Is there anything he can't do?" ~Len Kasper, 4/5/08, on Kosuke Fukudome

by JohnM on May 27, 2008 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions  

Aramis Ramirez

Ramirez has been the best and most important offensive player on the Cubs since his arrival in mid-2003. He is also a very good clutch performer. His offensive game is not appreciated in this town like it should be.

The legitimate argument can be made that he is the best, most clutch run producer the Cubs have had since the glory days of Billy Williams. You could throw Andre Dawson circa 1987 and 1988 into the argument.

"It is never too early to start beefing up your obituary."

by MDBNIU on May 26, 2008 10:42 PM CDT reply actions  

"His offensive game is not appreciated in this town like it should be"

Hahahahhahahahah——gimme a break. Its appreciated A LOT.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on May 27, 2008 9:27 AM CDT up reply actions  

how good would aram be

if he had 5-7 errors a game? this dont get talked about enough lee makes him look like a gold glover at 3rd. aram does in fact edge lee out at the plate. I seen where someone mentioned this is why aram is voted on more for the all star team. i disagree the majority of teams have a great 1st baseman and you can only take so many.

It might beeeeee!! It could beeeeeee!! It issssss!! Homerun!! Holyyyyyyy Cow!!!

by cubsluver22 on May 27, 2008 8:35 AM CDT reply actions  

I think defensively...

both Lee and Ramirez are pretty equivalent, maybe giving Lee the edge (i’m always surprised by Derek’s abaility to get those screaming liners to 1st base). But i definately favor Aramis in the clutch… usually cringing when Lee comes up to bat… a called 3rd strike! I sometimes think Lee doesn’t thrive in that situation.

Ramirez is my man crush… for that reason!

by RMRZisMYmanCRUSH on May 27, 2008 10:41 AM CDT reply actions  

Not only the ability to get the liners

but the ability to get almost EVERY throw to first. If ARam has a defensive problem, it’s that he side-arms the throw from third a lot. And we all know Riot has one of the weaker arms at short.

Sometime Lee seems to do what DeRosa does in high-pressure batting situations—he presses. Of course ARam has been known to do that as well.

I think they are the best 3-4 team in baseball, tho. And then having Soto right after makes it even more powerful.

2008: The year we put it all together.

by drewishdrewid on May 27, 2008 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions  

With all due respect.....

...I’d take Ortiz and Ramirez (Manny) at 3-4, based not on their numbers this year, but on the way that they’ve just beaten the ever-lovin’ out of the ball so consistently over the last few seasons. Their numbers are just plain better.

One of the reasons for this is that both of them, and ManRam in particular, are extremely patient and disciplined hitters. When they’re due up, a pitcher just knows he’s going to have to throw 15 pitches without making a mistake. Doing that four or five times in a game is a tall order.

Again, a lot of respect is due to our boys – I’m a huge fan of both of them, and this year they probably ARE a better combo than Ortiz and M. Ramirez. But in general, I think most people who don’t Bleed Cubbie Blue would take Ortiz and Manny over DLee and Aramis.

"Eighty-five percent of the world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here." - Lee Elia, 1983

"The only thing that bothers me is that I would never want to destroy the love and what the fans of Chicago are to the Chicago Cubs. I mean, God knows. If there's one pure thing in baseball, it is the fans of Chicago." - Lee Elia, 2008

by CaughtInTheVines on May 27, 2008 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions  

Also

Magglio and Cabrera
Berkman and Carlos Lee
Abreu and A-Rod
Utley and Howard

D-Lee and Aramis are an awesome 3-4 punch but there’s a lot of great 3-4 punches out there.

by Wreckard on May 27, 2008 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions  

Equivalent?

Ramirez has to his credit improved his defense to a solid level but Lee is a Gold Glove quality 1st baseman. He makes a lot of outstanding plays at 1st. No way they are equivalent.

by rlpete on May 27, 2008 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions  

yur right...

what i meant to say was that both are defensively sound… but Lee is the better defender. Lee has astonishigly been credited with more errors than usual this young season. I also feel alot more comfortable when i see a pop foul to 1st base than to 3rd.

by RMRZisMYmanCRUSH on May 27, 2008 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions  

He's the best clutch hitter on the Cubs.

DLee is a great hitter, but I have a rough time coming up with him getting as many clutch hits as Aram. There was the homer against the Brewers last year, the home against the Rockies this year, and now, the last three games in a row (the last two in Pittsburgh and the first one at home against LA) he’s come up with clutch hits in the game.

Isn’t it possible that Aram is getting better, particularly in the clutch, as he ages? Certainly, right now, I’d want him up in a clutch situation more than anyone else on the Cubs.

Go Cubs Go! Go Cubs Go! Hey Chicago, whadya say? The Cubs are going to win today!

by Cubfansince1957 on May 27, 2008 5:28 PM CDT reply actions  

There is no clutch

Only Zuul.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=2656

Fukudometer: Created 3/31/08 Wrigley Debut 4/5/08 WGN and Japan TV Debut 4/6/08 Sun Times Debut: 4/20/08

by Fukudometer on May 27, 2008 9:21 PM CDT reply actions  

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