It's official: Aramis is freaking me out!!
I am fuly aware that even great hitters go through slumps and when a veteran like Aramis who has a track history of success, it's usually an overreaction to get worried when such a hitter goes into slumps, but I can't shake this paranoa with Aramis' recent struggles at the plate. What has happened to this guy at the plate recently? He doesn't even seem like the same person. He looks absolutely lost at the plate and his swing is all hacked up.
The only time I've seen him square up on a ball in the last week or so was last night to LF and even then he was swinging from the heels and was all arms as it turned out to be a routine play for the LF when normally that's 20 rows deep. I don't live in Chicago and lately haven't had the time to read up on as much Cubs stuff as I normally do, but can anyone shed any light into this disturbing developement? What's the word going around on to why he hasn't put a good swing on a ball in over 2 weeks? It goes without saying that this team needs him to snap the eff out of not only this horrid slump but whatever is possessing him to look absolutely lost up there at the plate. I normally wouldn't read too much into Aramis' .173 BA in the month of July and would just chalk it up to a slump which every good hitter goes through throughout a season but it's now a very prolonged slump and it's just how bad he looks up at the plate and how unbelievably overmatched he looks up there right now.
What a frustrating loss though last night. One of the most frustrating losses I can remember from the Cubs in a long time. Maybe it's because I was there and had to deal with the backlash from DBack fans but I don't think so. I don't believe in billygoats or any voodo mumbo jumbo, but after last night's game I can see why people do. So many hard hit balls but right at DBacks, the great defensive plays the DBacks made, Harden gives up literally one mistake and has to pay for it as the Cubs just looked at all of Johnson's bad pitces and then ofcourse they get a lead off walk and a gift from the DBacks on a routine DP ball and still couldn't make them pay for it. Totally frustrating. It's totally confounding to me how bad this team looks on the road. It almost makes one believe in curses. Anyway, if they win tonight and tomorrow night and take 2 out of 3 from the DBacks (which coming in they HAD to considering they missed both Haren and Webb) It'll relieve some of the pain of last nights absolute debacle. 2 hits?? Seriously?
Also, I don't know if it's been mentioned anywhere, but what the eff was Lou thinking last night leaving Howry in to face Drew? Do the Cubs not have a Lefty in the pen anymore?? Come on Lou, wake up man!!! Also remember, that it was a year ago to the day yesterday, when the DBacks turned around their season last year and swept the Cubs at home and Drew hit the game winning HR off none other than Howry himself.
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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31 comments
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oh no you didn't!!!
welcome back lemon!
/grabs popcorn
Edmonds-o-Meter discontinued
by joeschmitt on Jul 22, 2008 4:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
They do have a lefty
but Cotts isn’t very good against lefties. Hes way better against RH.
The weather at Wrigley Field may change in an instant, but Aramis Ramirez is always steady in the clutch. - Associated Press (7/11/08)
by halfblindcubbiegirl on Jul 22, 2008 4:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Please tell me then why he is still on the roster
if he can’t get Lefties out. That is ridiculous.
Over time, your quickness with a cocky rejoinder must have gotten you many punches in the face - Al Swearengen
by lemon20pie on Jul 22, 2008 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Because he's been one of the
Best and most reliable relievers on this pitching staff.
"Check the magic of a winning season and there are always reasons beyond the talent." Ned Colleti
by wrigleyrocker12 on Jul 22, 2008 4:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So then tell me why he wasn't brought in to face a lefty
and please don’t tell me it’s because he’s better against Righties then lefties.
Over time, your quickness with a cocky rejoinder must have gotten you many punches in the face - Al Swearengen
by lemon20pie on Jul 22, 2008 4:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Because Lou didnt bring him him.
Duh.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
by Hammer on Jul 22, 2008 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Because god forbid they look at the statline instead of using traditional wisdom
Stick with the Dusty Baker school of reliever management – stats be damned, lefties must face lefties and righties must face righties!
by Wreckard on Jul 22, 2008 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
JD Drew is now 3 -4 against Howry
with 2 HR’s and Cotts has never faced Drew before, which would give him the advantage in that matchup.So It had nothing to do with the “stats” for not bringing in Cotts to face Drew, it was a total brain fart by Piniella. I questioned it at the time as well.
Over time, your quickness with a cocky rejoinder must have gotten you many punches in the face - Al Swearengen
by lemon20pie on Jul 22, 2008 5:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But I guess it doesn't matter....
....when you can’t score a single run.
Over time, your quickness with a cocky rejoinder must have gotten you many punches in the face - Al Swearengen
by lemon20pie on Jul 22, 2008 5:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Um, know your Drew's, fella.
I think you mean Stephen Drew, J.D’s brother, who was the hitter that Howry actually faced. Stephen Drew is 2 for 3 lifetime vs. Howry.
"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07
by gary varsho on Jul 22, 2008 5:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not saying that Howry was the right guy
Just that Cotts wasn’t necessarily either.
by Wreckard on Jul 22, 2008 6:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Here's another stat for ya wreckard
Over Drew’s career, he has 22 HR’s against RH pitchers and just 7 against LH pitchers.This year he is hitting .252 against LH pitchers and .277 against RH pitchers, so is that enough stats for ya?
Damn logic.
Over time, your quickness with a cocky rejoinder must have gotten you many punches in the face - Al Swearengen
by lemon20pie on Jul 22, 2008 5:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Are you sure?
.682 OPS vs. lefties and a .751 OPS vs. righties from 2005-2007. .782 this year against lefties and .682 against righties, but methinks that’s an issue of sample size and nothing more.
by Maddog on Jul 22, 2008 6:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
aramis
hasnt seemed to be himself to me since he left for the personal family deal during the san fran series. i’m sure its just a bad slump though.
Dear SBnation, We need our own server here at BCB seeing how its became very slow due to enormous amounts of traffic. P.S. Impeach Bud Selig!!!
by cubsluver22 on Jul 22, 2008 5:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Interesting point.
Over time, your quickness with a cocky rejoinder must have gotten you many punches in the face - Al Swearengen
by lemon20pie on Jul 22, 2008 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well its not a good slump...by any stretch of the imagination.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Jul 22, 2008 5:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
he, like the rest of the team, just needs a dose of wrigley
by halfblindcubbiegirl on Jul 22, 2008 5:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
at this point we all do
What doesn't kill you makes you stranger -- The Joker
by Emelie on Jul 23, 2008 8:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The media reported/speculated that he had a baby
but I don’t remember reading any where that a baby was actually born. I wonder if there is more to this. It wouldn’t surprise me if there were serious issues going on at home. I hope it is not true but It would make sense.
by mgfabc on Jul 22, 2008 5:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Of the big three run producers on the team, Sori, Lee and ARam...
..the one I am worried about the least right now is Aramis. He is a proffesional RBI machine in a mini-slump. It happens to every good hitter during a season.
He’ll be back and when he does he can carry the team.
"When I got to Chicago, fans came to Wrigley Field just to have fun, now they come to see us win. The expectations have changed, for the players and for the fans. It’s about winning." Kerry Wood, 7/14/08
by JB 23 on Jul 22, 2008 5:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I was waiting for this to become official.
by cwyers on Jul 22, 2008 5:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
There's some interesting news in this thread.
Apparently J.D. Drew plays for the D-Backs.
"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07
by gary varsho on Jul 22, 2008 5:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
LMAO
"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball." - Jacque Barzun
by Bump Bailey on Jul 23, 2008 1:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't live in Chicago either
but I read three different Chicago papers all the time, for free.
''Listen, losing Soriano is no box of chocolates.'' ~Lou Piniella
by JohnM on Jul 22, 2008 5:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Did Aramis lose some weight?
It seems to me since his return from family matters ,,,,,he looks really skinny? has anyone else noticed this? at first I thought it was his new hig socks look,,,,,,,,,but take a look at his frame ! he needs to eat a few sandwiches !
by Payton2000 on Jul 22, 2008 7:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I think he's
looked thinner all season.
Carlos Zambrano and Rich Harden. Now that's a pair of Aces.
by sue369 on Jul 22, 2008 8:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Everyone is freaking me out on this team right now...
but once again my motto for the season…..... WELL BE JUST FINE
"This balls got a chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannce, GONE!" - Pat Hughes
by SouthsideCUBSfan on Jul 23, 2008 12:58 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
this is so worthy of a fanpost.
Edmonds-o-Meter discontinued
by joeschmitt on Jul 23, 2008 1:54 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

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