Chicago Cubs: The Heroes of Wrigley Series presents Aramis Ramirez

A team player to the end, Ramirez soldiers on as his work ethic proves that he always tried to improve his game and silence the critics.

For the next few seasons, Ramirez was outed as a defensive liability, consistently ranking among the lowest in the league in range factor.  He began to make a point to work on his defense in an effort to better protect the hot corner.

Despite his inconsistencies on the defensive side of the ball, he more than made up for it with his bat, developing a reputation as one of the better contact hitters in the game.  During his first six full seasons with the Cubs, Ramirez never hit lower than .289.

He added a .310 batting average in 2007, helping the Cubs to their first playoff berth since that promising ’03 season.  He continued to work on his defense as well, improving his range factor for the third consecutive year.

The following season, in 2008, he led the team to their first back-to-back playoff appearances in 100 years, also earning his second career All-Star honors.  Arguably, the highlight of the season happened on June 20 in the Crosstown Classic against rivals, the Chicago White Sox.  Already with a home run earlier in the game, Ramirez hit another mammoth shot, this time a walk-off solo blast, to win the game for the Cubs, 4-3.  Never forgiving to the crosstown White Sox, he homered in the next two remaining games in the series at Wrigley Field.

After the Cubs were swept in the NLDS in ’07 and ’08, by the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers respectively, Ramirez played in only 82 games in 2009 after suffering a dislocated left shoulder in May, diving for a screaming line drive off the bat of Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun.  While the Cubs were in no place to contend that season, Ramirez was determined to play.  Possibly rushing back too soon from his shoulder injury, he soldiered through the pain, having a monster season in just those 82 games, hitting .317 and driving in 65 runs.

After a slow start to his 2010 campaign, Ramirez continued to get bit by the injury bug, this time missing long stretches due to a hand injury.  In classic A-Ram fashion, he continued to play but his injury drastically affected his swing as he hit only .241, his worst since joining the Cubs.  Despite his low average, he managed to still contribute to Chicago’s offense, hitting 25 home runs and driving in 83 runs.

Following his less than stellar 2010 season, Ramirez considered opting out of his contract.  However, he ultimately chose to remain with the Cubs ahead of the 2011 season.  He played in 149 games that season, his most in the past three seasons, hitting .306 with 26 home runs and 93 RBIs.  For his efforts, Ramirez was awarded the Silver Slugger Award as the National League’s best offensive third baseman.

As Theo Epstein joined the organization following the conclusion of the 2011 season, it was apparent he wanted to rebuild the Cubs from scratch.  Noting the direction the team would have to take the next few years, both parties amicably decided what was best and Ramirez opted out of his contract and the 34-year-old signed with the Milwaukee Brewers, ending his 8 1/2 year tenure with the Chicago Cubs.