Fantasy Baseball News & Updates
Fantasy Baseball News & Updates
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After averaging 146 games from 2006-08, Ramirez missed two months with a separated shoulder in ’09. The numbers he compiled when he was healthy indicate he would have approached the 30 jacks and 110 ribbies he averaged over the last three years had he not been felled by injury. While there’s a clear risk in spending a high draft pick on him, there’s an equally clear reward when he’s on the field.
With the Cubs no longer vying for a postseason berth, it's possible the team will elect to shut down Ramirez for the rest of the season. Those who still have something riding on the line may want to insert another third baseman into the lineup for the final few games.
"His shoulder is sore," Piniella said. "I don't know how much playing time he'll get the rest of the year. Ramirez has been playing with discomfort for a good while. We appreciate that. If he can play here sparingly the rest of the year, we'll see." There was some concern that Ramirez would need shoulder surgery, but Piniella said all the third baseman needs is rest and exercise this offseason.
Ramirez returned to the lineup after missing two days with a left shoulder. While a home run shouldn't give owners the belief that his shoulder soreness is past him, they should feel free to start him with confidence whenever he's in the lineup.
Baker's stock continues to rise in the Windy City. Having already earned regular playing time at second base, he seamlessly shifted over to third base with Aramis Ramirez getting the night off. Since arriving from the Rockies earlier this season, Baker boasts a .329 average with four homers, a .476 slugging percentage and 19 RBIs with the Cubbies.
Initially slow to recover from a dislocated shoulder, Ramirez has found his rhythm during the season's final month, ringing up a .333 average (22-for-66) with three dingers, 15 RBIs and a .500 slugging percentage. Overall, that leaves him a .325 clip, 14 jacks and 61 ribbies in just 286 at-bats.
Aramis appears poised to finish what has been an injury-riddled season for the slugging cornerman with a flourish after knocking out hits in eight straight games with five multi-hit performances in his last six tilts. The veteran is hitting .322 with 58 ribbies and a .908 OPS this season and is showing no signs of slowing down.
Ramirez hadn't hit for much before rapping out a trio of knocks on Friday, but one area that the veteran cornerman can seemingly always be counted on is his ability to drive in runs. Even in a down month, Ramirez has managed to plate nine runners in nine games, including six in his past three contests all alone. He's too good a hitter to stay down for long.
It’s been a rough month for Ramirez, who entered Friday batting .179 in seven September games, but Friday's three-hit effort likely ends that slump. Even if his best years are behind him, Ramirez is simply too good of a hitter to struggle much longer. Despite a three-month injury absence, the veteran third baseman sports a .315 average, 12 homers, 54 RBIs and one swipe.
Ramirez batted .394 during an eight-game hit streak at the end of August, but was on a 2-for-15 skid before snapping out of it with Saturday's long ball. He's swung the bat well when he's healthy enough to do so, and fantasy owners and Cubs fans alike have to hope Ramirez remains well enough to stay in the lineup for the rest of the season. If he's healthy, he'll hit.
Ramirez was supposed to get the day off, but Jeff Baker was scratched just before the game after taking a ball off his right little finger during batting practice. Ramirez's left shoulder has held up well after missing two months to a dislocation, so feel free to start him without restrictions the rest of the way.
The third baseman was taken to a local hospital for X-rays, the results of which haven't been released. Manager Lou Piniella penciled Baker into the starting role at third base in hopes of giving Aramis Ramirez a day off, but Ramirez ended up taking the spot with Baker out.
Ramirez's string of injuries has been one of the most vexing subplots of the 2009 fantasy season, since his excellence when he's healthy enough to play has suggested that this could've been a year of stratospheric stats for him. Instead, his season has been a study in miniaturized brilliance -- he has a .324-10-37 line in just 176 at-bats, and is slugging an eye-popping .557. As long as he's healthy, Ramirez will hit. Owners just have to hope he can stay in the lineup over the last month-plus of the season.
Ramirez, who has struggled with injuries all season, sat out on Saturday and Sunday with a cold before finally making his return to the lineup in typically Aramis-ian style. While Ramirez went just 3-for-23 in his first six August games, he's still hitting .327 on the season and remains one of the most productive third basemen in fantasy. The staying-healthy part has proven to be his biggest challenge thus far, but it's nice to see him back in the lineup and hitting, if only for one day.
Ramirez missed five starts with a sore left shoulder and another two with a cold and sore throat. But he collected a pinch-hit single Saturday and was ready to go Sunday. He started at third base and batted fourth.
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