Alfonso Soriano and Cliff Floyd of the Chicago Cubs join the team in welcoming teammate Aramis Ramirez after Ramirez hit a two-run, walk-off home run to beat the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs defeated the Brewers 6-5. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Aramis Ramirez won't be a stranger to the Cubs for the next three years, as he's reportedly signed a three-year deal with the Brewers for an amount somewhere between $34 and $37 million.
So we'll see him from 15-18 times a year, depending on how schedules work out; it will be odd to see someone who has been such a big part of Cubs history for the last nine seasons, wearing a uniform with a different shade of blue. Remember, when he was acquired from the Pirates on July 23, 2003, along with Kenny Lofton, it was Lofton the Cubs were after. They needed an immediate replacement for the injured Corey Patterson. At the time, Ramirez, who had just turned 25, was considered to be somewhat of a washout, having had a disappointing, injury-filled 2002, and not off to a great start in 2003.
He made that one of the best deals of Jim Hendry's tenure. He leaves ranking fifth on the all-time Cubs list in OPS (.887), and sixth in home runs (239). He had several spectacular seasons, and from 2004-2007 averaged .305/.362/.564 with 33 HR and 104 RBI; beyond new Hall of Famer Ron Santo, the only 3B in Cubs history who put up numbers as good as Aramis was Stan Hack.
Ramirez was in three postseasons for the Cubs and though overall his playoff numbers are poor (.194/.299/.433 in 77 PA), it was his grand slam in Game 4 of the 2003 NLCS that gave all of us the feeling, "Hey, maybe this IS for real."
It wasn't, unfortunately, but Aramis surely contributed his share of excitement to Cubs baseball during his tenure at third base. People have complained about his injuries and his not-always-great defense and alleged he was "lazy" (something I don't necessarily agree with), but the memories of things like that NLCS slam, or what you see in the photo at the top of this post, his amazing walkoff on June 29, 2007 (only a week after he had come off the DL), or this from 2008:
... make Ramirez part of Cub lore, that we will all remember for many years to come.
We are almost completely out of the 2003 era; only Carlos Zambrano and Kerry Wood remain from that star-crossed team, and it doesn't appear either will be around for much longer. New management brings us into a new era, and that's a good thing; but let us not forget someone who helped bring us many victories and happy times at Wrigley.
I wish A-Ram well; it's not really possible for me to root for him as a Brewer, and I hope he has especially bad games when he faces the Cubs. But I'll always remember the great moments, the memories, and his eight-plus fine seasons as a Cub.
3 recs | 182 comments
I wish him the best when he's not playing the Cubs
But if he gets in great shape and turns back into the ARam of a few years ago…. I going to be annoyed.
Madison Cub Fan - December 12, 2011
I wish him...
a team with a lower record than my Cubs. If that’s what you mean by the best, then that’s fine.
jameslcrockett - December 12, 2011
I'll always remember...
That 2007 walk-off against the brewers. I was working in Madison, WI (Brewer territory) and listening to Pat/Ron call the game on the air. He hit it and I just stood up with my arms in the air and looked for just about any Brewer fan I could find!!
cj100683 - December 12, 2011
That was one of the best games I have ever seen in person.
Ever. And that’s saying a lot.
Al Yellon - December 12, 2011
The best game I ever saw at Wrigley
was a walk-off by Sammy against the Cards in extras. I was exhausted after the game. Every inning the Cubs were on D the crowd was in it and up with 2 outs.
If you work your magic and find the box score that’d be great. I know the way I see the game in my head was not how it all went down. Must have been around 1998-2000.
Hammer - December 12, 2011
Sammy hit 10 walkoffs in his career.
The only one vs. the Cardinals was in the 15th inning of this game on September 2, 2003.
Which was also an amazing game.
Al Yellon - December 12, 2011
Wow I was way off on the year
But – thats the game. I was up in the 500 level. Lots of people had left but I felt moving to a nicer seat would jinx it.
THANKS
Hammer - December 12, 2011
Me too. Right up there with the 1989 game in the rain with Cards where Salazar
knocked in Dwight Smith to tie and Dawson to win.
Sandberg game also pretty damn good. Was only in park for his second homer and Dave Owen game winning hit however.
On ARam – when he hit that grand slam in the first inning of game four vs. the Marlins in the ’03 NLCS, I thought the Cubs had the series won.
the nth - December 12, 2011
That was when I knew
the Cubs just might climb back into the NL Central race, a month after everything looked lost following the Zambrano-Barrett throwdown. A magical moment, to be sure.
Not Bruce Froemming - December 12, 2011
Aramis was always one of my favorites
But I’m glad he’s not coming back. It was time.
Thanks for the great memories.
slcathena - December 12, 2011
Yep.
mikegncb34 - December 12, 2011
Thirded.
Al Yellon - December 12, 2011
Fourthed
WindisBlowingOut! - December 12, 2011
16ed
ballhawk - December 12, 2011
Agreed
Clark Addison - December 12, 2011
Concur
KS_Cub4Life - December 12, 2011
Feel the same.
katie casey - December 12, 2011
ditto
CubFanInChina - December 12, 2011
Yep!
cub in louies nest - December 12, 2011
Yer.
Archie - December 12, 2011
Stimme zu
eths - December 13, 2011
Here here, old boy.
daver - December 12, 2011 via iPhone app
Well put, slcathena
my thoughts exactly. He gave us a lot of great memories for sure.
Emelie - December 12, 2011
YYYUUUUUUUUUUUUUUPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!
Dave Hester agrees.
cubfever7 - December 13, 2011
Walk-off vs Sox
I was at the game he hit the walk-off vs the Sox. One of best games ive seen in person. I will miss A-Ram, but his time here in Chicago was up. I wish him well and thank him for all the memories he gave us while he was a Cub.
jcsportsfan21 - December 12, 2011
That game was awesome
IIRC I think he might have hit one to tie it earlier that day too. Maybe in the 7th?
mikegncb34 - December 12, 2011
Yes.
Al Yellon - December 12, 2011
Now take Zambrano with you
Worf - December 12, 2011
Z does pitch pretty well in Miller Park.
I think I remember a certain no-hitter…
WindisBlowingOut! - December 12, 2011
vs. Houston after they sat through a hurricane
RiskyBusiness - December 12, 2011
I've wondered how legit that no no was.
Didn’t Dempster pitch a one hitter the following day?
The Astros played like they were sleep walking.
Clark Addison - December 12, 2011
Ted Lilly ...
… was the next pitcher. He and Samardzija combined on a one-hitter.
Doesn’t matter how the team played, and yes, the Astros looked like they didn’t care. The pitchers still had to make their pitches.
Al Yellon - December 12, 2011
those heady days of summer ;-)
Emelie - December 12, 2011
went to that game
Best game I have ever seen in person!!!
Madison Cub Fan - December 13, 2011
A no hitter is a no hitter.
cub in louies nest - December 12, 2011
Thanks for the memories, Aramis
My favorite Cub since ’03.
But…. it’s time to move on.
Go Cubs.
mikegncb34 - December 12, 2011
Derrek Lee was my favorite 21st Century Cub
So I know how you feel. It was time to move on. But we can continue to respect what they did here. One day, they’ll both be retired and we can cheer them as they come to the ballpark as honored ex-Cubs.
Josh Timmers - December 12, 2011
Absolutely. I feel the same way about D-Lee
mikegncb34 - December 12, 2011
I've always liked Aramis, I wish him the best.
Except, of course, when facing the Cubs.
Blue W - December 12, 2011
Good luck Aramis (except when you play the Cubs)!
He put some fantastic numbers while with the Cubs.
I will miss the thrill of his many game-tying and walk-off HRs and his power in the middle of the lineup.
Hope this doesn’t come back to bite us.
CubFanSince1970 - December 12, 2011
I'm predicting a walk-off against Marmol.
KS_Cub4Life - December 12, 2011
Is that a walk or hit by pitch or wild pitch?
Rainman9856 - December 14, 2011
Thanks Aramis
I appreciated and enjoyed your time here. Best of luck to you except when playing the Cubs.
Swoosie - December 12, 2011
Eh, I'd rather have him in another division.
Oh well.
shoemile - December 12, 2011
I bet he just KILLS our pitching next year.
while batting .220 with 5 home runs against everyone else
Nunyabidness - December 12, 2011
I could see that.
Of course, at this point everyone’s going to kill our pitching.
shoemile - December 12, 2011
Even Aaron Miles?
Nunyabidness - December 12, 2011
That man has been erased from my memory.
shoemile - December 12, 2011
I've always wondered if players play against their former teams.
It seems like facing Cubs pitchers gave us advantage. I remember we crushed Wood and Lilly. Aramis probably will have similar success as Derek lee did. ughhh..
Mitchener - December 12, 2011
He's of to the land of Curds and Whey
This isn’t quite as badas if a Chicago Bear player had defected to Green Bay, but couldn’t he have chosen anyplace but Milwaukee? I mean even if he had gone to the White Sox….
cubssouvenirman - December 12, 2011
Money talks
Rainman9856 - December 14, 2011
I see this biting the Cubs right in the ass...A-Ram still has a bit left in the tank...
…and I think he’ll excel playing in Milwaukee.
I, at least, am hoping I see Hoyer/Epstein in headlines later in the week in regards to Darvish.
Easy Ed - December 12, 2011
Agreed re: Darvish.
The deadline for posting bids is 4 pm (CT) on Wednesday. We should know soon after who had the winning bid.
Al Yellon - December 12, 2011
While this is obvious, every time I see Darvish I think...
Emelie - December 12, 2011
I thought there
was a 4 day period before we’d hear anything. Maybe I’m remembering it wrong.
tomas21 - December 12, 2011
We just need to schedule our series against the Brewers
During the month or two per season he’s having groin issues.
EcoGeek - December 12, 2011
Surprised
I thought he would get more after the year he put up last year. Seems like a bargain, IF he stays healthy. There aren’t many great hitting 3b out there.
vin23 - December 12, 2011
Lots and lots of memorable moments
Thanks for them all, A-Ram.
Great choices on his best HRs, Al. Those are two of my favorites too.
HawkVision - December 12, 2011 via mobile
Which Aramis did they sign?
Is it the Aramis who is “busting his butt” because it is a contract year and he wants as much as possible? Or is it the Aramis that costs because I’ve got mine and why should I put out ANY extra effort?
If you could please find out for us and report it, I’d greatly appreciate it.
dansram - December 12, 2011
*coasts
dansram - December 12, 2011
its amazing just how much I dont care that A-ram is gone.
i thought i’d at least care. i dont.
epsilon - December 12, 2011
It was time.
katie casey - December 12, 2011
Kind of my thoughts too.
sue369 - December 12, 2011
dtpollitt - December 12, 2011
mikegncb34 - December 12, 2011
I really liked that team
Hammer - December 12, 2011
Me 2..
hopefully we can say that soon again and for longer periods of time..
KS_Cub4Life - December 12, 2011
but they broke my heart into a million pieces
Madison Cub Fan - December 12, 2011
I hated that team come October........sigh
cubfanwill - December 12, 2011
me too
I guess I just long for baseball being fun again
Hammer - December 12, 2011
Soriano's legs seemed fine there..
KS_Cub4Life - December 12, 2011
haha i was thinking the same thing
Always wondered what could have been if he hadn’t trashed his legs.
Mitchener - December 12, 2011
Funny thing.
I know I’ve seen that picture somewhere before.
Al Yellon - December 12, 2011
It's one of my favorite Cubs pictures ever.
dtpollitt - December 12, 2011
100% agreed.
Al Yellon - December 12, 2011
I have an 8X10 of it hanging up on my wall in my room.
mikegncb34 - December 12, 2011
ARam home run trivia
July 1, 2006, Cubs vs White Sox. Ramirez hits the 12,000th home run in franchise history, bottom of 5th, 2 on, 1 out, off of Javier Vazquez. Part of a 3-5, 5 RBI day.
btw, White Sox win 8-6, Demp with blown save. And not just any blown save. This was a “give up a 3R HR to AJ Pierzynski” blown save. Box score.
That was an exciting game. Four Cubs pitchers – Maddux, Eyre, Howry, and Dempster – gave up 4 homers to Sox that day. Guess which one did not give up a homer? Amazingly enough, it was Howry…
ballhawk - December 12, 2011
Howry was good in 2006.
2007, too. He was awful in 2008.
elgato - December 12, 2011
All u had to do was sit fastball.
KS_Cub4Life - December 12, 2011
Seemed to work for Howry in 2006-07.
elgato - December 12, 2011
Which surprises me.
KS_Cub4Life - December 12, 2011
Wow
Nice to see a Cub move on like this. His time with us came and went. Better then the send offs of Jacque Jones, Milton Bradley and Silva.
Hammer - December 12, 2011
What is REALLY nice to see...
is a GM who understands when it is time to let a player move on and build for the future instead of just trying to bring back a fan favorite and squeeze a few more ticket sales out of him for a couple of years.
I like the long term thinking that I am seeing so far.
Archie - December 12, 2011
Really liked A Ram but....
it is time to move on. I just wish we had somebody ready to take up the slack offensively. If he wanted a one year deal, I would have kept him but he needed to do what’s best for him. I wish he would have let the Cubs trade him last year. I never liked people getting on him for lack of hustle. He was slow and got slower with every step. If I was him, I wouldn’t have wanted to try for second when he knew he’d never make it there. THANKS A RAM
Rainman9856 - December 14, 2011
That's a lot of money for 3 years....
Aram was pretty clutch. Going to miss him…until April.
carmen_fanzone - December 12, 2011
What a great deal for the Brewers.
kanderber - December 12, 2011
Bummer City.
awfullyquiet - December 12, 2011
The Brewers' lineup is going to be awfully right handed
Just like the Cubs were for many years. Hopefully A-Ram is “traded” for Fielder.
timmyfan - December 12, 2011
Even more thanks
I’m sorry to see him go, but at this point in his career even a three-year contract is somewhat of a gamble. He was far and away the best clutch RBI guy the Cubs had during his tenure, and I was always happy to see him come to bat late in the game when they needed a big hit. And while he didn’t always run hard to first base on routine grounders, I never considered him lazy. Given his history of leg ailments, I almost always gave him the benefit of the doubt that he was not running all out in order to avoid injury. I wish him all the best as long as he goes 0 for the season against the Cubs.
Mike Vails Evil Twin - December 12, 2011
he loves th NL Central
Hammer - December 12, 2011
he can always DH for houston after 2012
monkeybiz - December 13, 2011
Good luck and all the best Ramirez,
except when you play the Cubs.
eths - December 12, 2011 via mobile
I'm trusting in our new brain trust...
but I would have been pleased to see A-Ram back on a 3/35 deal. I think that’s rather reasonable.
Kansas25 - December 12, 2011
If he keeps hitting...
…he’ll likely equal the value of this deal per year, though his defense and base running will likely drag him down. Given the state of our organization, I’m OK with taking our chances at third base and getting draft picks for Aramis and Pena.
daver - December 12, 2011 via iPhone app
I'd wish him luck,
but I just can’t if he’s on the Brewers. I may give him an ovation the first time (and only the first time) he comes to bat at Wrigley if I’m at that game.
katie casey - December 12, 2011
Hmm, I hadn't thought about that.
Should be an interesting reception his first time back.
shoemile - December 12, 2011
That's assuming he's not hurt
Not unlikely considering his past and his age.
propheteer - December 12, 2011
Won't have to wait too long.
First Brewers game at Wrigley in 2012: Monday, April 9.
Al Yellon - December 12, 2011
Doesn't this free up Casey McGehee?
Uh…um…nevermind.
BAMACOLONEL - December 12, 2011
He was just traded to the Pirates
for Jose Veras
LT - December 12, 2011
What's the news on Fielder?
Bye, bye A-ram.
Greatest Cub 3B in quite some time.
propheteer - December 12, 2011
I am fine with this....Why pay him for the past....
He will start slow get hurt and put up big numbers after June 1st…..when its too late.
I would rather have Fielder
TJ11 - December 12, 2011
Duh.
Any GM would rather have Fielder. That’s why he’ll get paid twice as much.
Dcr18 - December 12, 2011
I would rather the money be spent on Fielder....DUH
TJ11 - December 12, 2011
Duh. Just about anyone would.
Dcr18 - December 12, 2011
I thought this news would crush you, TJ!
Glad to see you taking it in stride!!
bdlugz - December 12, 2011
We don't know that
Miller Park is indoors
mikegncb34 - December 12, 2011
Bittersweet.
He couldn’t come back, but that doesn’t make what he did less meaningful.
cubswynn - December 12, 2011
Thanks, A-Ram, for the memories.
But it was time for a change and it’ll be nice to have a third baseman who actually runs to first base on a groundball.
jeffmills1972 - December 12, 2011
Finally
TJ11 - December 12, 2011
Because...
running out ground balls wins games.
Kansas25 - December 12, 2011
Yeah Hustling is bad!
TJ11 - December 12, 2011
Sorry TJ...
I have your drivel blocked. Can’t see a thing.
Kansas25 - December 12, 2011
That's such an old and tired argument
mikegncb34 - December 12, 2011
You are right, he alsways gave 100% Just like Soriano
TJ11 - December 12, 2011
Careful TJ - you're just one heavily-eaten-contract trade away from having nothing to talk about next season...
ballhawk - December 12, 2011
I WANT nothing bad to talk about.....
If Soriano can get unloaded it would be agood thing!!!!!
TJ11 - December 13, 2011
People can debate how big an impact his lack of hustle had.
But you gotta be kidding yourself if you think the guy didn’t loaf down the line quite a bit.
shoemile - December 12, 2011
Kool Aid colored glasses
TJ11 - December 13, 2011
I think you gotta be kidding yourself...
if you think even a majority of highly paid sluggers run out most of their grounders.
I think it’s “mountains from mole hills” to criticize Ramirez for not running out grounders. So many fans have that little league mindset infatuation that allows the Ecksteins and Theriots (before he started opening his mouth) to have once gained large followings. Hell if I care that some dude still remembers his 7th grade B-Team coach’s mandates and uses it to judge professional players.
The only minute but legitimate criticism in regards to effort regarding Ramirez might be a few plays in the field where he didn’t go all out—although I might point out that his shoulder injury on a similar play might have been an influence. Ramirez just got burned once this season (and I can only think of one other one 3ish years ago) where the first baseman dropped the ball and Ramirez wasn’t there to take the base; apparently that’s been etched into a handful of minds here at BCB.
Most sluggers take a casual jog towards first after a disappointing grounder, Fielder and Pujols among them.
Kansas25 - December 13, 2011
And it certainly didn't help his reputation
When Olney reported that a scout told him Ramirez has the worst body language in all of baseball. Again, people can say it doesn’t matter, and that’s fine. But let’s not act like it didn’t happen a lot with him, and for quite some time.
shoemile - December 13, 2011
I don't know what to make of body language...
I agree with that in regards to Ramirez, but I also didn’t notice any changes in body language when the Cubs were playoff bound or right before he smacked a late homer. Seems to just be the way he is. And seems that many fans latched onto that when there weren’t many other criticisms to make (recent defense being the major one).
Kansas25 - December 13, 2011
Gonna miss Aram.
Great Cub, thanks for the memories Aramis.
Dcr18 - December 12, 2011
Now I'm hearing the Brewers are in on Pena too
The Brewers may look very familiar next season.
Josh Timmers - December 12, 2011
Hopefully their place in the standings looks the same as the Cubs last year too
TJ11 - December 12, 2011
Hmmm.
They might need a left fielder for a while. Think they’d take Soriano?
If they sign Rodrigo Lopez, then we’ll know for sure.
Al Yellon - December 12, 2011
This has nothing to do with Fielder
or the Brewers, but my back yard is next to the practice fields of the local high school.
Today, I saw the baseball team throwing the ball around around. Spring is just around the corner. In California, at least.
Josh Timmers - December 12, 2011
It's warmer in Chicago right now than the temperature was when I played about 75% of my high school baseball games.
the nth - December 12, 2011
High school tryouts
Since it was always still snowy and cold we would do it inside. Glenbrook South has a huge field house. Since there were other sports going on we got the 5am slot.
I remember it still – barely awake and Coach Aaron walking in wide awake and yelling “take 8” laps. RIP to a great man and great coach.
Hammer - December 12, 2011
I remember early morning workouts in our gym while it was still dark out and a foot of snow
was on the ground. Running stairs over and over until someone would finally throw up which would signal it was time to bat against the primitive (and wild) pitching machine we had. Unfortunately, our baseball coach was not beloved. He was a loudmouthed braggart whome we discovered had lied about his past baseball exploits. Embarrassing.
the nth - December 12, 2011
That's too bad about your coach
Wasn’t so much of the coach he was but the person he was. He died about 10 years after I graduated and our starting 3B basemen from 1998 was the main speaker.
My brother went through a lot of hard times growing up and Coach Aaron always kept tabs on him. He also came to some of our summer league games. Just one of those guys lets live his whole life through the place he worked.
Hammer - December 12, 2011
He didn't say he was an all-conference second base man for NIU, did he?
ballhawk - December 12, 2011
hee
daily2b - December 12, 2011
Heh.
Whatever happened to Blue Mike?
Archie - December 12, 2011
well done
Hammer - December 12, 2011
Rainy here today - but that just means snow on the mountain
Our local little league park is right next to the dog park. The weekends are great when there is a game because they have a full on concession stand with a grill.
Love taking time to watch an inning or two. Looking forward to when I get to coach for my kid one day. Ill be the first guy teaching an 8 year “first sign indicator” I know of
Hammer - December 12, 2011
won our 3rd championship in the last 4 seasons yesterday.
12 innings. Glad we got it in before the rain!
daily2b - December 12, 2011
NICE!!
Hammer - December 12, 2011
thx
beat a couple of guys i played with for a good little while 15 years ago. very exciting game!
daily2b - December 12, 2011
ill make it out to a game one day
Hammer - December 12, 2011
we have a lotta fun.
start practices in Feb, games in Mar…
daily2b - December 12, 2011
hmmm
I could be in shape by then….hmmmm
Hammer - December 12, 2011
well, you'd be a step ahead of most of us!!
daily2b - December 12, 2011
We're already practicing indoors here.
First game just over two months away!
Dcr18 - December 12, 2011
where do you live, Josh?
daily2b - December 12, 2011
Just reported
… Ramirez’s deal is 3 years, $36mil with a fourth year mutual option.
Al Yellon - December 12, 2011
Good for them
TJ11 - December 12, 2011
I say thats a bargain
Hammer - December 12, 2011
Reasonable I think...but he's gettin' up there in years now...
jeffstorm2 - December 12, 2011
What does
a mutual option mean? Either one can activate it, or they both have to activate it?
tomas21 - December 12, 2011
Both have to accept it.
bdlugz - December 12, 2011
thanks
tomas21 - December 12, 2011
its what we had on ramirez this year
DartmouthCubsFan - December 12, 2011
I'm sad:(
He was really good and no matter how u try and sell it to me Ian Stewart can’t even hold Ramirez jock strap. Now I have to listen and see Ramirez beat us all year.
bleedinblue76 - December 12, 2011 via mobile
he'll play 15-18.
I doubt he will beat the Cubs each and every game.
Madison Cub Fan - December 13, 2011
Hmmm...I dunno bout this one...
IIRC…I posted a poll midway thru 2011: “If we could keep Aram for reasonable money (10-12mil for 2-3 yrs) should we”? I think bout 60% said “Yes”. This…is IMHO, reasonable money. I wish Aram all the best (Except v. Cubs, oh…and NL Central teams)…b.u.t…. sigh a semi-typical Aram slow April-May should banish these wimpy thoughts of mine! :]
jeffstorm2 - December 12, 2011
I would have loved for him to come back, especially at that price.
I don’t care what other ppl say either. He had slow periods like everyone else but he also had great periods where you loved having him at the plate with runners on. My only hope is that Theo/Jed saw something I didn’t. In them I’ll have to trust.
KS_Cub4Life - December 12, 2011
A-Ram caused an embarrassing moment for me in Pittsburgh
I went there in Sept of 2003 for a crucial series and I was walking around the beautiful park which was taken over by a majority of Cub fans when young girl about 10 noticing my Cubs hat and T shirt said to me " You stole our best player" I tried to distract her by responding " No we didn’t San Diego did" ( Brian GIles was also shipped earlier that season when the Pirates went into salary dump mode) Alas she was smart fan and did not seem to be buying that.
Doggie Stalker - December 12, 2011
I thought he didn't want to move his family?
mikeschieve - December 12, 2011
he probably didnt
Dont know where he lives but if it were in Lake Forest or something the commute is not much different
Hammer - December 12, 2011
He didn't want to move...
midseason and only likely be there for 4 months.
Kansas25 - December 12, 2011
Interesting
he had a sub-.650 OPS at Miller Park last year.
Career line of .270/.325/.503
I am not sorry Ramirez left. I never really liked him as a player, as hustle and drive and energy are some of the things I most enjoy watching as a fan, numbers aside. But he was/is very productive, I do hate the fact that he is going to win some games over us every year.
tomas21 - December 12, 2011
Great two strike hitter
I will miss his bat the most. When he had two strikes I always had a great feeling he was about to launch a homer. I totally enjoyed the wonderful summer of 2008, summer, but not the fall like 1969. The game I was at Wrigley that year on Aug 23rd against the Nationals was one of my favorite memories of Aramis. He hit two homers that game.
Thanks Aramis
billkelly - December 12, 2011
can't get upset about Ramirez...
too PISSED about Darmitty!!!
daily2b - December 12, 2011
duh
Darmody…
daily2b - December 12, 2011
Who?
Al Yellon - December 13, 2011
Is that a Boardwalk Empire reference?
daver - December 13, 2011
yeah...
You watch the show?
daily2b - December 13, 2011
I do.
My wife and I finally watched that episode last night. It’s funny — Jimmy was a cold-hearted, murderous thug. Yet I still felt bad when Nucky took him out. I felt even worse when that butcher killed his wife. I really liked her.
daver - December 13, 2011
What a way to end the season, huh??
At least we only have to wait a year to find out what happens next!!!!
daily2b - December 13, 2011
That's the downside to cable shows.
Some of them are so good, but you forget everything between seasons.
daver - December 13, 2011
Looks like you've been spoiled again, daver!
shoemile - December 13, 2011
Not this time!
And I finally watched that Walking Dead episode, too. Although SWL spoiled it for me, I still got the chills when the little girl zombie staggered out of the barn.
daver - December 13, 2011
great games
The most exciting baseball moment I experienced in person was at Wrigley Field on September 14, 1984. It was the first game of a three game series against the Mets, who were six games out, and Rick Sutcliffe pitching. In the bottom of the 7th, Cubs ahead 3-1, Jody Davis steps to the plate with the bases loaded. Sky dark, 18 mph wind blowing in over the left field wall, Jody hits a grand slam. The uproar was long and enormous; two pitches had already been thrown to the next batter before we knew that the game had continued. Unbelievable!
rsklansky - December 13, 2011
Like a lot of one time Cubs' heroes...
…(Fergie Jenkins, Sammy Sosa, Dave Kingman, Ken Holtzman,, etc.), he didn’t exit under the happiest of circumstances. While I’m not sorry to see him go as I do feel that his time had passed, I’ll prefer to remember him as the best Cubs’ third baseman (by a landslide), since #10.
bluekoolaide - December 13, 2011
Is Hendry the GM of Brewers?
Backloaded contract. $6 mill, $10 mill, $16mill plus a $4 million buyout.
Rick B - December 13, 2011
Why does everyone think backloading a contract is a bad thing?
Once again, money today > money tomorrow.
PV = FV − r·PV = FV/(1+r)
If this allows them to sign him for less overall, it’s smart.
Shanghai Badger - December 14, 2011
Reply fail.
Meant for Rick B
Shanghai Badger - December 14, 2011
I gotta admit...
…that $6 million amount for 2012 is quite remarkable.
daver - December 14, 2011
I was told there would be no equations.
Al Yellon - December 14, 2011
im gonna miss u buddy. you were my favorite cub.
chcubsdomination - December 15, 2011
now
we get to see what the rest of the n.l. saw.and it wont be pretty.the guy is a hitting machine and i think we just became his bitches.
NOMAR - December 17, 2011
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