D-Lee and Rami Aren't Hitting

Somehow, Aramis Ramirez has not been mentioned in any of my posts so far this season.  This is a mistake.  Aramis is the hitting worse than any other player on the team.  His fielding hasn't been great either.  I mean there is just so many problems with his swing right now.  He's late on everything to begin with.  He loves breaking balls and sits on them, but ends up being blown away with fastballs.  When breaking balls are thrown, he either waits too long or thinks he's seeing a fastball and swings too early.  This in between combination is very bad for a hitter.  If there is just one pitch you can hit, you could be in business.  If I'm a dead fastball hitter and haven't been getting hits off breaking balls at all lately, at least I can take advantage of the fastballs I am getting.  Aramis likes fastballs like any other guy, but even Bronson Arroyo of the Reds admitted in Sporting News that he is the best curveball hacker in the entire league.  So far, Ramirez has hit neither.  In fact, he hasn't been a factor for an extended period of time since 2008.  His average is only .159 and has only three home runs, in addition to qualifying among the leaders in strikeouts for a while.  I'm really disappointed.  If he doesn't start hitting now, I propose we bench for Jeff Baker at third base three times a week.  Nothing wrong with a little competition.

Derrek Lee still has my confidence.  He is a true leader like you found out a few posts ago.  A leader should also lead by example, so maybe hitting would do the team some good.  His defense has been good and his bat has come around a little, but really?  .229 with four homers and 16 RBI?  He can do better.  When the Cubs hit slumps, he's the guy they need to get them out and from June onward he was one of the best hitters in the National League last year.  His approach is the same as always, I don't see what the problem is.  He isn't injured.  He hasn't lost confidence.  He started similarly last year.  Maybe he just isn't being aggressive enough.  He has 21 walks and 28 strikeouts, the kind of ratio and patient hitter has.  My solution for D-Lee is:  Relax and swing.  Don't take strikes just to work the count farther to possibly get a walk.  Be aggressive.  Go Cubs!