Aramis Ramirez has averaged 28 HRs, 96 RBI and a .295 batting clip a year since 2004, despite missing 118 games over the last two seasons. His torrid 2010 second half (15 HRs, 51 RBI in 62 games) led many (myself included) to believe Ramirez would return to his former 25-HR, 100-RBI days this season, but he has yet to produce as such.
The soon-to-be 33 year-old third basemen whacked just his second dinger of the season on Sunday, and sported a .280 batting clip in 175 at-bats entering the game.
The questions rises, then: Is Aramis Ramirez a good buy-low candidate?
Third base has become surprisingly thin in recent seasons. While the elite players (Wright, Longoria and perhaps even Rodriguez, Youkilis and Zimmerman) offer fantastic production, the rest of the group offers nothing but questions.
Kevin Youkilis doesn’t have third base eligibility yet, but he’s worth the wait. After a week or two (depending on what site you play on), he’s the fourth-best player at the position.
Expected bounce-back seasons from Aramis Ramirez, Mark Reynolds and Pablo Sandoval could lend some depth to the hot corner by season’s end. An emerging Pedro Alvarez won’t hurt, either...
Over the past few weeks, we’ve announced the top 80 players on our 2011 big board. Click on each player’s name for a more in-depth analysis, including 2011 projections!
Since 2004, Aramis Ramirez has averaged 28 HRs, 96 RBI and a .295 batting average per season. That’s including the 80 games he missed in 2009 due to a dislocated shoulder, and the thumb, oblique and quad injuries that lingered last season, limiting him to just 124 games while yielding a career-low .241 batting average.
Yet despite his troubles last season, Ramirez’s 25 HRs and 83 RBI were matched by just six other third basemen...
While waiver wire gems such as Jose Bautista (18 HRs, 45 RBI) and Carlos Silva (8 wins, 2.93 ERA) are unexpectedly dominating fantasy leagues, perennial All-Stars such as Mark Teixeira (.211 BA) and Dan Haren (4.83 ERA) are struggling mightily.
The most perplexing case, however, is that of Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez. In 178 at-bats this season, the soon-to-be 32-year-old sports an embarrassing .168/.232/.285 triple-slash that even Mario Mendoza wouldn’t claim.
Normally one of the top sluggers at his position, (32 HRs, 105 RBI, .302 BA per season from ‘04 to ‘08) Ramirez has just 11 extra-base hits and 22 RBI through nine weeks of play this season. Some of this can be attributed to a BABIP (.189) that ranks second to last among batters with at least 180 plate appearances...
Sunday, May 29, 2011
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