Aramis Ramirez

The Cubs have been one of baseball’s big disappointments this season.

The only team that has underachieved more has been the Yankees, but since A-Rod came back, they have been on a tear, which leaves the Cubs all alone.

However, through the past five games, they have gone 4-1, which may be an anomaly in a disappointing season. But it could also start to signal change.

The Cubs haven’t been pulling off small, one-run wins.  They have won three of their past four wins by at least three runs.

Continuing on with my Cubs series, I ranked my top ten Cubs third basemen.

This position was a consistent revolving door from the time Ron Santo left until the trade for Aramis Ramirez, and becasue of that there are a lot of old timers on this list.

While the rankings are somewhat subjective, as they always are, I looked closely at each player's 162-game average during his tenure with the Cubs, as well as whether he was a part of any Cubs playoff teams.

I hope you enjoy this and follow the series as it continues. As always, I look forward to your input.

Alright everyone, get your payroll jokes and your “Where’s your World Series Championship trophy?” jokes out of your system before you start reading.

Yes, since the Milwaukee Brewers came to be in 1969, they have not won a World Series and have won just a single pennant in that span. And, of course, living north of Chicago, we all know the Cubs are the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Don't expect any walk-off home runs from Aramis Ramirez anytime soon.  The Cubs' star third basemen will be out until at least mid June after suffering a dislocated shoulder in Friday night's 3-2 loss to the Brewers. 

The Cubs have suffered numerous injuries this season but this one really hurts.  Despite this latest injury the Cubs will have to move forward. 

As rookie Randy Wells made his first career start against the Brewers tonight, Aramis Ramirez left the game in excruciating pain in the third inning. Ramirez dove to his right and landed on the third base foul line.

Ryan Braun pulled a rocket ground ball to the hot corner, and Ramirez quickly dove and appeared to have made the play. But before he could get up and throw to first, he was doubled over in pain laying belly down on the ground.

After a cold, rainy and just plain dreary and disappointing month of April, the Cubs begin the month of May 2-0. The story of the game was Ted Lilly, on the mound and at the plate.

On the mound Lilly was great, striking out 10, and walking none. He gave up five hits, one of which was a solo home-run by Cody Ross. At the plate Lilly came through with a 2 run double of the right field wall with two outs in the third inning.

It's too bad Jake Fox can't play third base, because it seems that Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez may be headed to the DL soon with a calf injury.

BleedCubbieBlue.com is reporting that Ramirez could be disabled by the end of this week. Here is what Lou Piniella said about A-Ram, courtesy of a link from that same Cubs blogsite:

Theodore Roosevelt Lilly III.

That about sums up Opening Day 2009 at Wrigley Field.

Rain delayed the start of today’s game for an hour and 12 minutes, but couldn’t put on a damper on the Cubs home opener or the mood of the 40,077 fans that showed up to spite it.

Ted Lilly walked catcher Chris Iannetta in the third inning and didn’t allow another Rockie to reach base until Garrett Atkins singled with two outs in the seventh to end the no-hit bid.

The Chicago Cubs opened a three-game homestand in Wrigley North with a 4-3 loss to last year’s Wild Card squad, the Milwaukee Brewers.

With one swing of the lumber, Koyie Hill provided Rich Harden with his first lead of the game via a two-run, sixth-inning bomb.

Milton Bradley got his first hit of the season, a solo jack to lead off the fourth inning. While Bradley has gotten off to a slow start hitting wise, it hasn’t been for lack of good at-bats.