“Losing Ramirez was the worst thing that could have happened to the Cubs. He’s the one player who can hit for average and power while driving in the big runs when they’re needed. Nobody can make up for his absence.”

Absolutely. Ramirez has been this team’s best hitter since arriving in 2003 with the one fluke year by Lee as the exception. There was no contingency plan that would have adequately replaced his bat in the lineup in the case of injury. Not even the mighty DeRosa would be able to fill in that hole in the lineup.

I’m starting to feel the season slipping away.

Fukudome has been very consistent and is really the only potent bat in the lineup on a day-to-day basis.

Losing Ramirez was the worst thing that could have happened to the Cubs. He’s the one player who can hit for average and power while driving in the big runs when they’re needed. Nobody can make up for his absence.

Moving Marmol to closer isn’t the answer to this teams woes. He’s never been consistent with his control and it seems to be getting worse this year.

Honestly, I just don’t think this team has that “mojo” anymore. Many of the core veterans look older/slower and after getting swept in the first round of the playoffs for a 2nd straight year, they just don’t have that swagger anymore.

With all that being said, it’s still very early in June and the Cubs are only 5 games out of first. Still a lot of games to be played.