Breaking down the Cubs: Is Ramirez the Cubs' best 3B ever?

Second in a series

Editor's note: As the countdown continues toward the April 6 opener for the Cubs, Daily Herald Sports Writer Bruce Miles will offer his analysis of each position on the team and the key issues facing the club this season.

Q: I know this might be sacrilege, but is it possible Aramis Ramirez might be the best third baseman in Cubs history?

Miles: Not only is it possible, but it's probable. Ramirez has hit 173 of his 249 home runs since coming to the Cubs from the Pirates in the middle of the 2003 season. He has a career OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of .843. Over the last five years, Ramirez has hit 158 home runs and driven in 526, including more than 100 RBI in four of those five years.

Our old pal Ronnie, as Jack Brickhouse used to call Ron Santo, is the gold standard for Cubs third basemen. From 1964-68, he hit 150 homers and drove in 505. Santo followed that up with 29 and 123 in 1969 and 26 and 114 in 1970. Ramirez has a ways to go yet, but given good health, he could surpass all of Santo's numbers.

Q: What's holding people back from giving him the kudos he deserves? Is it his recent lack of production in the playoffs? Something else?

Miles: The thing dogging (no pun intended) Ramirez is the perception that he doesn't "hustle," although I think Cubs fans like it when he trots around the bases after hitting home runs.

Ramirez can help himself somewhat in this area, but there have been many days since he came to the Cubs that he's been told to take it easy on his legs by the training staff. A few clutch hits in the playoff couldn't hurt.

Q: In your eyes, how has A-Ram changed as a player and as a person over the years?

Miles: The thing that surprised me this spring was that Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano took it upon themselves to work out with and talk with young players at the baseball academy in the Dominican Republic during the off-season, and Aramis seemed proud to talk about it.

Ramirez never has been much of a "leader" during his career. He admits that, and some people's personalities don't allow for that. But at age 30, perhaps that's changing. As a player, he drew 74 walks last year, by far his career best.

Q: Is the backup third baseman in camp right now?

Miles: That's the big question. I've seen Aaron Miles, Mike Fontenot, Jake Fox and nonroster man Bobby Scales taking grounders there.

This is one area the Cubs will miss Mark DeRosa, even though Ramirez played in 149 games last year. I suspect GM Jim Hendry will look at the waiver wire if nobody impresses the Cubs at third this spring. If not, it looks like Miles and Fontenot will back up Ramirez. That could be interesting.

Q: Where do you think Ramirez will end up hitting in the order? Where would you bat him if you were filling out the card?

Miles: The way it looks now, he'll probably open the season batting fifth, behind No. 3 man Derrek Lee and cleanup man Milton Bradley.

If Lee shows any sign of decline, I wouldn't be surprised if manager Lou Piniella moves Ramirez up to third. That's where I might bat him.