As we obsessively watch Aramis Ramirez’s slow return from a dislocated shoulder, he’s finally ready for his rehab assignment. It is going to start on Friday with the Peoria Cubs, and he’ll likely play through the weekend there.
If he feels well, he could rejoin the Chicago Cubs as soon as Monday, in time for a home series against the Atlanta Braves. Even if he does make it back to the team by then, I would not necessarily expect him to play the entire series.
Returning on Monday – or a little later in the week – would put Ramirez exactly at two months since his injury, which was the consensus timeline for his return once the full extent of his injury was understood.
As we’ve said repeatedly here: please temper your expectations for Ramirez’s return. Not only is he coming off a serious injury that will no doubt have an impact on his bat, but also, the bat he’s replacing in the lineup – Jake Fox – has been one of the few productive hitters over this latest horrible offensive stretch.
Even Ramirez agrees that his return is no magic panacea.
“It doesn’t work that way,” Ramirez said. “Everybody has got to do their job. They can think whatever they want, but we have 25 guys here and everybody has got to do their job. It’s not like I’m going to jump in and all of a sudden we’re going to win every game.” Hardball.
His return is a great thing, there’s no doubt about that. But life has to return to many, many other Cubs’ bats before this team will be successful.