Obsessive Ramirez Dislocationwatch: Cortisone Shot

Chicago Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez received a cortisone shot on Tuesday, which will keep him out of the lineup likely for the rest of the Phillies series, but which should help ease his pain.

Going forward, Ramirez says he wants to play as much as possible, but that it’s going to have to be through a lot of pain.

”I don’t think I’m going to have surgery because it’s more muscular now,” he said, adding that he didn’t think he returned too soon on July 6. ”[The Cubs] did not rush me, but I wanted to be back. I was pretty good two weeks ago. It just happens.”

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The pain occurs on his swings.

”I swing pretty hard,” Ramirez said. ”When I finish my swing or [when I’m reaching for] a line drive over my head, but that’s not going to happen too often. It’s when I swing. I have a pretty good idea what I can do.”

Ramirez said he won’t alter his swing or refrain from making a diving play in the field.

”I don’t want to do that,” he said. ”I always swing hard, and I don’t strike out much. I just want to play the way I play.” CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.

And that’s how it’s got to be. The Cubs need Aramis Ramirez to be Aramis Ramirez if they are to have any meaningful shot at not only making the playoffs, but also making a run in the playoffs.