Aramis Ramirez Must Improve Defensively for Chicago Cubs to Win in 2009

If you're looking for Aramis Ramirez this spring, you might find him taking extra infield practice. At least I hope so. After playing Gold Glove caliber defense in 2007, Ramirez struggled defensively in 2008. 

It certainly was another banner offensive season for Ramirez. The 31-year old batted .289 with 26 home runs and 111 RBI. In 2008, The problem with Ramirez was his defense.

Coming off a career-best .972 fielding percentage in 2007, Ramirez watched his fielding percentage fall to .945. The Cubs third baseman committed 18 errors last year, compared to just 10 in 2007. 

To be fair, Ramirez started 21 more games in 2008, and naturally, his errors will go up. His 18 errors are not a lot for an everyday third baseman. That being said, Ramirez turned just 17 double plays in 2008. That number must go up.  

If you're reading this, you probably understand you don't get charged an error if you bobble a double play, as long as you get one out.  According to Major League Baseball, you can't assume a double play. We saw that happen way too much in 2008 with Ramirez.  

John Dewan, owner of Baseball Info Solutions and co-publisher of Acta Sports, broke down the Cubs' defense in his "Stat of the Week."  Dewan did a great job breaking down the Cubs' defense with a formula that uses errors, fielding percentage, and run-saving plays. 

According to Dewan, Ramirez was a -9 defensively, costing the Cubs nine runs in 2008. Overall, Ramirez was in the middle-of-the-pack among third basemen last year.

In 2007, Ramirez was a +11. He was near the top of the list.  That means that Ramirez saved the Cubs a total of 11 runs.  

Ramirez needs to improve his defense if the Cubs expect to play deep into October.  His 18 errors were the most he has committed since 2003.  Hopefully, he can revert to his 2007 season, when he was arguably the best third baseman in the National League.