PITTSBURGH — Aramis Ramirez went 1-for-3 with an RBI Wednesday after being dropped to No. 6 in the batting order.
Manager Lou Piniella said he would talk to Ramirez about the move, though he considered it temporary and ultimately hopes to stick him back in the cleanup spot.
Piniella said it was no big deal, and “the media and the fans get a little more involved from a thinking standpoint than is necessary.”
So Ramirez’s ego shouldn’t take a blow because of the demotion?
“I wouldn’t think so,” Piniella replied. “I mean, what I said basically was I’d like to get him back in the fourth hole. That’s basically what I want to do. And maybe let him relax a little bit. It might help him out.”
Ramirez had a sacrifice fly in the fourth, but struck out to end the game with a man on and the Cubs trailing 4-2.
Different perspective: Derrek Lee doesn’t believe a lineup change makes any difference.
“It doesn’t matter where you hit,” Lee said. “You still have to hit — whether you’re first, sixth or seventh. It doesn’t change anything.”
Would Lee be surprised if he also was moved?
“Yeah,” he said. “I don’t know if moving solves things. … Me and ‘Rami’ have been around a long time. We’re going to hit.”
Was Lee surprised Ramirez was moved?
“Yeah,” he said. “It surprises me. He has been one of the best cleanup hitters in the National League. But, you know, Lou likes to try things.”
Extra innings: Carlos Zambrano pitched for the first time since Friday, giving up an infield hit and facing only three hitters in a scoreless seventh inning. In his four relief appearances, Zambrano has allowed one run on six hits over five innings, with four strikeouts. … Alfonso Soriano’s home run streak ended at four games, and Ryan Theriot’s hitting streak ended at 13 games. … Chad Tracy was called out on strikes while pinch-hitting in the eighth inning. Tracy is hitting .091 (1-for-11) as a pinch-hitter.
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