Chicago went into Milwaukee playing some hot baseball and ended up losing their first series of the year. The big news from Miller Park was Aramis Ramirez dislocating his left shoulder last Friday for the second time in his career. Triple Play takes a different route this time and instead of identifying three key points, analyzes one big problem:

During the third inning of Friday’s game, Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez made a diving stop of a Ryan Braun groundball. That dive could be one that sends the Cubs season into a nosedive.

A dislocated left shoulder was the end result, which could mean anywhere from a month to six weeks on the shelf. When dealing with a shoulder injury like this, you also have to factor in about a week or so of a minor league rehab assignment. After that, it will still be a couple weeks before he is at 100%. Ramirez will most likely have to play a much more ginger third base and will be hesitant to make any diving stops on his left side.

In terms of hitting, this situation is a double-edged sword for a left versus right shoulder debate. Because Aramis did not injure his right shoulder, he should still be able to produce decent power being a right-handed batter. His right side is at the back of the plate and therefore the area where he generates drive in his swing. Knowing that, it appears that Ramirez is in fairly good shape with this injury. However, a left shoulder injury means that his ability to follow through on a swing will be severely hampered. With that kind of impediment, all of Ramirez’s hitting will be affected; not just his power.

Most of all, the Cubs lineup is going to feel the pain of Ramirez’s absence. The team had trouble producing runs with any consistency during his brief time on the bench for a calf injury. This prolonged DL stint will now test the Cubs’ mettle and likely define their season.

In only 18 games this season (including the three innings Friday against Milwaukee) Ramirez is batting .364 with four home runs and 16 RBIs, getting on base at a .417 percentage. The Cubs are 11-7 in those games. Clearly, when he is in the lineup, Aramis Ramirez is a force to be reckoned with.

Ryan Freel was acquired over the weekend for Joey Gathright in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles. Freel is a career .271 hitter, but had only two hits in 15 at-bats with Baltimore this season. For the duration of Aramis Ramirez’s injury, Freel will not be Aramis Ramirez, or anything close to him.

The Cubs, however, have no other option. Infielder Bobby Scales was recently called up from Triple-A Iowa and is one cause for optimism. But Scales, like Freel, will not be Aramis Ramirez. It looks like manager Lou Piniella is going to use his infielders on a game-by-game situational basis. Mike Fontenot will likely see the majority of starts at third, being spelled with Ryan Freel. When Fontenot is playing the hot corner, Scales or Aaron Miles will be at second. When Freel is playing the 5 spot, Fontenot will be at second the majority of the time.

Chicago is already trying its best to deal with recent stiffness in Derrek Lee’s neck, a 15-day DL trip for Carlos Zambrano, and the daily liability of Milton Bradley. Rich Harden could also break down at any moment as well.

Ramirez’s shoulder injury has the potential to kill a season much like Derrek Lee’s wrist injury did in 2006. At 17-14, the Cubs now will enjoy a six-game homestand. Currently, they are 7-3 for the month of May. There are 19 games left in the month, and these 19 games will serve as an indicator for the remainder of the season, much like the first 100 days in office dictates a presidency. If the Cubs don’t pass their litmus test, year 101 will look an awful lot like the past 100.

The 2009 Cubs Season: Version 2.0 begins Tuesday night against San Diego with Rich Harden taking on Jake Peavy.

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