4/23 Rudy & Ramirez

Hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo isn’t worried about Aramis Ramirez or any of the other Cubs hitters. Ramirez, who was batting .127, did not start Friday to give him more time to work with Jaramillo.

“He’s such a good hitter in the past,” Jaramillo said Friday. “I’ve never really seen him live but I am now. Right now, it’s just a timing issue. He’s just late. When you’re late, that comes from maybe trying too hard or trying to do too much. When you hit so well and then you get out of yourself a little bit and you start chasing pitches and start guessing and you make up your mind to swing — all those things happen when things aren’t going right.”

The Cubs were outscored 15-3 in the three losses in New York but Jaramillo sees lots of positives.

“We’re working the pitchers and getting a bunch of guys on base and we’re just two hits away from things breaking open,” Jaramillo said. “When that happens, everybody relaxes and things come together. I really believe in these guys, I really do. I care about them.”

– Carrie Muskat