6/9 Ramirez: "I'm not helping team"

Aramis Ramirez admitted he wasn’t helping the Cubs by trying to play with a bruised left thumb and was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday. The Cubs recalled infielder Chad Tracy from Triple-A Iowa. Ramirez has been scuffling, batting .168 with five homers and 22 RBIs in 47 games.

“Right now, I’m not helping the team, not helping myself,” Ramirez said. “We’re going to try to get 100 percent and try to get back to being who I was.”

He has not used the sore thumb as an excuse but admitted it’s been difficult to grip a bat because of the swelling and discomfort. The Cubs had talked to Ramirez about going on the disabled list earlier but he didn’t want to.

“I thought I was good enough to play [through it],” he said. “I can’t help the team missing two games like I missed the Dodgers series. It just makes sense to rest it now and try to get it 100 percent or at least close to it.”

– Carrie Muskat