For the sake of the team.

If I was gonna fix the Chicago Cubs, I'd probably start by dealing with two giant egos. First baseman Derrek Lee and third baseman Aramis Ramirez. They're supposed to be the Cubs best hitters. The ones that drive in the most runs. But so far this season, they've been flops. Ramirez is batting an atrocious .160, the lowest average of any regular player in the National League. And Lee is barely over .200. That ain't good. The Cubs hired a new hitting coach last winter. Rudy Jaramillo. And he's worked wonders with the Cubs less ego-centric players. Just about everybody in the line-up outside of Lee and Ramirez are among the top 15 or 20 hitters in the National League. The Cubs are getting plenty of base-runners. But they aren't being driven in. Mainly because of the slumping Lee and Ramirez. Both of whom are reported as reluctant to work with Jaramillo. Instead, they want to resolve their own batting problems. Because they've done it in the past, I guess. Sounds to me like their egos are a little too fragile to take advice. I'd tell both of 'em that Jaramillo helped other lesser hitters than them. And maybe it's time to listen. For the sake of the team. And if that hurts their egos, so be it. They can check in with the team's psychiatrist. Yes, the Cubs really do have a team psychiatrist. And he's sorely needed. --Jim Broede