What's the deal
Last night I managed to catch the bulk of the Cubs game, especially when I wasn't busy and/or disgusted with what I saw. It was one of the first games in a while that I've been able to watch, this is what I took away from it.
From what I've seen basically all year, Jacque Jones is worthless. Not worthless in the Neifi Perez category where he's going to OBP exactly what his BA is, and he's going to hit soft grounders and popups everywhere. He's worthless in that he constantly appears to be trying to much at the plate, and it gets him nothing. In Sunday's game, he had a key strikeout on three pitches that were nowhere near the strikezone, nor was he close to hitting them. He cannot hit lefties, which is a shame because he's one of the few lefties we have on the team, and it's nice to have at least one in your lineup daily.
In last night's game, Scott Eyre, who I'll get to later, came into the game, got two quick outs, then blew ass and gave up a 2-run single. It was hit to right, Jones came up throwing, and the throw was well off target. Now, I think a good throw would have nailed the runner, but it's not like I expected Jones to throw the guy out. Actually, that's kind of the problem, because I KNEW Jones wouldn't throw the guy out.
Maybe I'm just spoiled, or I expect too much, but Jacque Jones needs to go. Pie is already proving that he's a pretty solid lead-off hitter, and he's proving (at least two games in) that he can be an offensive spark. Pie can move to center, since he's an outstanding defensive player (he's got range and a gun), move Soriano to right since he's got range and a good arm, and then you can rotate Murton and Floyd in left. personally, I think Murton should get more ab's than Floyd, because it doesn't seem to me like Floyd is hitting a lot, and he's not really going to. He only hit .244(ish) last year. Give Murton at least 60% of the playing time out there and let him do what he does.
Should we decide that Pie isn't quite ready yet (although so far it looks like he is, after all 2 games) then we should play DeRosa in right, Theriot at second and Murton/Floyd/Jones in left. Now, why did we sign Cliff Floyd? Or why did we not move Jones? We knew it was going to come to this, a logjam in the outfield (imagine if we'd kept Josh Hamilton, and had foresight). I just really see no benefit from giving Jones everyday playing time but not the other two guys. He has better range, but probably hits worse. And in a clutch situation, I would rather have either of the other two guys hitting than Jones.
It's not that Jones is bad per se, it's just that I don't think he really fits on the team. He said he'd be willing to move back to left, should Pie stay up and Soriano move to right. Looking like a good team player is yet another thing that will allow him to be traded easier, but we already have 2 left fielders (up to 4 or 5 if you count Ward, Theriot, DeRosa). We don't really need another.
So I just don't see where Jones fits on this team, and I also don't see how he ends this season with the Cubs. I would love to see him go somewhere else, back to the AL perhaps, and succeed, but I'm done with him on the North Side. And should the Cubs end up getting their ass kicked in a trade, I'm still ok with moving him. Seriously, we have 5 outfielders on the roster, and how big would it have been to have Angel Guzman last night.
Speaking of last night, and actually this season so far, it seems like the Cubs have been struggling due to a lack of execution, rather than incompetence from the manager. A perfect indicator of this was last night when Eyre couldn't get the third out in the 7th and we saw Lou in the dugout just shrugging. Eyre had 2 outs quick, then walk, infield hit, walk, 2-run single, then somehow another run scored while I looked away in disgust.
What is that an indicator of? Eyre just had a lack of focus (which was excellent, since he was probably the only pitcher on enough rest to be effective)? Eyre doesn't have the stamina to pitch a full inning (fatty)? Eyre is just not effective enough? Obviously, it's easiest to pin this all on Eyre, and while it's not entirely his fault, I still won't stop from blaming him. Entirely.
Speaking of another lefty, how about that Will Ohman? Lou continues to go to him, and Ohman continues to suck. We all know that it probably should have been Ohman, not Guzman, who was sent to the minors, so what does that mean? The Cubs reward experience over performance (still?? I thought we were done with that)? I'm all for sticking with a guy through some rough patches, but how many losses can you handle until you realize that something could be wrong?
It's nice to see that Rich Hill is going today, since he appears to be the best starter we have in our rotation. Carlos is Carlos, and walks continue to kick his ass. I'm starting to wonder if Henry Blanco shouldn't be the personal catcher for Carlos. Henry is excellent handling Carlos's disposition, while Barrett seems slightly intimidated (and understandably so). Even if Barrett isn't intimidated, he doesn't handle Carlos's demeanor quite as well.
Regardless, hopefully Jacque will find his way out of Chicago (if he'd get hurt, that would save us having to trade him for a while, although it could hurt his value), hopefully Pie will remain up, and hopefully the bullpen gets its shit together, because our starting pitching has been pretty stellar, and it sucks to come away with little to show for it.
From what I've seen basically all year, Jacque Jones is worthless. Not worthless in the Neifi Perez category where he's going to OBP exactly what his BA is, and he's going to hit soft grounders and popups everywhere. He's worthless in that he constantly appears to be trying to much at the plate, and it gets him nothing. In Sunday's game, he had a key strikeout on three pitches that were nowhere near the strikezone, nor was he close to hitting them. He cannot hit lefties, which is a shame because he's one of the few lefties we have on the team, and it's nice to have at least one in your lineup daily.
In last night's game, Scott Eyre, who I'll get to later, came into the game, got two quick outs, then blew ass and gave up a 2-run single. It was hit to right, Jones came up throwing, and the throw was well off target. Now, I think a good throw would have nailed the runner, but it's not like I expected Jones to throw the guy out. Actually, that's kind of the problem, because I KNEW Jones wouldn't throw the guy out.
Maybe I'm just spoiled, or I expect too much, but Jacque Jones needs to go. Pie is already proving that he's a pretty solid lead-off hitter, and he's proving (at least two games in) that he can be an offensive spark. Pie can move to center, since he's an outstanding defensive player (he's got range and a gun), move Soriano to right since he's got range and a good arm, and then you can rotate Murton and Floyd in left. personally, I think Murton should get more ab's than Floyd, because it doesn't seem to me like Floyd is hitting a lot, and he's not really going to. He only hit .244(ish) last year. Give Murton at least 60% of the playing time out there and let him do what he does.
Should we decide that Pie isn't quite ready yet (although so far it looks like he is, after all 2 games) then we should play DeRosa in right, Theriot at second and Murton/Floyd/Jones in left. Now, why did we sign Cliff Floyd? Or why did we not move Jones? We knew it was going to come to this, a logjam in the outfield (imagine if we'd kept Josh Hamilton, and had foresight). I just really see no benefit from giving Jones everyday playing time but not the other two guys. He has better range, but probably hits worse. And in a clutch situation, I would rather have either of the other two guys hitting than Jones.
It's not that Jones is bad per se, it's just that I don't think he really fits on the team. He said he'd be willing to move back to left, should Pie stay up and Soriano move to right. Looking like a good team player is yet another thing that will allow him to be traded easier, but we already have 2 left fielders (up to 4 or 5 if you count Ward, Theriot, DeRosa). We don't really need another.
So I just don't see where Jones fits on this team, and I also don't see how he ends this season with the Cubs. I would love to see him go somewhere else, back to the AL perhaps, and succeed, but I'm done with him on the North Side. And should the Cubs end up getting their ass kicked in a trade, I'm still ok with moving him. Seriously, we have 5 outfielders on the roster, and how big would it have been to have Angel Guzman last night.
Speaking of last night, and actually this season so far, it seems like the Cubs have been struggling due to a lack of execution, rather than incompetence from the manager. A perfect indicator of this was last night when Eyre couldn't get the third out in the 7th and we saw Lou in the dugout just shrugging. Eyre had 2 outs quick, then walk, infield hit, walk, 2-run single, then somehow another run scored while I looked away in disgust.
What is that an indicator of? Eyre just had a lack of focus (which was excellent, since he was probably the only pitcher on enough rest to be effective)? Eyre doesn't have the stamina to pitch a full inning (fatty)? Eyre is just not effective enough? Obviously, it's easiest to pin this all on Eyre, and while it's not entirely his fault, I still won't stop from blaming him. Entirely.
Speaking of another lefty, how about that Will Ohman? Lou continues to go to him, and Ohman continues to suck. We all know that it probably should have been Ohman, not Guzman, who was sent to the minors, so what does that mean? The Cubs reward experience over performance (still?? I thought we were done with that)? I'm all for sticking with a guy through some rough patches, but how many losses can you handle until you realize that something could be wrong?
It's nice to see that Rich Hill is going today, since he appears to be the best starter we have in our rotation. Carlos is Carlos, and walks continue to kick his ass. I'm starting to wonder if Henry Blanco shouldn't be the personal catcher for Carlos. Henry is excellent handling Carlos's disposition, while Barrett seems slightly intimidated (and understandably so). Even if Barrett isn't intimidated, he doesn't handle Carlos's demeanor quite as well.
Regardless, hopefully Jacque will find his way out of Chicago (if he'd get hurt, that would save us having to trade him for a while, although it could hurt his value), hopefully Pie will remain up, and hopefully the bullpen gets its shit together, because our starting pitching has been pretty stellar, and it sucks to come away with little to show for it.
Labels: cubs, Trade Jacque Jones
posted by Jtrouble at 7:43 AM
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