Pick an outfielder

by JDay on Dec 28, 2005 11:55 PM CST Comment 17 comments

I guess this is going to amount to some sort of psychology experiment for me, but I wanted to pose a question and see how people answer it.

Let's assume that we hadn't signed Jacque Jones yet, and Eric Byrnes had all ready become a free agent. Out of the two of them, which would you sign to be the Cubs right fielder in 2006? Why would you pick one over the other? Or would you pick a different outfielder? (Please choose only from free agents, and avoid the impulse to devise trades, no matter how much sense they make or how bad you want to.)

Would you go for Jones because he hits left handed, or would you go for Byrnes because...well, he's not Jones?

Jones had posted pretty good numbers up until a couple of years ago, when he started to decline. He's 30, he plays good defense, and he seems determined to improve.

Byrnes is coming off a forgettable year, but in 2004 he hit something like .283 with 20 HRs, and stole around 20 bases. He also plays good d, but he'd be another right-handed bat in a lineup that's all ready overwhelmingly right handed. I'm not sure how old he is, but he's still fairly young. Both Byrnes and Jones seem to be good club-house guys.

In picking between these two, a consideration is that they contract you sign them to is the same as they received/should receive in reality (so if you sign Jones, you're signing him for about $5 mil per over 3 years). Once a few people respond, I may toss out something if I see a common denominator between answers.
Thanks!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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jones

as far as jones vs. byrnes...i take jones very quickly. i was able to watch byrnes play a lot in oakland and his fielding is scary. terrible reads/ terrible jumps. he is virtualy the same hitter as jones just from the opposite side of the plate. im still not sure why everybody likes byrnes so much, these people must not have been able to watch him play much.

by moejo on Dec 29, 2005 8:35 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Byrnes....

... would have been a good platoon partner for Jones, as Jones hits righthanders well and Byrnes hits lefties well.

As the lefthanded hitter, Jones would receive about 2/3 of the playing time in such an arrangement, maybe a bit more.

by Al on Dec 29, 2005 9:00 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey Al

I must respectfully say answer the question.
I would have to say that due to needing the left handed bat (we still have Walker) I would have to go with Jones. I am cautiously optimistic that he will rebound.
I do agree with you Al, a platoon would be ideal, but you didn't answer the question.

Madog93. There is only one good season of the year -- BASEBALL SEASON!

by madog93 on Dec 29, 2005 9:28 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

OK...

... the answer to the specific question is, no, I would not have chosen Byrnes over Jones if it were one or the other.

by Al on Dec 29, 2005 9:34 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What about this?

I too would go with Jones over Byrnes, although I would have loved them as platoon partners.

Perhaps a more interesting question is who would you take between Jones and Encarnacion?

by The Boar on Dec 29, 2005 11:07 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Uhhh...

Well, if you're Hendry you take Jones. If you're Jocketty, you take Encarnacion. If you're me, you take...you take...umm...umm...

Jacque Jones because his career numbers are better, he's a lefty, and maybe a better defender. But I really don't know.

Cubbie Blue always sPaRkLes in my eyes. Time to sPaRkLe Jimmy!

by sparkles721 on Dec 29, 2005 11:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

"Go Jacque Go!"

It's the bottom of the 9th with two outs. A warm summer breeze is blowing towards the left field bleachers where you are seated. Our beloved Cubs are down by 1 run, but D.Lee is on second and we've got one last chance to win the game. Can you honestly say that you would be comfortable leading a "Go Byrnes Go" cheer. But if it is Jacgue Jones at the plate his name will roll off our tongues, "Go Jacque Go". Just try saying "Jacque Jones" 5 times fast. And in Cubs history the line-ups have been built around great sounding names, such as: Jody Davis, Chico Walker, Shawn Dunston, Kerry Wood, Andre Dawson, Vance Law, Sammy Sosa, Damon Berryhill, Les Lancaster, Matt Murton, Tuffy Rhodes, Ryne Sandburg, Ernie Banks, Billy Hands and many more. I'm fairly happy with our new crafty veteran. He's got speed and is a solid defensive outfielder, everyone in the minnesota clubhouse loved him. Plus he's got A kick-ass name.

THE CUBS WILL BE IN THE MIX, IN 2006.

by CubbieJake on Dec 29, 2005 2:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Les Lancaster???

n/t

by Al on Dec 29, 2005 2:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Les Lancaster!!!!!!!

Les Lancaster the 1989 Cubs set-up man. He held a 1.36 ERA, 8 saves, and 56 strike outs in 72 innings. He also hit a walk off home run in extra innings on 9-7-89. Les just happens to be in my all-time favorite Cubs line-up, which I posted in my diary-bio.

THE CUBS WILL BE IN THE PLAYOFF MIX, IN 2006

by CubbieJake on Dec 29, 2005 3:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

yes....

... of course I know who Les Lancaster is. I was just puzzled why you included him in the group of players you mentioned.

by Al on Dec 30, 2005 10:37 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i'd choose

c) none of the above

by gaius marius on Dec 29, 2005 2:31 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Les Lancaster!!!!!!!

THE CUBS WILL BE IN THE PLAYOFF MIX, IN 2006

by CubbieJake on Dec 29, 2005 3:34 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

September '89

I came down with mono in late August of 1989. I watched every game in September from my couch. It was a great run. Thanks for bringing up Les Lancaster's name again.

by greggie44 on Dec 29, 2005 3:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The Boyz of Zimmer

I have a video called the Boyz of Zimmer that re-caps the entire 1989 Cubs season. It's great. I watch it before opening day every year.

THE CUBS WILL BE IN THE PLAYOFF MIX, IN 2006

by CubbieJake on Dec 29, 2005 4:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

speaking of which

i've always wanted a video tape of the Cubs broadcast from when Bill Murray subbed for Harry Caray, who was out sick or something. I remember just dying the whole time, but I've never been able to find a copy of that broadcast. If anyone has it, I'd love to figure out a way to get a copy from you.
i'm not sure if there is a funnier human alive than him.

by tomas21 on Dec 29, 2005 4:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs