Sick of the Jones bashing

by Nibbles on Apr 10, 2007 10:44 PM CDT Comment 56 comments

I sat in the right field bleachers today to avoid the wind. It turned out to be a wonderful day, at least as far as the weather was concerned. However, today was the first day I experienced what Jacque Jones has to put up with. Cheap garbage from the stands. In a game featuring three errors by the shortstop, and a rocky first inning by the starter, I was really ticked off by some of the clowns yelling at him. Now, I'm not afraid to boo, but I reserve that for very special occaisions. The chants of "You suck" to our starting right fielder need to end. Jones is what he is, a decent major league outfielder. He'll probably end up with about 25 homers and 85 rbi's. I can live with that if nothing better comes up in trade talks. I'm not sure what Jones could have done today short of going 4-4 with four home runs that would have shut them up. I know this isn't the choir to be preaching to, but I had a four hour drive back home to Iowa City to stew about this.

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.

0 recs | Comment 56 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

This gives me an idea

I'm going to be in the bleachers on Sunday. I was going to sit in LF and chat with Al, but now I feel compelled to sit in RF and shout the occasional nice thing at him.

I have been frustrated with Jacque at times this past year, but for better or for worse he's our right fielder. Although his throws in from the outfield have been awful at times, he's catches what he gets to and has put up decent offensive numbers.

While he is far from stellar, he doesn't deserve all the grief that he has received over the past season.

AC 00 00 00 - BELIEVE

by mike on Apr 10, 2007 11:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

Jones has actually played a GOOD right field so far this year; his throws have been more accurate, and though he hasn't hit much, I haven't seen the baserunning mistakes he made lat year, either.

Give the guy a chance, at least.

Stop by LF to say hi, anyway.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Apr 11, 2007 3:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I will

I'm getting there early so I can get my Lou Piniella bobblehead so I'll definitely have time to wander around a little bit.

AC 00 00 00 - BELIEVE

by mike on Apr 11, 2007 7:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Al, did you forget?

Al, needs to check his email.....

I hope Al didnt forget about me :(

The only thing worse then the White Sox, is White Sox Fans. Thank God im a CUBS FAN!

by Galvan316 on Apr 11, 2007 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Definitely agree.

I really can't put into words how angry booing our own team makes me. It's ridiculous how much disrespect the man gets from certain Cubs "fans" in the bleachers. It disgraces the game and the image of Cub fans everywhere. Christ, we're eight games into the year and we start hearing this crap already.

"And heeeere come the pretzels!"

by NightPutting on Apr 10, 2007 11:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You Have to Realilze

Until Wrigley Field ceases its role as a tourist attraction and outdoor night club, it will always include the fools and stooges that think the seventh inning stretch is a one-mile roadway near Gurnee. Wrigley is unfortunately littered with rubes that know next to nothing about baseball but believe that if a guy doesn't homer ten times in succession, he isn't doing his job.

I think the whole Sosa era had a lot to do with that atmosphere...while the tease in 2003 didn't help. It's too bad too. It's just not a very knowledgeable fan base for the most part...obviously without offending many who reside here and attend regularly.

Eighty-five percent of the f*ckin' world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here. -- Lee Constantine Elia, 1983.

by krummy12 on Apr 11, 2007 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Do you think..

..this diary is going to make the fans in the RF bleachers change their ways? Those guys probably don't even have tickets to another game this entire season. I am all for voicing your opinion, but is this diary worthy? Seriously now people!

Here's to a new year!!

by santo for prez on Apr 11, 2007 4:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes, I think it's worthy.

This was an issue a year ago, and should not be one now, and shouldn't have been one then.

Yes, the people who did this yesterday may not return. But maybe this will make someone ELSE think twice. I'm glad he posted this.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Apr 11, 2007 4:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The night before opening day

I sat next to Jones and others at a bar in downtown Cincy. He and the rest of them were nice enough, gave me an autograph, etc. But I kept having this urge to saying something to Jones - as if to apologize on behalf of Cubs fans for the way he's been treated.

Of course, I chickened out and didn't do it. :( Arg..

WOODY!!!!

by Sarah Hope on Apr 11, 2007 6:12 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Next time you see him...

... do it, at least let him know that the idiots don't represent the vast majority of Cubs fans who are good people.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Apr 11, 2007 8:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you read

Fantasyland, which I reviewed here a few weeks ago, you see the Jacque is a really sensitive guy who doesn't shrug off criticism easily. A nice guy, a quiet spoken guy, but not a guy who would say "Who cares what you think?" to someone yelling crap at him.

I think it would help if some Cub fans got a Jacque Jones cheering section out there to drown out the bums.

"The only place the Cubs get booed is Wrigley Field"--Brewer announcer Bill Schroeder

by Josh77 on Apr 11, 2007 4:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It may be my imagination,

but he seemed to react differently to me (a fan) than the rest of the guys. The other ones seemed like, "cool, a Cubs fan. I'll sign this and go back to my beer" but Jacques seemed more standoffish. And he was sitting directly next to me. I just felt really bad. And very ashamed.

WOODY!!!!

by Sarah Hope on Apr 11, 2007 6:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

just shyness

I would think. I reckon he's just shy around some strangers by nature. From what I've read he's a pretty cool guy. You felt ashamed? You were sitting right next to him?

by cashcowsquirtingsourmilk on Apr 12, 2007 12:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh no,

not because I was sitting next to him. Because of the way he's been treated. I was ashamed to be associated with that.

WOODY!!!!

by Sarah Hope on Apr 12, 2007 5:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

jj has done exactly as to what is expected of him

based on his career stats. I am not sure how he became a whipping boy for the frat brats in the bleachers.

One of Us!One Of Us!

by HerrProf on Apr 11, 2007 8:43 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Part of it...

... was that he got off to a bad start last year, and that set a bad tone, which I think hasn't quite been lifted yet.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Apr 11, 2007 8:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yea

agree with all of you. its sad all these young drunk idiots are giving us cub fans(the greatest fans in baseball) a bad rep. im going to send an email to carrie muskat and see if she posts it

by tbizzle83 on Apr 11, 2007 9:10 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Amen

Jacque Jones is a good ballplayer. He plays a solid right field and is a quality and reliable run producer at the plate. Nobody pretends he is Vlad Guerrero or Jeff Francouer. And, Jones is signed to a very reasonable contract and provides a desperately needed left handed bat.

I can't help but think that too many Cub fans or idiots who sit in the right field bleachers are closet racists. I'm somebody who typically pukes when an African American plays the race card. But in the case of Jones I shall vehemently come to his defense because I believe he gets unreasonably shabby treatment in this town.

by BlueMike on Apr 11, 2007 9:23 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think you're a little over the top...

... I think it's mostly just a small number of people who have had way too much to drink who are doing this stuff. Don't tar the majority of fans in the RF bleachers, or bleachers in general, who are good people.

I do agree with you that Jones has not deserved the poor treatment he's received at times.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Apr 11, 2007 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yea

i dongt agree they are racist. i think most of the people who are yelling arent regulars at the park, but about 21-28 yr old drunk men trying to live their big frat guy ego. i dunno i may be wrong but thats what ive witness

by tbizzle83 on Apr 11, 2007 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Frat boy syndrome is the single biggest problem with the Wrigley Field crowd. The crowds twenty years ago might have been smaller, but they were much better baseball crowds. More people who lived and breathed baseball and whose passion for the Cubs ran deep. More families, more regular Joes, more salt of the earth people. Today it's mostly people with deep pockets, corporate types out on a jaunt with the company tickets or client, and the Gen X and Gen Y crowd who live in the city. And within each of those categories are pockets of the obnoxious and idiots.

If Wrigley banned the used of cell phones and picture phones the world would be a better place. But just my two cents.

by BlueMike on Apr 11, 2007 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

I'm not sure I could agree with a collection of statements any more than those you just typed. Well done. Well done indeed.

Eighty-five percent of the f*ckin' world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here. -- Lee Constantine Elia, 1983.

by krummy12 on Apr 11, 2007 1:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

When I am commissioner

Anyone caught talking on the their cellphone and waving at the camera would be taken care of in a timely fashion. That is my least favorite part of watching games on TV.

AC 00 00 00 - BELIEVE

by mike on Apr 11, 2007 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree as well.

Yeah, I use my phone at the park, if I need to. But not just to "be seen" there. I'm there to watch baseball and root the Cubs to victory. (Hope there will be much of the latter this year.)

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Apr 11, 2007 4:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

My problem with Jones so far

Has been his placement in the line-up the last couple of days, and that's hardly his fault. Other than that, he is very unfairly maligned.

by SuperContext on Apr 11, 2007 9:41 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

whoa whoa whoa

Before the Jones bashers become the bashees on this forum, let us remember that Thomas Jefferson once proclaimed that when governements are not properly functioning, "it is not only the right but the duty of the citizens to revolt." Taken together with Jones's sub-par play to this point and I say that it is the duty of Cub fans to display their unhappiness. I'm tired of Cub fans being stereotyped as unknowledgable, unconditional fans. It is stereotypes like this that allow the fans to be continuously taken advantage of by an organization that believes the fans will stick around regardless of the front office's mediocre efforts to win. Now, i'm not saying if this is true or not, but what I am saying is that if a player consistently stinks it up, I encourage fans to show their unhappiness via booing and chants, so long as the boos, chants, taunts, etc do not cross the line.

by Fsemi2323 on Apr 11, 2007 9:45 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

whoa whoa whoa

First off:
Thomas Jefferson doesn't belong in the same hemisphere as a baseball discussion, let alone the same sentence.

Second:
I thought it was spelled 'Woah'. Am I wrong?

Third:
People can voice their opinion all they want, yeah it's their right. However, it reflects poorly upon the fan base, especially when Jones had a pretty solid year last year. If this keeps up, how many players do you think the fans will cost us. Meaning, how many will the 'boo's chase away, and how many players won't want to play here because of the heckling.

Saying that, I'm all for showing your displeasure at boneheaded or poorly executed plays. But booing at a strikeout, or booing and heckling just when he's working in the field is totally out of line. It's as though they are willing that player to fail and enjoying it when he does. Booing Jones when he trots out to the field is not just wrong, it's really moronic.

However, I'm not a big Jones fan, I unfortunately think we need him right now, as he's a lefty and a solid number 5 hitter. Personally, I'm hoping for Pie to be ready by June. Pie becomes the everyday Right Fielder, we move or release Ward, and Jones becomes the primary 4th OF splitting time in both RF and LF, and even some CF. Then Floyd becomes the primary PH and offensive sub for Murton in late game situations, with maybe a start or two a week. I'd like that scenario a lot.

by WittyUserName on Apr 11, 2007 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

whoa whoa whoa

And to continue on your points, how on earth is constant and continual booing going to help Jones be a more productive baseball player? At your place of employment, do you work well when you boss or co-workers gather around you and tear you down as you show up at work, yell and swear at your every imperfection, etc. This treatment wouldn't cause us to display excellence, but rather the stress would cause us to do worse. We would think of minor mistakes as major, earth-shattering mistakes, we would be impatient, we wouldn't be relaxed and confident. Booing Jones as much as he is booed is going to cause him to be a worse ball player, not a better one.

by Rev Gunia on Apr 11, 2007 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

well

it motivated A-Rod this year. A better question would be what would motivate a player to improve more? fan acceptance of sub-par play or fan dissaproval of such play. If my boss was telling me I have been doing great, why would I take measures to improve my performance?

by Fsemi2323 on Apr 11, 2007 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Woah Woah Woah (spelled correctly)

We (the fans) are not the boss of the players. Do their performances matter to us? Yes, of course they do, we're paying customers. You know what customers do when they don't get the service they want? They stop paying for it.

It's not the fans place to tell Jones how he is doing. It's Lou's job to give Jones his performance evaluation.

I'm not saying you applaud poor play, but you certainly don't berate him when he just patrolling the field. By all means if he spikes the ball into the dirt, or sends one sailing to the screen and something bad happens as a result (an extra base or a run), then yeah whatever, I don't LIKE the booing at any time, but can accept it then. Just let up guys when their doing their job. If he makes an out on the basepaths, yeah the sucks. But booing every time he comes to the plate, you think that's going to help him hit?

As far as A-Rod is concerned, those fans are displaying a rather significant lack in intelligence. So A-Rod starts heating up to hit ungodly right now (as if 'mortal' A-Rod numbers were 'boo' worthy). If he walks out at the end of the year, it'll be because those booing morons made him dislike the town. By booing they may ending costing themselves the best player in the game. So if Jones heats up and suddenly becomes an All-Star (clearly the booing will make his performance better), why in the hell would he stay and play here? Really, really stupid.

by WittyUserName on Apr 11, 2007 11:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

EDIT

"Just let up guys when their doing their job."

Just let up on guys when their doing their job.

"If he makes an out on the basepaths, yeah the sucks"

If he makes an out on the basepaths, yeah that sucks

I just really hate misspelling things and such. By the way, how do you edit posts?

by WittyUserName on Apr 11, 2007 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

"whoa" is the correct spelling

i have never seen it any other way. if you have evidence showing otherwise, please present it.

by buckmulligan on Apr 11, 2007 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Woah vs. Whoa

whoa:
1623, a cry to call attention from a distance, a variant of who. As a command to stop a horse, it is attested from 1843, a variant of ho. As an expression of delight or surprise (1980s) it has gradually superseded wow, which was very popular 1960s.

WHOA:
Working to Halt Online Abuse
Women Halting Online Abuse
Woodin-Stick Horses of America, Inc.
Worldwide Hayabusa Owners Association
Women Horseshoers Of America
Wagner High Online Alumni
Walking Horse Owners Association
Wild Horses of Abaco
Wyoming Homestay and Outdoor Adventures
Wisconsin Hockey Officials Association
Wellstone House of Activism

courtesy of: dictionary.com

Apparently 'whoa' is the correctly spelling of 'whoa'. While 'WOAH' is merely an acronym for a rather surprisingly large number of organizations. I was wrong and apologize. I have some previous writings that I need to amend.

by WittyUserName on Apr 11, 2007 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

whoa

no need to apologize from the people who thought I spelled it incorrectly. It is enough to know that you are the type of people who attempt to correct grammer in an arguement.

by Fsemi2323 on Apr 11, 2007 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

"grammar"

by buckmulligan on Apr 11, 2007 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

cute

by Fsemi2323 on Apr 11, 2007 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

bm for post of the year

One of Us!One Of Us!

by HerrProf on Apr 11, 2007 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

I clearly meant "Wyoming Homestay and Outdoor Adventures." Doesn't it make more sense now?

by Rev Gunia on Apr 12, 2007 7:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

First of all

there's no evidence it "motivated" A-Rod. Alex Rodriguez is one of the ten greatest ballplayers to ever take the field. He's probably got a very good chance of breaking Aaron/Bonds' HR record by the time he retires. The evidence that his coming out of a bad postseason by simply playing up to his ability was motivated by the booing is, I believe, very weak.

Secondly, A-Rod and Jacque Jones are two completely different personalities. Rodriguez and Jones handle criticism from the fans completely differently. Rodriguez has been a golden boy from the time he was 13. Jones has been told all his life that he wasn't good enough to play. They take criticism differently.

To take the workplace example one step further, it might motivate the loud, brash ex-football player to do better by the boss giving him a tongue lashing in his office. It would be extremely counterproductive for the same boss to give the same speech to the shy single woman who works in the corner and never talks to anybody. Jones is a lot more of the second person than the first.

"The only place the Cubs get booed is Wrigley Field"--Brewer announcer Bill Schroeder

by Josh77 on Apr 11, 2007 5:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wyoming Homestay and Outdoor Adventures

If you had no desire to improve your performance at work--no desire to grow, improve, explore, succeed--I imagine you wouldn't be working there long. People would be promoted ahead of you and/or you'd get demotions. You would actually become less productive as you grow apathetic toward your work and it would be evident in your peers outpacing you. If Jones is apathetic and has absolutely no desire to perform better, we don't need him. No team needs him. However, you'd have to make the case that Jones has no desire to improve.

If your boss had to point out unacceptable performance, I would hope that he does it in a respectful way. I would hope that he pulls you aside (outside the earshot of others), critiques your performance--not you as a person--explains why it's unacceptable, then gives you resources on how to do better. If he called you out in front of everybody, odds are he's not a boss you want to be working for. Even though a later poster correctly pointed out that we are not Jones' bosses (Lou is), we might do well to boo an inappropriate effort (lack of hustle) or unacceptable performance (spiking a ball, looking foolish at the plate), but it should be kept to the performance, not booing him meerly for appearing at the ballpark.

I would argue that Rodriguez excelled in spite of the booing fans, not because of it. A later writer is correct in saying that Yankees fans are burning bridges by booing Rodriguez and increasing the potential for sub-par play. Let's not do this with Jones.

by Rev Gunia on Apr 12, 2007 7:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

fsemi

this is one of the dumbest rationalizations I have ever read for stupid behavior by the clown class.

by cubswin on Apr 11, 2007 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sub-par play ?

He was the second most consistent hitter last year behind A-Ram. His salary is also very reasonable for his production. Just because he didn't start this season hitting .500 doesn't mean he is now sub-par after last season.

You can boo all you want but people booing Jones don't have a clue and are unknowledgable.

by rlpete on Apr 11, 2007 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jones 2006 Season

I am not in favor of booing Jones every time he sets foot on the field. He's giving the Cubs pretty much what you'd expect. I think much of the frustration is mis-directed, but Jim Hendry doesn't play right field, so he's much more difficult to boo. The main issue really isn't Jacque Jones effort or production. The issue is that there's no way a big-market team like the Cubs should be signing Jacque in the first place and running him out there every day.

As for the comment about Jones being the Cubs 2nd most consistent hitter last year, it's technically true. The caveat is that last year's team had 2 better offensive players (Lee and Barrett)get hurt. That's kind of like the kid who finishes 2nd in the school spelling bee because half the student body was out with the flu.

by MHef08 on Apr 11, 2007 5:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You hit the nail on the head

with that first paragraph. That is exactly right. From what I've seen the booing increased exponentially at Wrigley because it was the only way that a change was going to be made. Did the booing make Corey Patterson a better player? No. But it was the only way to get him out of that leadoff spot that he had absolutely no business being in, and especially for as long as it went on. Did booing LaTroy help him? No. Was it because he didn't care? I doubt it. Again, it was the only way that the manager/fron office would do something about it. If it weren't for the booing who knows how much longer we would have had to endure Corey leading off or LaTroy closing. The animosity against Jones started way before he played his first game as Cub. With the club needing a very good outfielder (with some much needed patience at the plate) they went and got an average guy who certainly did not fit the expectations of the fans in terms of RF production (not the expectations of what he could do given his past). So, the way I see it, the booing that you hear while it may be directed at certain players has probably much more to do with management in general than the player itself. It's definitely not a perfect solution, but what's the alternative? Going through another 162 with Corey leadoff or having Jones as out RF for the next decade?

Luis

by Luis on Apr 11, 2007 6:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It really is hard to respond

to a post so filled with silly statements. You are right drunk fools in the bleachers are so much smarter than all the people paid to do the jobs. You seem to think YOU have something to do with anything decision made.
Forget it, it is silly responding to your foolishness.

by cubswin on Apr 11, 2007 6:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jones 2006 season...

I'm not going to quota any facts here...In fact I may be wrong....

I don't agree with the booing. If you don't like the product, don't buy it.
Jones by my recollecion was a frustrating consistent offensive porducer...it seemed like he had his 2 HR 4 RBI (big) games when the Cubs lost for example, 14-7 and in games the Cubs lost 4-3 or 5-4 he was hitting into double plays, striking out and generally leaving runners on base at critical times that could have made a difference.

by kcjones on Apr 12, 2007 12:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

A Fellow Iowan!

I, too, hail from IC. Do you have a favorite Cubby watering hole where you watch the game? I used to congregate down at the Deadwood on occasion.

As for Jones, I'd probably cut him quite a bit more slack if he didn't constantly work the count to 0-2 on every single at-bat. And yes, this wouldn't be as much of a problem if he wasn't hitting in the 2nd spot. However, this in no way gives drunken morons in right field bleachers the right to hassle the guy while he's trying to work. That's just stupid.

Muskat!!!!!

by jasoniniowa on Apr 11, 2007 10:49 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

My basement

Is now my favorite watering hole. I'm ten plus years out of college now. The tv upstairs belongs to my daughters.
Part of my frustration is the stupidity of the clowns out there. Jones made a nice hustle play to run in and cover 2nd base and almost had the runner picked off yesterday (I still think they had him). On one play Jones ran over to the line chasing a ball that landed in the stands. Some guy behind me yelled sarcastically "You earned your money today", what is that? He hustled after the ball, and had no play on it. As I said, he is what he is as far as skills, but he deserves better treatment. I have no problem booing lazy, stupid play. But he appears to be hustling, and the numbers will come.

by Nibbles on Apr 11, 2007 12:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

My opinion

is that booing one of your own team is childish. JJ deserves much better from the fans of the team he works for.

Watching Zach Johnson beat Tiger Woods was a thing of beauty.

by sue369 on Apr 11, 2007 1:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i don't understand it...

because jones is a solid ballplayer. he's not d-lee quality, but he's at least average. i like the guy. he plays good defense, hits from the left side, and puts up some good offensive numbers.

things he could do to improve: limit his strikeouts, and get the ball into the infield as quickly as possible. he does have to throw people out, as long as he gets the ball in fast.

by buckmulligan on Apr 11, 2007 3:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs