In defense of Jacque Jones

by rlpete on Apr 16, 2007 11:47 AM CDT Comment 19 comments

I just don't understand the hatred. Hatred isn't too strong of a word either. He's a decent complementary player. He's not a star and he's paid comparable to his production. He should be batting 6th but sometimes with injuries, the lineup gets juggled. Let me post some reality from 2006:

RISP: .298
RISP w/ 2 outs: .277
Men on base: .314
Bases loaded: .385
Tie game: .297
Within 1 run: .307

Those were Jones' numbers in 2006. Pretty solid to me. Incidently, last season he hit best in the 6th spot with a .343 average.

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The problem with Jones is

That there are too many Jones' in the lineup. If this were an offense with an abundance of hitters who took walks Jones would be a complementary part of it. As it is, he is not complementary because he is another Cubs hitter who has no patience at the plate.

Luis

by Luis on Apr 16, 2007 11:56 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah, i don't mind jones

but he can't be hitting third. i would not trade him. i like him better than floyd. floyd's nice to have on the bench, but he can't be our starting left fielder. he can't run at all and is sure to injured.

I don't care about a world series, just be competitive thru September.

by buckmulligan on Apr 16, 2007 11:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It is strange.

At the start of last year a lot of people were outraged at how much he was being paid, but after this last offseason he is now seen as a bargain. It's too bad that the bad start he got off to last year turned into the popular notion that he's worthy of being booed for everything he does. Also, from what I have heard and read, he sounds like a really kind and friendly person. Perhaps he's a little too sensitive for the crowds at Wrigley, but I'd rather have someone like that than the typical egomaniacal professional athlete.

by Zachary on Apr 16, 2007 11:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Jones

Those stats from last year are impressive enough. I think he's in the hot seat with Piniella, however, after getting not a single RBI through the first two weeks of the season.

"Hello again, everybody. Harry Caray from Wrigley Field on a beautiful day for baseball."

by danimal15 on Apr 16, 2007 12:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

And I agree he should be

Piniella should be on Jones and the team for the early play. I just don't understand the comments regarding Jones as the worst RF ever, the worst Hendry signing, etc., etc. He had a pretty decent year last season. Hopefully, he'll get it turned around here quickly.

by rlpete on Apr 16, 2007 12:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Note that...

... through yesterday, in 45 PA Jones has walked four times and struck out four times.

This is a significant improvement over last year. Yes, he has only 1 XBH and no RBI. But those will come.

If he can keep up the BB/K ratio he'll be a much improved player.

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

by Al on Apr 16, 2007 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is a required field

The Cubs offense has two problems right now.

On Base Percentage. Everyone knows this. While we hope, over the course of the season, that Perry and Lou will help rectify this, it remains to be seen. Guys like Jones, as someone stated, are good compliments to a solid lineup. He's a great 6 hitter, and a passable 5 hitter. But with Soriano being the Sesame Street representative for the letter 'K' at the top of order, followed by Jones in the top third, nobody seems to ever be on base for 3-4-5. Jones isn't himself the OBP problem, but he is in no way part of the solution.
A whole lot of righties. I've seen, mostly on the Cubs message board, 'dream' lineups of all right handed hitters. I haven't bothered to post back to them how terrible that would be. THIS problem falls on the shoulders of Hendry. Simply that all of our good hitters are right handed. This really forces Piniella to play Jones, and now Floyd, almost every day, just to provide some balance. I believe balance is really important.

Jones would be fine under normal circumstances, if he could play LF and hit 6th. But as a lefty in a defensively inferior OF, he is forced to play RF and hit in the top half to provide some balance. I really like the idea of Jones being a 4th OF. He'd be one of the best in the game. Can play all 3 OF if needed, and has power from the left side. And he is pretty speedy to boot.

What I wouldn't give for Murton to be a left handed right fielder. Or for Lee to be a lefty, that'd be pretty good for this team too. Ah well.

by WittyUserName on Apr 16, 2007 12:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

yes, gotta have some lefties

and cliff is too slow and too fragile to play eveyday. slot jones in the 6 hole everyday.

I don't care about a world series, just be competitive thru September.

by buckmulligan on Apr 16, 2007 5:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Lineup

The problem is the lineup options available to Lou Piniella. He's right when he says the lineup needs left-handed hitting, hence why Floyd and Jones are playing. Jones has gotten off to a poor start, but he is a vitally needed commodity on this roster. Hence why Hendry didn't try super-duper hard to trade him. If the Cubs really wanted Jones gone, then he'd be gone. His contract is reasonable and should be little hindrance in trying to move a player of his talents.

"The Chicago Cubs - where managers come to have their careers die"

by BlueMike on Apr 16, 2007 1:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Ah come on...Jones is not ready for WF prime time

Jones is what he is, a stop gap who is a below average OF'er (because of his errant arm), average batter against RHP'ing and below average in baseball intelligence. His AB on Sunday showed me he is pressing. His approach has always been using his natural talent and not applying his natural talent.

As I look at the lineup it is all screwed up:

Theriot is the leadoff hitter of choice and should be playing SS everyday.

Pie should be playing RF now and batting 2nd, against tough LHP'er play DeRosa in RF.

Soriano should be batting 3rd, I guess he is okay in CF for now.

Lee should be hitting clean up

Floyd playing LF most of the time and bats 5th to give Cubs lineup balance.

Ramirez at 3rd batting 6th gives the Cubs one of the best 3-6 power hitters in the game.

DeRosa at 2nd base except against LHP'ers where Cedeno plays 2nd and bats 8th

Barrett/Blanco catching and batting 8th

My guess is that Cubs trade Jones to KC, WASH, TB or SF and also find a home for Izturis. Bring up Pie and E Patterson and make DeRosa the utility player and begin grooming E-Patterson for a platoon at 2nd.

Best Harry moment: 'Hey there's Marla without her shorts on!'

by Ivy Walls on Apr 16, 2007 1:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Some yes and some no

Obviously isn't here so hitting 2nd isn't an option. However, he appears to have cleared up his biggest problem, BB/K ratio. When he does get here, you just don't slot a rookie in the #2 hole. Let him adjust at #7 and when he's ready, we'll know.

I bat Lee and Ramirez 3-4. No way I throw my best RBI guy #6. The point of LH-RH hitters is a solid concept because most hitters have a strong bias one way or the other. However, that's not the case with Lee and Aram. Ramirez actually has hit for a slightly better average against RH than LH and Lee is only slightly biased towards RH.

As for EPat, he isn't ready yet. Remember that Hendry has the sword of Damocles hanging over his head with new ownership looming. If he begins importing a number of new players in to replace his recent signings, he'll be admitting failure. It ain't gonna happen.

Players win awards but teams win championships.

by tharr on Apr 16, 2007 3:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

nah

i'd keep lee 3, rami 4. let soriano bat after the lefty.

I don't care about a world series, just be competitive thru September.

by buckmulligan on Apr 16, 2007 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That whole post makes little sense...

Theriot should get a nice chunk of leadoff opportunities, but let's not hand him the leadoff spot (and SS) quite yet. He's played in, what, 6 games? Far too impressionable, we Cubs fans are...

We've got an abundance of outfielders. Let's not get too lured in by Pie's start, and give it some time. Yes, his defense would help, and it looks like his hitting is progressing nicely, but I think we have more to lose by bringing him up too soon, then letting him get another 200 ABs in the minors.

If, like you said, Pie was brought up, then Soriano shouldn't be in center, he should be in right/left. As for hitting position...i think we're somewhat stuck with him leading off. No comment.

If Floyd plays LF all the time, then both Jones and Murton don't play. Hmm...that makes little sense.

Ramirez in the 6th hole is the most ridiculous suggestion in the post. He's always batted for a decent average (and is over .400 now) and is the top RBI man. Do you see Pujols in the 6th spot?

So what, cut Izturis? Not many trading partners at this point. Same with Jones.

I think Barrett's bat should be higher than 8th, but that's debatable.

As for the Patterson suggestion...not so much.

MARQUIS! YES, MARQUIS!

by thekansasian on Apr 16, 2007 7:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Soriano hits anywhere

besides leadoff, he should be no higher than 4th or preferably 5th. He just strikes out too much to be in the top third of the lineup. He will whiff 60 more times than DLee and nearly 100 more times than Ramirez. Soriano is struggling to get on base now because he's striking out on 22% of his PA's (granted, that should improve). That won't look any better with runners on base if he's batting third. I personally don't think Soriano's best attributes are applied by leading off and would be thrilled if he moved to 5th.

This lineup is short on lefties, but if neither Floyd nor Jones is hitting in the top 5, then one of them will have to hit eighth (not gonna happen). You don't want your only 2 lefties to hit consecutively, so a righty needs to be in the seven hole.

At the end of the day, if the roster is not very well balanced then you march your best 8 (right or left handed) batters out there with the occasional sub, i.e. Jones vs. LHP.

"Baseball is like Church. Many Attend; Few Understand." - Leo Durocher

by JD McCubbie on Apr 16, 2007 2:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Which begs the question

Why did the Cubs shell out over $100 mln for a guy who strikes out so much he can't be batting in the top-third of the lineup!

"Hello again, everybody. Harry Caray from Wrigley Field on a beautiful day for baseball."

by danimal15 on Apr 16, 2007 2:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

96 losses

n/t

Players win awards but teams win championships.

by tharr on Apr 16, 2007 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Has anyone else

noticed the irony in the word Defense in the same sentance as Jones. The man still can not throw. And I am starting to wonder if he knows where to throw the ball once he gets it.

"Billy was put here for....to teach us to treat each other better"

by wild bill on Apr 16, 2007 3:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I can think of one throw...

this year that was shitty. I assume you're exaggerating...but I haven't seen every game.

MARQUIS! YES, MARQUIS!

by thekansasian on Apr 16, 2007 6:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jones now in CF/OF defense and offense

A terrible at-bat yesterday in key moment he has to do better or will be gone. Pinella sent that signal pretty strongly.

If Sori injury serious (went out of game in top of 5th) JJ will get his shot now in center, it appears, at least short term.

Why did Lou switch Jones and Murton LF and RF to start the game?? I just don't get it...is the theory that a righthanded thrower (Murton) has better angle with glove in RF?? But Murton doesn't have a good arm, altho maybe better than JJ....none of it makes any sense but the bigger problem has been lack of production/power from OF...how many homers so far? Projected to get 40 from CF, 25-30 from right and another 20-30 from the LF platoon...that's 85 or around there...so far they've got what, 1 from JJ maybe?

Floyd looks like a hitter just drove one in so I'm not giving up, but the main reason Cubs off to that lousy start is lack of OF production. The problem has been a recurring one since '04 and Cubs can't win without solving it or having the players they've got deliver the goods.

by writerinwrigley on Apr 16, 2007 8:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs