Thoughts on Corey

[back2backjax]

Let me preface my comments by acknowledging that Corey has done nothing in 2004 and 2005 to show he's going to become the player the Cubs once thought he would. There are also questions about his attitude, etc.

 

But given the vengeance that a lot of us direct at Dusty and his staff - whether it's justified or not - should we be giving up on a kid who's only 25, a great defensive CF, has good speed and some pop in his bat for just a mid-to-low level prospect or two? If we're not convinced Dusty is a good coach, would it not make sense to hold onto Corey and see if the next staff can unlock his potential or at least give them a chance to do so?

 

Is it a coincidence that he was off to a great start in Dusty's first year and has gone downhill since? And with his value so low because it's become obvious the Cubs are eager to deal him, why not hold onto him for the first half of 2005 and see how he performs in spot duty in LF or as a pinch runner, and if things don't go well, package him at the break in another deal? I was actually a proponent of giving him the RF job, seeing how he does and then acquiring someone at the break if he's a carbon copy of his 2005 self. )Is Jacque really going to give us $2.5 million more than Corey this season?)

 

These are just some questions I have surrounding him and I hope someone can shed light on why it's so necessary to deal him right now.

[SteveSarley]

What does he bring to the table, except promise?

How long does promise last before it finally turns to disappointment?

This kid has three batting coaches in Baker, Clines and Matthews. He had a manager and batting coach in his AAA stint.

Is he able to change? Is he willing to change?

Do we just let him pick the spot he likes best in the batting order, stick him there and hope for the best?

He'll do us no good on the opening day roster.

I just hope we can get something decent for him.

I hope Hendry can use him in some type of multi-player transaction to try to hide how little we can get for him and save the organization some embarassment.

[Jehrico]

Let me preface my comments by acknowledging that Corey has done nothing in 2004 and 2005 to show he's going to become the player the Cubs once thought he would. There are also questions about his attitude, etc.

 

But given the vengeance that a lot of us direct at Dusty and his staff - whether it's justified or not - should we be giving up on a kid who's only 25, a great defensive CF, has good speed and some pop in his bat for just a mid-to-low level prospect or two? If we're not convinced Dusty is a good coach, would it not make sense to hold onto Corey and see if the next staff can unlock his potential or at least give them a chance to do so?

 

Is it a coincidence that he was off to a great start in Dusty's first year and has gone downhill since? And with his value so low because it's become obvious the Cubs are eager to deal him, why not hold onto him for the first half of 2005 and see how he performs in spot duty in LF or as a pinch runner, and if things don't go well, package him at the break in another deal? I was actually a proponent of giving him the RF job, seeing how he does and then acquiring someone at the break if he's a carbon copy of his 2005 self. )Is Jacque really going to give us $2.5 million more than Corey this season?)

 

These are just some questions I have surrounding him and I hope someone can shed light on why it's so necessary to deal him right now.

 

I don't think so. I think most people's beef with Dusty surrounds the following 3 main issues:

1) horrible in game management

2) abusing pitchers

3) preference to play subpar veterans while promising prospects lose development time riding the pine.

 

Corey is the exception to the rule in point #3, and the other two don't really impact his situation. Some people think Dusty undervalues the walk, but I don't attribute Corey's regression the last couple of years to that. Corey was better in '03, and has been in a downhill slide.

 

On the other hand, he's proven he can do better than he has and he's still only 25, so maybe a new coach could get through to him yet. Tough call, and good point.

[FergieJ31]

I've had similar thoughts about CPatt since all the talk about trading him for a bag of balls started last year.

 

In an ideal world CPatt would spend the year in Iowa (a $3M AAA player, yeah I know, dream on) and come back for the next regime, instead of trading him now for AA junk. The Cubs still really need someone to spell JJ who can mash lefties.

[SteveSarley]

Why is it always the manager and never the player.

Corey swings at pitches over his head? Dusty's fault!

Hollandsworth can't get a hit to save his life? Dusty's fault for playing him!

Give me a break!

[CubinNY]

Why is it always the manager and never the player.

Corey swings at pitches over his head? Dusty's fault!

Hollandsworth can't get a hit to save his life? Dusty's fault for playing him!

Give me a break!

 

I don't think Patterson's troubles are Dusty's fault, totally. But he is a guy who preaches agressiveness at the plate. He is a guy who tried to make Patterson a leadoff hitter becuase he is fast. He is the manager of the team and as such bears some responsibility.

 

IMO, Corey's problems are a symptom of the overall problems of the Cubs organizational philosphy (that stuff does matter). He's a kid with all the talent one could want and hasn't developed that talent. Whose fault? I'd lay most of the blame on the organization.

[goonys evil twin]

Why is it always the manager and never the player.

Corey swings at pitches over his head? Dusty's fault!

Hollandsworth can't get a hit to save his life? Dusty's fault for playing him!

Give me a break!

 

I think it's largely Corey's fault. But Dusty and the Cubs haven't helped at all due to their constant juggling of their expectations of Corey's role and their emphasis on the swing early swing often, walks are for wimps attitude.

 

 

As for Hollandsworth, everybody knew Todd wasn't a starter. Todd's been a role player his entire career, and whenever people thought he could start, he quickly proved them wrong over and over. But Dusty's ridiculous belief that players in their 30's are better than players in their 20's caused him to think Todd's decade long track record of not being able to handle full time duty should be ignored. I truly do believe that much of the LF failings were Dusty related, he went in saying Todd would get 140 starts, which guaranteed poor production, and took away Todd's biggest strength, which is as a part time guy.

[YearofDaCubs]

I will be the first in line to state that I can't stand Baker but I will not blame him for Corey's troubles. Corey had his own problems even before Baker came here and I can honestly say Baker and the coaching staff at least attempted to help him out. His lack of discipline and his uppercut swing probably have more to do with his failures over anything else. The organization also offered him to go to winter ball and he declined so was he giving all his effort to correct his problems? Who knows. It would have been nice to have him around as a backup OFer but nothing more unless he really figured it out which I doubt.

[TheDude]

Does this really need another thread?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Does this really need another thread?

 

It was actually started prior to the announcement of the trade.

[anemic offense]

Let me preface my comments by acknowledging that Corey has done nothing in 2004 and 2005 to show he's going to become the player the Cubs once thought he would. There are also questions about his attitude, etc.

 

But given the vengeance that a lot of us direct at Dusty and his staff - whether it's justified or not - should we be giving up on a kid who's only 25, a great defensive CF, has good speed and some pop in his bat for just a mid-to-low level prospect or two? If we're not convinced Dusty is a good coach, would it not make sense to hold onto Corey and see if the next staff can unlock his potential or at least give them a chance to do so?

 

Is it a coincidence that he was off to a great start in Dusty's first year and has gone downhill since? And with his value so low because it's become obvious the Cubs are eager to deal him, why not hold onto him for the first half of 2005 and see how he performs in spot duty in LF or as a pinch runner, and if things don't go well, package him at the break in another deal? I was actually a proponent of giving him the RF job, seeing how he does and then acquiring someone at the break if he's a carbon copy of his 2005 self. )Is Jacque really going to give us $2.5 million more than Corey this season?)

 

These are just some questions I have surrounding him and I hope someone can shed light on why it's so necessary to deal him right now.

 

Cause he's an idiot. I know some people will try to come to Corey's defense, but he has PROVEN to be completely clueless. He's been in the league 4 years yet still runs the bases like a third grader (not knowing when/how to steal, poor bunting, getting picked off base, etc.). At the plate, he is equally inept. He has ZERO strike zone judgement and swings as though he's one of the the game's elite power hitters. But it gets worse. Not only is Corey not very good, he consistently refuses to acknowledge the fact he needs to improve. His arrogance is nauseating. Simply put, Corey is substandard in most every facet of the game, despite his immense talent. It's time for the Cubs and Corey to move on. He can stink it up somewhere else.