Why do you think Neifi doesn't get the Jock/CPatt Treatment?

[badger1679666666]

He sucks more than both of them combined, but doesn't get treated poorly at Wrigley. Why do you think this is?

[sethuel1]

He sucks more than both of them combined, but doesn't get treated poorly at Wrigley. Why do you think this is?

He saved us, dude.

 

Honestly, I think it's probably because he doesn't strike out or pop up that much. I think the average baseball fan at Wrigley can identify that striking out means you're doing bad, and hitting an infield popup means you're doing bad, but it a guy hits 4 grounders to the second baseman in a game, I don't think the average fan would note that as particularly bad. I think they'd simply think that he didn't find a hole.

 

unfortunately, since neifi swings at everything, he's constantly hitting weak grounders that probably won't find holes, and as such, is bad. But the average fan does not notice that.

Edited April 25, 2006 by sethuel1

[ChiCubsFan]

He sucks more than both of them combined, but doesn't get treated poorly at Wrigley. Why do you think this is?

 

Because the "common fan" hears Dusty Baker and company praise him for saving the team last year and therefore think he's good. They also see last year he hit .274, which they think isn't too bad for a backup, because they have no knowledge of OBP, SLG, or OPS and other stats that also show the true production of a hitter besdies batting average. Thats my guess, at least. I know I boo when Neifi plays and sucks when I'm at the game.

[A New Era]

We expect him to be bad, he has no potential to be better. But honestly we should probably start booing Neifi every time he gets up (even if he is on fire) and not boo Jones. Maybe we can send a messege to the idoits who signed and play him too much. .

[rocket]

Fans probably think Neifi hustles and has a great attitude. So it's ok if he sucks, he's a gamer!

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Strikeouts, it's the only reason.

 

EDIT: I shouldn't say only, but it's the biggest reason by quite a bit.

Edited April 25, 2006 by Transmogrified Tiger

[snoodmonger]

no expectations.

 

Corey had a ton of them, and rightly so given his tools.

 

Jacque's history doesn't warrant expectations, but he was one of our main acquisitions, signed a long deal, and plays a corner outfield spot, so many fans see him as a big bat.

 

I often wonder why Burnitz never got the same treatment. he certainly sucked last year.

[RynoRules]

no expectations.

 

Corey had a ton of them, and rightly so given his tools.

 

Jacque's history doesn't warrant expectations, but he was one of our main acquisitions, signed a long deal, and plays a corner outfield spot, so many fans see him as a big bat.

 

I often wonder why Burnitz never got the same treatment. he certainly sucked last year.

 

Bingo.

 

It has nothing to do w/ Ks or "he saved us last year" (and boy, is that getting old around here). People resent starters with multi-year deals for big(ger) money who are hitting below the Mendoza-line.

 

And Burnitz wasn't as bad last year as Jones has been this year. Plus we have one more year of frustration.

[A New Era]

Strikeouts, it's the only reason.

 

You're onto something here. Maybe some of the more simple minded fans see him get alot of hits. Sure they are hit into play, they think, so atleast he is trying and making contact. But what they DON'T see are the statistics. Sub .300 AVG, and OBP.

 

However it's easy for even a simple minded fan to see a strikeout. And Jones has been struggling with alot of those. I notice they don't boo as much even if he gets thrown out at 1B. I'd also like to add Jones leashing out at the fans in the papers isn't going to help is cause. . He said he's here to play as hard as he can and do his job. Maybe he should stick to that, improve his game, and the booing will stop. .

[goonys evil twin]

no expectations.

 

Corey had a ton of them, and rightly so given his tools.

 

Jacque's history doesn't warrant expectations, but he was one of our main acquisitions, signed a long deal, and plays a corner outfield spot, so many fans see him as a big bat.

 

I often wonder why Burnitz never got the same treatment. he certainly sucked last year.

 

Bingo.

 

It has nothing to do w/ Ks or "he saved us last year" (and boy, is that getting old around here). People resent starters with multi-year deals for big(ger) money who are hitting below the Mendoza-line.

 

And Burnitz wasn't as bad last year as Jones has been this year. Plus we have one more year of frustration.

 

I think K's play a huge role, as well as the constant praise he gets from not only Dusty, but the radio people as well (Santo especially loves him). And lowered expectations always play a part. Plus, many fans just don't realize how bad he is.

[ltb]

somewhat related - does anyone else think neifi has one of the ugliest swings in baseball? everytime he takes a cut, i want to vomit.

[frostwyrm]

Strikeouts, it's the only reason.

I totally agree. Strikeouts are major negative style points, which is all that concerns most fans. Ground out, meh. NSBB is an exception, but on most message boards you rountinely read "doesn't strikeout a lot" as a defense for crappy players.

[Neuby]

I think the fact that Nefi is a bench player plays a huge role in him not getting booed. Corey got a lot of boo's not just because he looked like he was swinging the bat with a blindfold on and the expectations that where cast on him but also his lackluster attitude.

[WindyCity]

Neifi may still has bonus points accumulated for that Grand Slam he hit in St. Louis last year.....

 

:lol:

[Andy]

somewhat related - does anyone else think neifi has one of the ugliest swings in baseball? everytime he takes a cut, i want to vomit.

Definitely agree with this. He has the ugliest swing by far of any Cub of the last six years (since I started regularly watching).

[soccer10k]

I agree with the no strikeouts thing. But, and I think somebody might have used the word already, Neifi is a backup. Last year he started but he was supposed to be a backup. So it's like somebody filling in. Jacque and Patterson were starters. I personally tend to hold the starters to higher expectations than I do backups.

[Blueheart05]

somewhat related - does anyone else think neifi has one of the ugliest swings in baseball? everytime he takes a cut, i want to vomit.

 

 

Neifi's is bad but, the Sox's Juan Uribe has to have the worst swing in baseball.

[MPrior]

somewhat related - does anyone else think neifi has one of the ugliest swings in baseball? everytime he takes a cut, i want to vomit.

 

 

Neifi's is bad but, the Sox's Juan Uribe has to have the worst swing in baseball.

 

He said "one of." He and Uribe can both have among the worst swings in baseball if they want to. And it really does look like Neifi is trying to pound the ball into the ground when he swings. Some people complain about uppercut swings - that's nothing on Neifi's fourty-five-degrees-downwards swing.

 

Oh, and I'm with the expectations crowd. I think people are less POd at Neifi primarily because he's not meant to be a regular in the lineup, he's not batting in the middle of our order, and he's not a corner outfielder. I'm sure the strikeouts have something to do with it, plus the fact that he usually hits for about a .275 average, which doesn't look as bad as he truly is.

[Blueheart05]

somewhat related - does anyone else think neifi has one of the ugliest swings in baseball? everytime he takes a cut, i want to vomit.

 

 

Neifi's is bad but, the Sox's Juan Uribe has to have the worst swing in baseball.

 

He said "one of." He and Uribe can both have among the worst swings in baseball if they want to. And it really does look like Neifi is trying to pound the ball into the ground when he swings. Some people complain about uppercut swings - that's nothing on Neifi's fourty-five-degrees-downwards swing.

 

Oh, and I'm with the expectations crowd. I think people are less POd at Neifi primarily because he's not meant to be a regular in the lineup, he's not batting in the middle of our order, and he's not a corner outfielder. I'm sure the strikeouts have something to do with it, plus the fact that he usually hits for about a .275 average, which doesn't look as bad as he truly is.

 

That's fine. I'm sure he doesn't need you to defend him. I was making a statement about Uribe while also agreeing that Neifi's is bad.

[UMFan83]

Neifi isn't signed for 3 years to play an important offensive position. Instead he is signed to be a defensive backup at a defense heavy position. Although it doesn't always work out this way.

 

That's my best guess.

[TXCubsFan]

I think the fact that Nefi is a bench player plays a huge role in him not getting booed. Corey got a lot of boo's not just because he looked like he was swinging the bat with a blindfold on and the expectations that where cast on him but also his lackluster attitude.

 

Agreed. Most anger at Neifi! has been a result of Dusty's misplacement of him in the batting order, not his performance.

[SeldomSeen]

Neifi sucks, he's always sucked, and he'll continue to suck. Everyone knows this, so why boo? He's signed to be a backup. Most people were disappointed with Jones before he ever played a game, but he's counted on to be a productive, middle of the order hitter. That's why people boo him.

 

I think this "common fan" stuff is rubbish. It is, after all, a game, not splitting the atom.

 

Also, Tony Bautista is in the ugliest swing conversation.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Different paychecks call for different expectations. Neifi is a bench player. Jones is our everyday RF who just signed a 15M/3 FA contract.

 

Neifi has a spot b/c of his D. Everyone knows not to expect much offensively. Jones has his spot b/c of his D and offense. His O has sucked horribly.

[CubsWin]

He sucks more than both of them combined, but doesn't get treated poorly at Wrigley. Why do you think this is?

It has a lot to do with the fact that he was signed as Nomar's reserve and then performed better than expected. He is a bench player so the expectations are much lower than someone like CPatt who was touted to be an all-star and showed flashes of brilliance and Jones who, in many people's minds still, is a replacement for Sammy Sosa (so they are wanting at least a certain amount of production out of him).

 

True, strikeouts are ugly and visible and will draw the ire of a lot of fans. But it is the lower expectations that are really at play here. CPatt and Jones were/are starters that Cubs fans are counting on to come through and help the team win games on a regular basis. When they go long stretches without producing, many Cubs fans see yet another season slipping away and, probably out of fear and frustration, start booing. But Neifi has none of those expectations because he is a fill in.

[CubfaninCA]

low expectations

 

jones makes $5 million per year and patterson was touted as a great prospect.

 

all the stuff about dusty, "he saved us," and strikeouts is rubbish.