Help Jacque

[Monco]

Its not even May and hes getting booed.Hes been struggling at the plate for various reasons.We all know he can't hit lefties.So Dusty starts him 3 straight games against lefties at home.What a great way to bury a guy.Then today when the Marlins go to their right handed bullpen he gets double switched. I hear Dusty plays all 25.If you can't play Bynum or Restovich in 2 of these games,get rid of them.

[sunnydoo]

Bynum is also left handed.

 

I was surprised that Restovich was not starting out in right today. However, Dusty has a history of letting guys hit out of their slumps, which also is one of the reasons ARam hasnt had a day off in a while.

 

The other thing is that tomorrow is an off day and going 2 days without hitting may not be the best thing either.

[Laura]

Dusty said he wanted to give Jones a chance to face lefties instead of platooning him.

 

Jones entered Tuesday's game batting 0-for-5 against left-handed pitchers. Baker said he considered sitting the outfielder against the Marlins southpaw starters.

 

"I thought about it, but that's why I moved him down in the order and tried to cover him with a right-hander behind him and a right-hander in front of him," Baker said. "Before you sit a guy against lefties, he has to fail in front of your eyes first, not in front of other people's eyes or where he came from. If that's the case, there's no such things as a fresh start.

 

"Maybe we can give him a philosophy on how to hit lefties," Baker said of Jones, a career .227 hitter against left-handers. "That's our job, to try to help him. Before you say, 'Hey, man, you can't do this or that,' you've got to give a guy a chance."

 

In Spring Training, Baker had Jones face every left-hander possible. The Cubs also are still hunting for a left-handed batting practice pitcher.

 

"If you don't see them, you're not going to learn how to hit them," Baker said.

[badger1679666666]

Dusty said he wanted to give Jones a chance to face lefties instead of platooning him.

 

Jones entered Tuesday's game batting 0-for-5 against left-handed pitchers. Baker said he considered sitting the outfielder against the Marlins southpaw starters.

 

"I thought about it, but that's why I moved him down in the order and tried to cover him with a right-hander behind him and a right-hander in front of him," Baker said. "Before you sit a guy against lefties, he has to fail in front of your eyes first, not in front of other people's eyes or where he came from. If that's the case, there's no such things as a fresh start.

 

"Maybe we can give him a philosophy on how to hit lefties," Baker said of Jones, a career .227 hitter against left-handers. "That's our job, to try to help him. Before you say, 'Hey, man, you can't do this or that,' you've got to give a guy a chance."

 

In Spring Training, Baker had Jones face every left-hander possible. The Cubs also are still hunting for a left-handed batting practice pitcher.

 

"If you don't see them, you're not going to learn how to hit them," Baker said.

 

If it's just these three for now, I don't mind so much. He wanted to see what he could do, as long as Jones doesn't face lefty's from here on out, I'll be fine with it.

[Monco]

hes 31 not 21. He has faced a few through the years.Facing Dontrelle Tuesday? He can't hit bad lefties let alone a great one.Starting all 3 games is excessive for a player who is struggling,has been playing everyday,and can't hit lefties.

[Monco]

Dusty said he wanted to give Jones a chance to face lefties instead of platooning him.

 

Jones entered Tuesday's game batting 0-for-5 against left-handed pitchers. Baker said he considered sitting the outfielder against the Marlins southpaw starters.

 

"I thought about it, but that's why I moved him down in the order and tried to cover him with a right-hander behind him and a right-hander in front of him," Baker said. "Before you sit a guy against lefties, he has to fail in front of your eyes first, not in front of other people's eyes or where he came from. If that's the case, there's no such things as a fresh start.

 

"Maybe we can give him a philosophy on how to hit lefties," Baker said of Jones, a career .227 hitter against left-handers. "That's our job, to try to help him. Before you say, 'Hey, man, you can't do this or that,' you've got to give a guy a chance."

 

In Spring Training, Baker had Jones face every left-hander possible. The Cubs also are still hunting for a left-handed batting practice pitcher.

 

"If you don't see them, you're not going to learn how to hit them," Baker said.

 

If it's just these three for now, I don't mind so much. He wanted to see what he could do, as long as Jones doesn't face lefty's from here on out, I'll be fine with it.

 

Covering him with 2 righties.Just in case they tried to pitch around him.A .227 lifetime whos slumping . LOL

[frostwyrm]

Dusty said he wanted to give Jones a chance to face lefties instead of platooning him.

 

Jones entered Tuesday's game batting 0-for-5 against left-handed pitchers. Baker said he considered sitting the outfielder against the Marlins southpaw starters.

 

"I thought about it, but that's why I moved him down in the order and tried to cover him with a right-hander behind him and a right-hander in front of him," Baker said. "Before you sit a guy against lefties, he has to fail in front of your eyes first, not in front of other people's eyes or where he came from. If that's the case, there's no such things as a fresh start.

 

"Maybe we can give him a philosophy on how to hit lefties," Baker said of Jones, a career .227 hitter against left-handers. "That's our job, to try to help him. Before you say, 'Hey, man, you can't do this or that,' you've got to give a guy a chance."

 

In Spring Training, Baker had Jones face every left-hander possible. The Cubs also are still hunting for a left-handed batting practice pitcher.

 

"If you don't see them, you're not going to learn how to hit them," Baker said.

 

Jeez, Dusty. Dude's been in the bigs for 7 seasons, including 6 as a fulltime starter, and he's shown zero improvement vs. lefties, and he's 31 now. At what point do you acknowledge the man's limitations?

[snoodmonger]

That's probably Dusty's worst idea of '06.

[erik316wttn]

Dusty said he wanted to give Jones a chance to face lefties instead of platooning him.

 

Jones entered Tuesday's game batting 0-for-5 against left-handed pitchers. Baker said he considered sitting the outfielder against the Marlins southpaw starters.

 

"I thought about it, but that's why I moved him down in the order and tried to cover him with a right-hander behind him and a right-hander in front of him," Baker said. "Before you sit a guy against lefties, he has to fail in front of your eyes first, not in front of other people's eyes or where he came from. If that's the case, there's no such things as a fresh start.

 

"Maybe we can give him a philosophy on how to hit lefties," Baker said of Jones, a career .227 hitter against left-handers. "That's our job, to try to help him. Before you say, 'Hey, man, you can't do this or that,' you've got to give a guy a chance."

 

In Spring Training, Baker had Jones face every left-hander possible. The Cubs also are still hunting for a left-handed batting practice pitcher.

 

"If you don't see them, you're not going to learn how to hit them," Baker said.

 

Total and complete bullcrap. Where was this philosophy other times, when hitters (Dubois, Walker) were platooned ad nauseum?

[Andy]

I personally find it amazing that Dusty has decided that Jacque sucking against lefties just didn't happen unless he sees it with his own eyes first. He's like the Joe Morgan of managers.

[KatJ]

Jeez, Dusty. Dude's been in the bigs for 7 seasons, including 6 as a fulltime starter, and he's shown zero improvement vs. lefties, and he's 31 now. At what point do you acknowledge the man's limitations?

 

Could you throw that argument Jim Hendry's way also? I still don't understand that signing. Not that I'd want Burnitz out there again, but his fielding wasn't THAT bad, and he wasn't so abysmal at the plate.

Edited April 27, 2006 by KatJ

[erik316wttn]

Jeez, Dusty. Dude's been in the bigs for 7 seasons, including 6 as a fulltime starter, and he's shown zero improvement vs. lefties, and he's 31 now. At what point do you acknowledge the man's limitations?

 

Could you throw that argument Jim Hendry's way also? I still don't understand that signing. Burnitz' fielding wasn't THAT bad.

 

I was never the biggest Burnitz fan, but I'd take him any day over Jacques.

[badger1679666666]

Dusty said he wanted to give Jones a chance to face lefties instead of platooning him.

 

Jones entered Tuesday's game batting 0-for-5 against left-handed pitchers. Baker said he considered sitting the outfielder against the Marlins southpaw starters.

 

"I thought about it, but that's why I moved him down in the order and tried to cover him with a right-hander behind him and a right-hander in front of him," Baker said. "Before you sit a guy against lefties, he has to fail in front of your eyes first, not in front of other people's eyes or where he came from. If that's the case, there's no such things as a fresh start.

 

"Maybe we can give him a philosophy on how to hit lefties," Baker said of Jones, a career .227 hitter against left-handers. "That's our job, to try to help him. Before you say, 'Hey, man, you can't do this or that,' you've got to give a guy a chance."

 

In Spring Training, Baker had Jones face every left-hander possible. The Cubs also are still hunting for a left-handed batting practice pitcher.

 

"If you don't see them, you're not going to learn how to hit them," Baker said.

 

If it's just these three for now, I don't mind so much. He wanted to see what he could do, as long as Jones doesn't face lefty's from here on out, I'll be fine with it.

 

Covering him with 2 righties.Just in case they tried to pitch around him.A .227 lifetime whos slumping . LOL

 

You're right, I take back what I said.

[mul21]

not that this has anything to do with jones hitting lefties, but he did win the game yesterday. Just letting him sit when the other options are completly unknown commodities or have so far not been good is a 50/50 chance of hit or miss. I guess I'm willing to take a chance on Jones because he has come up with big hits in key situations several times already this year. Not that he's exempt from criticism or the bench, but I think it's a bit early to crucify the guy. Anybody have any idea if he is a slow starter as a rule?

[sunnydoo]

Anybody have any idea if he is a slow starter as a rule?

 

Lifetime .299/.350 in April.

PreAll Star .275/.321

 

My whole thing is that he should be given time to make an adjustment. Switching leagues isnt so easy (ask Mr Renteria). But we have a whole list of people who want to crucify him. I thought we were better than Red Sox fans, but was apparently wrong.

 

I just hope he turns it around soon before it gets into his head.

[Mizzou]

My whole thing is that he should be given time to make an adjustment. Switching leagues isnt so easy (ask Mr Renteria). But we have a whole list of people who want to crucify him. I thought we were better than Red Sox fans, but was apparently wrong.

 

I just hope he turns it around soon before it gets into his head.

He was getting booed on Opening weekend at Wrigley - that's freaking ridiculous. But his comments to the media about the fans and comparing them to Twins fans were equally as ridiculous.

[Shilzzz]

My whole thing is that he should be given time to make an adjustment. Switching leagues isnt so easy (ask Mr Renteria). But we have a whole list of people who want to crucify him. I thought we were better than Red Sox fans, but was apparently wrong.

 

I just hope he turns it around soon before it gets into his head.

He was getting booed on Opening weekend at Wrigley - that's freaking ridiculous. But his comments to the media about the fans and comparing them to Twins fans were equally as ridiculous.

 

what did he say?

[Balsa]

I personally find it amazing that Dusty has decided that Jacque sucking against lefties just didn't happen unless he sees it with his own eyes first. He's like the Joe Morgan of managers.

 

So let's see. He gives Jones a chance to see lefties to see if he can break years of lefty hitting crapage, but then when Murton and Cedeno comes up he takes them out against left handed hitters?

 

Where's the sense in that?

[soapy]

Anybody have any idea if he is a slow starter as a rule?

 

Lifetime .299/.350 in April.

PreAll Star .275/.321

 

My whole thing is that he should be given time to make an adjustment. Switching leagues isnt so easy (ask Mr Renteria). But we have a whole list of people who want to crucify him. I thought we were better than Red Sox fans, but was apparently wrong.

 

I just hope he turns it around soon before it gets into his head.

 

But he wasn't productive in the AL either. It's not like he was great last year (and previously) and this is something new. He's just not that productive. Granted, he's in a pretty bad slump, even by his standards, but I wouldn't expect a whole lot more then you're currently getting.

[Backtobanks]

Has anyone noticed that Jones' first move at the plate is to bring the bat back while the pitch is on the way? I guess it's too late to change, but it's amazing he hits anything against major league pitching with that hitch in his swing.

[Jehrico]

You wanna help Jacque Jones?

 

 

Break out the chloroform against lefties...

[jjgman21]

Has anyone noticed that Jones' first move at the plate is to bring the bat back while the pitch is on the way? I guess it's too late to change, but it's amazing he hits anything against major league pitching with that hitch in his swing.

 

I've been wondering the same thing about another frenchman, Adam LaRoche of the Braves. how does he get around on anything with that big forward bat waggle when the pitch is on it's way?

[frostwyrm]

I personally find it amazing that Dusty has decided that Jacque sucking against lefties just didn't happen unless he sees it with his own eyes first. He's like the Joe Morgan of managers.

It's funny Dusty will give struggling vets multiple chances based on success they've had with other teams. But if they failed with other teams, he talks about fresh starts, and the result is the same: the vet continues to get chance after chance. Success, failure, it's all the same when you're a veteran.

[badger1679666666]

I personally find it amazing that Dusty has decided that Jacque sucking against lefties just didn't happen unless he sees it with his own eyes first. He's like the Joe Morgan of managers.

It's funny Dusty will give struggling vets multiple chances based on success they've had with other teams. But if they failed with other teams, he talks about fresh starts, and the result is the same: the vet continues to get chance after chance. Success, failure, it's all the same when you're a veteran.

 

In Dusty's defense, Ronny struggled big time in ST and never had to hear footsteps behind him. Murton struggled for a week and half here, and Dusty was incredibly supportive of him.

 

Then again there isn't a viable replacement for Murton, but there was for Ronny.

[Jehrico]

I personally find it amazing that Dusty has decided that Jacque sucking against lefties just didn't happen unless he sees it with his own eyes first. He's like the Joe Morgan of managers.

It's funny Dusty will give struggling vets multiple chances based on success they've had with other teams. But if they failed with other teams, he talks about fresh starts, and the result is the same: the vet continues to get chance after chance. Success, failure, it's all the same when you're a veteran.

 

In Dusty's defense, Ronny struggled big time in ST and never had to hear footsteps behind him. Murton struggled for a week and half here, and Dusty was incredibly supportive of him.

 

Then again there isn't a viable replacement for Murton, but there was for Ronny.

 

I could be wrong, but I think Hendry has something to do with Baker's newfound tolerance of slumping rookies.