Jacque Jones isn't the problem...

[Wheelimus]

...it's the fool in the dugout who doesn't realize he needs to be platooned.

 

Here's his splits so far.

 

Righties - .283/.320/.609/.929

Lefties - .056/.105/.056/.161

 

Now, EVERYONE here knew the man couldn't hit a lefty to save his life before he signed. Not his fault that Hendry paid 3/18 for a guy who needs platooned.

 

The Cubs do nobody any good by not recognizing that the guy just isn't fit to hit lefties. It costs us games, it makes the player look like a fool and lose support, and it's just pathetic. The fact that Michael Restovich isn't getting every at bat versus lefties is a farce.

 

So, just think of this next time before we bash him if there's a lefty on the mound. Anyone on this board has about as much of a chance of getting a hit against a lefty as Jock does. I wouldn't blame him, I'd blame the guy throwing him under the bus each time.

 

Sad to think how much we could upgrade our offense just by bringing in a guy to hit lefties for Jock.

[RynoRules]

Agree that Jones should only hit against lefties in BP. Also agree that he is not the only problem - he's one of them.

[Wheelimus]

It's just one of those things that make you want to bang your head on a wall, to know that if we had a suitable platoon partner we'd probably be getting an .850 OPS right now out of right field. Not earth shattering production, but a lot better than we're getting instead.

[XZero771679666304]

This is just the latest example of Dusty & Co. misusing players.

 

Hawkins as a closer

CPatt as a leadoff man

Perez in the 2 hole

Holla as an everyday player

Batting Burnitz in between Lee and Ramirez

Macias

Jones getting all the starts versus lefties

Remlinger used as a LOOGY

 

Each one of these players (except maybe Macias) had a good deal of value when used correctly, but Dusty seems to use guys in the worst and most destructive ways possible, both for the team and the players.

 

Just a few, and it will just keep on going.

[BigbadB]

I have good news. Sometime within the next 5 games against a lefty pitcher, Jacque Jones will likely get a hit.

[soapy]

Dude needs to hit out his slump, dudes. Just like a striped bass.

[Guest]

Dude needs to hit out his slump, dudes. Just like a striped bass.

He might have more luck if he swung a striped bass when hitting against lefties.

[Laura]

I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.

[soapy]

Dude needs to hit out his slump, dudes. Just like a striped bass.

He might have more luck if he swung a striped bass when hitting against lefties.

 

Hmmmmmmm...not a bad idea.

 

Are there any BP pitchers who specialize in throwing striped bass? Preferably left handed?

[Wheelimus]

Man, everytime I read those lines I get more pissed. And if I were Jacque I'd be pissed. Our reaction would probably be a lot different if we were talking about his .929 OPS!

[soapy]

Man, everytime I read those lines I get more pissed. And if I were Jacque I'd be pissed. Our reaction would probably be a lot different if we were talking about his .929 OPS!

 

True. The problem is, everyone (except for Baker and Hendry apparently) knew Jones couldn't hit lefties to save his life and still no RH "power" hitter was brought in to come off of the bench (unless you consider Restovich to be one). Either way, Restovich and/or Hairston are better options in RF against a LHP then Jones.

[Wheelimus]

I mean, it's not rocket science. Would we really have been worse off in our 3 recent blowout with Restovich in right field, just to see if he can contribute? What's he going to do, go hitless and strike out a bunch? Oh....

[Derwood]

My prediction that this OF won't hit 50 comboned HR is looking pretty good right now

[Ding Dong Johnson]

My prediction that this OF won't hit 50 comboned HR is looking pretty good right now

 

Murton will hit 50 all by himself. Add Jacque's 4, and it really shows how crazy your prediction is.

[Danny82]

Tom Kelly knew this.

 

I'm very surprised that Gardnehire and Baker seem oblivious to the futility of putting Jones out there against a lefty.

 

Heck, just look at the Cubs performance against lefties this year and admit that something needs to change.

[badger1679666666]

...

Here's his splits so far.

 

Righties - .283/.320/.609/.929

Lefties - .056/.105/.056/.161

 

 

Don't Hendry and Baker have those numbers staring them in the face? This is inexcusable to trot him out against leftys. Everyone on NSBB.com new that Jones needed a platoon partner. But Hendry had to give him 5-6 million a year, and people normally don't platoon players making that much.

[EricG]

he's in there for his defense. The question is why didn't opposing managers bring in a lefty when he came up and hit a homer late in the game? Dusty should give him a toothpick to use against lefties.

[neely crenshaw]

the problem is not dusty(at least not completely) it is hendry. he signed jones to be the everyday outfielder and paid him accordingly. it is not jones fault...i certainly would have taken the pay if offered to me. much like burnitz last year, it wasn't burnitz fault last year. he had a typical jb year, the problem was that he was signed to be our stud outfielder and had to hit 4th or 5th..and if jb is your best offensive outfielder and has to hit in the middle ofthe order- YOU ARE NOT GOOD. same with jones this year if he has to play everyday andhit lefties and hit 5th...you are not good.

hendry's mistake..and yes i am very sure dusty has no choice but to play him, (i am also sure dusty would anyway) but if the GM signs a guy to play everyday...he is going to play everyday especially when the GM has not extended your deal yet!

[badger1679666666]

the problem is not dusty(at least not completely) it is hendry. he signed jones to be the everyday outfielder and paid him accordingly. it is not jones fault...i certainly would have taken the pay if offered to me. much like burnitz last year, it wasn't burnitz fault last year. he had a typical jb year, the problem was that he was signed to be our stud outfielder and had to hit 4th or 5th..and if jb is your best offensive outfielder and has to hit in the middle ofthe order- YOU ARE NOT GOOD. same with jones this year if he has to play everyday andhit lefties and hit 5th...you are not good.

hendry's mistake..and yes i am very sure dusty has no choice but to play him, (i am also sure dusty would anyway) but if the GM signs a guy to play everyday...he is going to play everyday especially when the GM has not extended your deal yet!

 

Well at least he's not really hitting 5th. He's been hitting 6th, 7th, and 8th I believe.

[Mizzou]

the problem is not dusty(at least not completely) it is hendry. he signed jones to be the everyday outfielder and paid him accordingly. it is not jones fault...i certainly would have taken the pay if offered to me. much like burnitz last year, it wasn't burnitz fault last year. he had a typical jb year, the problem was that he was signed to be our stud outfielder and had to hit 4th or 5th..and if jb is your best offensive outfielder and has to hit in the middle ofthe order- YOU ARE NOT GOOD. same with jones this year if he has to play everyday andhit lefties and hit 5th...you are not good.

hendry's mistake..and yes i am very sure dusty has no choice but to play him, (i am also sure dusty would anyway) but if the GM signs a guy to play everyday...he is going to play everyday especially when the GM has not extended your deal yet!

Regardless of how much money a player is making, it's the manager's job to put guys in a position to succeed (sound Dusty-like?). I don't care if Jones is making 5 million or 500 million this year, he sucks against lefties and the size of his contract shouldn't dictate when he plays.

 

Hendry isn't at fault for Dusty being oblivious to Jacque's suckiness against the lefties.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Reason #54322 why signing Jones was a terrible idea. He can't hit LHP, there are a bunch in our division, and Dusty/Hendry are too stubborn to play someone who can hit them.

[frostwyrm]

Maybe the Cubs haven't hired a LH batting practice pitcher because they're afraid Jones might suffer the humiliation of being unable to hit the guy.

[neely crenshaw]

sorry but you can not believe that dusty has a choice of playing jones. this is the pros...how many big money rooks are forced in to lineups in all sports whether they areready or not? too many. hendry signed him to play. he is going to play. even more so when you see that dusty is not signed for next year...hendry controls that and do you really think that he(hendry) wants his star signing to be shown to be a bad signing? by platooning the guy you say...hendry screwed up and that will not happen.

bottom line this is not baseball this is a business.

[Balsa]

JJ not hitting lefties disappoints me, but doesn't surprise me.

 

What is more worrying and surprising is Ronny Cedeno's performance versus left handers.

 

.121/.171/.121

 

OUCH.

 

Especially when you look at his RH stats:

 

.423/.444/.673

[JGalt73]

Maybe the Cubs haven't hired a LH batting practice pitcher because they're afraid Jones might suffer the humiliation of being unable to hit the guy.

 

That's awesome! :D