Just one frustrated Cubs fan opinion.

[Big Fergie J]

Notwithstanding all the problems this team has but IF before the season started someone told you that on August 20th the Cards would be only 8 games above .500 and the Cubs held an 11-4 seasons series edge on the Cards, wouldn't you, being a rational person, expect the Cubs to be right in the thick of things ? and not 12 games out and 16 games below .500 ?

 

Anyway, IMHO, this is the most frustrating thing about this season.

[beersoakedivy]

One thing that frustrates the heck out of me is seeing either Perez or Izturis batting 2nd...

[rawaction]

I definitely would have thought the Cubs would be in great shape with those stats. However, it's far from the most frustrating thing about this season. I don't know if you meant it this way, but that makes it sound like you are frustrated because the Cubs should be competing and they are not. To me, I knew the only way the Cubs would compete was if they had a lot of things go right.

 

The most frustrating things to me are (in no order):

 

The moves I was against this offseason coming back to prove my disdain right (Jones, Rusch, Pierre, Perez).

 

The pitching abuse cycle that has not ended even after 2 aces have already gone down.

 

Injuries

 

No signs of any of the top 3 changing anytime soon.

 

There are plenty others.

[CubColtPacer]

I definitely would have thought the Cubs would be in great shape with those stats. However, it's far from the most frustrating thing about this season. I don't know if you meant it this way, but that makes it sound like you are frustrated because the Cubs should be competing and they are not. To me, I knew the only way the Cubs would compete was if they had a lot of things go right.

 

The most frustrating things to me are (in no order):

 

The moves I was against this offseason coming back to prove my disdain right (Jones, Rusch, Pierre, Perez).

 

The pitching abuse cycle that has not ended even after 2 aces have already gone down.

 

Injuries

 

No signs of any of the top 3 changing anytime soon.

 

There are plenty others.

 

I agree with all your other points, but how has Jones been a big disappointment? He has done pretty well for a right fielder in this league-he's an average right fielder making average money for a right fielder. The frustrating part is not getting a platoon partner with him, because his numbers against right handers are just great this year.

[bhogg]

a lot of people expected jones to hit .240 with 20 homers and a hanful of RBI.

 

He's far exceeded expectations.

[Soriano12]

Hendry just ticks me off in general.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

a lot of people expected jones to hit .240 with 20 homers and a hanful of RBI.

 

He's far exceeded expectations.

 

Yes, he's at 276 with 20 homers and a handful of RBI.

[dvdd127]

Well...Perez. is gone.. he wont be batting #2 for the Cubbies ever again. LOL :D :D :D

[wastra]

I definitely would have thought the Cubs would be in great shape with those stats. However, it's far from the most frustrating thing about this season. I don't know if you meant it this way, but that makes it sound like you are frustrated because the Cubs should be competing and they are not. To me, I knew the only way the Cubs would compete was if they had a lot of things go right.

 

The most frustrating things to me are (in no order):

 

The moves I was against this offseason coming back to prove my disdain right (Jones, Rusch, Pierre, Perez).

 

The pitching abuse cycle that has not ended even after 2 aces have already gone down.

 

Injuries

 

No signs of any of the top 3 changing anytime soon.

 

There are plenty others.

 

I agree with all your other points, but how has Jones been a big disappointment? He has done pretty well for a right fielder in this league-he's an average right fielder making average money for a right fielder. The frustrating part is not getting a platoon partner with him, because his numbers against right handers are just great this year.

 

Jones makes more outs per plate appearance than any qualified right fielder in baseball with the exception of Jeff Francoeur. I would gladly trade his .481 slugging for an OBP that at least appears like he has a pulse.

[rynefan]

For me the pitching situation is a true nightmare. There's lots of talk about hitting and who has risen to the occasion and who has not... and what moves were good or bad. In my opinion, we've got a mess to deal with in our pitching staff? What's left of Wood? Is Prior EVER going to stabilize? Which rookies are for real? I'm glad I don't have to be the one figuring out the Cubs' pitching puzzle.

[Soul]

Yes, I'm suprised. But I think I'm more suprised at the complete lack of good ballclubs in the NL. There's just no great baseball teams. At all. The Mets might be good, but certainly not great.

 

I did come to the realization in March that the playoffs were not happening for us in '06. But I thought we would be .500 or somewhere in that neighborhood, not wallowing 20 games under.

[wastra]

For me the pitching situation is a true nightmare. There's lots of talk about hitting and who has risen to the occasion and who has not... and what moves were good or bad. In my opinion, we've got a mess to deal with in our pitching staff? What's left of Wood? Is Prior EVER going to stabilize? Which rookies are for real? I'm glad I don't have to be the one figuring out the Cubs' pitching puzzle.

 

Agreed. We like to talk about hitters because it's a problem with a more obvious solution. The pitching staff is a total mess. We know we'll plan on Zambrano and Prior, but who else? Should Hendry plan on keeping two of this year's rookies in the rotation or just one?

 

We know we need 2-3 guys ready at AAA to come up and pitch for times when Prior inevitably gets hurt. So who's in the roation and who's out?

 

IMO, Hill, Mateo, Marmol, and Marshall are battling for one roation spot from here on out. If two are lights-out, and it all clicks, maybe two will make the rotation. Ultimately, we need to sign one top flight SP or one plus a good SP. My preference if for two starters- one a big time addition ala Zito, another a solid 3 or 4 type guy. The young guys can pitch in AAA or take the long relief/spot starter role. Then add a Carlos Lee type guy in left, and replace our bench guys who will no doubt move on. Wood returns at a huge discount, still incentive-laden, to the pen.

 

We're talking 2 highly paid additions (LF and SP) and another back-end SP who won't come overly cheap, but won't break the bank. That's imminently doable. then, you just have to look out for additions of opportunity (trades, or FA signings that fall into our lap ala Todd Walker) at any position that works...CF, 2B, etc.

[neely crenshaw]

there were a large number of posters who felt this way the second hendry let furcal get away..and definitely felt that way after all his big moves..

[NorthsideAvenger]

a lot of people expected jones to hit .240 with 20 homers and a hanful of RBI.

 

He's far exceeded expectations.

 

 

Not even close. If JJ was a LF, it might not be as PANNED as it was, I said MIGHT. But as a RFer, the only move that would be considered worst, would be the Cards signing Juan Encarnacion, or the Royals signing Reggie Sanders. JJ has NOT "exceeded" expectations.

[wastra]

a lot of people expected jones to hit .240 with 20 homers and a hanful of RBI.

 

He's far exceeded expectations.

 

 

That's not a compliment of Jones. We expected him to completely and utterly suck, and he's just completely sucked a tad less than we expected. Wonderful. :roll:

:wink:

[badgercub]

Jacque Jones is a piece of trash making 5 million a year. you can look at his horrible numbers and then you add in the fact he is an abortion on the basepaths and in the field. I was at the game last night and watched him get thrown out at second and another one of his patented throws straight into the ground 10 feet in front of him, the guy can't even throw the ball in to second base from less than 50 feet away, anyone who says that is acceptable and that his compensation is fair has been drinking too much of the Jim Hendry Kool Aid. Speaking of whom, I blame much of the faults associated with this team including it's manager.

[CubColtPacer]

Jacque Jones is a piece of trash making 5 million a year. you can look at his horrible numbers and then you add in the fact he is an abortion on the basepaths and in the field. I was at the game last night and watched him get thrown out at second and another one of his patented throws straight into the ground 10 feet in front of him, the guy can't even throw the ball in to second base from less than 50 feet away, anyone who says that is acceptable and that his compensation is fair has been drinking too much of the Jim Hendry Kool Aid. Speaking of whom, I blame much of the faults associated with this team including it's manager.

 

If we had a platoon partner for him this year and could take away all his at bats against left handed pitching, would you take him?

[badgercub]

Absolutely not. I have said from the day they signed him that he was no good, and I was clamoring for them to trade him in June when he was batting .300 because we all knew he would revert back to career numbers. One other thing is his defense and baserunning are even worse than I expected. After being at last nights game I was so frustrated at how poorly this team plays the game from a fundamental standpoint that I am seriously thinking of getting rid of my season tix, at $50 a pop I would rather go watch a good highschool team for free.

[CubColtPacer]

Absolutely not. I have said from the day they signed him that he was no good, and I was clamoring for them to trade him in June when he was batting .300 because we all knew he would revert back to career numbers. One other thing is his defense and baserunning are even worse than I expected. After being at last nights game I was so frustrated at how poorly this team plays the game from a fundamental standpoint that I am seriously thinking of getting rid of my season tix, at $50 a pop I would rather go watch a good highschool team for free.

 

I understand about his defense and baserunning (although I think his defense overall has been pretty good-he's been very good at tracking down balls, and absolutely terrible with his arm). However, his numbers this year against right handed pitchers are good-very good.

 

.311/.350/.538

 

If we could find a platoon partner who could hit lefties that well for 2-3 million, we'd have one of the top 5-6 right fields in the league (Jacque's splits would rank 10th in OBP, 2nd in SLG, and 4th in OPS among qualified right fielders this year). 7-8 million for that production would be a bargain-can we get this high of numbers again for Jones? Probably it will be somewhat lower next year-but it will still be a very productive position with a platoon partner.

[badgercub]

Absolutely not. I have said from the day they signed him that he was no good, and I was clamoring for them to trade him in June when he was batting .300 because we all knew he would revert back to career numbers. One other thing is his defense and baserunning are even worse than I expected. After being at last nights game I was so frustrated at how poorly this team plays the game from a fundamental standpoint that I am seriously thinking of getting rid of my season tix, at $50 a pop I would rather go watch a good highschool team for free.

 

I understand about his defense and baserunning (although I think his defense overall has been pretty good-he's been very good at tracking down balls, and absolutely terrible with his arm). However, his numbers this year against right handed pitchers are good-very good.

 

.311/.350/.538

 

If we could find a platoon partner who could hit lefties that well for 2-3 million, we'd have one of the top 5-6 right fields in the league (Jacque's splits would rank 10th in OBP, 2nd in SLG, and 4th in OPS among qualified right fielders this year). 7-8 million for that production would be a bargain-can we get this high of numbers again for Jones? Probably it will be somewhat lower next year-but it will still be a very productive position with a platoon partner.

 

Look at his splits for the last 3 years 02-05 his OPS against right handed pitching is barely over .800, which is not good. That is what you should expect from for the next two years, and I would probably guess after a slight bump up this year it will be lower the next two years. A RF with a terrible arm, continuous mistakes on the basepaths, and an OPS most likely around .800 is not the kind of production anyone should be looking for especially as one half of a platoon.