Juan Pierre- 2006 NL Hit Leader

[Bruno7481]

I wouldn't mind having him back, honestly. Obviously the offense needs to improve tremendously. But I think that is going to have to come from another position besides CF. With a better offense, I think Pierre would be a great asset.

 

His April and May were awful, as evidenced below. But since then he has played well, putting up a .350+ OBP.

 

April .258/.289

May .226/267

June .283/352

July .345/.380

August .304/.346

Sept .325/.336

 

202 Hits, 32 Doubles, 13 Triples. 58 SB in 77 Att, 75.3%

 

I'm not expecting a lot of agreement on this issue, but I wouldn't mind having him back. Pie isn't ready. JP will obviously want more than a one year deal, so that will complicate matters as it pertains to Pie. But Felix is still young enough that it isn't a major issue yet.

 

Bomb away :D

Edited October 1, 2006 by Bruno7481

[CubsWin]

I wouldn't mind having him back, honestly. Obviously the offense needs to improve tremendously. But I think that is going to have to come from another position besides CF. With a better offense, I think Pierre would be a great asset.

 

His April and May were awful, as evidenced below. But since then he has played well, putting up a .350+ OBP.

 

April .258/.289

May .226/267

June .283/352

July .345/.380

August .304/.346

Sept .325/.336

 

202 Hits, 32 Doubles, 13 Triples. 58 SB in 77 Att, 75.3%

 

I'm not expecting a lot of agreement on this issue, but I wouldn't mind having him back. Pie isn't ready. JP will obviously want more than a one year deal, so that will complicate matters as it pertains to Pie. But Felix is still young enough that it isn't a major issue yet.

 

Bomb away :D

In a vacuum, Pierre is a fine member of a baseball team. He is rather consistent year to year. He isn't spectacular at anything. A guy with his speed should ideally be a little better at getting on base, but he is what he is and under different circumstances, I would want him back, but...

 

1. He is likely going to want to sign a multi-year deal and the Cubs are really needing a one-year stop gap to get to Pie.

 

2. The Cubs already have a lead-off hitter who is as good if not better at getting on base on the roster at the league minimum salary in Ryan Theriot.

 

3. The Cubs really need SLG% and CF is one of the few positions in which it is available.

 

4. Players like Andruw Jones, Vernon Wells, Torii Hunter, Mike Cameron and others maybe be available via trade or free agency.

 

Now if the Cubs sign Soriano and want him to play 2B, and Pierre is willing to sign a 1-year deal for an amount that won't prohibit the Cubs from signing a couple good FA starters, then I'm okay with resigning Pierre.

 

But that scenario, just doesn't seem very likely.

[WrigleyField 22]

One year deal for less than he made this year is about the only way I'd bring him back. So no thanks on him returning.

 

Look at the September line, a .325 BA with only .336 OBP OUCH

[Bruno7481]

I wouldn't mind having him back, honestly. Obviously the offense needs to improve tremendously. But I think that is going to have to come from another position besides CF. With a better offense, I think Pierre would be a great asset.

 

His April and May were awful, as evidenced below. But since then he has played well, putting up a .350+ OBP.

 

April .258/.289

May .226/267

June .283/352

July .345/.380

August .304/.346

Sept .325/.336

 

202 Hits, 32 Doubles, 13 Triples. 58 SB in 77 Att, 75.3%

 

I'm not expecting a lot of agreement on this issue, but I wouldn't mind having him back. Pie isn't ready. JP will obviously want more than a one year deal, so that will complicate matters as it pertains to Pie. But Felix is still young enough that it isn't a major issue yet.

 

Bomb away :D

In a vacuum, Pierre is a fine member of a baseball team. He is rather consistent year to year. He isn't spectacular at anything. A guy with his speed should ideally be a little better at getting on base, but he is what he is and under different circumstances, I would want him back, but...

 

1. He is likely going to want to sign a multi-year deal and the Cubs are really needing a one-year stop gap to get to Pie.

 

2. The Cubs already have a lead-off hitter who is as good if not better at getting on base on the roster at the league minimum salary in Ryan Theriot.

 

3. The Cubs really need SLG% and CF is one of the few positions in which it is available.

 

4. Players like Andruw Jones, Vernon Wells, Torii Hunter, Mike Cameron and others maybe be available via trade or free agency.

 

Now if the Cubs sign Soriano and want him to play 2B, and Pierre is willing to sign a 1-year deal for an amount that won't prohibit the Cubs from signing a couple good FA starters, then I'm okay with resigning Pierre.

 

But that scenario, just doesn't seem very likely.

 

If a player like Andruw Jones or Vernon Wells could be had, then by all means get them. I'd take Pierre over Cameron or Hunter though.

 

I wouldn't be too locked in on looking for just a one year stopgap in CF. Pie may turn out to be great, who knows. But forgive me if I am a little hesitant in the Cubs actually producing a quality postion playing prospect.

 

They have been few and far between.

[CubsWin]

One year deal for less than he made this year is about the only way I'd bring him back. So no thanks on him returning.

 

Look at the September line, a .325 BA with only .336 OBP OUCH

I agree with the first line. One year deal only. Around the same amount of money he made this season.

 

But the second line, who cares how he gets on base really. A .336 OBP isn't great, but it is far from terrible and about what he usually puts up.

[WrigleyField 22]

One year deal for less than he made this year is about the only way I'd bring him back. So no thanks on him returning.

 

Look at the September line, a .325 BA with only .336 OBP OUCH

I agree with the first line. One year deal only. Around the same amount of money he made this season.

 

But the second line, who cares how he gets on base really. A .336 OBP isn't great, but it is far from terrible and about what he usually puts up.

 

Although somewhat true, it doen't project well to get on base if he isn't hitting well.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Sarge Lite can give better defense, OBP and power than Pierre at lower cost. And, the Cubs seem to like the idea of bringing him back. I'd much rather go for an Andruw Jones or Vernon Wells if that's remotely possible, but no way on Pierre and the $8MM+/year he's going to want.

 

Yes Jim, you gave up Nolasco for him, another bad decision. But, what's done is done, it's a sunk cost. LET IT GO. Pierre must not be re-signed.

[CubsWin]

I wouldn't be too locked in on looking for just a one year stopgap in CF. Pie may turn out to be great, who knows. But forgive me if I am a little hesitant in the Cubs actually producing a quality postion playing prospect.

 

They have been few and far between.

You are forgiven. The Cubs record leaves a lot to be desired in that department. But it is important not to collapse past failures with current successes. The past is still and always will be the past.

 

Here is a little more past for you, though it is of the most recent variety. Pie's numbers after the All-Star break in AAA this season are .323/.373/.538 with 10 SB and only 2 CS in 223 ABs. The league finally decided to stop throwing Pie fastballs and he struggled with the breaking stuff for much of the first half of the season, but if those numbers are any indication, he made some pretty good adjustments in the 2nd half.

 

Is he a sure thing? No. I don't know if such a thing exists. But when you factor in that he put up those numbers as a 21-year-old in AAA and that 223 ABs is a decent sample size, Pie looks like a pretty safe bet to have success at the major league level. I don't think he is ready yet, but sometime next season isn't out of the realm of possibility.

[Careless]

I wouldn't mind having him back, honestly. Obviously the offense needs to improve tremendously. But I think that is going to have to come from another position besides CF. With a better offense, I think Pierre would be a great asset.

 

His April and May were awful, as evidenced below. But since then he has played well, putting up a .350+ OBP.

 

April .258/.289

May .226/267

June .283/352

July .345/.380

August .304/.346

Sept .325/.336

 

202 Hits, 32 Doubles, 13 Triples. 58 SB in 77 Att, 75.3%

 

I'm not expecting a lot of agreement on this issue, but I wouldn't mind having him back. Pie isn't ready. JP will obviously want more than a one year deal, so that will complicate matters as it pertains to Pie. But Felix is still young enough that it isn't a major issue yet.

 

Bomb away :D

an OBP better than .350 1 month and .350 1-2 months. Faaaannnntastic!

He even hit 3 HR!!! What a hitter!

But seriously, I'd like someone much better. If he's cheap, he has value, but he's not going to be cheap

[CubsWin]

Sarge Lite can give better defense, OBP and power than Pierre at lower cost. And, the Cubs seem to like the idea of bringing him back. I'd much rather go for an Andruw Jones or Vernon Wells if that's remotely possible, but no way on Pierre and the $8MM+/year he's going to want.

 

Yes Jim, you gave up Nolasco for him, another bad decision. But, what's done is done, it's a sunk cost. LET IT GO. Pierre must not be re-signed.

I don't know how likely it is that Matthews Jr. will consistently get on base at a higher rate than Pierre. Career numbers suggest otherwise.

 

Sarge lite is coming off of a big time career year. He may never come close to those numbers again. That said, if he can be had rather cheaply, which I doubt he can, I like him as a platoon player with Jones and a 4th outfielder. He could also keep CF warm until Pie is ready, but I think there are many better and safer options to be explored first.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Play Pie

[A New Era]

If we had a GM who didn't have such a limited mind who also keeps the wrong guys. .

 

Play Pie

Replace Jones with someone much better via a trade

Play Theroit at SS

Sign Soriano or another 2B with very good slugging and some HR power.

 

However we have JH, so Izturis will be paid $5 mil to play at SS that is if he doesn't get injured again. Theroit will play 2B, Pierre will be resigned at $8 mil for 3 years, Jones will remain at RF. He won't even trade Pie to get a huge superstar even though we have Pierre for 3 years. . We'll be lucky to get one stud SP and JH will just go with that. As if that's any type of off-season. .

[10man]

Take a look at those monthly stats again and be very afraid that Pierre has to have a .345 BA just to push his OBP over .350

[C.C.]

One year deal for less than he made this year is about the only way I'd bring him back. So no thanks on him returning.

 

Look at the September line, a .325 BA with only .336 OBP OUCH

I agree with the first line. One year deal only. Around the same amount of money he made this season.

 

But the second line, who cares how he gets on base really. A .336 OBP isn't great, but it is far from terrible and about what he usually puts up.

 

A .336 OBP for a leadoff guy is terrible!

[Bruno7481]

Juan Pierre is your 2006 NL leader in Hits. Good job Juan.

[Jon]

Pierre (32) should send Eckstein (30) a gift basket, because without him, Pierre would be dead last in the majors in walks among leadoff hitters with at least 500 PAs in the #1 spot.

 

Of course, he's last among CFs and last among all leadoff hitters in BB/PA with at least 250 PAs in the #1 spot.

 

He'll also lead the league in ABs and will have the second highest AB total of any player this century.

[NCCubFan]

Leading the league in hits without hitting .300. I'd guess that doesn't happen very often.

[NorthsideAvenger]

 

If a player like Andruw Jones or Vernon Wells could be had, then by all means get them. I'd take Pierre over Cameron or Hunter though.

 

I wouldn't be too locked in on looking for just a one year stopgap in CF. Pie may turn out to be great, who knows. But forgive me if I am a little hesitant in the Cubs actually producing a quality postion playing prospect.

 

They have been few and far between.

 

Andruw Jones, I say go after, but Vernon Wells, no thank you. Vernon has some pop, but his OBP is batting average driven. And while he is signifcantly better defensive, he really isn't much of an upgrade offensivel to Pierre (if you exclude his power). And the fact that Vernon is heading into his walk yr, and the rumors that he is considering asking for "Carlos Beltran type money" makes Wells a "stay away from" caliber player. I would focus on Andruw Jones.

[dalgreen]

Leading the league in hits without hitting .300. I'd guess that doesn't happen very often.

 

I'm glad you pointed that out. Neifi Perez did the same thing years ago. He had 200+ hits in a season and didn't hit .300 because the idiot had over 700 official at-bats because he refused to get on base via a walk. Same thing goes for Pierre.

[Larry Horse]

There's a winner!!!!

 

Key ingredient to a lead-off man: getting on base.

 

Just say no to Pierre.

[Lefty]

Juan Pierre is your 2006 NL leader in Hits. Good job Juan.

 

And his league leading total of 532 outs?

 

Pierre was as a hitter the equivalent of an American League pitcher with an ERA of about 4 in 177 innings. Since that pitcher is doing a pretty good job, I'd have to say that Pierre did a pretty bad job as an offensive player. But he is fast and he does bat leadoff.

Edited October 4, 2006 by Lefty

[BigbadB]

I'm very hopeful that leading the league in hits will help him land that big, fat contract with some other team and it lands the Cubs a draft pick or two.

 

Of course, all that changes if they dump compensation picks with the new collective bargaining agreement.

 

If it's possible to receive compensation, I wouldn't mind if the Cubs offered Pierre arbitration. Not only do I believe some team will sign him to a long term deal, but I also believe he would rather sign that long term deal this offseason considering the weak market.

[David]

One year deal for less than he made this year is about the only way I'd bring him back. So no thanks on him returning.

 

Look at the September line, a .325 BA with only .336 OBP OUCH

I agree with the first line. One year deal only. Around the same amount of money he made this season.

 

But the second line, who cares how he gets on base really. A .336 OBP isn't great, but it is far from terrible and about what he usually puts up.

 

A .336 OBP for just about anyone other than a #7 or #8 hitter is terrible!

 

Fixed.

[Abe Frohman]

I wouldn't be unhappy at all if Pierre was re-signed for the right price, but I really think the Cubs need to upgrade in the OF. If Jacque Jones can play a good CF, move him over and that gives you more options. I believe Matt Murton needs to stay put in LF, and unfortunately that is the only OF position he would be usable at. His arm is just not strong enough for RF.

 

Pierre actually had a pretty good season (stats-wise) in CF. Zero errors in 162 games, with 379 putouts and 5 assists. For comparison, Andruw Jones played in 153 games in CF, and had 377 putouts, 4 assists and 2 errors. Torii Hunter played in 143 games in CF, and had 343 putouts, 8 assists and 4 errors.

[MPrior]

Just say no to Pierre. Outside of 2B, CF might be the best way for us to upgrade our offense this offseason, and there is NO WAY that Pierre will be worth whatever money he demands.

 

Heck, I'd rather sign Lofton for a year - or move Jacque to CF and find someone for RF. Pierre is NOT GOOD.