J. Jones in July

[Shawon12]

With Pie proving not to be completely ready, like it or not, Jones has really helped this team in CF and with his stick. His July #'s are great. I'm certainly not against trading him, but we'll need a CF in exchange...

 

OBP SLG AVG

.423 .467 .356

[Banedon]

I'm not a Jacque fan. Never have been and probably never will be...but he's definitely coming through right now, and I'm happy to ride along with that. I don't think he's getting traded till the offseason now (just a hunch) so I'd like to see him do well the rest of the year.

[Soul]

Lou was right, again.

[moorecg]

He's been outstanding recently.

[Pinktermite]

I think Lou's decision to stick with Jacque not only paid off but it defines how Lou knows how to run a team. And despite the issue with Jacque or with other decisions he makes, the team is winning, and Lou should get a pass from us arm chair managers.

 

The team is winning, and that's the only thing that matters. What doesn't matter is that Matt Murton is in AAA. Who cares? I'm happy for Jacque, since he's been vilified on this board like he was Adolf Hitler at times. I've seen some pretty lousy discussion of him and Jim Hendry on here, and sometimes it makes me want to vomit. Good for Jacque...

[Have a seat, Neifi]

Jacque and Cliff really look like they're having fun out there. Good to see.

[Tracer Bullet]

Lou was right, again.

 

I agree...if by "right" you mean "lucky." JJ hit .176/.250/.275 during June. Pie was sent down (despite having better June #s: .218/.296/.333), so Lou had no other options and played JJ.

 

It's not like JJ hasn't had a hot month or two in the past. If he can have an .800+ OPS as our everyday CF for the next 2 months - that'd be great. Forgive me if I don't hold my breath.

[Soul]

Lou was right, again.

 

I agree...if by "right" you mean "lucky." JJ hit .176/.250/.275 during June. Pie was sent down (despite having better June #s: .218/.296/.333), so Lou had no other options and played JJ.

 

It's not like JJ hasn't had a hot month or two in the past. If he can have an .800+ OPS as our everyday CF for the next 2 months - that'd be great. Forgive me if I don't hold my breath.

 

Understood. However, Lou was called an idiot on these boards for that move, and there was clearly a chance Jones could at least give us something, which he has. I hope it continues, but you're right, Jones could easily fall back into a mega slump again.

[badger1679666666]

Lou was right, again.

 

I agree...if by "right" you mean "lucky."

 

 

You can play this game if you want, but I guess Lou has been awful lucky with everything since June this year.

[Sammy Sofa]

Lou was right, again.

 

I agree...if by "right" you mean "lucky." JJ hit .176/.250/.275 during June. Pie was sent down (despite having better June #s: .218/.296/.333), so Lou had no other options and played JJ.

 

It's not like JJ hasn't had a hot month or two in the past. If he can have an .800+ OPS as our everyday CF for the next 2 months - that'd be great. Forgive me if I don't hold my breath.

 

Understood. However, Lou was called an idiot on these boards for that move, and there was clearly a chance Jones could at least give us something, which he has. I hope it continues, but you're right, Jones could easily fall back into a mega slump again.

 

He could fall into another slump, but even the most bitter Jacque hater (and I'm usually one of them) has to realize that how bad he was doing in the first half was pretty far under his usual numbers. Granted, he's playing above his head right now, but it's not like we were seeing the "normal" Jacque throughout most of the first half.

 

I really hope that his July makes him look very good to other GMs over the next week.

[CubinNY]

Lou was right, again.

 

I agree...if by "right" you mean "lucky." JJ hit .176/.250/.275 during June. Pie was sent down (despite having better June #s: .218/.296/.333), so Lou had no other options and played JJ.

 

It's not like JJ hasn't had a hot month or two in the past. If he can have an .800+ OPS as our everyday CF for the next 2 months - that'd be great. Forgive me if I don't hold my breath.

 

Understood. However, Lou was called an idiot on these boards for that move, and there was clearly a chance Jones could at least give us something, which he has. I hope it continues, but you're right, Jones could easily fall back into a mega slump again.

 

Find where someone called Lou and idiot.

 

The thing is that we can't go back and change history. JJ may have cost the Cubs more wins than he's contributed to but we'll never know for sure.

 

I just don't get "it worked out fine so it must be good" logic.

[Pinktermite]

Maybe Lou wasn't called an idiot in the literal sense, but it was clearly alluded to the first two months of the season, along with the alluding to showing up at wrigley with pitchforks, demanding that Jim Hendry come out from behind his desk so he could be lynched.

 

A little credit where credit is due would be nice once in a while, that's all I'm saying.

[Tracer Bullet]

Lou was right, again.

 

I agree...if by "right" you mean "lucky."

 

 

You can play this game if you want, but I guess Lou has been awful lucky with everything since June this year.

 

So I guess he gets all the blame for Soriano sucking to start the season, Z pitching like crap in most of his starts in April & May, etc.

 

I think Lou's made some good moves and some bad ones. I just don't see how you can say giving the starting role to JJ coming off his June was the "right" move. At best, given Hendry's decision to send Pie down, it was the only option Lou had. The fact that a decision worked out, doesn't mean it was the right one. I mean, it's possible that Pie would have bested JJ's .890 OPS if he had stuck around through July. Likely? No, but on July 1, how many people would have bet their life that JJ was going to OPS .890 in July?

[Soul]

Lou was right, again.

 

I agree...if by "right" you mean "lucky." JJ hit .176/.250/.275 during June. Pie was sent down (despite having better June #s: .218/.296/.333), so Lou had no other options and played JJ.

 

It's not like JJ hasn't had a hot month or two in the past. If he can have an .800+ OPS as our everyday CF for the next 2 months - that'd be great. Forgive me if I don't hold my breath.

 

Understood. However, Lou was called an idiot on these boards for that move, and there was clearly a chance Jones could at least give us something, which he has. I hope it continues, but you're right, Jones could easily fall back into a mega slump again.

 

Find where someone called Lou and idiot.

 

The thing is that we can't go back and change history. JJ may have cost the Cubs more wins than he's contributed to but we'll never know for sure.

 

I just don't get "it worked out fine so it must be good" logic.

 

That's not the logic. The logic is, Lou knows what he's doing, Jones has hit well in the past, it's not ridiculous to think he could hit well again.

 

Since you want me to go digging through old posts, here's one:

 

And that is the big gamble. A terrible gamble. A gamble the Cubs shouldn't take.

 

If they upgrade elsewhere they won't have to worry so much about CF. And once again, Pie wasn't exactly given much time to "prove" himself.

 

I've seen this movie before. It always ends the same way.

 

It wasn't a terrible gamble, and it wasn't one Lou shouldn't have made. And the movie certainly didn't end like you thought it would. The proof is in the fact that Jones began to hit again at his career levels, which was not at all unreasonable to project.

[NewUserName]

Maybe Lou wasn't called an idiot in the literal sense, but it was clearly alluded to the first two months of the season, along with the alluding to showing up at wrigley with pitchforks, demanding that Jim Hendry come out from behind his desk so he could be lynched.

 

A little credit where credit is due would be nice once in a while, that's all I'm saying.

 

Since it was obvious we couldnt trade Jones unless the other team took his salary also, I was for playing Jones in CF against RHers. This doesnt change the fact that Hendry signed him to a bad deal.

 

I also think Lou has done a fine job and give him kudos. I was not always with him earlier but have changed my tune some. I will not change my tune on Hendry though. He is terrible.

[Tracer Bullet]

Maybe Lou wasn't called an idiot in the literal sense, but it was clearly alluded to the first two months of the season, along with the alluding to showing up at wrigley with pitchforks, demanding that Jim Hendry come out from behind his desk so he could be lynched.

 

A little credit where credit is due would be nice once in a while, that's all I'm saying.

 

Why does Lou deserve credit? Unless he suggested something to JJ that changed his approach or something, I think the credit goes to JJ for having a great month. Of course, if I'm going to tell JJ "great job in July" I also get to tell him "you sucked hard in June...and May...and you were bad in April too."

 

As for Lou's first 2 months - he was overmanaging his butt off to start the season - that was one of my biggest problems w/ him (that and the way he used Murton). He was making double-switches like it was little league and every guy had to get into each game. Maybe that was his way of figuring out the team, but I think he cost us some wins early on. Hendry gave him a pretty bad roster, but he certainly didn't make the most of it early on. Of course, the fact that 2 of his best players (Z and Soriano) were terrible to start the year didn't help.

[CubinNY]

Lou was right, again.

 

I agree...if by "right" you mean "lucky." JJ hit .176/.250/.275 during June. Pie was sent down (despite having better June #s: .218/.296/.333), so Lou had no other options and played JJ.

 

It's not like JJ hasn't had a hot month or two in the past. If he can have an .800+ OPS as our everyday CF for the next 2 months - that'd be great. Forgive me if I don't hold my breath.

 

Understood. However, Lou was called an idiot on these boards for that move, and there was clearly a chance Jones could at least give us something, which he has. I hope it continues, but you're right, Jones could easily fall back into a mega slump again.

 

Find where someone called Lou and idiot.

 

The thing is that we can't go back and change history. JJ may have cost the Cubs more wins than he's contributed to but we'll never know for sure.

 

I just don't get "it worked out fine so it must be good" logic.

 

That's not the logic. The logic is, Lou knows what he's doing, Jones has hit well in the past, it's not ridiculous to think he could hit well again.

 

Since you want me to go digging through old posts, here's one:

 

And that is the big gamble. A terrible gamble. A gamble the Cubs shouldn't take.

 

If they upgrade elsewhere they won't have to worry so much about CF. And once again, Pie wasn't exactly given much time to "prove" himself.

 

I've seen this movie before. It always ends the same way.

 

It wasn't a terrible gamble, and it wasn't one Lou shouldn't have made. And the movie certainly didn't end like you thought it would. The proof is in the fact that Jones began to hit again at his career levels, which was not at all unreasonable to project.

What are you going to do if JJ reverts back? He's had three weeks of success and three months of sustained bad paly.

 

I still don't get the logic. My point stands.

[Soul]

Lou was right, again.

 

I agree...if by "right" you mean "lucky." JJ hit .176/.250/.275 during June. Pie was sent down (despite having better June #s: .218/.296/.333), so Lou had no other options and played JJ.

 

It's not like JJ hasn't had a hot month or two in the past. If he can have an .800+ OPS as our everyday CF for the next 2 months - that'd be great. Forgive me if I don't hold my breath.

 

Understood. However, Lou was called an idiot on these boards for that move, and there was clearly a chance Jones could at least give us something, which he has. I hope it continues, but you're right, Jones could easily fall back into a mega slump again.

 

Find where someone called Lou and idiot.

 

The thing is that we can't go back and change history. JJ may have cost the Cubs more wins than he's contributed to but we'll never know for sure.

 

I just don't get "it worked out fine so it must be good" logic.

 

That's not the logic. The logic is, Lou knows what he's doing, Jones has hit well in the past, it's not ridiculous to think he could hit well again.

 

Since you want me to go digging through old posts, here's one:

 

And that is the big gamble. A terrible gamble. A gamble the Cubs shouldn't take.

 

If they upgrade elsewhere they won't have to worry so much about CF. And once again, Pie wasn't exactly given much time to "prove" himself.

 

I've seen this movie before. It always ends the same way.

 

It wasn't a terrible gamble, and it wasn't one Lou shouldn't have made. And the movie certainly didn't end like you thought it would. The proof is in the fact that Jones began to hit again at his career levels, which was not at all unreasonable to project.

What are you going to do if JJ reverts back? He's had three weeks of success and three months of sustained bad paly.

 

I still don't get the logic. My point stands.

 

I understand that, and I agree. He could revert back. I'm just glad he's giving us something now.

 

I honestly don't get how it's beyond comprehension that a guy who was hitting miles below his career numbers might bounce back. That happens all the time.

 

For the record, I still have high hopes for Pie so I'd like to see him get right and then come back and start contributing.

[Tracer Bullet]

Lou was right, again.

 

I agree...if by "right" you mean "lucky." JJ hit .176/.250/.275 during June. Pie was sent down (despite having better June #s: .218/.296/.333), so Lou had no other options and played JJ.

 

It's not like JJ hasn't had a hot month or two in the past. If he can have an .800+ OPS as our everyday CF for the next 2 months - that'd be great. Forgive me if I don't hold my breath.

 

Understood. However, Lou was called an idiot on these boards for that move, and there was clearly a chance Jones could at least give us something, which he has. I hope it continues, but you're right, Jones could easily fall back into a mega slump again.

 

Find where someone called Lou and idiot.

 

The thing is that we can't go back and change history. JJ may have cost the Cubs more wins than he's contributed to but we'll never know for sure.

 

I just don't get "it worked out fine so it must be good" logic.

 

That's not the logic. The logic is, Lou knows what he's doing, Jones has hit well in the past, it's not ridiculous to think he could hit well again.

 

Since you want me to go digging through old posts, here's one:

 

And that is the big gamble. A terrible gamble. A gamble the Cubs shouldn't take.

 

If they upgrade elsewhere they won't have to worry so much about CF. And once again, Pie wasn't exactly given much time to "prove" himself.

 

I've seen this movie before. It always ends the same way.

 

It wasn't a terrible gamble, and it wasn't one Lou shouldn't have made. And the movie certainly didn't end like you thought it would. The proof is in the fact that Jones began to hit again at his career levels, which was not at all unreasonable to project.

 

Jones career: .781 OPS

Jones July: .890 OPS

 

Jones is playing way over his head. And coming off his first 3 months, it was a pretty bad gamble. It worked (thankfully, and I'm sure CubinNY is happy to have been wrong, as with many others on this board that had similar concerns), but that doesn't make it a good gamble. Pie was tearing up AAA (and is doing so again). They both struggled in June, but it made little sense to give JJ the starts and send Pie down.

 

Hopefully JJ's July is good enough to get him traded for something b/c I don't want to gamble the next 2 months on him repeating these stats.

[Soul]

I'm glad Pie's tearing it up @ AAA and I want to see him back up here again, too.

 

I just don't think it was a blind luck decision by Lou, that's all. Everything's a gamble, when you come down to it. He gambled Jones would bounce back.

 

Now I'm with you guys, praying Jones either continues to be hot, or if he's traded we bring Pie up and he stays hot like he is @ AAA. I'm not against a Jones trade while he's hot.

[Tracer Bullet]

For the record, I still have high hopes for Pie so I'd like to see him get right and then come back and start contributing.

 

Pie's July OPS: 1.104; 6 HRs

 

I'm not sure how much more right you want him to get. He has no business being in AAA anymore unless we're trying to change his approach (he doesn't take walks - but I don't think he will, I wish he did, but so it goes).

 

BTW - I'm not trying to attack you, you're making some good points (though I don't agree). I just feel the need to point out what I perceive to be errors in your arguments.

[CubinNY]

I understand that, and I agree. He could revert back. I'm just glad he's giving us something now.

 

I honestly don't get how it's beyond comprehension that a guy who was hitting miles below his career numbers might bounce back. That happens all the time.

 

For the record, I still have high hopes for Pie so I'd like to see him get right and then come back and start contributing.

 

JJ career numbers: .278/.327/.454. (HR)22

Where he stands today .251/.314/.347 (HR) 2

 

There is about 1/3 of a season left. If he makes it to his career averages I will be ecstatic. Even if he does make it, it still does not justify playing him everyday when he was terrible.

 

However, I agree with whomever said that it really was the only move the Cubs had to make after sending Pie down.

 

Listen I am happy as a claim in muck that JJ is starting to hit and the Cubs are looking like a good team. I'm just not going to get too excited about 3 weeks of sustained success after three months of poor play.

[Sammy Sofa]

For the record, Jim Jones is still dead, in July or any other month.

 

That is all.

[Soul]

For the record, Jim Jones is still dead, in July or any other month.

 

That is all.

 

There's a chance he could return to his career numbers

[Sammy Sofa]

For the record, Jim Jones is still dead, in July or any other month.

 

That is all.

 

There's a chance he could return to his career numbers

 

No way. He's ice cold.