Cubs Sign Reed Johnson to 1-Year Deal (Updated)

[jersey cubs fan]

Johnson seems to bring the Cubs what they like and what they need. They like his "grit" factor, and they could use his on-base percentage.

 

Here guys....a quote from Bruce Almight's lastest column over at the herald.

 

That's the reason why they signed Johnson, because of the "grit factor." Have fun guys.

 

You should have your eyes checked, pronto!!!!

 

I read it as Bruce making a joke about the grit, and how the Cubs want that, while pointing out that they also need his OBP.

Edited March 26, 2008 by jersey cubs fan

[Post Count Padder]

Johnson seems to bring the Cubs what they like and what they need. They like his "grit" factor, and they could use his on-base percentage.

 

Here guys....a quote from Bruce Almight's lastest column over at the herald.

 

That's the reason why they signed Johnson, because of the "grit factor." Have fun guys.

 

You should have your eyes checked, pronto!!!!

 

I read it as Bruce making a joke about the grit, and how the Cubs want that, while pointing out that they also need his OBP.

And that shade of green is killing my eyes

[RynoRules]

Johnson seems to bring the Cubs what they like and what they need. They like his "grit" factor, and they could use his on-base percentage.

 

Here guys....a quote from Bruce Almight's lastest column over at the herald.

 

That's the reason why they signed Johnson, because of the "grit factor." Have fun guys.

 

You should have your eyes checked, pronto!!!!

 

I read it as Bruce making a joke about the grit, and how the Cubs want that, while pointing out that they also need his OBP.

 

Agreed

[nilodnayr]

I think Soriano gives you the freedom to just go with Cedeno at the start of the season. Any playing time that is available at second or short needs to go to him. He's got to get at bats to see if he can be a player or not. We're covered in all but a worst case disaster. If Aramis needs to come out DeRosa slides to third and Cedeno comes in. In a disaster where we lose two middle infielders in one game you put Soriano at second. Obviously you fix the shortage the next day but he could handle it for a few innings. If we lose three middle infielders in one game, lol, who cares at that point. We're probably already down a half dozen. I feel like Ward probably has a good sense of humor and would take any Baseball Tonight clip he could get. Even if it's his eight errors in one game at shortstop.

 

Soriano at 2b is nearly as unlikely as Marmol at C.

[David]

I think Soriano gives you the freedom to just go with Cedeno at the start of the season. Any playing time that is available at second or short needs to go to him. He's got to get at bats to see if he can be a player or not. We're covered in all but a worst case disaster. If Aramis needs to come out DeRosa slides to third and Cedeno comes in. In a disaster where we lose two middle infielders in one game you put Soriano at second. Obviously you fix the shortage the next day but he could handle it for a few innings. If we lose three middle infielders in one game, lol, who cares at that point. We're probably already down a half dozen. I feel like Ward probably has a good sense of humor and would take any Baseball Tonight clip he could get. Even if it's his eight errors in one game at shortstop.

 

Soriano at 2b is nearly as unlikely as Marmol at C.

 

 

Didn't it happen just last year?

[Derwood]

I think Soriano gives you the freedom to just go with Cedeno at the start of the season. Any playing time that is available at second or short needs to go to him. He's got to get at bats to see if he can be a player or not. We're covered in all but a worst case disaster. If Aramis needs to come out DeRosa slides to third and Cedeno comes in. In a disaster where we lose two middle infielders in one game you put Soriano at second. Obviously you fix the shortage the next day but he could handle it for a few innings. If we lose three middle infielders in one game, lol, who cares at that point. We're probably already down a half dozen. I feel like Ward probably has a good sense of humor and would take any Baseball Tonight clip he could get. Even if it's his eight errors in one game at shortstop.

 

Soriano at 2b is nearly as unlikely as Marmol at C.

 

 

Didn't it happen just last year?

 

yes, one game

[JeffH]

I think Soriano gives you the freedom to just go with Cedeno at the start of the season. Any playing time that is available at second or short needs to go to him. He's got to get at bats to see if he can be a player or not. We're covered in all but a worst case disaster. If Aramis needs to come out DeRosa slides to third and Cedeno comes in. In a disaster where we lose two middle infielders in one game you put Soriano at second. Obviously you fix the shortage the next day but he could handle it for a few innings. If we lose three middle infielders in one game, lol, who cares at that point. We're probably already down a half dozen. I feel like Ward probably has a good sense of humor and would take any Baseball Tonight clip he could get. Even if it's his eight errors in one game at shortstop.

 

Soriano at 2b is nearly as unlikely as Marmol at C.

 

Soriano played one inning at 2B last season.

[Vanilla Ice]

I think Soriano gives you the freedom to just go with Cedeno at the start of the season. Any playing time that is available at second or short needs to go to him. He's got to get at bats to see if he can be a player or not. We're covered in all but a worst case disaster. If Aramis needs to come out DeRosa slides to third and Cedeno comes in. In a disaster where we lose two middle infielders in one game you put Soriano at second. Obviously you fix the shortage the next day but he could handle it for a few innings. If we lose three middle infielders in one game, lol, who cares at that point. We're probably already down a half dozen. I feel like Ward probably has a good sense of humor and would take any Baseball Tonight clip he could get. Even if it's his eight errors in one game at shortstop.

 

Soriano at 2b is nearly as unlikely as Marmol at C.

 

 

Didn't it happen just last year?

 

yes, one game

 

wow i forgot that

[JeffH]

I feel like Ward probably has a good sense of humor and would take any Baseball Tonight clip he could get. Even if it's his eight errors in one game at shortstop.

 

Zambrano at SS!

[BigbadB]

I feel like Ward probably has a good sense of humor and would take any Baseball Tonight clip he could get. Even if it's his eight errors in one game at shortstop.

 

Zambrano at SS!

 

Since Murton pretty much sucks in the outfield, maybe it's time for him to get some reps at SS. :D

[Bruce Miles]

Johnson seems to bring the Cubs what they like and what they need. They like his "grit" factor, and they could use his on-base percentage.

 

Here guys....a quote from Bruce Almight's lastest column over at the herald.

 

That's the reason why they signed Johnson, because of the "grit factor." Have fun guys.

 

You should have your eyes checked, pronto!!!!

 

I read it as Bruce making a joke about the grit, and how the Cubs want that, while pointing out that they also need his OBP.

 

Thanks for getting it, Jersey. I think it's OK to inject a little humor now and then.

[CubinNY]

Johnson seems to bring the Cubs what they like and what they need. They like his "grit" factor, and they could use his on-base percentage.

 

Here guys....a quote from Bruce Almight's lastest column over at the herald.

 

That's the reason why they signed Johnson, because of the "grit factor." Have fun guys.

 

You should have your eyes checked, pronto!!!!

 

I read it as Bruce making a joke about the grit, and how the Cubs want that, while pointing out that they also need his OBP.

 

Thanks for getting it, Jersey. I think it's OK to inject a little humor now and then.

Hey Bruce, any news on Roberts?

 

 

 

 

 

Just kidding.

 

BTW> I love your humor and the little jabs at the brain trust.

[Bruce Miles]

Johnson seems to bring the Cubs what they like and what they need. They like his "grit" factor, and they could use his on-base percentage.

 

Here guys....a quote from Bruce Almight's lastest column over at the herald.

 

That's the reason why they signed Johnson, because of the "grit factor." Have fun guys.

 

You should have your eyes checked, pronto!!!!

 

I read it as Bruce making a joke about the grit, and how the Cubs want that, while pointing out that they also need his OBP.

 

Thanks for getting it, Jersey. I think it's OK to inject a little humor now and then.

Hey Bruce, any news on Roberts?

 

 

 

 

 

Just kidding.

 

BTW> I love your humor and the little jabs at the brain trust.

 

 

Thought I'd throw you guys a veiled "shout-out" on that one. But to be fair, the Cubs had Johnson's on-base percentages throughout their news release. And Jim mentioned it, too. But I still like to have a little fun with them.

 

Oh, and no news on Roberts.

[nilodnayr]

I think Soriano gives you the freedom to just go with Cedeno at the start of the season. Any playing time that is available at second or short needs to go to him. He's got to get at bats to see if he can be a player or not. We're covered in all but a worst case disaster. If Aramis needs to come out DeRosa slides to third and Cedeno comes in. In a disaster where we lose two middle infielders in one game you put Soriano at second. Obviously you fix the shortage the next day but he could handle it for a few innings. If we lose three middle infielders in one game, lol, who cares at that point. We're probably already down a half dozen. I feel like Ward probably has a good sense of humor and would take any Baseball Tonight clip he could get. Even if it's his eight errors in one game at shortstop.

 

Soriano at 2b is nearly as unlikely as Marmol at C.

 

Soriano played one inning at 2B last season.

 

Yeah, I'll take the under for this season.

[Derwood]

 

Thought I'd throw you guys a veiled "shout-out" on that one. But to be fair, the Cubs had Johnson's on-base percentages throughout their news release. And Jim mentioned it, too. But I still like to have a little fun with them.

 

do they "get it" when you make those jokes, or is it straight over their heads?

[Bruce Miles]

 

Thought I'd throw you guys a veiled "shout-out" on that one. But to be fair, the Cubs had Johnson's on-base percentages throughout their news release. And Jim mentioned it, too. But I still like to have a little fun with them.

 

do they "get it" when you make those jokes, or is it straight over their heads?

 

 

Depends on the mood of the day. Hendry will say to me, "Hey, I see you threw me a slider on the black." That's his way of getting it.

[CuseCubFan69]

I agree that this grit factor thing is many times over valued but I do not see anything wrong with a player that hustles and does a lot of things fundamentally correct.

[David]

I agree that this grit factor thing is many times over valued but I do not see anything wrong with a player that hustles and does a lot of things fundamentally correct.

 

Of course there's nothing "wrong" with that. I don't think anybody would ever argue that there is.

[jersey cubs fan]

I agree that this grit factor thing is many times over valued but I do not see anything wrong with a player that hustles and does a lot of things fundamentally correct.

 

There is nothing wrong with such a player, ideally, all your players will play that way. The thing that is wrong is when teams focus far too much on that aspect of their game, over the far more important cold hard facts regarding their actual production. A "lazy" 1000 OPS is going to be better than a gritty 700 OPS everytime.

 

 

And half the fun in picking on grit is just how predictable the praise for the "short white guy who tries hard" has become.

[haltz]

A big part of the problem is when people see it as an extra, when most of the time it's just part of how, say, David Eckstein is able to arrive at a .261 career EqA.

[David]

Hell, let's not understate it. A "lazy" 1.000 OPS is better than a "gritty" .999 OPS.

 

Plus, that lazy guy has some leftover potential/ceiling to do better than that 1.000 OPS since he's doggin' it sometimes. :thumbsup:

[ParadigmShift]

I agree that this grit factor thing is many times over valued but I do not see anything wrong with a player that hustles and does a lot of things fundamentally correct.

 

Hustle and fundamental adeptness are certainly desirable values in an athlete. I believe the issues arise when these characteristics are deemed "the right way" to play the game by the Old Guard. Stat oriented individuals gravitate towards events which have a quantifiable effect on winning ballgames. The establishments emphasis on playing the game "the right way" has very little measurable correlation to victories. I believe this is where the two sides often clash.

[CubinNY]

I agree that this grit factor thing is many times over valued but I do not see anything wrong with a player that hustles and does a lot of things fundamentally correct.

 

Hustle and fundamental adeptness are certainly desirable values in an athlete. I believe the issues arise when these characteristics are deemed "the right way" to play the game by the Old Guard. Stat oriented individuals gravitate towards events which have a quantifiable effect on winning ballgames. The establishments emphasis on playing the game "the right way" has very little measurable correlation to victories. I believe this is where the two sides often clash.

Great first post!

[CuseCubFan69]

I agree that this grit factor thing is many times over valued but I do not see anything wrong with a player that hustles and does a lot of things fundamentally correct.

 

Hustle and fundamental adeptness are certainly desirable values in an athlete. I believe the issues arise when these characteristics are deemed "the right way" to play the game by the Old Guard. Stat oriented individuals gravitate towards events which have a quantifiable effect on winning ballgames. The establishments emphasis on playing the game "the right way" has very little measurable correlation to victories. I believe this is where the two sides often clash.

 

Perception, especially by the press and fans, can also make it seem as if a player isn't trying or doing the fundamentals. Look at Manny. I have no idea on how hard he works at hitting and we all know he produces at the plate so he is doing his job. Now he IS going to screw up, like yesterday when he watched his ball hit the fence after thinking it was out, but he produces like few others. As for players like Theriot, I like the fact that he is working hard and does a lot of fundamentals correctly. I think Cedeno and Theriot show a really good example of this. One is more talented and the other is getting the most out of his talent.

 

Out of curiosity, is there a stat that shows baserunning/mental fielding errors?