Corey Patterson: time to call it quits?

[CyHawk_Cub]

Given what he's done since then, I'd feel safe in the assumption it wasn't merely a slump

 

Yeah, that's what I suspect as well, but there's still a part of me that wishes he had gotten the full season just to see "what if."

 

Sure, it would have been interesting to see whether his development would've continued barring that injury. I have my doubts though. As someone else has pointed out, he had every tool one could want in a ballplayer...but he was/is sorely lacking in pitch recognition/plate discipline. IMO, he's had plenty of time to sort out those failings. That he hasn't done so implies strongly to me that he just isn't capable.

[dew1679666265]

Given what he's done since then, I'd feel safe in the assumption it wasn't merely a slump

 

Yeah, that's what I suspect as well, but there's still a part of me that wishes he had gotten the full season just to see "what if."

 

Sure, it would have been interesting to see whether his development would've continued barring that injury. I have my doubts though. As someone else has pointed out, he had every tool one could want in a ballplayer...but he was/is sorely lacking in pitch recognition/plate discipline. IMO, he's had plenty of time to sort out those failings. That he hasn't done so implies strongly to me that he just isn't capable.

 

I would tend to agree.

[danonwaveland]

It doesn't take an idiot to blow through $9 million. If you aren't used to managing money, you probably will blow it. Most pro athletes do.

 

I recall a story a few years ago about a third baseman who was a minor league/Japanese League lifer and got an invitation to Cubs camp at age 31 or 32. He and his wife had squirreled away every dollar they could and had managed to save almost $2 million. At that point, he had been invited to a few camps and had a better chance of making the cut with one of the other teams. However, he had always wanted to play for the Cubs and, with the money in the bank, lived his fantasy -- at least for spring training. While I don't remember his name, I recall that he was a pleasant person and a good story for the papers. I don't think it was Casey McGehee, but his name was similar to that. Does anyone remember this guy?

 

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Sandberg>Mazeroski>Morgan

[Rob]

It doesn't take an idiot to blow through $9 million. If you aren't used to managing money, you probably will blow it. Most pro athletes do.

 

I recall a story a few years ago about a third baseman who was a minor league/Japanese League lifer and got an invitation to Cubs camp at age 31 or 32. He and his wife had squirreled away every dollar they could and had managed to save almost $2 million. At that point, he had been invited to a few camps and had a better chance of making the cut with one of the other teams. However, he had always wanted to play for the Cubs and, with the money in the bank, lived his fantasy -- at least for spring training. While I don't remember his name, I recall that he was a pleasant person and a good story for the papers. I don't think it was Casey McGehee, but his name was similar to that. Does anyone remember this guy?

 

__________________________________________________________

Sandberg>Mazeroski>Morgan

 

Only person I can think of that fits the bill is Scott McClain, but I don't recall that story.

[NCCubFan]

It doesn't take an idiot to blow through $9 million. If you aren't used to managing money, you probably will blow it. Most pro athletes do.

 

I recall a story a few years ago about a third baseman who was a minor league/Japanese League lifer and got an invitation to Cubs camp at age 31 or 32. He and his wife had squirreled away every dollar they could and had managed to save almost $2 million. At that point, he had been invited to a few camps and had a better chance of making the cut with one of the other teams. However, he had always wanted to play for the Cubs and, with the money in the bank, lived his fantasy -- at least for spring training. While I don't remember his name, I recall that he was a pleasant person and a good story for the papers. I don't think it was Casey McGehee, but his name was similar to that. Does anyone remember this guy?

 

__________________________________________________________

Sandberg>Mazeroski>Morgan

 

Only person I can think of that fits the bill is Scott McClain, but I don't recall that story.

Die Hard!

[Jehrico]

Don't think it was Diehard. He wasn't a FA invite. Didn't we get him in a trade from the Tigers for Farnsie or someone like that?

[jersey cubs fan]

Don't think it was Diehard. He wasn't a FA invite. Didn't we get him in a trade from the Tigers for Farnsie or someone like that?

 

I'm pretty sure McClain was a FA invite. Scott Moore is one of the guys they got for the Tigers.

[NCCubFan]

Don't think it was Diehard. He wasn't a FA invite. Didn't we get him in a trade from the Tigers for Farnsie or someone like that?

 

I'm pretty sure McClain was a FA invite. Scott Moore is one of the guys they got for the Tigers.

Correct. Die Hard was returning from Japan.

[Post Count Padder]

He's back:

 

Nationals purchased the contract of outfielder Corey Patterson from Triple-A Syracuse.

Patterson will take the place of Josh Willingham while he's on the bereavement list. Patterson was batting .263 with six homers and 25 RBI in 54 games for Syracuse.

[ArthurVandalay]

He's back:

 

Nationals purchased the contract of outfielder Corey Patterson from Triple-A Syracuse.

Patterson will take the place of Josh Willingham while he's on the bereavement list. Patterson was batting .263 with six homers and 25 RBI in 54 games for Syracuse.

 

 

With stats like that, he'd be one of the Cubs' team leaders.

Bradley for Patterson?

[NCCubFan]

He's back:

 

Nationals purchased the contract of outfielder Corey Patterson from Triple-A Syracuse.

Patterson will take the place of Josh Willingham while he's on the bereavement list. Patterson was batting .263 with six homers and 25 RBI in 54 games for Syracuse.

 

 

With stats like that, he'd be one of the Cubs' team leaders.

Bradley for Patterson?

Those are his MINOR league stats.

[Tarver]

Don't think this move will save them from 110+ losses, but Corey's probably the best defensive CF in their org, so more power to him.

 

I still say Corey Patterson Nissan of Naperville has a nice ring to it.

[Terp]

He's 0 for 6 so far. Just watched him strike out horribly on a pitch that bounced in front of the plate so it doesn't look like much has changed.

[Flames24Rulz]

He's 0 for 6 so far. Just watched him strike out horribly on a pitch that bounced in front of the plate so it doesn't look like much has changed.

 

In his defense, he's been a part of some terrible organizations since he left the Cubs. Baltimore, Cincy, and now Washington. It's pretty tough to change bad habits when you have coaches from any of those organizations teaching you how to get better at baseball.

 

I hope he can turn it around and stay in baseball for a few more years.

[Tarver]

He's 0 for 6 so far. Just watched him strike out horribly on a pitch that bounced in front of the plate so it doesn't look like much has changed.

 

In his defense, he's been a part of some terrible organizations since he left the Cubs. Baltimore, Cincy, and now Washington. It's pretty tough to change bad habits when you have coaches from any of those organizations teaching you how to get better at baseball.

 

I hope he can turn it around and stay in baseball for a few more years.

 

I thought he might have made some sense for the ChiSox before the season started, but after watching him last night, I'm not sure he has even a few more games in MLB. Those were some of the worst ABs I've seen in years. He's totally overmatched.

[NCCubFan]

In his defense, he's been a part of some terrible organizations his entire career.

Fixed.

[Flames24Rulz]

In his defense, he's been a part of some terrible organizations his entire career.

Fixed.

 

Truth.

[Oscar Zamora]

Reds need to trade him to the A's so he can play with little bro before he retires.

[Bruno7481]

He's 0 for 6 so far. Just watched him strike out horribly on a pitch that bounced in front of the plate so it doesn't look like much has changed.

 

In his defense, he's been a part of some terrible organizations since he left the Cubs. Baltimore, Cincy, and now Washington. It's pretty tough to change bad habits when you have coaches from any of those organizations teaching you how to get better at baseball.

 

I hope he can turn it around and stay in baseball for a few more years.

 

Are you seriously implying that the organizational coaches/instructors in those organizations are ALL clueless and incompetent? Seems like a pretty ridiculous statement to make without any firsthand knowledge.

[SouthSideRyan]

He's 0 for 6 so far. Just watched him strike out horribly on a pitch that bounced in front of the plate so it doesn't look like much has changed.

 

In his defense, he's been a part of some terrible organizations since he left the Cubs. Baltimore, Cincy, and now Washington. It's pretty tough to change bad habits when you have coaches from any of those organizations teaching you how to get better at baseball.

 

I hope he can turn it around and stay in baseball for a few more years.

 

Are you seriously implying that the organizational coaches/instructors in those organizations are ALL clueless and incompetent? Seems like a pretty ridiculous statement to make without any firsthand knowledge.

 

When idiots of the highest order regularly reach the pinnacle of coaching in their respective sports, I don't think it's a stretch to say there are a lot of incompetence floating around out there.

[UMFan83]

Reds need to trade him to the A's so he can play with little bro before he retires.

 

He's in the Nationals org.

[Bruno7481]

He's 0 for 6 so far. Just watched him strike out horribly on a pitch that bounced in front of the plate so it doesn't look like much has changed.

 

In his defense, he's been a part of some terrible organizations since he left the Cubs. Baltimore, Cincy, and now Washington. It's pretty tough to change bad habits when you have coaches from any of those organizations teaching you how to get better at baseball.

 

I hope he can turn it around and stay in baseball for a few more years.

 

Are you seriously implying that the organizational coaches/instructors in those organizations are ALL clueless and incompetent? Seems like a pretty ridiculous statement to make without any firsthand knowledge.

 

When idiots of the highest order regularly reach the pinnacle of coaching in their respective sports, I don't think it's a stretch to say there are a lot of incompetence floating around out there.

 

We'll just have to disagree I guess. I know of several great coaches in the Bal and Cin organizations, can't speak of Washington.

 

Its ignorant to blame an organizational coaching staff for the failure of a guy who hasn't had success anywhere. These guys know what they are doing.

[SouthSideRyan]

He's 0 for 6 so far. Just watched him strike out horribly on a pitch that bounced in front of the plate so it doesn't look like much has changed.

 

In his defense, he's been a part of some terrible organizations since he left the Cubs. Baltimore, Cincy, and now Washington. It's pretty tough to change bad habits when you have coaches from any of those organizations teaching you how to get better at baseball.

 

I hope he can turn it around and stay in baseball for a few more years.

 

Are you seriously implying that the organizational coaches/instructors in those organizations are ALL clueless and incompetent? Seems like a pretty ridiculous statement to make without any firsthand knowledge.

 

When idiots of the highest order regularly reach the pinnacle of coaching in their respective sports, I don't think it's a stretch to say there are a lot of incompetence floating around out there.

 

We'll just have to disagree I guess. I know of several great coaches in the Bal and Cin organizations, can't speak of Washington.

 

Its ignorant to blame an organizational coaching staff for the failure of a guy who hasn't had success anywhere. These guys know what they are doing.

 

It comes down the philosophy of the organization top to bottom, and what kind of teaching would be beneficial to the individual. Dusty Baker was hailed as a great hitting coach before becoming a manager, and his hacktastic teachings could be(and was) beneficial to some people. Doesn't mean I wanted him instructing Corey Patterson on how to hit. When an organization such as the late 90s-early 00s Cubs ignore the skill of plate discipline from majors to rookie ball, and spend most of their time trying to turn a power hitter into a slap hitter because he's a black CF, then yes I feel comfortable laying a good bit of blame at their feet for Corey.

 

Like I said, it's possible that same instruction was quite beneficial to others, but from the second Corey left Lansing he was taught to be Juan Pierre, and it speaks to the cluster-[expletive] that was the farm system of the MacPhail Cubs.

[Bull]

I post this in just about every cpat thread, but he WAS GOOD. Before his knee blew up he was good. I don't see him as a failed "five tool" prospect as much as the victim of a career ending (altering?) injury.

[SouthSideRyan]

I post this in just about every cpat thread, but he WAS GOOD. Before his knee blew up he was good. I don't see him as a failed "five tool" prospect as much as the victim of a career ending (altering?) injury.

 

I don't think the knee injury had anything to do with his falling off a cliff. His 2004 was an above average season. He just lost it, and I don't think we had the coaching at the big league level that was capable of bringing him out of it. From there he got hackier and hackier and nobody seemed to care to try and fix him or it was too late at that point to teach the old dog new tricks.