Corey Speaks!

[UMFan83]

Corey Patterson talks for the first time since being demoted. He talks about his reaction to being sent down, what he plans to work on in the minors, when he thinks he'll be back up to the majors, whether he has a future with the Cubs, and his response to fans booing him.

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-050712cubs,1,2153650.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

 

Edit: Maybe this should go in Minor Leagues ;)

Edited July 13, 2005 by UMFan83

[Laura]

I'll be interested in reading Bruce Miles' version of events, too. :)

 

It's not easy to have to give press interviews after being demoted; he seems to have handled the situation as well as could be expected.

 

Asked if he felt Cubs fans would give him an even break after booing him the last two seasons, Patterson replied: "I don't know. I'd assume so. The fans are the reason why we're there in the first place. Despite how good you're doing, or if you're scuffling, for me … I appreciate the ones who were with me in good times and bad times.

 

"I know people were pulling for me from A-to-Z. It wasn't like it was a lack of hustle or a lack of effort. If someone is not hustling or running balls out, that's the only time a player should be booed. In the whole [scheme of things] it doesn't matter [if you're booed]. But the ones pulling for me, I really appreciate it."

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

He's saying the right things, and if he's sincere, I fully expect a rebound to 2003 form for Patterson. Let's hope everything works out well.

[TrueBlueCubFan]

Were all rooting for you Corey. However, we all hope the Cubs take their time with him this time out & don't rush him back to the majors. I say late season call-ups @ the earliest.

[Kay]

As a HUUUGE Corey fan, it's nice to see him finally say something.

 

Hopefully he adjusts, & Iowa can turn those K's into H's, & we can see him in the near future.. =|

[Chris]

<---------------Corey supporter

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'll be interested in reading Bruce Miles' version of events, too. :)

 

Ask and you shall recieve. Here it is.

 

A few quotes from Patterson:

 

“The Cubs did what they had to do. It was kind of better for me. At the same time, it’s always hard to go back down to minor-league ball.

 

“You make your adjustments. I knew I could not go at the pace I had been going. I had to make an adjustment.”

 

Sounds like Corey has the right attitude.

 

And this one.

 

“I wasn’t OK with it,” he said. “It’s based on my performance. I don’t think anyone is OK with being sent down. That’s not the kind of attitude you want to have. I think the part that made me feel a lot better was that I saw the problem I had, and addressing it probably made me feel 90 percent better right there.”

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

As a HUUUGE Corey fan, it's nice to see him finally say something.

 

Hopefully he adjusts, & Iowa can turn those K's into H's, & we can see him in the near future.. =|

 

Hooray for Corey fans. :)

 

Glad to see Corey say the right things (though I'm not shocked).

[Tito Landrum]

If you guys want to trade Cory to my Cardinals, It's fine with me. :D

[Tracer Bullet]

He's saying some of the right things, but this quote (re his swing) scares me:

 

“It got kind of whack,” he said. “It got pretty long. That’s really the only thing. I think if I do that, it will take care of other areas in which I’m having problems.”

 

I hope he's also working on pitch selection. A short swing at eye-level fastballs and low and outside sinkers isn't going to make him better. His shorter swing may allow him to hit those pitches, but he won't hit them w/ much authority.

[katway]

He's saying some of the right things, but this quote (re his swing) scares me:

 

“It got kind of whack,” he said. “It got pretty long. That’s really the only thing. I think if I do that, it will take care of other areas in which I’m having problems.”

 

I hope he's also working on pitch selection. A short swing at eye-level fastballs and low and outside sinkers isn't going to make him better. His shorter swing may allow him to hit those pitches, but he won't hit them w/ much authority.

 

I also got the feeling he wasn't working on pitch selection at this point. Hopefully, they will address that once his swing is corrected.

[Shawon12]

I'm rooting for Corey, but his comments confirm he still doesn't have a clue as to how to get the most out of his ability. I'm not encouraged.

[Knightlife_in_Lubbock]

I'll be interested in reading Bruce Miles' version of events, too. :)

 

It's not easy to have to give press interviews after being demoted; he seems to have handled the situation as well as could be expected.

 

Asked if he felt Cubs fans would give him an even break after booing him the last two seasons, Patterson replied: "I don't know. I'd assume so. The fans are the reason why we're there in the first place. Despite how good you're doing, or if you're scuffling, for me … I appreciate the ones who were with me in good times and bad times.

 

"I know people were pulling for me from A-to-Z. It wasn't like it was a lack of hustle or a lack of effort. If someone is not hustling or running balls out, that's the only time a player should be booed. In the whole [scheme of things] it doesn't matter [if you're booed]. But the ones pulling for me, I really appreciate it."

 

Or hustling back to 1st when there are 2 out and a fly ball to the outfield?

[Backtobanks]

Also, he said that he is a quick learner. I don't see much proof of that over the years.

[Scott G. F.]

Cory Patterson needed this demotion and it sounds like he's taking it and trying to make it a positive. Baseball is small adjustments, it is mental. You can have all the talent in the world but without being in the game mentally your done.

 

Greg Maddux: Thinking man. Has limited physical ability, but out thinks the opposition and is a winner.

 

Kerry Wood: Thrower, has the physical ability to be a power arm but needs to get in to the mental game of baseball if he wants a long career.

 

Derrick Lee: New baseball thinker. Derrick is having a career year due to him finally figuring out the mental game of baseball and adjustments. he closed the hung hole in his swing from last year (up and in just above his hands BTW). The league has not been able to adjust to him yet, but they will. I see more BB for him. I hope he'll take the walks and Aramis R. will make them pay for it.

 

I like Cory P. I hope he'll come back and help the Cubs to a playoff birth which is what we all want.

[louisvillecub]

After I read this article this morning, I knew that Corey would be subject to "damned if you do, damned if you don't" (Sorry about the language, but that's the cliche.)

 

Ta-dah....

 

I hope he makes his adjustments and comes back strong.

[Cubzfan64]

You never know.... perhaps a "demotion" to the minor leagues after having such a taste of the big leagues will be what Corey needs to really get through to him on what it's going to take for him to reach his potential.

 

I'm also not that encouraged by his comments, but actions speak louder than words so I'm still hopeful he can become the player he SHOULD be based on the raw talent.

 

I just keep thinking that if the right hitting coach can get through to him - someone he respects and trusts - he'll get back on track.

 

I'm not ready to give up on him yet - especially now that his trade value is likely at an all time low. There's very little to gain and potentially alot to lose by shuffling him off as an add on to another team.

 

He's a darn frustrating ballplayer to root for because you see the potential talent flash often enough to get you hopeful but he just can't seem to get over that hump.

[wade]

I hope it works out for him and I hope they don't send him down to work on being a lead off hitter. I don't think he ever needs to abandon the occasional bunt for a hit try, but he seems more suited to be about a 6 hole hitter on this team next year if he can get his swing in line. I think he could easily hit 20 home runs and steal more than 20 bases next year. If he can get his OBP up and K's down, that could lead to a decent option certainly for CF, but also maybe for a corner spot next year (or even later this year).

 

Then, if Pie is called up as expected and earns a starting spot in CF, then the Cubs have the beginnings of one of the best defensive outfields in baseball if Patterson's in a corner spot.

 

Anyway, just seeing him reverse the regression would be nice.

[neely crenshaw]

one thing to add to corey's assesment of when fans can boo...

if you have a player with seemingly unmatched skill- does not seem to want or be able to make an adjustment to a problem that is holding him back and hurting the team(like corey and sammy last year)they should boo!

add in that if a vet player(alou) continues to make rookie baseball mistakes(like running the bases or missing cut off men) they should be booed.

[biittner77]

one thing to add to corey's assesment of when fans can boo...

if you have a player with seemingly unmatched skill- does not seem to want or be able to make an adjustment to a problem that is holding him back and hurting the team(like corey and sammy last year)they should boo!

.

 

I disagree with this part. Making adjustments is a lot easier said than done. A lack of effort is one thing though as fans we have no way of knowing whether the player cares or not.

 

Are you implying that Patterson doesn't want to improve? It's not like Patterson is a multi millionaire. He stands to gain a lot more by improving than by staying the same.

 

I'll never understand why fans think booing is going to make a player perform better. If they don't care enough to give it max effort in the first place then why would they care what the fans think? Booing didn't improve Sosa, it just made him bitter.

[Chris]

This booing situation really gets me. When I went to Chicago I saw first hand that many of the Cub fans had their guy that they ripped no matter what while at the same time having guys that were praised regardless of how bad they were playing.

 

For the people that feel that it is their right to boo I wonder what it would be like if someone came to their place of work and booed them when they messed something up.

[katway]

For the people that feel that it is their right to boo I wonder what it would be like if someone came to their place of work and booed them when they messed something up.

 

I'm not a booer at games, but I wish people would come to my work and clap when I do a good job. :D

[UMFan83]

The fans want a World Series, I don't blame them for booing.

 

Also, if I'm making millions of dollars, I will make sure to form a line where people can come and boo me while I'm working if they feel I'm not performing up to task.

 

I'm not saying it helps a player, but IMO its usually justified.

[dalgreen]

This booing situation really gets me. When I went to Chicago I saw first hand that many of the Cub fans had their guy that they ripped no matter what while at the same time having guys that were praised regardless of how bad they were playing.

 

For the people that feel that it is their right to boo I wonder what it would be like if someone came to their place of work and booed them when they messed something up.

 

Unfortunately what you witnessed at Wrigley Field is no different from what happens a lot on this board. It is a shame that some believe booing helps, as if players can't figure out they're struggling without the boos.

[dalgreen]

The fans want a World Series, I don't blame them for booing.

 

Also, if I'm making millions of dollars, I will make sure to form a line where people can come and boo me while I'm working if they feel I'm not performing up to task.

 

I'm not saying it helps a player, but IMO its usually justified.

 

What does the amount of money one makes have to do with it? If a sales manager sucks, does an intern(s) have a right to boo him?