Macias

[Stu]

I'm no Macias fan, but I looked at the box score after today's game and he is up to .281. I've never understood why so many people hate the guy. Really, if used properly, he would be a useful 25th man to have. He's kind of our own Cheito Oquendo, plays a ton of positions, pinch hits,runs decently, he's even the emergency 3rd string catcher. That said I always shudder seeing him as the 1st pinch hitter off the bench.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'm no Macias fan, but I looked at the box score after today's game and he is up to .281. I've never understood why so many people hate the guy. Really, if used properly, he would be a useful 25th man to have. He's kind of our own Cheito Oquendo, plays a ton of positions, pinch hits,runs decently, he's even the emergency 3rd string catcher. That said I always shudder seeing him as the 1st pinch hitter off the bench.

 

.281/.293/.348/.642

 

That's why people hate Macias.

[barrettismyidol]

I don't think people mind him as a 25th guy, but it's maddening how Dusty uses him. I think he's at least semi-valuable because he can play everywhere (although, not very well) but he needs to be used as the last man off the bench, not the first.

[10man]

People don't hate Macias because he is a bad player.

People hate the fact that he is playing ahead of players who are loads better than him.

[hawkeyecub]

Yeah no power and no walks. But his play and his ability to play 2B, 3B, OF and C are good enough for him to be a decent 25th man.

He's actually gotten less time in the field this year, but it seems like he's had more pinch-hit opportunities this year.

 

I have no problem with him getting the occasional spot start at the rate he's had this year. He's actually hitting .315 in games that he starts (54 AB's).

My biggest problem is that he's been terrible off the bench as a pinch-hitter.

[TruffleShuffle]

My biggest problem is that Dusty frequently uses him to pinch hit to lead off an inning, or when the Cubs need to get a rally going. If you need a hit, Macias can sometimes deliver that since he has a pretty solid average... but if you need someone to get on base, he's a terrible choice.

[CubsWin]

My biggest problem is that Dusty frequently uses him to pinch hit to lead off an inning, or when the Cubs need to get a rally going. If you need a hit, Macias can sometimes deliver that since he has a pretty solid average... but if you need someone to get on base, he's a terrible choice.

Agreed. Very clearly put, Truffle.

 

Macias has value, always had. But, like every other player, he needs to be used in a way that maximizes his value. That said, even with a terrible OBP, there are still times where having Macias lead off an inning might be using him well. If he has shown the ability to hit a certain pitcher very well, I don't think it would be a terrible idea to send him to the plate. But that wouldn't happen very often.

[ZZ Thorn]

I'm no Macias fan, but I looked at the box score after today's game and he is up to .281. I've never understood why so many people hate the guy. Really, if used properly, he would be a useful 25th man to have. He's kind of our own Cheito Oquendo, plays a ton of positions, pinch hits,runs decently, he's even the emergency 3rd string catcher. That said I always shudder seeing him as the 1st pinch hitter off the bench.

 

He touched .290 after that first hit.

 

Some people have a preferred 25th man - Teddy "Ballgame" Williams.

[sonicdethmonkey0]

I'm no Macias fan, but I looked at the box score after today's game and he is up to .281. I've never understood why so many people hate the guy. Really, if used properly, he would be a useful 25th man to have. He's kind of our own Cheito Oquendo, plays a ton of positions, pinch hits,runs decently, he's even the emergency 3rd string catcher. That said I always shudder seeing him as the 1st pinch hitter off the bench.

 

He touched .290 after that first hit.

 

Some people have a preferred 25th man - Teddy "Ballgame" Williams.

 

clearly this is a joke, everyone

[PackLandVA]

Perez and Holly and JHJ would be the first bats off the bench in best case scenarios. But all three are starting. Perez due to injury, JHJ because of poor production from CPatt and Holly....because Baker has decided to use him mostly as a starter. So Macias shouldn't be the 1st bat off the bench, and probably wasn't slated for that role in the Spring. Also, I don't mind seeing Macias bat in the 6th-8th innings as a PH. Saves another bat for the 8th or 9th.

[EricG]

last year all those games he started at third when they could have tried Grudzielanek at third and Walker at second really bothered me

[NewUserName]

Like alot of players Macias has value. Dusty just doesnt know what it is. You can put him in line of several players over the last couple of years that fans started to dislike because Dusty missused them.

[ZZ Thorn]

Macias should be a fan favorite - like Doug Dascenzo, except Macias is better. I wonder why everyone loved Doug and all those other short, scrappy ballplayers but they hate Macias? I wonder what the difference is?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Macias should be a fan favorite - like Doug Dascenzo, except Macias is better. I wonder why everyone loved Doug and all those other short, scrappy ballplayers but they hate Macias? I wonder what the difference is?

 

Increased awareness?

[sonicdethmonkey0]

Macias should be a fan favorite - like Doug Dascenzo, except Macias is better. I wonder why everyone loved Doug and all those other short, scrappy ballplayers but they hate Macias? I wonder what the difference is?

 

knowledge of the game of baseball?

[ZZ Thorn]

It was nice when guys like Dascenzo came out: the crowd would get all into it, and if he got a hit they'd go nuts, chant his name, etc.

 

Guess it's a more jaded crowd nowadays, unwilling to pull for the underdog anymore. Too bad. Maybe people think these 25th men really suck - as tho they would do better or something, LOL!

[Balsa]

Kinda like Blanco?

 

*flashes membership badge*

[hawkeyecub]

Macias should be a fan favorite - like Doug Dascenzo, except Macias is better. I wonder why everyone loved Doug and all those other short, scrappy ballplayers but they hate Macias? I wonder what the difference is?

 

Sports talk radio and the internet have helped create much more cynnical, negative fans. The upside to it is that it's much easier for everyone to find information and learn more about the game, the players and each team.

 

But the downside is the constant second guessing, fans often thinking they know more than management/coaches and never being satisfied. It's become a fixture in the sports landscape regardless of the team or sport. Certainly some of these elements were present at that time also, but not nearly on the level of today.

[J.R.]

Dascenzo and Augie were jokes, mascots for mediocrity on ballclubs built with no real drive to win.

 

I hate that players like Sandberg, Dawson and Grace were saddled with such crap. Macias, when used properly, is actually a legitimate player - something the old midgets never were.

 

The new breed of Cub fan has no patience for that foolishness, and it's an improvement IMHO.

[Wilson A2000]

Macias has a good average, but on the radio today even Pat and Ron were berating him and many other Cubs for not running out plays. Macias didnt run out his bunt today and even Pat was all over him. You can feel the fever picking up with Ron cause he is beginning to yell again.

[bhogg]

Dascenzo wasn't THAT bad. You forget that he could pitch every once in a while ;)

 

I think Macias is a very good 25th man. It's not his fault that Dusty mis-uses him. I doubt any of us would tell Dusty "no" if we were told to pinch hit.

[frostwyrm]

Macias should be a fan favorite - like Doug Dascenzo, except Macias is better. I wonder why everyone loved Doug and all those other short, scrappy ballplayers but they hate Macias? I wonder what the difference is?

 

There is lingering dislike for Macias from last year, when he played way too much and kept batting at the top of the order. It also didn't help that he had starts in the outfield while Kelton and Dubois were rotting on the bench.

[Larry Horse]

Macias should be a fan favorite - like Doug Dascenzo, except Macias is better. I wonder why everyone loved Doug and all those other short, scrappy ballplayers but they hate Macias? I wonder what the difference is?

 

Sports talk radio and the internet have helped create much more cynnical, negative fans. The upside to it is that it's much easier for everyone to find information and learn more about the game, the players and each team.

 

But the downside is the constant second guessing, fans often thinking they know more than management/coaches and never being satisfied. It's become a fixture in the sports landscape regardless of the team or sport. Certainly some of these elements were present at that time also, but not nearly on the level of today.

 

Actually, what caused me to become a cynical and negative fan is the fact that my favorite team hasn't been to a World Series since 1945. I think a 97 year championship drought can tend to do that to some people.