Getting Jones will move Patterson's lame ass to the bench and the outfield will be reasonably strong with Jones, Pierre, and Murton as the only variable.
Not sure I like that deal. I do as a Sox fan because he was tough against the Sox, and I won't mind seeing him only 6 times next year instead of 19.
They're paying 5+ million a year for someone who really isn't THAT much better. It's a good deal if he reverts to his 2002-2003 years, but his average has gone down the last two years, and he's going to be good for close to 120 whiffs a year.
He also is a TERRIBLE daytime hitter, which is exactly what you need for a team that plays all but around 25 home games during the day.
Corey is a better baserunner. They are about equal in the field.
Corey has more upside. He's 4 years younger. Too bad the Cubs coaching staff has no fucking clue how to handle him. He's never going to be the leadoff man they thought he would be, but he could be a guy that puts up 20-25 HRs a year with 30-40 SB with around a .260 average, plus better than average D.
Pat...if the Cubs put Corey in RF and he started the first month of the year like he played in '05 you would be the first guy on here condemning the Cubs for not doing something about his lack of production.
I'd love to see Patterson be the guy. But I believe he is mentally weak and can't handle any pressure. He needs to go to Tampa Bay or Kansas City where he will put up the numbers you mentioned.
""f the Cubs put Corey in RF and he started the first month of the year like he played in '05 you would be the first guy on here condemning the Cubs for not doing something about his lack of production"
No I wouldn't, because unlike everyone in Cubdom, I really don't expect production out of him. Management has completely misused him since he came to the majors.
I've known since Day 1 that Corey was never going to be a leadoff hitter and would never succeed, yet they were determined to make him into one, which ruined his confidence. Corey is better suited in the bottom of the order, where he'll bring some pop and speed.
Corey has always been too much of a free swinger to be a leadoff hitter.
Putting him as a leadoff guy makes about as much sense as the Sox making Konerko their leadoff hitter.
Well, Pat, apparently you should be employed by a major league team.
I seem to remember Patterson nearly making the All-Star game in 2003. Not bad for somebody who you knew would never be productive.
Then, in 2004, after coming back from a knee injury he hit .266 with 24 HR, 72 RBI & 32 steals.
Hell, if that's not productive then I could put together a pretty damn good team of Pat's Unproductive Players.
"I seem to remember Patterson nearly making the All-Star game in 2003. Not bad for somebody who you knew would never be productive."
I forgot how important that is. I forgot that when GMs assemble teams, they don't look at things like career average, avg number of strikeout, and other career numbers.
I mean, if a guy ALMOST made the All-Star team once, they have to be valueable.
So then why are they trying to get rid of him?
"Then, in 2004, after coming back from a knee injury he hit .266 with 24 HR, 72 RBI & 32 steals."
He also struck out 168 times.
In 2005 he hit .215 with 13 HR and 34 RBI. That's some big time production right there. And that's coming off an injury free year.
" Well, Pat, apparently you should be employed by a major league team."
Maybe I should. I wouldn't have wasted most of a season trying to turn a bottom of the order guy into a leadoff hitter. I wouldn't have let an aging superstar tell me what place he's batting in the order.
I should have clarified, I knew that Corey wouldn't succeed at being a leadoff hitter from day 1. He's one of those guys that has all the look (because of his speed), but not the mental makeup.
Like I said, I don't know why they think Jones is massive improvement over Corey, or Burnitz for that matter (I don't know what he did for the Cubs to distance themselves from him so quickly). Jones' numbers are no better than Burnitz.
Quite honestly, all they've done is pay more money for a lateral move.
yeah i'm happy the cubs got jones ESPECIALLY at that price!!!!
heres to hoping we can pick up paterson!!!
im glad he didnt return to the twins. cub fans will get sick of this guy.
Rod, Mel Rojas begs to differ.
Oh wait......
Candy Maldonado begs to differ.
Oh wait......
Well, they did win the series after re-signing Maddux.
Wait a sec....Cubs just signed Marquis Grissom
To a minor league contract.