reality: Is/Can Jacque Jones carry(ing) us?

[Howling Mad]

Ok this is both a possibility-future tense and a has he-past tense question. I didn't want to do two surveys but geez the most hated Cub is on fire.

It took awhile but even Sportsworld took him off the game thread list of likely to F up.

His idiotic mistakes have always shined through any of his ability and performance, but over the last couple of months JJ has been killing at the plate. Enough to overshadow his blunders.

In the months of July and August JJ is:

33 of 95 at the plate for a .347 average. 1 HR and 19 RBIs. 9SO and 10BB. 12 doubles.

In July he had an OBP of .368. So for the haters.. JJ in the 2hole makes sense. slugging .390

In August he has an OBP of .474. slugging .694

Ok I hate Jacque, but reality folks. In another thread I said someone unexpected was going to carry us... didn't think it would be JJ in the 2 hole.

Has he come to terms that hes old and his power is gone, therefor this new slap-hit style with lots of oppo hitting his new MO?

Either way hes been performing amidst all the fan hate. I hate to say it...



GO JJ!



(simoultaneously knocking on wood as I hit the submit button.)

[2poor]

I wouldn't say he's carrying "us" so much as he's [finally] carrying his own weight. It just so happens that his change to carrying his weight has come at a very opportune time.

He and Kendall are the primary reasons why the Cobs have done well in Colorado through two games. Check out Kendall's August numbers, they're not too far off from JJ's.



ps. I should add that I think there is a HUGE connection between JJ's production and the fact that he doesn't have to roam CF anymore.

[2poor]

Outfielder Jacque Jones, already the team's hottest hitter in recent weeks, delivered a second straight big offensive night from the No. 2 hole Friday to key back-to-back wins over the Colorado Rockies in the first two games of a four-game series at Coors Field.

''Jones is really taking to that No. 2 hole,'' manager Lou Piniella said after the Cubs beat the Rockies 6-2 behind strong pitching from Jason Marquis (9-7) and another big offensive night. ''He's swinging it. He's driving the ball.''

One night after going 4-for-5 with four RBI, Jones had a bunt single and an upper-deck home run in a three-hit effort Friday as the Cubs kept pace with National League Central-leading Milwaukee, which needed 11 innings to beat Houston and avoid being overtaken by the Cubs.

Jones has led the mile-high climb for the Cubs lineup since its ugly Houston series earlier in the week, racking up seven of the 28 Cubs hits the past two nights -- with slugging Matt Murton adding a three-hit game Friday, along with his third homer in four days, and Jason Kendall delivering his second straight three-hit game.

Jones' homer Friday was his first since June 1.

''Finally,'' he said.

Jones is so hot these days he even reached on a strikeout in the eighth inning, when the ball skipped to the backstop -- and then stole second.

Suddenly, he's hitting .444 in August, .349 since the All-Star break and looks like an important part of bridging the offensive gap created by the loss of leadoff hitter Alfonso Soriano to a quadriceps injury.

Not bad for a guy the Cubs tried to dump in trades in June after relegating him to fifth-outfielder status.

''I just know I can play,'' he said. ''I always have confidence in my ability no matter what. Sometimes it wavers a little bit. But I've been in the league eight years for a reason. It's not a fluke. It's not by accident. I can play.''

Since his average dipped to .227 the first week of July, Jones has not only played his way back into an every-day spot in the lineup but also made himself too valuable to trade. Since July 4, Jones is 33-for-94 (.351), raising his season average to .266.

link

JJ

[Angry Jimmy]

All aboard the bandwagon I started driving a while back

[2poor]

[mattbulls]

Thanks Bud!

[treyZz]

Jacque Jones couldn't carry this Connecticut little league team currently on ESPN let alone carry the Chicago Cubs.. Let's not get ridiculous.

Jones has been hitting, but it's been against bad pitching. He will get destroyed in due time.. Don't worry.

[RyGuy24]

Maybe you all should have listened to me and realized Jaque Jones isn't that bad of a baseball player in the first place He definately slumped early on but it still amazed me how much crap you guys gave him after last season despite putting up some stellar numbers. I guess it's amazing how a team losing can impair the outlook on certain players. By no means is Jacque a star, but it just befuddled me how everyone acted like he's Neifi and not a capable ball player.

[GYBE]

When I/everyone was complaining about Jacque, he had a sub .300 OBP and a .650ish OPS. We had every right to deride him, he was playing like one of the worst everday players in the league.

Hey, he brought his OPS over .700. Good for him. Once Soriano comes back, I still don't want him playing.

LF Soriano
CF Pie
RF Murton

He's a decent 4th OF. Anyone playing as horribly as he was is bound for a hot streak, it's just the law of averages.

[RyGuy24]

When I/everyone was complaining about Jacque, he had a sub .300 OBP and a .650ish OPS. We had every right to deride him, he was playing like one of the worst everday players in the league.

Hey, he brought his OPS over .700. Good for him. Once Soriano comes back, I still don't want him playing.

LF Soriano
CF Pie
RF Murton

He's a decent 4th OF. Anyone playing as horribly as he was is bound for a hot streak, it's just the law of averages.

Definately agree with that OF, though we're still likely to see alot of Uncle Cliff splitting time.

[Rodanlee]

i can never see murton being a starting outfielder for a mlb team.... ever

[Rodanlee]

and my love for jacque keeps growing.... i have the same feelings as you ryguy

[GYBE]

i can never see murton being a starting outfielder for a mlb team.... ever

Um, ok.

Jacque Jones Career

.279/.328/.455 .783 OPS

Matt Murton Career

.297/.365/.452 .817 OPS


Jacque Jones 2007

.266/.326/.379 .705 OPS

Matt Murton 2007

.275/.345/.409 .754 OPS

So to sum up, Murton has better career numbers. He has better numbers this year as well. He's younger, and thus more likely to improve. He also doesn't throw like a girl. I fail to see any objective reason why Jones should be playing instead of him.

[Posey H8er]

Well they are both hot right now so play them both until one cools off.

[Rodanlee]

nice play in the OF corner by murton allowing a run to score

[Posey H8er]

That's one negative about Murton, he is absolutely terrible on defense in every aspect.

[Rodanlee]

and jacque has a stronger arm than murton... i'm not saying more accurate cause we all know he likes to occasionally throw it into the ground...

[GYBE]

First off, Jones' arm is a huge disadvantage. It may be techinically stronger, but it's a toss up on whether his throws go anywhere near their target.

Secondly, defense doesn't matter that much. Even the worst defenders in the majors cost their teams 8-10 runs a season, and Murton isn't that awful. Murton's offense is only going to improve with everyday AB's, the last season he played that often he was stellar. We know what Jacque gives, it's mediocrity. Murton has so much more upside.

[IlliniNRG]

First off, Jones' arm is a huge disadvantage. It may be techinically stronger, but it's a toss up on whether his throws go anywhere near their target.

Secondly, defense doesn't matter that much. Even the worst defenders in the majors cost their teams 8-10 runs a season, and Murton isn't that awful. Murton's offense is only going to improve with everyday AB's, the last season he played that often he was stellar. We know what Jacque gives, it's mediocrity. Murton has so much more upside.

If that's the case, why would you advocate Pie starting in CF? His bat is atrocious. The only reason he'd be starting is for defense.

[SportsWorld]

The Cubs are at least 15 games over .500 when Pie is on the team.
On June 3rd he got called up and that was when we started winning.
We are 2-1 since his last call-up