February 13, 200620 yr http://cmsimg.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DK&Date=20060213&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=602130320&Ref=AR&Profile=1006&MaxW=290.jpg Pierre creating excitement among Cub fans By Bob Tompkins btompkins@thetowntalk.com (318) 48-6349 A lot of the excitement and anticipation about the Chicago Cubs this preseason centers on the team's new leadoff hitter, Juan Pierre. Earlier this month, the Cubs finalized a one-year, $5.75 million contract for Pierre, whom they acquired in a December trade with the Florida Marlins for three pitchers. Then, on Super Bowl Sunday, the 28-year-old native Alexandrian made a cameo appearance during a Super Bowl commercial. He was in an ad for the ESPN mobile phone with several other athletes. He is seen poised at an intersection, then dashing to his left across the street in base-stealing style. After the 2005 season, when Cubs leadoff hitters combined to hit just .245, and when the Cubbies ranked ninth in the National League in runs scored despite leading the league in hits, Pierre might be the tonic Chicago needs to generate more runs. "We look forward to adding Juan, who is one of the best leadoff men around," Cubs manager Dusty Baker related to The Town Talk through an official with the team's media relations department. "Not only that, but he's a great player with a great attitude." Pierre batted .276 last season with the Marlins, and he ranked second in the NL in stolen bases with 57. His career batting average over five years in the big leagues is .305, and he has 247 career stolen bases. Even in discussing the question of who will be the No. 2 batter in his lineup, Baker's mind remains on Pierre. "That's probably your smartest hitting position," Baker told mlb.com in discussing the possibility that 23-year-old shortstop Ronny Cedeno might win the position, even though veteran Todd Walker, an LSU product, is the favorite to be the second man in the Cubs' batting order. "You have to know when to take to let Juan Pierre steal." Even though Pierre was running to his left in the Super Bowl commercial, Cub fans hope he will be running to his right to steal bases. Baker said his No. 2 hitter must be a good bunter, adding, "you also have to be a pretty good runner in case Juan doesn't get on. Florida had Juan and (Luis) Castillo. Whoever the No. 2 hitter is will have to learn Juan." http://www.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a.../602130320/1006
February 13, 200620 yr Pierre'll be fine, he may even be an All-Star (between the infield grass and the Chicago fans voting). What's ignored is that Maddux is another year older and Prior and Wood are still overrated as ever. The Cubs are only going as far as Zambrano is taking them.
February 13, 200620 yr Good points Swift on Wood and Prior. I put them in the AJ Burnett yet to prove sh*t category.
February 13, 200620 yr Prior's year in 2003 didnt prove anything? 200+ IP, 18-6, 2.43 ERA, 1.103. If he stays healthy this year he could definitely repeat similar and maybe better numbers. Wood on the other hand, is overrated and I wonder how much longer his body is going to hold up.
February 13, 200620 yr Prior's year in 2003 didnt prove anything? 200+ IP, 18-6, 2.43 ERA, 1.103. If he stays healthy this year he could definitely repeat similar and maybe better numbers. Wood on the other hand, is overrated and I wonder how much longer his body is going to hold up. While I agree with his good 2003 he hasnt been doing it on a consistent basis. Those are excellent numbers tho.
February 13, 200620 yr Prior's year in 2003 didnt prove anything? 200+ IP, 18-6, 2.43 ERA, 1.103. If he stays healthy this year he could definitely repeat similar and maybe better numbers. Wood on the other hand, is overrated and I wonder how much longer his body is going to hold up. agreed, I think the smartest thing would be for Wood to become a closer, i think after some time with it he would be good. But i doubt he will do that so he will polly pitch a few more seasons as a starter till his body wears out.. as for Prior, he's a great pitcher, i think he is still a tad overrated, but I would put him in the Josh Beckett catagory, increadable stuff, just injury prone and inconsistant at times.
February 13, 200620 yr Author After Kerry Woods injury and surgery, I don't think he'll ever start another game, he's definitely going to close.
February 13, 200620 yr Prior's year in 2003 didnt prove anything? 200+ IP, 18-6, 2.43 ERA, 1.103. If he stays healthy this year he could definitely repeat similar and maybe better numbers. Wood on the other hand, is overrated and I wonder how much longer his body is going to hold up. But his 2004 and 2005 aren't as sparkling, and he didn't come close to 200 innings in either of the past two seasons. Talent isn't in question, but it's 2 years in a row he hasn't made 30 starts, thrown 200 innings had an ERA below 3.5 or won 14 games. I can't give an "ace" title to a guy who hasn't done anything since 2003. Even Beckett has thrown more innings than Prior since 2003, and won more games.
February 13, 200620 yr Prior's year in 2003 didnt prove anything? 200+ IP, 18-6, 2.43 ERA, 1.103. If he stays healthy this year he could definitely repeat similar and maybe better numbers. Wood on the other hand, is overrated and I wonder how much longer his body is going to hold up. But his 2004 and 2005 aren't as sparkling, and he didn't come close to 200 innings in either of the past two seasons. Talent isn't in question, but it's 2 years in a row he hasn't made 30 starts, thrown 200 innings had an ERA below 3.5 or won 14 games. I can't give an "ace" title to a guy who hasn't done anything since 2003. Even Beckett has thrown more innings than Prior since 2003, and won more games. I just can't say the guy is overrated when he has put up big time MLB numbers and shown as good of a talent set as any current pitcher around. If he had not shown what he was capable of before and not been injured then, he would definitely be overrated. I just can't deem a guy overrated when he has proved it despite bing injured often. You can't just throw out next season either because he has been injured.
February 14, 200620 yr JP's a great guy and I hope he has an amazing year. However, I hope his team crashes and burns.
February 14, 200620 yr This one hurts the most. Who can forget: "And then we go to Wrigley Field, I got that wiggly feel"
February 14, 200620 yr Seeing Pierre in a Cubs uniform makes me sick. I hate that team. I love JP but I could never root for a Cub.
February 14, 200620 yr Author This one hurts the most. Who can forget: "And then we go to Wrigley Field, I got that wiggly feel" oh god :lol :notworthy :crying
February 14, 200620 yr Beckett, Castillo and Burnett are worse. Here longer, meant more, all that stuff. Plus, market correction or not, I think most of us felt that Pierre was going to be traded in the offseason.
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