Lofton

[Shwerve]

Looks like Lofton is not so likely to be a Cub. Who mans CF for the next year or two? Jones (if we don't trade him)? Soriano? Crawford or Baldelli? Personally I have a hard on for Crawford, but it won't happen.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6258894

[NeifiPerezMVP2007]

Looks like Lofton is not so likely to be a Cub. Who mans CF for the next year or two? Jones (if we don't trade him)? Soriano? Crawford or Baldelli? Personally I have a hard on for Crawford, but it won't happen.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6258894

GOOD!!!!!! We went down that raod once.:D

[HOLYCOW!25]

I think Jones would. I've been saying the only reason I would see us trading him would be if we got some pitching for him, but seeing as we've basicly got our rotation filled (with the 5th spot still up for grabs at Spring Training) there's absolutly no reason to trade him. He had a good season last year, and he adds a well needed left bat. And I don't care if people say he's got a weak arm, it's still better then Pierre's. His range may not be as good, but it's not like he's gonna be fielding in a big center field too much (unless they're at Minute Maid).

[Ivy Killa]

Jones in CF scares the s*** out of me, i dont think he'd be very good there....espeacially on the road when we get to bigger parks......personally i liked what i saw of Pagan last year and i'd like to see what he could do in CF for a whole season.

[HOLYCOW!25]

If I'm not mistaken, Jones played quite a bit in center for the Twins. And I do like Pagan, and I think he'll be great off the bench this year, but I'm not sure if I want him playing full time this year. Maybe next.

[Ivy Killa]

Jones played 82 games in center in 1999 and 63 games in 2000, since then he's played in a total of 14 games in center.......thats not someone i want in CF, at least with Pagan you would have youth, switch hitting abilities, speed, power, defense, a good arm.

[Ivy Killa]

it's official....Lofton just signed with the Rangers, 1yr 6million......i can see jones diving unsuccesfully for liners in center field as i type this.

[Sheffield_&_Waveland]

it's official....Lofton just signed with the Rangers, 1yr 6million......i can see jones diving unsuccesfully for liners in center field as i type this.

Grrrrrrrrrumbles at the thought of those visions...........lets hope he proves us wrong......thats about as positive as a I can get about him playing center

[Brutus T Manstrength]

you guys make it sound like he plays defense like a mentally handicapped tuba playing ape out there.. he's not that bad. it's his arm that's the problem.

[HOLYCOW!25]

Yea I remember some good defensice plays from him last year. I do remember some bad too, but it's not like he's an absolutly terrible defender.

[dundeecub]

yo brute, check yourself: my little sister plays the tuba

[Sheffield_&_Waveland]

My problem with Jones is his defense looks very fluky and I just think there is the possibility of him being a liability playing center. I was sold on getting Lofton back because the only thing Jones is able to do better than Lofton is hit for power and as our line up stands we are not lacking power. I would rather go with the person that has the better average and OBP and who is capable of giving us 30+ stolen bases plus the experience of playing center field not only in Wrigley but in almost every park in the Majors.

[Brutus T Manstrength]

is she a mentally handicapped monkey, too? I got nothing against tuba players.. just the defense that the mentally handicapped tuba playing apes play.

[dundeecub]

nah, not as far as i'm aware ;)

though, somewhat inevitably, i would say my little sister does have a stronger arm than jj... but thats mostly from carrying the tuba: seriously, she can lift me...

[Brutus T Manstrength]

haha.. now that I wouldn't doubt. But you know.. in all honesty.. his arm power isn't his issue.. his issue is releasing it so it doesn't kill the grass... Right field has more divits than a public golf course the way he throws it..

[dundeecub]

i'd wager more accurate too

[Brutus T Manstrength]

Dundee.. do you get upset when people call you Irish?

[dundeecub]

cant say anyone ever has

[Brutus T Manstrength]

ehhh... your sister is a tuba playing irishwoman!

[P-Ram]

once again
jones does not have a weak arm
he has weak throwing mechanics
when he got his mechanics right he threw rocket lauchers from right field

[Yaow]

Seriously. Everyone is acting like JJ hit like .190 last year and most people dismiss him as garbage.

Obviously hitting is not a problem for him bc I was very pleased of the offensive season he had.

And Im sure the coaching staff is going to do their jobs and correct Jaque's flaws in his defense bc that is their job.

Im sure Pinella and co. will make everything better with JJ as the season approaches if he stays with us and takes over CF.

Plus we really really need a left handed bat in that order.

Im looking forward to seeing Jaque in center and I doubt there will be many other options for center out there besides the one we got now.

[Ivy Killa]

i have no problems with Jone's hitting abilities and if his mechanics are off maybe he can work on that as well as his accuracy......my problem with Jones is his range, i dont think he'll provide adequate coverage in center espeacially on the road.....thats gonna cost us alot of runs.

[LeeEila's/rant]

once again
jones does not have a weak arm
he has weak throwing mechanics
when he got his mechanics right he threw rocket lauchers from right field

Do you mean that when he was throwing home , ignoring his cutoff man , he would hit the Aamco technician sitting in the upper deck off the 1st base line ?:confused: