Thoughts on Cubs Outfield in 2009

**CubsnClones** · 01-21-2009, 08:16 PM

Because Joey Gathwright (if you know anything about him) uses his head and is more disciplined than Felix Pie ever dreamed about being. His OBP was much better than Felix Pie, plus he is much faster that Pie..

The Sox and Brewers need to worry about trying to play .500 ball this year. Your two teams are in broken shambles

So go whine somewhere else because Cub fans out number you two on this board 5 to 1... No sympathy here

Originally Posted by mwitt

Are Cub fans seriously excited about Joey Gathright? Why? He is Felix Pie without the upside.

**mwitt** · 01-21-2009, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by CubsnClones

Because Joey Gathwright (if you know anything about him) uses his head and is more disciplined than Felix Pie ever dreamed about being. His OBP was much better than Felix Pie, plus he is much faster that Pie..

The Sox and Brewers need to worry about trying to play .500 ball this year. Your two teams are in broken shambles

So go whine somewhere else because Cub fans out number you two on this board 5 to 1... No sympathy here

Oh, for ******'s sake. No one is talking about the Sox or Brewers. The thread is about the Cubs. I am doing nothing but discussing the Cubs. If you want to discuss the Sox, send me a PM and I would love to. Just an FYI -- when you change the argument to something else, it is a sign of defeat.

Back to the subject at hand: Joey Gathright is not a good player. If I know anything about him? Like you've pointed out, I am a fan of an AL Central team. Joey Gathright came from the AL Central, and has played in the AL for his entire career. Let's look at this logically and see who knows anything about him.

His OBP was not "not much better than Pie." In fact, it was worse (but pretty much a wash -- .311 vs .312 -- both bad). He did have a good OBP in 2007, but that was because he hit for an abnormally high average, which he has shown no indications of doing again. Even with his career year, he had a not so good OPS of .713.

To put that into perspective, Kosuke's OPS last year was .738. Juan Pierre's with the Cubs was .718.

Better yet, Gathright's 2008 OPS was .583. His career OPS is .632. That is BAD.

You can call him more disciplined, if you'd like. His career high in walks is 22. Enjoy his discipline.

It's pretty insignificant because he'll be the 25th man on the roster, but you seriously convinced yourself to be excited about a player that wasn't good enough for the Royals.

**CyCy** · 01-21-2009, 08:38 PM

My guess for number of games started this year.

Soriano 135
Bradley 95
Fukudome 90
Johnson 90
Gathright 35
Others 41

**cycloneman003** · 01-21-2009, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by mwitt

Oh, for ******'s sake. No one is talking about the Sox or Brewers. The thread is about the Cubs. I am doing nothing but discussing the Cubs. If you want to discuss the Sox, send me a PM and I would love to. Just an FYI -- when you change the argument to something else, it is a sign of defeat.

Back to the subject at hand: Joey Gathright is not a good player. If I know anything about him? Like you've pointed out, I am a fan of an AL Central team. Joey Gathright came from the AL Central, and has played in the AL for his entire career. Let's look at this logically and see who knows anything about him.

His OBP was not "not much better than Pie." In fact, it was worse (but pretty much a wash -- .311 vs .312 -- both bad). He did have a good OBP in 2007, but that was because he hit for an abnormally high average, which he has shown no indications of doing again. Even with his career year, he had a not so good OPS of .713.

To put that into perspective, Kosuke's OPS last year was .738. Juan Pierre's with the Cubs was .718.

Better yet, Gathright's 2008 OPS was .583. His career OPS is .632. That is BAD.

You can call him more disciplined, if you'd like. His career high in walks is 22. Enjoy his discipline.

It's pretty insignificant because he'll be the 25th man on the roster, but you seriously convinced yourself to be excited about a player that wasn't good enough for the Royals.

like was said earlier... quit worrying about the cubs who are a lock for the playoffs and worry about if your team is going to break .500

**mwitt** · 01-21-2009, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by cycloneman003

like was said earlier... quit worrying about the cubs who are a lock for the playoffs and worry about if your team is going to break .500

Like was said earlier, this is a Cubs thread, so I'm here discussing the Cubs. Why does that offend so many people?

The White Sox have nothing to do with this discussion. Their team, which is obviously not going balls out in 2009, is completely irrelevant to the Cubs OF and Joey Gathright. Why does that disqualify me from discussing the Cubs?

Feel free to discuss any of the actual points I made.

**Cyclone90** · 01-22-2009, 12:48 AM

I think Bradley's fire will be a good thing for the Cubs. They haven't shown much emotion, win or lose, since Z and Barrett went at it in the dugout. I'm all for adding that kind of guy. Soriano, Lee and Ramirez are supposed to be the team leaders with Wood gone and their not going to get into anybodys face.

On the negative side, the first time Bradley gets into a funk and circles the wagons in the outfield trying to catch a fly ball the Cubs fans will be all over him. Boo-bird serenade. He'll likely go after such Cub fan and he'll never have a chance from their on out. Unfortunately Joe Cub fan really likes booing now.

**iccyfan** · 01-22-2009, 07:32 AM

Originally Posted by mwitt

Oh, for ******'s sake. No one is talking about the Sox or Brewers. The thread is about the Cubs. I am doing nothing but discussing the Cubs. If you want to discuss the Sox, send me a PM and I would love to. Just an FYI -- when you change the argument to something else, it is a sign of defeat.

Back to the subject at hand: Joey Gathright is not a good player. If I know anything about him? Like you've pointed out, I am a fan of an AL Central team. Joey Gathright came from the AL Central, and has played in the AL for his entire career. Let's look at this logically and see who knows anything about him.

His OBP was not "not much better than Pie." In fact, it was worse (but pretty much a wash -- .311 vs .312 -- both bad). He did have a good OBP in 2007, but that was because he hit for an abnormally high average, which he has shown no indications of doing again. Even with his career year, he had a not so good OPS of .713.

To put that into perspective, Kosuke's OPS last year was .738. Juan Pierre's with the Cubs was .718.

Better yet, Gathright's 2008 OPS was .583. His career OPS is .632. That is BAD.

You can call him more disciplined, if you'd like. His career high in walks is 22. Enjoy his discipline.

It's pretty insignificant because he'll be the 25th man on the roster, but you seriously convinced yourself to be excited about a player that wasn't good enough for the Royals.

The referee has stopped the undercard bout at 1:31 of Round 3 and declared mwitt winner by TKO. I hate the sox and agree that Joey G is likely insignificant, but love a well-delivered factual beat-down! Well done!

**bigredqb7** · 01-23-2009, 12:07 AM

Originally Posted by cycloneman003

like was said earlier... quit worrying about the cubs who are a lock for the playoffs and worry about if your team is going to break .500

man this guy got owned

**Clone_12** · 01-23-2009, 12:10 AM

Gathright shouldn't be seeing much time in the lineup, and will likely mostly be used late in games as a pinch runner...lou wanted to get more speed-and the Cubs got it in Gathright. Pie was fast, but he wasn't near the basestealer that Gathright is.

**cycloneman003** · 01-23-2009, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by bigredqb7

man this guy got owned

i love how you think i got "owned" in a internet debate by some guy who has nothing better to do in his day that look up all the stats in a baseball players career.

no one ever said that Gaithright is going to be a great player, it was said that hes going to be a better option that Pie which is absolutely true. With Soriano, Bradley, Fukudome, Johnson and Hoffpauir; it is unlikely that Gaithright will get many starts at all, but off the bench he bring tremendous speed and defense.

heres the difference between the cubs and sox. the cubs only needed a role player or 2 this offseason ala Joey Gaithright, and yes they did go get Bradley, but it wasnt a dire need. the sox on the other hand have tons of holes to fill in their lineup, rotation and bullpen. therefore a sox fan would think that every signing has to be a guy thats going to play a lot and contribute. the cubs dont need that.

tell me another lineup that can even touch the cubs

Soriano
Theriot
Bradley
Ramirez
Lee
Soto
Fontenot
Fukudome
Zambrano

...there isnt one.

**CubsnClones** · 01-23-2009, 08:35 AM

Where's your loyalty? You say you like the Cubs, but then side with a Sox Fan? What kind of two faced person are you? Cub fans stay loyal to other Cub fans. It's like manlaw, come on now..

I suppose you claim to be a Cub fan, (to get the chicks), but then secretly worship Ozzie Guillen at your home altar because you can't help yourself...

Sox fans are like Hawkeye fans. They worry more about what ISU is doing rather than worrying about their own team.

Originally Posted by iccyfan

The referee has stopped the undercard bout at 1:31 of Round 3 and declared mwitt winner by TKO. I hate the sox and agree that Joey G is likely insignificant, but love a well-delivered factual beat-down! Well done!