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jobu · 06-03-2004, 02:35 PM

Ever since the Cubs signed Sammy to his first big contract I have been calling for him to leave. At the time, without doing any research, I think it made him the 3rd highest paid player in the game. There were easily 10 players that would have been more deserving and a better fit for the Cubs than Sammy. When he first came to the Cubs he had a very limited English vocabulary. WGN decided to do an ad for the Cubs featuring Sammy where the only thing he said was “I love to hit the home run.” To me that phrase has summed up Sosa’s career. The only thing he has improved upon is his power hitting (which has been continually questioned because of the steroid issue). His defense has always been below average and he used to have a very good arm. The only problem was that he had no control and the ball usually ended up in the seats. He has always been a selfish player. He refuses to give himself up and move runners into scoring position, he won’t shorten his swing with 2 strikes, he has caused problems in the clubhouse with his music, and last year he refused to go down and take a rehab stint in the minors. When he came back he struggled so badly that it led to his corked bat incident (an accident so he says). Sounds like a team player to me. Sammy’s biggest problem is that he tries to pull everything. It used to be that all you had to do was throw a curve low and away and you either got him to whiff or hit a chopper to short. During his years that he was hitting everything out of the park he stayed with the outside pitch and drove it to right. When he gets hot he definitely is one of the best sluggers (sluggers not hitters) in the game, but over the last 2 years he has reverted back to his old ways. Trying to pull the curve ball away and chasing the high fastball. That being said, since the team has gotten better Sammy seems to have tried a little more on defense but is still a free swinger. The time to trade him was about 2 years ago. He is 35(so he says), but he still has a couple of good years left in him. Trading him now will only get you prospects. Not a bad thing if you are a competitive franchise but the Cubs aren’t. Also, Sammy is a 10/5 guy, so getting his approval will almost be impossible. With the Cubs it is always wait till next season. Well, next season is now and in the end the Cubs are a better team with him in the lineup than some prospect. So I say keep him and try to win with him.

As far as Lee is concerned, I always thought it was a mistake that the Cubs signed him. Even though he has an excellent glove and does take walks, he still strikes out 100+ a year. Add that to Sosa, Gonzalez, Ramirez and Patterson and you end up with very little production. Look how the Cubs win, either they score 10 runs or no runs. With their pitching staff, they should have put together a team that produces runs. That way they could be in every game. Sorry for the novel but this just touched a nerve with me.

06-03-2004, 02:35 PM	#20 (permalink)
jobu Crazy	Ever since the Cubs signed Sammy to his first big contract I have been calling for him to leave. At the time, without doing any research, I think it made him the 3rd highest paid player in the game. There were easily 10 players that would have been more deserving and a better fit for the Cubs than Sammy. When he first came to the Cubs he had a very limited English vocabulary. WGN decided to do an ad for the Cubs featuring Sammy where the only thing he said was “I love to hit the home run.” To me that phrase has summed up Sosa’s career. The only thing he has improved upon is his power hitting (which has been continually questioned because of the steroid issue). His defense has always been below average and he used to have a very good arm. The only problem was that he had no control and the ball usually ended up in the seats. He has always been a selfish player. He refuses to give himself up and move runners into scoring position, he won’t shorten his swing with 2 strikes, he has caused problems in the clubhouse with his music, and last year he refused to go down and take a rehab stint in the minors. When he came back he struggled so badly that it led to his corked bat incident (an accident so he says). Sounds like a team player to me. Sammy’s biggest problem is that he tries to pull everything. It used to be that all you had to do was throw a curve low and away and you either got him to whiff or hit a chopper to short. During his years that he was hitting everything out of the park he stayed with the outside pitch and drove it to right. When he gets hot he definitely is one of the best sluggers (sluggers not hitters) in the game, but over the last 2 years he has reverted back to his old ways. Trying to pull the curve ball away and chasing the high fastball. That being said, since the team has gotten better Sammy seems to have tried a little more on defense but is still a free swinger. The time to trade him was about 2 years ago. He is 35(so he says), but he still has a couple of good years left in him. Trading him now will only get you prospects. Not a bad thing if you are a competitive franchise but the Cubs aren’t. Also, Sammy is a 10/5 guy, so getting his approval will almost be impossible. With the Cubs it is always wait till next season. Well, next season is now and in the end the Cubs are a better team with him in the lineup than some prospect. So I say keep him and try to win with him. As far as Lee is concerned, I always thought it was a mistake that the Cubs signed him. Even though he has an excellent glove and does take walks, he still strikes out 100+ a year. Add that to Sosa, Gonzalez, Ramirez and Patterson and you end up with very little production. Look how the Cubs win, either they score 10 runs or no runs. With their pitching staff, they should have put together a team that produces runs. That way they could be in every game. Sorry for the novel but this just touched a nerve with me.