Bye Bye Beast Mode

by meercatjohn on Jul 1, 2009 5:18 PM PDT Comment 12 comments

Ever since Juan signed I've been one of his biggest detractors but by the end of May I was sure glad he was on our team. One of my favorite things about baseball is how the unexpected can emerge for a short time and put all the statistics to shame. Certainly over the long run most things normalize but once in a while a Magic Marlon will skew the numbers and shock/delight the fans. I'd say we were all shocked and delighted at Juan Pierre in May.

Beast mode indeed

Some posters are taking offense to some media types who are over hyping what Pierre did in his time here. Whatever you think of their argument no need to drag Juan down into the fray. Juan struggled in June but he was a huge bonus to the team in May when Andre went into the tank. While he doesn’t deserve to start over our big three he doesn’t deserve our scorn either. He did his job and we should be happy that he gave us that shot in the arm in May.

So what if the ignorant few who have a keyboard and get paid for using it are plugging him and making him out to be more then he is? No sweat off our back, what we have is a great starting outfield and finally someone on the bench who can help in the late innings when some speed is needed because we’ve had one sorry slow bench while he’s been starting.

2 recs | Comment 12 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Well said

I think this is the right attitude to have toward Juan. And, despite what any writers or commentators think, Torre makes the lineup, and I believe he knows who the three best OF are, and he has and will dole out playing time accordingly.

by Eric Stephen on Jul 1, 2009 5:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

LOVE

Three starting outfielders per game, 7 games a week, 21 starts a week.

There will be plenty of “Beast Mode” left.

I’m not worried about the outfield, its the position players we need to worry about (did Manny learn how to play short, 1st, or catch?).

While the national media (AKA Joe Morgan) may be in love with Juan, commentary on these boards have been much more ridiculous in the inverse way.

by Dodger Dude on Jul 1, 2009 6:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I bet Manny could play first

but I’m of the (probably) irrational opinion that any major league baseball player could play 1st base. In that regard, I bet Pierre could play first too. Not that I’m advocating that, just saying.

Oh, and posters here are more ridiculous than Joe Morgan? Ouch. That’s rough man.

by mwhite06 on Jul 1, 2009 7:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i'll admit it

i was waiting for someone to say it first, but I thought there was just way to much Beast hate on these boards. Don’t get me wrong, there was some beast love, and it was easy (and right) to hate JP because of his performance for us in the past 2 years, but there was just way too much hating on JP over these past 50 games. I can’t wait to have 4 well qualified starting outfielders

I'm nobody's fool, least of all yours

by BoulderDodger on Jul 1, 2009 11:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I objected to JP the moment he was signed because of his performance the two years previous to that

which was about the same as what he gave LA the last two years.

I think the “too much hating on JP” is a perception of the amount of response generated to the over-enamored calls for highly increased playing time for him, all because he got hot and hit about .400 for the first three weeks he started. All sorts of players have gotten hot for three weeks; it doesn’t make them the right choice for the majority of the starting time.

by David Young on Jul 2, 2009 2:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

right

and i completely agree, he should be on the bench and is overpaid. He did fill in admirably though

I'm nobody's fool, least of all yours

by BoulderDodger on Jul 3, 2009 3:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Joe Hates the Dodgers.....

Still has that Big Red machine mentality. He’ll say anything to create disharmony in LA. He knows what’s about happen.

by Pedro's curse on Jul 1, 2009 7:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

… Big Red machine and SF Giant mentality …

by David Young on Jul 1, 2009 7:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

double ...

whammy, forgot about those years.

by Pedro's curse on Jul 1, 2009 7:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Juan Pierre is a plus asset on the bench

It’s really a better way to utilize his skills. He can PR in those key late-game situations where his base running skills will really matter. He will be a useful PH – the only lefty bat on the bench in most cases. He’ll be OK as a spot starter in LF when Manny needs the occasional rest.

It may just be coincidence, but his hot streak came right at the outset of playing every day, and slowed down once he’d been playing for awhile. Maybe playing less will keep him stronger.

And he really does seem to be the good, hard-working guy that everyone portrays him to be.

I still would never want Juan Pierre to be my every day starting CF (or LF) for the whole season, but kudos to JP; he came through in a big way at the moment the team really needed it.

I predict that he won’t “walk salty” in the clubhouse and he’ll be as happy as anyone spraying champagne in the locker room in early November.

by David Young on Jul 1, 2009 7:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs