Jacque Jones hit a 3 run HR off Florida’s Josh Johnson, one of the key blows in the Cubs’ 6-3 come from behind victory Monday night. Afterwards, he discussed the warm reception he’s received on the North Side since his arrival from Minnesota with the Chicago Tribune’s Paul Sullivan.
“I’m angry right now, you know what I mean?” Jones said. “It’s almost funny. It’s almost funny.”
Jones then ripped into Cubs fans for a perceived lack of support, pointing out he’s not the first Cubs player to get harassed at Wrigley.
“I’m not confused at all,” he said. “I’ve seen friends go through it. Sammy Sosa hit 60 home runs three years in a row, went into a little slump and … hey, like I said earlier, they have a right to voice whatever opinion they want to voice.
“But it’s not going to make me play any better. It’s not going to make me play any worse. I’m just going to go play the game the way I know how.”
Jones said he was “hearing all kinds of stuff” in the outfield throughout the game.
“I’m just getting used to it,” he said. “Where I came from, they were passionate about baseball. We probably didn’t draw as many [in Minnesota], but they were there through thick and thin. [The booing] is something I’ve got to get used to. I’m blocking it out as much as I can.”
Carlos Zambrano tied a career high with 12 strikeouts but got no offensive support. When he broke a bat over his knee after striking out in the third inning, manager Dusty Baker cringed, fearing his pitcher could be injured. But Baker absolved Zambrano.
“He needs a little bit of craziness,” Baker said, “just to be himself.”
I wonder how heavily all the excuses Dusty Baker has made for his players weighs on his soul? It must be a burden worse than the deepest, darkest depression. At this point, I really pity him.
“But it’s not going to make me play any better. It’s not going to make me play any worse. I’m just going to go play the game the way I know how.â€
unfortuneately for cubs fans the way he knows how to play involves about 150 strikeouts per year.