Most Hated Cubs of the Decade: A LOHO Album
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I originally thought I would alternate good lists and bad lists, so as not to drive the fan base too deep into a winter-in-which-we-do-nothing-to-improve-our-team-related depression. However, after much relflection, I think we'll get all the angst out of the way right from the beginning, leaving the "best of" lists for last. Like I said, LOHO's intent is to force you to deal with your Cubs issues, leaving you free to start the New Year in a peaceful and enlightened state....
85 Comments
Doc said:
Ugh...
So many good choices on here...
The guy I hated the most was Neifi...
But I think most fans would probably have a coin flip between Uncle Milty and Slammin' Sammy.
Doc said:
So, Julie...are you going to have a Designated Hotter post on Hottest Player of the Decade?
JulieDiCaro said:
We are going to have a Top Ten list of Hottest Chicago Athletes of the Decade.
JulieDiCaro said:
Podcast starts in 35 minutes! Call us with your best and worst Chicago Sports Memories for 2009. http://tobtr.com/s/833582
Call in number: (917) 889-9169
gravedigger said:
Oh man, I don't think I could chose on this list. God dammit, I don't know why I'm a fan of this team. I hate so many of them so fucking much.
Doc said:
I thought I was the only person that hated Michael Barrett.
Indy_Rob said:
Dang CubbieJulie, there are some anger issues left to be worked out! I feel for Groggles. His looks really upped the bullpen.
flyball said:
somehow I couldn't manage a whole lot of anger towards Gregg, by the time he got into the game usually my annoyance was used up
flyball said:
who nominated Howry? thats just wrong
gravedigger said:
Yeah, I don't get that one. He seemed like a cool guy and wasn't a total bust. I think the "worst" and "hated" thing is a bit confusing, but even with that said Howry doesn't belong on either list. Also want to know who nominated him. Out with it!
JulieDiCaro said:
plenty of people nominated him, and he STILL gets made fun of by Cubs fans--though not to his face.
MN Pat said:
Bobby Howry was a sexy badass. Even though he never actually resorted to violence you always felt like he was thisclose. But in a good way. And he was a pretty solid pitcher. Who hates him?
Jake said:
I would add two to that list.
Jacque Jones
Roberto Novoa
Doc said:
Seriously, Julie...what is with the JJ love over the last week?
gravedigger said:
JJ for sure belongs on the list. There's no question most fans absolutely detested him.
JulieDiCaro said:
hey--it is not an easy task to discern between "worst" and "most-hated."
and i also can't believe i forgot korey patterson. oh well.
gravedigger said:
I don't think he'd have fit on "worst" -- he sucked, but he wasn't, by far, one of the worst.
He was "hated" for a lot of the reasons fans hated Milton. He was hostile towards fans when they weren't particularly welcome to him, and blamed everything else around him for his performance. He was the "big" offseason signing who failed to produce, and he was certainly the object of the fan ire when he was here. Or there. I'm not in Chicago.
JulieDiCaro said:
I remember JJ getting booed for striking out a lot, but I don't think he's anywhere NEAR among the most hated Cubs of the decade. And anyway, people have mostly forgotten about him by now.
Doc said:
I haven't forgotten him. And that's all that matters.
JulieDiCaro said:
Haha mlbtradrunmors.com calls John Grabow one of the worst singings of the year:
John Grabow, Cubs - two years, $7.5MM. The Cubs are tight on payroll, but were quick to commit an above-market contract to a lefty reliever with a 5.0 BB/9 in '09.
Doc said:
It's so sad that the Cubs are so often on the "Worst Signings" list.
Shouldn't that tell you something?
Rich C said:
There is no one I hated seeing get the ball more than Kevin "Batting Practice" Gregg, but I detested Corey Patterson because he could have been a star if he'd only have listened to his coaches.
Patterson is followed (very) closely by Neifi Perez.
gravedigger said:
I remember one year (can't remember which) someone asked him in Sprint Training what his goal for the year was, and he said "70 home runs." And the reporter essentially said it sounds like a joke, but he was dead serious. He always had the wrong perspective.
Doc said:
Neifi Perez has the distinction of being the only player that has caused me to almost get thrown out of Wrigley Field...
When I screamed out after he weakly grounded to second, "Hey Neifi, hurry up and get back into the dugout so you can suck Dusty's dick!"
There weren't a lot of people in the ballpark at that point, but there were a couple of younger kids whose parents weren't too happy with me. (The teenagers that were sitting around us thought it was funny, though.) Those parents threatened to get security if I said anything else like that.
That is actually quite out of character for me at the ballpark. I'm usually quite stoic when the Cubs are bad.
Umbra said:
I love that picture of Rich Hill. That's it. That's the look. That's the face he'd make right before letting up moon shots. I wonder how many pictures you had to go through to get that one. Larry looks pretty depressed, too.
I saw things in the war. Terrible things.
Maim said:
Larry looks hilarious.
cub legend said:
Oh God, I forgot about Neifi!! He was bad. But Bradley has to be the most hated. He Got $21 million to do nothing but bitch and blame everybody else because he sucked. Everybody new what he was like. Everybody but Jin Hendry that is.
I liked Michale Barrett. Especially when he punched that a hole AJ Perzinsky in the face. Anybody else here that can't stand the Sox?
JulieDiCaro said:
I agree that watching Mikey punch AJ was almost as much fun as watching AJ's jowels flap in the breeze afterwards. But that wasn't enough to compensate for the fact that he was a really, REALLY bad catcher. Still, you could always count on Mikey to start a fight when things got really frustrating, and I miss that. This team got into ZERO fight this season. ZERO. If ever there was a team that should have been out there punching everyone, it was the 2009 Cubs. I thought at least Milton would be good for a sucker punch every once in a while.
Boo.
Mothball said:
A fan of the sucker punch, your classiness matches your good looks. It was fun watching A.J. hit that game winning 3-run 9th inning homerun at Wrigley that same year.
Arnold said:
The gatorade cooler started a few fights, and was indefinitely suspended early in the season. LOL
AndCounting said:
For me, it's Todd Hundley, hands down. He couldn't even be bothered to button up his jersey all the way, let alone hit the ball or throw out baserunners. There was just always this "who are you to tell me I suck?" air about him. Most of the guys on this list I just got frustrated with, but Hundley I hated.
JulieDiCaro said:
I think I hated Neifi the most. He just. . . kept being there. Every day. Every lineup.
AndCounting said:
I felt nothing toward Neifi. I didn't like seeing him bat, but I did like saying, "Neifi."
gravedigger said:
That's right. After a while it kind of started feeling like a joke. It was like, "Haha, that's funny. What's the real lineup?" But then there he'd be. Again. And the same thing happened every single fucking year with a different player, a new Baker pet who would just shit the bed but continue to constantly be there.
Doc said:
Hundley disappointed me the most. I don't think I could really hate him. But I think he is pretty high on the hate list for most Cub fans.
JulieDiCaro said:
SI's Jon Heyman is saying the Cubs are in on Jermine Dye.
Umbra said:
Plus bat, terrible defense, high price. Sounds like a fit.
JulieDiCaro said:
Names connected to the Cubs today: Dye, Contreras, Byrd, Pods. What I imagine is going on inside Jim Hendry's crack staff war room:
http://www.ipod.org.uk/reality/reality_chimp2.jpg
Doc said:
Can't the Cubs be in on just one good player?
Just one!
Doc said:
Oh...and add Spilborghs to that list. Ugh!
Mothball said:
Nope.
MN Pat said:
Can managers be on the list? Because I'd like to nominate Dusty. So much hype ... so many toothpicks ... so few results.
gravedigger said:
Completely agree.
gravedigger said:
DeRosa is about to sign with the Giants. Hopefully people here can finally shut their pieholes about that one now.
JulieDiCaro said:
I'm just getting started.
gravedigger said:
No. I said shut your piehole.
Mothball said:
For the benefit of humanity and the benefit of me keeping my lunch down please keep all your holes shut.
gravedigger said:
I loved Rich Hill. And I only hated Barrett at the end.
gravedigger said:
Oh, and one more thing (can't believe I didn't catch this from the beginning): fuck everyone who nominated Sammy.
Sammy is STILL -- and will probably always be -- my favorite all-time Cub.
JulieDiCaro said:
that's because you have no sense of right and wrong.
gravedigger said:
Speaking of which, I just sent out invites to the 2010 Deadpool on facebook. If you didn't get one and want in, lemme know!
Mothball said:
Is cubbiejulie on the list? Is it a prediction or a wish list?
JulieDiCaro said:
"Bart of Darkness" is on. Best. Simpsons. EVER.
Doc said:
We have the Jake Boyman episode up here...(Saffron is taking a bath, so I can watch the simpsons tonight!!!)
PretzelTim said:
I remember at the Cub Convention in Rockford many moons ago when the Cubs walked into the convention and everyone was so accomodating except Todd Hundley, he stated to some kids, "Screw the autographs, it hasn't started yet.....where's the bar?" He proceeded to get lit and was a veritable cornucopia of yuck the whole night.
JulieDiCaro said:
He seemed to ask "where's the bar" a lot. He called in to Spike O'Dell's show once and you couldn't understand a word he said.
gravedigger said:
Are you guys serious that he was an alkie? Because I always thought he looked like one, but didn't think he really was.
PretzelTim said:
Kevin Gregg seemed a bit overwhelmed with his Cub tenure or he had a corncob stuck up his *** the whole time.........
Arnold said:
I can only speak for myself. I thought Sammy Sosa's positives outweighed his negatives, and I hope to see number 21 flying on the foul pole some day. I agree that Todd Hundley is the most hated Cub ever. Running a close second to Todd should be Fred McGriff. He had a no trade clause and forced the Cubs and Tampa Bay to beg him to waive that clause. I still remember his numerous double plays and ground outs when he did not even bother to walk (let alone run) down the base line. Bobby Murcer should be on this list too, but since he passed away, I will leave him alone.
flyball said:
the weird thing with Sammy is that while I personally don't dislike him I understand why he would be nominated for the 00's, but he still belongs on the Most Loved Cubs list of the 90's, and at or near the top
gravedigger said:
That's really true, and I think its his 1998-2001 years that make me forget anything that happened before or after. He was truly prolific.
Mothball said:
Bernie Madoff had some truly prolific years cheating as well.
Mothball said:
Yep, every homerun Sammy hit while he was on the Cubs happened because he was a cheater. Real positive stuff there Ace.
HackWilson09 said:
Folks need longer memories. Especially Cubs fans. I agree wholeheartedly with Patterson making this list, for always believing himself to be better than he was. Jacques Jones - definitely. But where are: Willie Greene? Damon Buford? Shane Andrews? Rondell White? Ismael Valdez? Kyle Farnsworth? Todd Van Poppel? Will Ohman? Matt Karchner??? Brian Williams???? OH GOD! The 2000 Cubs roster is a most hated Cubs team all by itself!
gravedigger said:
Were thoes guys really "hated"? They mostly sucked, and fans largely wanted them gone, but did it generate the sneering and snideness that Niefi, Hundley, Heredia, Macias, or Bynum did? Some of those other guys were bit players, some had good years (Ohman, Farnsworth). But most of these other guys were flat out hated.
HackWilson09 said:
Oops -- I puked in my mouth and got distracted. Rick Aguilera was our closer that year...
Reggie Dunlop said:
How about "all Cubs"? :-)
Mothball said:
How about "all Cub fans"?
gravedigger said:
I also hate most Cubs fans, but Cubs fans aren't actually Cubs. Sorry.
Mothball said:
True and the only hate worthy employee of the Cubs was Milton Bradley unless you count the guy responsible for employing Milton and include Jim Hendry which is reasonable.
HackWilson09 said:
You know those strings of sausages hanging at an authentic New York deli? Well... looking at the Cubs' annual rosters on baseball-reference.com is a bit like handling a string of those sausages, except that four out of five of the casings are filled with steaming dog pooh. You really shouldn't be touching them, and just imagine what will happen to you if one of them breaks open. So... Hated? Maybe my list is too long. But I did hate Farnsworth. Remember when he and Mikey teamed up to throw 13 straight fastballs to Julio Franco?
curtislocke said:
Rondell White?? He played a mere 114 games with the Cubs -- hardly long enough to develop any deep feelings. I remember Fred McGriff -- he hit 30 HRs and 103 RBI in his only full season with the Cubs. Why did fans lay so much shit on McGriff -- because he didn't make it easy for the front office to trade him? Didn't know Hundley was a drunk?! Hardly a secret. Farnsworth was like adding gasoline to a small fire in relief (which reminds me of Alfonseca!) And what of the "problematic" LaTroy Hawkins? But Sammy and MB have to be THE GREAT bums. And Gravedigger - class act.
DrCrawdad said:
"Rich Hill...A heralded prospect from a young age..."
"Young age?" Hill was 25 yrs old in his first year with the Cubs and 28 yrs old in his last year with the Cubs.
JohnUlrich said:
You forgot Jacques Jones and his rainbow throws from right field.
robertn said:
how did ramon martinez not make that list
ThisIsOurYear said:
Sorry for subject switch. I was wondering if ANYBODY knew when Cubs tickets go on sale? I can't find info anywhere.
Ilsan said:
How about Antonio Alfonseca? I hate that sack of sh*t.
pip3333ct said:
I like almost everyone on this list except for Bradley at the end and J. Jones. Because someone is bad is not enough for me to not like them. Sammy made some mistakes but so do all of us, he did enough good in my book to outweigh the bad.
Hipo17 said:
Say what you want about Felix Heredia- he sucked, he was a choker, overpaid, etc. All true, by the way. But in the dozens of Cubs games I've been to in my life, out of the possible hundreds of players I've verbally harassed, pleaded, and begged to give me a ball or autograph, he was the only one to do it. He wasn't too good of a pitcher, but helluva nice guy...
Shlobotnik said:
I am pleased to hear others mention my most hated 00's Cub, Kyle "Announce my presence with authority!" Farnsworth. His high-90's fastball was impressive, but straight as an arrow (especially when turned around and rocketing towards the gap). Being utterly convinced that by sheer force of his manliness he could throw it by ANYONE, he never bothered to master a second pitch he could control, or even to keep his fastball below the belt.
Despite his obvious limitations, during his Cubs tenure he was consistantly painted as a closer-in-waiting(if only by himself), but those results speak for themselves: 13 blown saves to only 4 saves! Christ, even Alfonseca wasn't that awful under pressure(and don't talk to me about holds- he doesn't deserve credit for at least half of those, as others bailed him out)
Dishonorable mention goes to Sammy - as great as he could be at times, when he was cold(50-60% of the time) he was absolutely brutal. Kind of like Soriano...
logic1 said:
I cant believe you forgot Todd Hundley. Would also add Jerry Hairston Jr..
yaksun said:
I wonder how many people who hate Sammy were yelling their heads off when he was swatting home runs? Oh, but he was a cheater? Well so was McGwire and a number of others. News flash: After the strike of 1994, all of Baseball, Selig included, would do ANYTHING to bring the fans back. If that meant condoning the use of PEDs, so be it. Nothing gets the fans up like the home run ball.
Sammy cheated? So did HOF Gaylord Perry and many others who never got caught. If he got fed up in 04 and 05, its probably cause he was sick and tired from carrying this stupid franchise on his back for about 8 yrs. Quick, who was the Cubs 2d leading HR hitter in 2001? Ricky Gutierrez, remember him?
Also, Rich Hill had a great year in 2007 and helped to get the Cubs into the playoffs. Good reason to hate him. Honestly, stop whining and looking for scapegoats people.
My top 5 to hate, in no order: Todd Walker, who was the "voice" willing to accept blame for all the defeats in 05, 06, yet couldn't catch a ground ball; Heredia is a good one; Wil Ohman sucked, but I loved the grimace he showed after every costly hit he allowed - just like KKKKKKKorey Patterson after striking out. How do you spell Patterson's first name? With an"orey" and 160 Ks.
Milton Bradley was dislikeable, but good grief, didn't anyone study his behavior before sigining him. Dogs chew shoes, cats scratxh people and Milton Bradley is surly. So what? My main problem with him was that he couldn't hit right handed pitching.
BTW, if the Cubs don't win in '10, it won't be because of Marlon Byrd. Kosuke Fukudome has been masquerading as an everyday ball player for 2 yrs now. People dont get that the bat we needed besides Soto's last year was Jim Edmonds. Kosuke is a waste of a position.
IMHO
ps Time to trade D. Lee and some prospects for A Gonzelez.
cubby23(eric) said:
How did the 6-fingered reliever not make this list...Gregg was bad and befuddling, but Antonio Alfonseca , was just a nightmare on the mound. Not since Mel Rojas did I cringe when I saw a Cub reliever take the mound with the lead.
cubby23(eric) said:
Part of me also thinks that Jerry Hairston Jr. belongs on this list of decade futility, or Cesar Izturis if only because we traded away Maddux and got him as a deadline deal compensation (it's the one time I wished a team offered cash or a player to be named later).
RuthvensWindup said:
How is Kosuke Fukudome not on this list!? Can't stand him. I am in total agreement with yaksun. For some reason, most writers lauded him this year even though he put up almost identical numbers from the previous year (and please don't give me the more walks argument). In fact his numbers were similar to Bradley's and Fukudome makes more money (48 million for 4 years...yikes). He was b(r)ought in to be a polished product that could provide left-handed power. Instead, we're now stuck with a punch and judy .250 hitter. A complete waste of a prime power position and of monetary resources on this clown. But hey, if the writers say so...
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