I know I'm a bit late to the party here, but just happened to catch the B&B podcast from last week where the guys called out Lou when he commented about the booing at Wrigley Field, calling it "counterproductive".

I have to say, I agree with Lou (though I'm not sure it makes much sense for him to speak that opinion). It does seem to be counterproductive, and even if it's not, at the very least, I don't see how it helps anything.

To me, I think it's fair to boo when someone is not giving effort. Aside from that, what is it exactly you are booing? For example, Ted Lilly was roundly boo'd a few starts ago, after giving up a few runs in the 6th inning and being lifted. Why do that? The guy's been nothing but a solid pitcher for over two years, and even on that particular day he had a decent outing. So the opponents scratch out a few runs, and it's time to boo him? I don't understand the mentality of that.

And booing Derek Lee.. again, why? The guy seems to be on the decline, but what do you want him to do? He seems to have given full effort since the day he got here. What will booing him accomplish? Will it make him get younger? Will it speed up his bat?

Look, I understand the players make tons of cash, and their feelings are not going to be hurt. However, they are still human beings, and to me, being boo'd anytime you make an out or give up a base hit, doesn't exactly provide much incentive to provide for the fans. Yes they are professionals and should (and will) perform regardless. But as I've said, I don't see how it's productive.

If I were a player, and was 3-for-3 then popped up and got boo'd, my first inclination would be to give the ol' salute. But maybe that's just me.

Another striking angle to this is, Cubs fandom is known for their rabidness in hounding the players for autographs. Now, pretend you're Ted Lilly for a minute. You just got roundly boo'd after a decent outing, then on the way to your car, a bunch of fans (mostly adults) are yelling at you to come over and sign autographs. How does one reconcile this?

B&B were also annoyed by Lou's follow-up, that it's hard being a pro athlete. While it would certainly seem to be a preferable profession to most others, it is laborious work, and it is VERY difficult to perform at a high level. So a guy who puts up drywall all day has the right to boo someone who fails to hit a 95-mph fastball to his satisfaction, that's fine, but the drywall guy should also understand that success in hitting that fastball is a bit more difficult to achieve than what is required by his own profession.

So I challenge those who agree with the B&B stance on this and ask, HOW DOES BOOING GET YOU CLOSER TO A CHAMPIONSHIP? Do you think it forces the players to play harder? Do you think it forces management to get better players (doubtful, since you're still buying tickets anyway)?

Or perhaps, is the booing simply the result of drunken machismo and a false sense of importance and control, rather than a logical pre-mediated attempt to improve the team?

THAT is a lot of words.

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Yeah I quit reading after about word 4.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Do you need pictures?

Lou couldn't be more wrong about this. Lou is turning into Dusty Baker with hi neverending defense of his players, and now blaming the fans for the Cubs lousy play.
I am ready for Ryno to take over this team!

John

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

they were saying boo-urns...

Nail, meet hammer.

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Fire Phil Emery

Booo

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Proud to be UNVERIFIED.

Sometimes the fans are booing Lou's decisions. Whether it was to play Lee over Hoffpauir....and then Lee hits into a DP or strikes out-the boo's are meant as much for Lou's decision to play Lee and put him in that situation, as they are for the players performance. Or for putting a pitcher in (Heilman, Cotts) that has pitched 2 straight days prior to that day....and then the pitcher gets tattooed. The boos are meant as much for lou as the pitcher. I think Lou understands that and maybe thats what might really be bothering him about the booing.

To be clear, I like Lou as a manager. But like any manager, I see moves he makes as mistakes. Plus, i think he sometimes is told to play some guys ahead of others, because of the salary they make. Lee and Fukadome both deserved to be on the bench to begin the year. But at 13.5 million and 11 million, they were put in the lineup. It's nice to see that Fukadome has done well enough to justify his regular inclusion in the lineup.

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Go Cubs!!!!

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Try a Mai Tai.

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There goes one over the fence..Tru Link Fence..Beauty, Privacy Security....Call Tru Link.
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WOO LIFE!!!!