Chicago Cubs Fans: Give Felix Pie a Chance!

Pardon me while I vent. Chicago Cubs fans are making me very angry. Don't get me wrong, they are the best fans in baseball, but the lack of patience in a player's progression is getting old.

From reading many different blogs, it is very apparent that Cubs fans have zero trust or patience in Felix Pie. Never mind the fact that he is the best defensive outfielder on the Chicago Cubs. All the Cubs fans care about is that he can't be patient at the plate and start hitting the ball. 

Let me ask a serious question: Why do you think our pitchers are so dominant, especially Ted Lilly? They have the utmost trust in the defense behind them, and this helps them throw strikes. The reason I say especially Lilly is because he is a proven pop-fly pitcher. Most of his outs are strikeouts or lazy flyballs to the outfield. 

Felix Pie is by far the best outfielder on this team. He has the speed to run down any ball hit his way. This makes a pitcher feel really good, knowing that the power-alley gaps are significantly smaller with him out there than a Reed Johnson or 'Old Balls' Jim Edmonds. 

My question is simple: Why can't Cubs fans and Cubs management be patient with him, and leave him in the game? Do you all realize that he is on the team primarily for his defense, and not for hitting? Do you realize that he is hitting in the eighth spot on the lineup? He doesn't need to produce in that spot. It would be nice, but I would sacrifice an extra 50 hits a year for a surefire out in center field.

I have two main issues that I want to bring up with the recent move to get Jim Edmonds, which will most likely put Felix Pie back in AAA Iowa. 

1. Felix Pie is DOMINATING AAA pitching. He has proven that he is too good to be in Des Moines. For some reason, and I think it is a lack of confidence, largely brought on by booing and impatient Cubs fans, he can't translate that success to the bigs. I wish you all would give him a shot. Dustin Pedroia had the same issue last year. Boo birds all over Fenway Park, fans were down on him, yet the best coach in baseball (yes, I said best) Terry Francona, stuck with him. What happened? Oh, he won Rookie of the Year and ended up being a premier second basemen.

I'm not saying this is the case with Pie, but who cares! He is hitting in the eight spot. All he has to do is hit .250, steal a few bags, and keep playing amazing defense. That brings me to my next point.

2. Defense. Felix Pie is on this team because of defense. With Edmonds out in center field, the Cubs might as well print off huge signs saying "Hit it here", and hang them in left center. Neither Alfonso Soriano nor Jim Edmonds will have a chance at getting to those balls.

So, here is my argument: Get off Felix Pie's back. He will come around. You don't hit over .330 in AAA only to hit .200 in MLB. Respect him for what he brings to Chicago, which is amazing defense and tremendous speed if we need a run and we have a runner on second to pinch run for. Let him play. Put Edmonds back on the bench, and use him in situational-hitting situations only. 

I'm curious to hear what you all think. After all, I did just call you out as being a bunch of impatient, whiny, baseball fans. The season is long, let's give Pie a chance.

Go Cubs!

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