Cubs remain utterly clueless about value of the base on balls

Mike Kiley has an article yesterday that begins with the following paragraph:

“In Gene Clines’ first season as the Cubs’ hitting coach, they led the National League with 1,506 hits. That was tempered, though, by finishing ninth in runs scored and RBI.”

Wow!  Time for some discussion about the Cubs’ team-wise lack of plate discipline?  Of course not.  The remainder of the article is full of Clines’ babbling about the “impact” Pierre and Jones are already having:

“There’s one key difference, however, that Clines said is showing already. He and former hitting coach Gary Matthews, who now coaches first base and assists Clines with the hitting instruction, are hearing music pleasing to their ears, thanks to Pierre and Jones.

‘A lot of things I’m hearing from these guys around the batting cage, I have been saying for the last three years,’ Clines said. ‘They are saying the same things: Play the game right and check your ego. Don’t worry about yourself. Get the guy over when you have to.

‘That has been such a blessing to have the new guys come in and actually teach some of the other guys about the things they have to do to win games. Check your ego because we are all in this to win, and don’t try to do it all by yourself. That’s the focus this year.’

Left fielder Matt Murton and shortstop Ronny Cedeno will be beginning their first full season in the majors. Clines has noticed Pierre and Jones having impacts on them.”

Uh, the last thing in the world Murton and Cedeno need is hitting tips from Pierre and Jones.  In fact, I imagine Matt might have some valuable advice for Juan and Jacque (no, we’re not playing in Europe, I promise).  Clines also talks about Pierre “hitting for average” but never mentions bases on balls, let alone OBP.  The entire article is just more proof that the coaching staff has learned nothing from last year’s failure to score consistently.