Oniel cruz

[Buccobill]

On pace for over 200 SO, over 40 errors, and Lord knows how many runs and games he will cost with his mental mistakes and lack of hustle.

[Bobster]

On pace for over 200 SO, over 40 errors, and Lord knows how many runs and games he will cost with his mental mistakes and lack of hustle.

But he won the game today.

[Doc]

Cruz responds to this topic with 2 hits including a grand slam.
Please consider that he hasn’t even played 2 full years

I do consider that. It’s the way he goes about playing. He’s lazy and aloof. He doesn’t play hard all the time, he just picks his spots. It’s his personality. I just don’t believe he’ll be the complete player he could be, and even if he still produced well in spite of that, he’s not getting everything he can out of his talent. He’s cheating himself, and that adversely affects his team. I don’t think he’s worth the frustration regardless of how good he could be.

I know I’m in the minority but I just can’t warm up to this guy because I think he’s wasting incredible ability. He could be so much more than what he’ll end up being, and that’s a real shame.

Doc
I also share some of your frustration with Cruz. It angers me to see him jogging down the first base line and not running every ball out.
I think he signed when he was only 16, so he has had 9 years to learn the game. He has been labeled a budding superstar and a unicorn which obviously adds more pressure to a young player.
It’s too bad that we don’t have a Roberto Clemente type that could take Cruz under his wings and mentor him. I liked what McCutchen did the other night when he turned to Cruz and pointed at his (McCutchen’s) gold glove. Unfortunately Cutch in his own words is not the vocal leader type and it is also a disadvantage that he does not speak Spanish. I just think Cruz is immature. He is all smiles when things are going his way; but he gets too low on himself when he struggles. I think he is way too talented to give up on.
BTW he is on pace for a 32 HR and 72 SB season

Points taken. What frustrates me the most is when a player doesn't play all out all the time. I realize the game is hard and the season is long, but I think those are lame reasons for not going full tilt. When I see marginal players giving their all constantly, and a player with Cruz's immense talent carrying himself like he's in gym class, it's very bothersome to me. He's wasting true greatness, and it's not fair to his teammates.

[Ecbucs]

I do consider that. It’s the way he goes about playing. He’s lazy and aloof. He doesn’t play hard all the time, he just picks his spots. It’s his personality. I just don’t believe he’ll be the complete player he could be, and even if he still produced well in spite of that, he’s not getting everything he can out of his talent. He’s cheating himself, and that adversely affects his team. I don’t think he’s worth the frustration regardless of how good he could be.

I know I’m in the minority but I just can’t warm up to this guy because I think he’s wasting incredible ability. He could be so much more than what he’ll end up being, and that’s a real shame.

Doc
I also share some of your frustration with Cruz. It angers me to see him jogging down the first base line and not running every ball out.
I think he signed when he was only 16, so he has had 9 years to learn the game. He has been labeled a budding superstar and a unicorn which obviously adds more pressure to a young player.
It’s too bad that we don’t have a Roberto Clemente type that could take Cruz under his wings and mentor him. I liked what McCutchen did the other night when he turned to Cruz and pointed at his (McCutchen’s) gold glove. Unfortunately Cutch in his own words is not the vocal leader type and it is also a disadvantage that he does not speak Spanish. I just think Cruz is immature. He is all smiles when things are going his way; but he gets too low on himself when he struggles. I think he is way too talented to give up on.
BTW he is on pace for a 32 HR and 72 SB season

Points taken. What frustrates me the most is when a player doesn't play all out all the time. I realize the game is hard and the season is long, but I think those are lame reasons for not going full tilt. When I see marginal players giving their all constantly, and a player with Cruz's immense talent carrying himself like he's in gym class, it's very bothersome to me. He's wasting true greatness, and it's not fair to his teammates.

I agree players should be going all out. Since I follow games on the computer rather than watching it is hard to tell which players on the bucs are going all out and which ones aren't. I definitely see reports that Cruz doesn't go all out (he at least needs to start running out of the box, I can't understand why coaches and players aren't hammering that at him)

[Doc]

Doc
I also share some of your frustration with Cruz. It angers me to see him jogging down the first base line and not running every ball out.
I think he signed when he was only 16, so he has had 9 years to learn the game. He has been labeled a budding superstar and a unicorn which obviously adds more pressure to a young player.
It’s too bad that we don’t have a Roberto Clemente type that could take Cruz under his wings and mentor him. I liked what McCutchen did the other night when he turned to Cruz and pointed at his (McCutchen’s) gold glove. Unfortunately Cutch in his own words is not the vocal leader type and it is also a disadvantage that he does not speak Spanish. I just think Cruz is immature. He is all smiles when things are going his way; but he gets too low on himself when he struggles. I think he is way too talented to give up on.
BTW he is on pace for a 32 HR and 72 SB season

Points taken. What frustrates me the most is when a player doesn't play all out all the time. I realize the game is hard and the season is long, but I think those are lame reasons for not going full tilt. When I see marginal players giving their all constantly, and a player with Cruz's immense talent carrying himself like he's in gym class, it's very bothersome to me. He's wasting true greatness, and it's not fair to his teammates.

I agree players should be going all out. Since I follow games on the computer rather than watching it is hard to tell which players on the bucs are going all out and which ones aren't. I definitely see reports that Cruz doesn't go all out (he at least needs to start running out of the box, I can't understand why coaches and players aren't hammering that at him)

Like you, I follow the game on the computer, too. So I make sure to watch enough video of him before commenting. I agree that he should be taken to task for his lack of hustle, and I think it should be the veteran players who get after him foremost. By not giving his all, it’s hurting them, too. Maybe they have but he just won’t listen, so they may have given up. Perhaps because of his great offensive talent he’s been coddled since turning pro and so he’s become a bit bratty.