Hire Jim Essian

When the Cubs signed Jim Edmonds early in the 2008 season, what was your first reaction? Irrational hatred? Yeah, me too. Until he had a terrific 2008 season with the Cubs, I hated Jim Edmonds with every fiber of my being. As it turns out, my hatred was well-founded. Prior to his arrival in Chicago, Edmonds had already established himself as #52 of the Top 79 Cub Killers of My Time.

Jim Edmonds was selected in the seventh round of the 1988 amateur draft by the then-reasonably-named California Angels. After driving in 110 RBIs in 145 AAA games, Edmonds was a September call-up at the end of the 1993 season. He made his Major League debut on September 9, 1993, in a 6-0 Angels win over Sparky Anderson’s Detroit Tigers. The streaky Edmonds went 0-4 with 2 strikeouts.

On March 23, 2000, Edmonds was traded into the NL Central, as the Angels sent Edmonds to St. Louis in exchange for for Kent Bottenfield and Adam Kennedy, and the Cubs’ long nightmare began. So, technically, it’s the Cubs’ fault that they didn’t re-sign Bottenfield after the 1997 season that Edmonds ended up a Cardinal. Thanks a lot, Kent Bottenfield.

Edmonds didn’t make his debut against the Cubs until April 3, 2000. The Cubs were at Busch Stadium in St. Louis for Opening Day. Well, Opening Day in these United States of America. If you recall, the Cubs opened the season at the Tokyo Dome in Japan, where they split a two-game series with Bobby Valentine’s Mets. Kevin Tapani matched up against Darryl Kile in a battle of who wouldn’t eventually be found dead in a hotel room. Also, a pitching matchup. Tapani and the Cubs were either jet-lagged or just…the 2000 Cubs. They only collected three hits off Kile, which is even less than Kile took behind the dumpster outside the clubhouse before the game. The Cubs lost 7-1, and Edmonds went 0-3 with two walks, two strikeouts, and a run scored on a Craig Paquette three-run home run in the first inning. Oh, don’t worry. Edmonds got them in the second game of the series. He went 2-3 with another two walks, two runs scored, a double, a home run, and three RBIs as the Cardinals won 10-4. Before you ask, yes, the Cardinals swept the three game series. Edmonds only had two more runs scored, another two RBIs, and a walk in the 13-3 Cardinal win.

In his sixteen-season career, Edmonds compiled a .270/.394/.554 line. He hit more home runs (32) and drew more walks (80) in his 126 games against the Cubs than he did against any other team. Oh, and he hit 17 of those home runs at Wrigley Field. Prior to joining the Cubs, Edmonds also had 37 RBIs in only 65 games in Wrigley Field.

It’s hard to bag on the guy now that he ended up being sort of awesome as a Cub, so screw you, pre-Chicago-Cub version of Jim Edmonds.

Why You Should Hate Him: Here’s to you, 2004 season. Once again we turn our pissed-off eyes to you. (Ronnie) Woo woo woo. The first-place Cardinals (who were somehow still battling with the Cincinnati Reds for first place in the NL Central) were in Wrigley Field on June 9, 2004. The Cardinal lineup did not include Albert Pujols, but Edmonds picked up the slack. He collected three hits, including two home runs, and drove in four in a 12-4 Cardinal victory.

Did You Know? I think I’ve already got this covered. (BONUS: Some guy responded to that May 14, 2008, article less than TWO WEEKS ago!)