The Chicago Cubs are 22-16 and in first place in the National League Central, but some players have performed below average.
After the Cubs’ 3-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday at Wrigley Field, fans of the team are through watching a 40-year-old veteran.
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In Wednesday’s game, Justin Turner batted fifth for the Cubs, finishing 0-for-4 with a strikeout. The designated hitter and part-time first baseman slashes an anemic .170/.270/.170 with no home runs in 63 plate appearances.
Turner, who signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Cubs during the offseason, received backlash from Chicago’s fans on social media after Wednesday’s game. Many fans want the Cubs to release the former Los Angeles Dodger.
“Hmmmmm, who would you start at 1B for the Cubs? The Cubs chose Justin Turner today. Cannot have it. This obsession the Cubs have had the last few years with starting older plays who absolutely suck is bizarre,” wrote a fan on X.
Another fan believes there must be better options than Turner on the Cubs’ bench.
Chicago Cubs first baseman Justin Turner (3) reacts after striking out against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning of the game at Dodger Stadium.Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
“I think it’s clear Justin Turner isn’t deserving of big league starts anymore,” the fan wrote on X.
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Other Cubs fans think the club should cut ties with the former 27 home run slugger and promote catcher and first baseman Moises Ballesteros from Triple-A Iowa.
“Turner is so bad, just DFA him so he can go into a retirement home. He costed the Cubs a couple of games and provides nothing to the team besides his clubhouse vibes. He can’t even hit for power. Call up Moises and add value to that lineup, please,” one fan wrote on X Thursday night.
While some fans are upset with Turner’s offensive performance at the start of the year, the Cubs may need more than a 22-game sample size to consider releasing him.
One season ago, Turner provided above-average offensive production, hitting 11 home runs with 55 RBIs and a 114 OPS+ in 139 games with the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners.
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