Shock Jacque: Fans have love-hate relationship

The love-hate relationship between Cubs fans and outfielder Jacque Jones is in a significant "love'' cycle.

Jones hit a 2-run home run in the sixth inning Friday after saving a run with an over-the-shoulder catch in the fifth, and the Cubs recorded a 2-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field.

After the home run, which drove in Ryan Theriot from first base, Jones received a standing ovation, got another one upon his return to the field, and yet another in his next at-bat.

The adulation was in stark contrast to the boos Jones has heard in much of his two years with the Cubs.

"I thought they were cheering (starting pitcher) Rich Hill,'' Jones said. "You do something good, you want people to cheer you on. It was nice."

"He took a lot of heat he didn't deserve and stayed the course,'' Theriot said. "He is a guy I look up to, and how he handles himself. There is a reason he has been around so long."

After his 2006 season when he battled with fans in the right-field bleachers, Jones had a poor first half of 2007, when he had just 20 RBI in 67 games. But he has 26 RBI since the all-star break, leads the team with a .360 average in that span, has had 13 RBI over his last eight games, and 3 of his 5 home runs have come in the last seven games.

"To his credit, he has continued to work, played hard, and now he's got that center-field job,'' said Cubs manager Lou Piniella.

Jones is affable, but sensitive. The criticism he took in 2006, when the entire team played poorly, colored his relationship with the city and the fans.

Another bad start in 2007 produced a stream of trade talk, but a deal never happened. Since the trade deadline passed, Jones has been the team's MVP.

"The way I played the first half, going into the second half, I didn't have anything to lose,'' Jones said.

Jones' catch came in the fifth inning of a scoreless game. With a runner on first and two outs, second baseman Brendan Ryan hit a long flyball over Jones' head.

But Jones, who beat out Felix Pie and Angel Pagan to start in center, backpedaled and made the catch over his right shoulder.

"I knew the guy hit the ball good,'' Jones said. "I got a good jump on it but my only concern was hitting the wall."

"That was a tough play, battling the sun and the ivy,'' Piniella said.

Upon his return to the dugout, Jones received congratulatory hand slaps from his teammates, the most enthusiastic one from Hill.

Jones' home run came on a 3-2 pitch from starter Braden Looper in a classic pitcher-batter battle. As the ball flew out into the left-center bleachers, Jones clapped his hands and pumped his fists.

"I just play with energy and try to have fun,'' Jones said.

"It's fun to watch him play,'' Hill said.

For now, Cubs fans will probably agree.