Jan 06 2009
Andruw in the outfield? Braves shouldn’t put much hope in once-shining star
By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com
ATLANTA — From the time those two home runs in the opening game of the 1996 World Series zoomed into the stands at Yankee Stadium, expectations of greatness have resided on Andruw Jones’ shoulders.
And now we sit some 12 years and two months later, looking at a player who was so bad last season, his team is willing to spread out the final year of his contract into the next decade just so it can get rid of him.
Wasn’t this the same guy who won 10 Gold Gloves, who hit a Braves’ franchise-record 51 homers in 2005, who will be just 31 years old on opening day?
The tale of Andruw Jones’ downward spiral is shocking, to say the least.
News that the Braves would consider taking a flyer on the once-dominant center fielder isn’t.
Nobody within the organization is saying anything about Jones, and with good reason: He remains property of the Dodgers. But if he’s not traded by Jan. 15, indications are L.A. will release Jones, allowing him to sign with any team. Whoever then inks Jones would be responsible only for $400,000, the major-league minimum salary.
The Braves, as we all know, have a glaring hole in left field. Would they bring home a guy who played 153 or more games each season from 1997 through 2007? Couldn’t they take a chance on him?
They could. But I wouldn’t bank on Jones being the savior in the outfield he once was.
Knowing the wear and tear of playing day-in, day-out has cut into his once uncontainable range, the Braves would have to look at AJ playing left field. Knowing his misery at the plate in 2008 – a campaign where he hit just .158 with three homers, 14 RBIs, and 76 strikeouts in 209 at-bats – the Braves would have to bat him eighth.
Just the sheer reality we’re talking about Jones in such dire straits is amazing. Consider this: In 2005-06, Andruw averaged 46 homers and 128 RBIs. The next two years, he averaged 25 homers and 108 RBIs, 26 of those homers and 94 of those ribbies coming with the Braves in 2007, a season during which AJ hit .222 and the Braves decided not to negotiate with the then free-agent outfielder.
It hasn’t been much better in winter ball. In five games in the Dominican Winter League, AJ’s hitting a buck-88, with three hits (all singles) in 16 at-bats, one RBI and eight strikeouts. Against right-handers, he’s fanned seven times in 13 ABs.
As we all know, the Braves like to bring back former players. I wouldn’t be shocked if Jones is in camp with the Braves in six weeks, trying to make the team on a minor-league contract. But even if that happens, and AJ is out there at Lake Buena Vista, I think it would be a longshot at best for him to make the major-league roster.
And that, as much as anything, tells you how far this once-radiant star has fallen.
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good article, but I want to see him go to the Mets
Thanks. I have no idea where Andruw is going to end up. He’s coming off a brutal 2 1/2 year stretch where he’s now just a shell of his former self.
Again, I won’t be shocked if he ends up with the Braves in camp on a minor-league deal, given how warmly he’s still regarded by the organization and Bobby Cox. But if he can’t show he can hit the breaking ball middle-half of the plate and away, I don’t think he’ll be in the majors at all in 2009. And that’s just shocking, considering how good he was just a short time ago.
Thanks for stopping by.
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