Loading ...
Rue’s Rants – The Andruw Counter
Written by Rue on May 16, 2008 – 10:39 amI hate our “Andruw Would Have Gotten That” counter.
This counter is crap for more than one reason, but I actually get aggitated every time I see it. At first I thought it was a great idea to have this counter since we thought we’d sorely miss Mr. Jones in the lineup. I can’t say, though, that I’m sorry to see him gone. For starters, Mark Kotsay is fielding amazingly. The counter says three, I say MAYBE one, and more accurately if it was called the “Young-Skinny-Athletic-Andruw Would Have Gotten That” counter. Andruw Jones can hardly carry his 8-month-pregnant belly up a flight of stairs these days, let alone run down some of the stellar hits that Kotsay has gloved. During the first few games, my boys kept yelling over “write one up for the Andruw counter” on impossible plays. Andruw thought he was Superman, and still does, but I’ll guarantee you he wasn’t making those catches either way. The first think we needed to do was be realistic with Kotsay, not sell him short for being less than super human.
Secondly, Kotsay is a much better addition to the batting lineup. Do YOU miss the current Andruw Jones in the lineup? His batting average is worse than Corky Miller’s! The only time a 0.091 is worth $18 million is when it’s an ERA. Kotsay is hitting like crazy right now. Should we trade that in and wish that Andruw was still here?
Finally, welcome to Atlanta, Mark Kotsay. I think my boys were a little too sad to see the big-man with all of his silver cars hit the road to LA. The cocky man fits in better in LA with his attitude and lack of Southern Hospitality. Mark Kotsay is playing fabulously, is a veteran, has lots of skill and ability, and is the absolute best fit for our team. I’m glad he was chosen over Josh Anderson for the spot. Kotsay is our man, I hope to see him stay here.
So good riddance, Mr. Jones. I’m glad to have you here, Mark. Thanks for making us proud.
Tags: Andruw Jones, Mark Kotsay, Rue's Rants
Posted in Rue's Rants | 30 Comments »
By Jonathan on May 16, 2008 | Reply
I think we all agree that Mark has proven himself to be worthy in the center field spot. Hell, I wouldn’t mind keeping him around for a bit after this season, even though that wasn’t the original plan.
–
The ironic thing is that the Andruw counter will soon be retired because of Mark’s stellar play and the Rue’s Rants column will be replacing it’s spot on the site.
By Shaun on May 16, 2008 | Reply
Been preaching the gospel of Kotsay since day 1. Nice to see the love is spreading.
Lemke was speculating on the radio about Kotsay perhaps being with the Braves longer than the 1 year that was originally planned because of the way he’s been playing. With the Jordan Schafer thing, it will be interesting to see. Of course, the big plus to Kotsay on the financial side is that Oakland’s still paying most of his salary this year.
By Colin on May 16, 2008 | Reply
Kotsay has indeed proven himself to have decent range and a great arm, but I think there are still balls Andruw would have gotten to. Yeah, I think the counter should be a couple higher than it is, but I sure as hell don’t miss Andruw’s horrific bat or lardass trotting out to center field with fat a jiggling.
Kotsay has looked good in the two hole recently – but he’s quite the good fit for the team. Hard worker, good defense, solid bat, and small ego.
Still, I miss all the diving catches. They were fun to watch, at least on SportsCenter’s top plays.
By Jonathan on May 16, 2008 | Reply
I don’t miss Andruw one bit….ever since the season where he just didn’t seem to want to try, I didn’t want him around.
By JB in ATL on May 16, 2008 | Reply
Rue,
Great post. You had me laughing at the “8 month pregnant belly” line.
I’d agree that after 2007 the only reason we though we’d miss Andruw for nostalgic reasons than anything else. If we could’ve kept Andruw at a discounted price I still wouldn’t mind having him suit up w/ Atlanta and finish his career. What gets me is not just that Boras got AJ an inflated contract but HOW inflated it is.
By the way, Andruw update… he’s just doubled his HR total for the year by hitting #2 last night!
By Rue Grant on May 16, 2008 | Reply
Colin, no matter what you say, Andruw is not the Andruw that you had. The counter should NOT be higher, and I will fight like hell to keep it as low as it is, and I even dispute one of the calls. Like I said, you can’t expect impossible plays to be made and then say “well, if we still had Andruw….”
Thanks JB, I’m glad it made you laugh. That was sort of the point.
By Colin on May 16, 2008 | Reply
Oh I know he went downhill. It was sad to see. And we can disagree on whether or not Andruw would have gotten to those balls – most balls that drop nobody could have gotten to, but there have been a few Andruw that I believe Andruw could have gotten to.
You’re spot on with Kotsay and how under appreciative people are of him. He’s a ballplayer, and a good one at that.
By Jonathan on May 16, 2008 | Reply
Needless to say . . . I find it fitting that Rue’s Rants will soon replace the counter and this happens to be what you chose to write your first rant about.
By Colin on May 16, 2008 | Reply
You could go ahead and replace the counter with this rant… except then the rant would make no sense.
By Jonathan on May 16, 2008 | Reply
That’s why the counter’s still there. It’ll get replaced soon.
By BeachGaBulldog on May 17, 2008 | Reply
I thank God everyday that “Mr. Strikeout” isn’t on the Braves anymore. I never liked Andruw Jones. He is cocky, and I always hated his smirk. I saw an article recently where he was asked why he smiles even after striking out, and he said thats just the way that he looks, and can’t help it. If thats so, then he is the first person on the planet that I have ever seen have a “smile” like that all of the time.
He is a lard butt, I totally agree with Jayson Stark in a book, who said Andrew is “the most overrated center fielder of all time”. I get so sick of hearing about his Gold Gloves. BIG DEAL! He was so stubborn, never wanting to use the rest of the field, and tried to pull everything. SELFISH!
I always get a kick of checking the Dodgers box score after each game, to see how “Mr. Strikeout” did. According to USA TODAY’s baseball stats for each NL and AL team, the Dodger’s “Mr. Strikeout”, had done so 38 times on 112 at bats. I get all of the MLB games this year, so I like to watch the Dodger games to see Andruw screw up.
I prayed that the Braves wouldn’t resign him, and THANK GOD they didn’t. He is a joke!
By Smitty on May 17, 2008 | Reply
I’m with you, Rue!
Andruw Jones’s average right now? .176 And his weight? In my best Fat Albert™ voice “Hey, hey, hey!” He weighs in at 240.
D’oh!
His weight at the end of 2005? 210
By josh on May 18, 2008 | Reply
How about a andruw wouldnt hit that counter?
By Jonathan on May 18, 2008 | Reply
Heh, Josh, that actually is a suggestion that we’ve gotten from about a half dozen people. I think we’re going to stay away from Andruw counters for the time being however. We should brainstorm ideas for a new one however. Look for a dedicated Rue’s Rants section to replace the counter this week as well as Smitty’s latest Profile in Bravery.
By Matt on May 20, 2008 | Reply
I agree with you that Kotsay has been underappreciated by Braves Fans. I agree that Andruw has not lived up to his stardom the past couple of seasons.
But please….come on.
Are we forgetting the Andruw Jones who became the youngest player in 1996 to hit a World Series Home Run?
Are we forgetting the Andrew Jones who used to play outfield at about 250 feet from home, yet make catches at 400 feet from home?
Mark Kotsay is a great fit for the braves. He is a relative bargain financially. But don’t be so quick to throw Andrew under the bus when he was a fan favorite in Atlanta for 10 years. Just because it was time for him to move on doesn’t mean that we must abuse him for it.
By Jonathan on May 20, 2008 | Reply
I’ve never been a big Andruw fan…..so I was far from heartbroken when he left. It all really came down for me for the couple of seasons where he just didn’t make the effort.
By Jonathan on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
I think we all agree that Mark has proven himself to be worthy in the center field spot. Hell, I wouldn't mind keeping him around for a bit after this season, even though that wasn't the original plan.
–
The ironic thing is that the Andruw counter will soon be retired because of Mark's stellar play and the Rue's Rants column will be replacing it's spot on the site.
By Shaun on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
Been preaching the gospel of Kotsay since day 1. Nice to see the love is spreading.
Lemke was speculating on the radio about Kotsay perhaps being with the Braves longer than the 1 year that was originally planned because of the way he's been playing. With the Jordan Schafer thing, it will be interesting to see. Of course, the big plus to Kotsay on the financial side is that Oakland's still paying most of his salary this year.
By Colin on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
Kotsay has indeed proven himself to have decent range and a great arm, but I think there are still balls Andruw would have gotten to. Yeah, I think the counter should be a couple higher than it is, but I sure as hell don't miss Andruw's horrific bat or lardass trotting out to center field with fat a jiggling.
Kotsay has looked good in the two hole recently – but he's quite the good fit for the team. Hard worker, good defense, solid bat, and small ego.
Still, I miss all the diving catches. They were fun to watch, at least on SportsCenter's top plays.
By Jonathan on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
I don't miss Andruw one bit….ever since the season where he just didn't seem to want to try, I didn't want him around.
By JB in ATL on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
Rue,
Great post. You had me laughing at the "8 month pregnant belly" line.
I'd agree that after 2007 the only reason we though we'd miss Andruw for nostalgic reasons than anything else. If we could've kept Andruw at a discounted price I still wouldn't mind having him suit up w/ Atlanta and finish his career. What gets me is not just that Boras got AJ an inflated contract but HOW inflated it is.
By the way, Andruw update… he's just doubled his HR total for the year by hitting #2 last night!
By Rue Grant on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
Colin, no matter what you say, Andruw is not the Andruw that you had. The counter should NOT be higher, and I will fight like hell to keep it as low as it is, and I even dispute one of the calls. Like I said, you can't expect impossible plays to be made and then say "well, if we still had Andruw…."
Thanks JB, I'm glad it made you laugh. That was sort of the point.
By Colin on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
Oh I know he went downhill. It was sad to see. And we can disagree on whether or not Andruw would have gotten to those balls – most balls that drop nobody could have gotten to, but there have been a few Andruw that I believe Andruw could have gotten to.
You're spot on with Kotsay and how under appreciative people are of him. He's a ballplayer, and a good one at that.
By Jonathan on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
Needless to say . . . I find it fitting that Rue's Rants will soon replace the counter and this happens to be what you chose to write your first rant about.
By Jonathan on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
That's why the counter's still there. It'll get replaced soon.
By BeachGaBulldog on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
I thank God everyday that "Mr. Strikeout" isn't on the Braves anymore. I never liked Andruw Jones. He is cocky, and I always hated his smirk. I saw an article recently where he was asked why he smiles even after striking out, and he said thats just the way that he looks, and can't help it. If thats so, then he is the first person on the planet that I have ever seen have a "smile" like that all of the time.
He is a lard butt, I totally agree with Jayson Stark in a book, who said Andrew is "the most overrated center fielder of all time". I get so sick of hearing about his Gold Gloves. BIG DEAL! He was so stubborn, never wanting to use the rest of the field, and tried to pull everything. SELFISH!
I always get a kick of checking the Dodgers box score after each game, to see how "Mr. Strikeout" did. According to USA TODAY's baseball stats for each NL and AL team, the Dodger's "Mr. Strikeout", had done so 38 times on 112 at bats. I get all of the MLB games this year, so I like to watch the Dodger games to see Andruw screw up.
I prayed that the Braves wouldn't resign him, and THANK GOD they didn't. He is a joke!
By Smitty on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
I'm with you, Rue!
Andruw Joness average right now? .176 And his weight? In my best Fat Albert voice Hey, hey, hey! He weighs in at 240.
Doh!
His weight at the end of 2005? 210
By Jonathan on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
Heh, Josh, that actually is a suggestion that we've gotten from about a half dozen people. I think we're going to stay away from Andruw counters for the time being however. We should brainstorm ideas for a new one however. Look for a dedicated Rue's Rants section to replace the counter this week as well as Smitty's latest Profile in Bravery.
By Matt on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
I agree with you that Kotsay has been underappreciated by Braves Fans. I agree that Andruw has not lived up to his stardom the past couple of seasons.
But please….come on.
Are we forgetting the Andruw Jones who became the youngest player in 1996 to hit a World Series Home Run?
Are we forgetting the Andrew Jones who used to play outfield at about 250 feet from home, yet make catches at 400 feet from home?
Mark Kotsay is a great fit for the braves. He is a relative bargain financially. But don't be so quick to throw Andrew under the bus when he was a fan favorite in Atlanta for 10 years. Just because it was time for him to move on doesn't mean that we must abuse him for it.
By Jonathan on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
I've never been a big Andruw fan…..so I was far from heartbroken when he left. It all really came down for me for the couple of seasons where he just didn't make the effort.