Andruw Jones’ Biggest Obstacle

Written by Rue on January 18, 2009 – 8:44 pm

Andruw Jones’ biggest obstacle for 2009 is nothing other than himself.  It is not a big secret that Jones is back in Atlanta right now training with some members of the team including Chipper Jones and Brian McCann.  He is even rumored to have shed a few pounds.  The question, however, is whether or not the Braves should pick Andruw Jones up for the 2009 season.

Refusing to take a minor league contract, Jones and agent Scott Boras have made it clear that Jones’ perception of his current athletic ability is significantly more positive than most baseball enthusiasts’.  However, don’t let their optimism fool you.  The Golden Gloved Andruw Jones that many Atlantans had grown to love is not back to his old ways since fleeing LA.

So what exactly happened to Jones?

Andruw Jones’ ego was the key to his own demise.  Season after successful season in Atlanta made Jones realize that he was one of the best outfielders ever to step on the field.  With growing success came increasing confidence that eventually transformed into arrogance.  Arrogance inevitably led Jones to believe that he was invincible, and the perception of invincibility was the start of some less-than-adequate training routines and quite a few extra pounds.  Andruw Jones did not suddenly drop from superstar to hardly major league worthy in one season because of nature and aging. It was entirely mental.  Letting go of the basics, Jones lost his ability to spot the ball and send it out of the park – but he didn’t let go of his attempts to park the ball with every swing, oftentimes leaving him strolling back to the dugout with the burden of another strikeout on his shoulders.

The weight of 138 strikeouts in 154 games (2007) and 76 K’s in 75 games (2008) is surely a heavy burden to bear and cannot simply be whisked to the back of one’s mind. Jones has tried over and over to compensate for his offensive inadequacies by boasting his career consistencies defensively. But what does that get the Braves now? A seemingly guaranteed strikeout at every plate appearance?

With a hot head and a sharp tongue, Andruw Jones has proven that he truly believes that he is the same Andruw Jones of a half decade ago, but making a few changes here and there will not get him back to that place no matter how strongly he’d like to believe that. Will Andruw Jones come back? Yes, if he is willing to take his head out of (well, you know) and recognize that he needs more work than is comprehensible. Is it likely that he’ll get his head back in the game? No, it isn’t. Andruw Jones is a minor league caliber player without the insight (or agent) to realize that. It’s back to fundamentals, Mr. Jones. Otherwise, you’re on your way out. At this point in Andruw Jones’ career, it is not a question of proven ability, it is a question of whether or not he can improve his attitude and get his head back in the game.

Also, Andruw’s knee woes are the result of increased weight.  His body was not designed to handle that much weight on the natural strength of his joints. Again, Andruw can blame his failure on himself.

Andruw Jones will not give you the comeback you are looking for if you are a fan and proponent of his return to the Braves outfield.  And can you honestly say that Andruw Jones is a better fit for our outfield than the rising Josh Anderson? At the end of the 2008 season, Anderson was one of a few shining stars in a very dim season finale, showing both impressive offensive numbers and great speed and consistency in the outfield.  Saying that you would like to see Andruw Jones standing in that 8 field position is directly stating that Josh Anderson is not a better fit for the organization as a whole. We are not talking about the Golden Gloved Andruw Jones.

It is important to weigh options and take a look at what the Braves have to offer with their young talent than to jump back to the Jones solution… which happens to be the solution that no one wants.

Andruw Jones’ biggest obstacle is himself.  Mr. Jones, get over yourself.


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Sick of Roid Rage: Top 5 Things I’d Rather Hear About

Written by Colin on February 23, 2008 – 11:11 am

We know people used steroids.  We get it.

I just really don’t care.  I can’t tell you how much it doesn’t even begin to matter to me.

In honesty, as we’re ramping up for Spring Training, let’s move past this thing – let Congress stick their nose into things and leave it alone.  Because I don’t think it matters whether or not Roger Clemens injected HGH.  Moving forward, obviously he can’t get away with it.  Let someone else look into the past, Baseball needs to focus on the future, not the somewhat shady past.

So without further ado, the top 5 things I’d rather hear about than Steroids:

5. What team Scott Boras is screwing over now – and who is most vehement in the “I hate Scott Boras” fan club.
4. Whether or not the Braves have enough pitching (I think they do, no worries) Read more »


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