Andruw Jones is on a mission

[whitesoxfan101]

2010 White Sox, Comeback Team of the Year

 

between Jones, Rios, Konerko, Quentin, Jenks, and Putz, we need a whole lot of comebacks.

 

It's really a dark situation if you think about it that way. I think Quentin and Putz will both be fine if healthy though, Jenks is pitching for a contract, and Konerko just is what he is at this point. The big question marks/keys are Jones and Rios IMO.

[Lillian]

As I stated in another thread, if Jones does play up to management's hopes and expectations, he should be in the lineup against both right and left handed pitching. He has always hit about the same against both, so it doesn't make any sense to platoon him with Kotsay. 25 homers is a very modest and conservative projection for Jones if healthy, and in shape.

I would think that he would produce more power than that. If so, he could bat as low as 5th in the order, providing of course that he can at least match his .325 OBP from last year.

 

Moreover, as some of you have suggested, if he is healthy and in shape, he should be playing right field. He would be a much better right fielder than Quentin. I don't really know who should play Left. Pierre can cover much more ground than Quentin, but Carlos has a far better arm. The intangible there is that, on the one hand it would be nice to have Quentin DH. in order to reduce the risk of injury. However, on the other hand, his intense make up is probably not well suited for that role. He needs to focus on defense, rather than dwell on every at bat.

[whitesoxfan101]

As I stated in another thread, if Jones does play up to management's hopes and expectations, he should be in the lineup against both right and left handed pitching. He has always hit about the same against both, so it doesn't make any sense to platoon him with Kotsay. 25 homers is a very modest and conservative projection for Jones if healthy, and in shape. I would think that he would produce more power than that. If so, he could bat as low as 5th in the order, providing of course that he can at least match his .325 OBP from last year.

 

Moreover, as some of you have suggested, if he is healthy and in shape, he should be playing right field. He would be a much better right fielder than Quentin. I don't really know who should play Left. Pierre can cover much more ground than Quentin, but Carlos has a far better arm. The intangible there is that, on the one hand it would be nice to have Quentin DH. in order to reduce the risk of injury. However, on the other hand, his intense make up is probably not well suited for that role. He needs to focus on defense, rather than dwell on every at bat.

 

That's probably the biggest positive about Jones if he can have a big comeback this year. We've spent the last 4 years dreading our DH spot everytime a lefty was on the mound, but the handedness of the pitcher would be irrelevant with Jones DH'ing if he produces at past levels.

 

I think you're also right that the team would like to play Jones in the OF and DH Quentin if Andruw proves he can still play. Obviously, you'd wonder about playing Jones in CF and Rios in RF in such a scenario since those are positions both have played in the past, but i'd imagine at this point that Rios is immeasurably better in CF than Jones, so maybe you put Jones in RF and hope it works in such a scenario. Did Jones play in RF for Texas last year much?

Edited February 21, 2010 by whitesoxfan101

[bmags]

maybe MLB will add a fitness competition that can snag us a few more wins.

[chw42]

With all this heart warming stuff coming out, we shoulda given Jones a team option for 2011. xD

Edited February 21, 2010 by chw42

[southsider2k5]

From Mark Gonzales tweets....

 

andruw jones "i'm the best CF you have here."

 

J Cora: "you should. only pitchers and catchers are here."

[bmags]

joey cora speaks?

[Dick Allen]

I would be shocked if Andruw Jones can provide anything offensively Josh Fields can't except a few fewer strikeouts. The optimism for him is amazing. The guy has barely hit .200 the last 3 seasons combined.

[fathom]

I would be shocked if Andruw Jones can provide anything offensively Josh Fields can't except a few fewer strikeouts. The optimism for him is amazing. The guy has barely hit .200 the last 3 seasons combined.

 

It's ironic, because the articles last season around this time were all about Fields' improvement, showing up in shape, etc.

[iamshack]

Well, if it isn't rain on my parade and piss in my lemonade...

[Dick Allen]

It's ironic, because the articles last season around this time were all about Fields' improvement, showing up in shape, etc.

Exactly. He was a different player. He was going to outproduce Crede in his sleep. I could see some optimism for Jones if it was a one year spiral, or even 2 with an injury. But its 3 years. He'll be fun to watch, and if they pick his spots, he may still provide a little lift. Ron Washington was criicized last year for overexposing him. The Andruw Jones of 4 or 5 years ago is gone. I don't think he's coming back unless he gets himself some Flintstone vitamins.

Edited February 21, 2010 by Dick Allen

[Quin]

From Mark Gonzales tweets....

 

Nice one by Cora

 

Exactly. He was a different player. He was going to outproduce Crede in his sleep. I could see some optimism for Jones if it was a one year spiral, or even 2 with an injury. But its 3 years. He'll be fun to watch, and if they pick his spots, he may still provide a little lift. Ron Washington was criicized last year for overexposing him. The Andruw Jones of 4 or 5 years ago is gone. I don't think he's coming back unless he gets himself some Flintstone vitamins.

 

 

With Fields, I think it was drive. I still remember watching him boot a Miguel Cabrera ground ball (in the double header) and just look at the ball. It was fat Miguel Cabrera running to first with a bad hamstring for god-sake! He then complained about playing time after the second game when Gordon played.

[Balta1701]

With all this heart warming stuff coming out, we shoulda given Jones a team option for 2011. xD

Bah, worst case scenario, if he winds up being good enough that we'd want him back next year, we can offer him arbitration and steal an extra pick or two.

[bmags]

If Andruw Jones was playing on the Royals right now I wonder how people would feel about the possibility of a good season for him.

[G&T]

Nice one by Cora

 

 

 

 

With Fields, I think it was drive. I still remember watching him boot a Miguel Cabrera ground ball (in the double header) and just look at the ball. It was fat Miguel Cabrera running to first with a bad hamstring for god-sake! He then complained about playing time after the second game when Gordon played.

 

His defense was bad, but that's not why he's gone. And it wasn't "drive." It was inability to shorten his swing.

[Dick Allen]

If Andruw Jones does have a nice comeback year, does that mean Greg Walker is finer than Rudy Jaramillo, especially considering Rudy's current employer?

[DirtySox]

Bah, worst case scenario, if he winds up being good enough that we'd want him back next year, we can offer him arbitration and steal an extra pick or two.

 

Huh? In what world is Andruw Jones worth draft pick compensation? He won't even be close to sniffing Type B.

[ScottyDo]

Huh? In what world is Andruw Jones worth draft pick compensation? He won't even be close to sniffing Type B.

In the world where he performs such that we want him back the next year. That was the premise of the post.

[Lillian]

maybe MLB will add a fitness competition that can snag us a few more wins.

 

Very funny. However, we are talking about a former perrenial All Star, and genuine super star, who got injured, became overweight and out of shape. His performance then fell off dramatically, right at a time in his career when he should have been in his prime. That suggests the possibility that his getting healthy and in shape could make a significant difference.

 

Here is a link to his injury history:

http://www.baseballinjurytool.com/injury-tool.php

 

I understand that he has been linked to PEDS, however he was always a very good player until the last few years. Moreover, steroids don't help a hitter to make contact, nor to win Gold Gloves. Perhaps they made him stronger, and maybe he wouldn't have hit 51 homers in 2005 without them, but this guy was an elite player. He has really only struggled for the first time in his career, during the last 3 seasons, the time that he was hurt, and out of shape. Even then his numbers from last year project to 36 doubles, 34 homers and 86 RBI's. Wouldn't you take that at DH?

The previous season, his first with the Dodgers he was injured and missed more than half the season. The year before that, his last year in Atlanta, he did have his first really bad batting average year, but even then he was productive, with 94 RBI's.

 

I just think that while your point is well taken, in that they don't award wins or championships for being healthy and in shape, the improved physical condition can definitely enable a gifted athlete to perform up to his potential, while being injured and out of shape is a tremendous handicap.

 

I'm optimistic, and am looking forward to seeing what he can do, especially with his apparent improved attitude.

And remember that he's playing for a contract.

[DirtySox]

In the world where he performs such that we want him back the next year. That was the premise of the post.

 

Even if he has a good year, do you think he's capable of being in the top 40% of all the 1B/OF/DH in MLB based on statistics over his 2 previous seasons based primarily on AVG, OBP, HR, and RBI ? He was number 75 out of a group of 99 based on '08-'09 stats.

 

It's not going to happen.

[ScottyDo]

Even if he has a good year, do you think he's capable of being in the top 40% of all the 1B/OF/DH in MLB based on statistics over his 2 previous seasons based primarily on AVG, OBP, HR, and RBI ? He was number 75 out of a group of 99 based on '08-'09 stats.

 

It's not going to happen.

Probably not. Can he get Type F status?

[2nd_city_saint787]

His defense was bad, but that's not why he's gone. And it wasn't "drive." It was inability to shorten his swing.

 

 

Perhaps because his knees were bad, you cant really shorten your swing if your knees are limited in motion and not going as fast as your hands and if your hands are goin faster than your legs its gonna result in an ugly ugly swing and a low .200s batting average. if his knees are healthy and hes in shape he should be able to get a shorter more compact swing.

 

just my two cents, ive never played any kind of ball other than pick up games but i am a sandlot legend

[MattZakrowski]

Probably not. Can he get Type F status?

Hey, don't knock type F free agents. If someone signs Jones next year, the Sox get a free stadium blanket.

[Dick Allen]

Very funny. However, we are talking about a former perrenial All Star, and genuine super star, who got injured, became overweight and out of shape. His performance then fell off dramatically, right at a time in his career when he should have been in his prime. That suggests the possibility that his getting healthy and in shape could make a significant difference.

 

Here is a link to his injury history:

http://www.baseballinjurytool.com/injury-tool.php

 

I understand that he has been linked to PEDS, however he was always a very good player until the last few years. Moreover, steroids don't help a hitter to make contact, nor to win Gold Gloves. Perhaps they made him stronger, and maybe he wouldn't have hit 51 homers in 2005 without them, but this guy was an elite player. He has really only struggled for the first time in his career, during the last 3 seasons, the time that he was hurt, and out of shape. Even then his numbers from last year project to 36 doubles, 34 homers and 86 RBI's. Wouldn't you take that at DH?

The previous season, his first with the Dodgers he was injured and missed more than half the season. The year before that, his last year in Atlanta, he did have his first really bad batting average year, but even then he was productive, with 94 RBI's.

 

I just think that while your point is well taken, in that they don't award wins or championships for being healthy and in shape, the improved physical condition can definitely enable a gifted athlete to perform up to his potential, while being injured and out of shape is a tremendous handicap.

 

I'm optimistic, and am looking forward to seeing what he can do, especially with his apparent improved attitude.

And remember that he's playing for a contract.

 

Wasn't he playing for a contract his last year in Atlanta? Wasn't he playing for a contract last season? How many guys his age, and there has always been debate whether his listed age is accurate , come back to his previous levels after 3 bad years?

 

I'll have fun watching him. Not many guys chemically enhanced or not have ever hit 50 homers in a season. I just think his ship has sailed as an every day player.

Edited February 21, 2010 by Dick Allen

[2nd_city_saint787]

Wasn't he playing for a contract his last year in Atlanta? Wasn't he playing for a contract last season? How many guys his age, and there has always been debate whether his listed age is accurate , come back to his previous levels after 3 bad years?

 

 

Well he was out of shape and/or had knee problems those 3 years, reports are he looks like he did his rookie year (not just from people in the white sox org so its not smoke and mirrors) and he said his knee was better at the beginning of last season so it looks like the problems hes had the previous 3 years where he was no good are done for. Unless he was juicing the whole time he was in ATL, guys that good just dont forget how to hit when theyre healthy and are hungry.....i dont know if my previous post made any sense but to me it does and i think if hes in shape the next convo we'll be having is will Ozzie have the guts to move PK to the 6 hole because Andruw is out performing him and will be moved to the 4 hole.