Andruw Jones Unlikely To Make Rangers

Didn't you see the last episode? He got his pitch back!

Poor Andruw, how the mighty have fallen.

From damn near a lock for the hall of fame to not even making a major league roster at the age of 31. Absurd.

" On second thought, maybe they didn't even want him?"

Maybe he had the mysterious "Visa problems" similar to ex MLB pitcher Byung Hun Kim of Korea, which was code for: We don't want you because you are finished.

"Ten bucks says his name gets brought up 100 more times this year for steroids."

I don't think it's as simple as that. He was always a power hitter, but it wasn't until 2005 when he had his major spike. He changed his game, his swing, and his approach. In 2007, most of the time he looked like he was swinging for the fences. After that, pitchers started figuring him out and then he started to panic. I think he's a headcase at this point. No confidence. And the fact is he hasn't had it for so long that he's gone.

I would rather have Jones than Jaqcue Jones. JJ is a joke to baseball

It's too bad, he was a great talent when he was good. I certainly don't feel sorry for the guy though, he's made over $100 million dollars before most people even know what they want to do for a career and he'll make almost $40 million for the last two years in which he was essentially washed up. It's a nice life if you can get it. If he retires I hope he has a nice life but I'd like to see him try to stick with it awhile longer to see if he can figure it out.

I do not think Andruw's problem is mental, as in lost confidence. Rather, the round boy never really learned how to hit as he was rushed to the majors at 19. His exceptional natuaral ability helped mask his inability to make adjustments and it has finally caught up with him.

This is a cautionary tale for rushing ballplayers before all the requisite skill sets are developed.

Alternatively, the grinning idiot could just be dim witted and stubborn, as many have suggested.

unbiasedhomer,

Andruw always had incredibly quick hands and a pretty good eye at the plate, which made up for the obvious holes in his swing and other flaws in his approach.

His bat seems to have slowed down over the past couple of years, perhaps due to the nagging back and elbow and knee injuries that built up over all those years of playing every inning in CF.

He's also notoriously stubborn. In 2006 or 2007 Terry Pendleton said publicly Andruw tries to hit every ball five miles, let alone 500 feet.

I think he may be done as an everyday player. Would he accept a role as a fourth OF/defensive specialist just to stay on a big league roster?

ink-stained, agree with your analysis on AJ. As a Braves fan, I always thought he was one bad swing from a 1-for-forever slump, and guess it finally happened. Braves were so fed up with him that they very nearly traded him for Ordonez (I think in '03? not sure).

For his sake, I hope he accepts assignment with Texas and continues to work on things, rather than riding the pine for some other team. I don't think that would get him anywhere.

"And how many of those 45 also hit 500 homeruns (as part f the argument was that he would have easily reached 500), while playing elite defense at a premium position?"

Jones was very, very close to being a legitimate Hall of Famer when his career fell apart.

You're talking about a guy that wasn't just playing good defense in center. He was playing UNREAL defense out there, and he was consistently posting UZR's in the mid-to-high 20's, which is simply mind-blowing.

When you factor in that he was also a consistent power threat and had an extended prime where he was arguably the best player at his position in the game, and I think that Andruw is really, really close to making the Hall.

If Jim Rice got into the Hall of Fame, then Andruw Jones should get in NO DOUBT (!!!!!).

"First, Jones did not hit 500 HRs. Projections mean nothing. Second, he will be 32 in a few weeks. To be considered for HOF you best put up wicked numbers at that age, which he has not done it. AJ put up some very good numbers for a few years, some ok numbers other years...not HOF numbers. However, in their prime, I would take Andruw Jones over Ken Griffey, Jr. on defense. Overall, Jr. no doubt."

Obviously you take Griffey, but why can't they just both make it into the Hall?

Jones was beyond elite defensively, and was among the VERY, VERY best centerfielders in the game for ten seasons.

Jones definitely would've gotten some help if he had won the 2005 NL MVP, but I really think his prime was dominant enough defensively and good enough offensively that it deems some very serious HOF consideration.

There are few players EVER that come close to what Jones could do in center.

scribbletone, pass Andruw the doughnuts on his way out the baseball door. Don't let it hit you in the azz, grinning idot.

Honestly, for those of us who believe that the HOF should be more about who had the greatest peak than who had the longest effective career (think Koufax v. Sutton), I think its perfectly reasonable to argue that Andruw still is a HOF even with his extreme dropoff. For those of you who will think I'm crazy for saying as much, I invite you to check out the following links.

http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2009/3/3/778887/graph-of-the-day-ozzie-vs

http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2009/3/8/785909/andruw-jones-v-carlos-belt

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/cbs0121/beltranvjones2.jpg

Player C in the last graph is Manny Ramirez just so you guys have a reference point. Look at that closely, and you realize that Andruw's 10 year peak is far more impressive than Manny's (though Manny obviously gets bonus points for continuing to post ~4 WAR seasons)

For those of you who may question these graphs, realize that they use TotalZone instead of UZR, which actually tightens the spread between elite defenders (Andruw) and terrible defenders (Manny), so if we had UZR data for all those seasons Andruw would likely have a significantly bigger advantage in his prime.

nixa37 is right on with this.

People here continue to discuss how Jones didn't get enough homers or hits to make it in, when it is his defense that vaults him into the Hall.

This isn't about the fact that Jones was a fantastic hitter for ten years.

It's about the fact that he was a fantastic hitter for ten years WHILE playing some of the best center field defense ever. Jones was flat out dominant in the field during his prime, and it's not like it lasted three years, he was a top CF for 9 or 10 seasons.

If Andruw Jones isn't in the Hall of Fame and Jim Rice is, then there is something quite seriously wrong.

Count me in the 'blame steroids' camp. The guy blew it. How much of his career is owed to PEDs?

Studio179-

I totally get what you're saying. Jones' offensive accomplishments are good but not terribly impressive. I just think his defensive value was so overwhelming that it makes him a HOF-caliber player. He was routinely posting UZR's in the 20-35 range, which makes him maybe the best center fielder in recent memory.

For a long time, people in baseball underrated the value of defense, and that's impacted who's made the Hall, no doubt. I doubt that Jones will get in, but that's more because of the stupidity of the voters than Jones' resume. His defensive value combined with his hitting makes him a Hall of Famer for sure, in my opinion. I really wish the Hall gave more credit to the elite defenders of the game, because great defense can have a massive impact on the game.

"His defensive value combined with his hitting makes him a Hall of Famer for sure, in my opinion."

If that is the case, then Dwight Evans, Dave Parker and Andre Dawson all belong in the HOF well ahead of Jones.

Evans has 8 GG's as well and was known as having one of the best throwing arms of his era in a time when you did not get a GG just for a reputation like Jones did.

Scribbletone- I agree Jones had an unbelievable UZR. I just think when you look at the total package, he falls a little short. That does not mean I don't think he was a great player, he was a great player. I could be wrong and he gets in when his time is ready.

Nixa37- The reason I made that comment on Beltran is Jones is being discussed as a possible HOFer. I just thought Jones would be compared to other HOFers, not a current player.