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DEL.ICIO.USJordan’s vow is to ‘finish strong’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
He was popular as a Falcon and remains popular as a Brave. He is popular in the community. He has always been popular with teammates, coaches, managers and general managers. Also with trainers, office staff, media members, postal delivery workers, the pool boy and the cable guy.
Brian Jordan has hit only .244 this season and makes those creaky loose-floor-board kind of sounds when he walks. But he’s such a nice guy that the tendency is to think only, “Oh, poor Brian.” Because if he were like every other schlep, you would say: “Dude. It’s over.”
Now, there is always the chance it’s not over for Jordan. He certainly doesn’t believe it’s over. If he thought it was over, he would quit even before the Braves had a chance to activate him today, when Major League rosters expand.
“Once I’m back on the field,” Jordan said Wednesday, “I know I’m going to perform.”
Such a nice guy. You want to believe him. But with that stance, Jordan is in the minority.
If the Braves hang on in this race and reach the playoffs for the 14th straight time, they will have a decision to make. Jordan: activate or shelve?
That’s not what the 38-year-old had in mind when he returned here in January. It was hoped he would bring the team something more than just a strong clubhouse presence. That hasn’t happened. His season has been successful only if you compare it to Raul Mondesi’s.
But Jordan is thinking about October. It’s the only reason he has put himself through this rehab.
He is asked, “If you knew right now that you were not going to be on the postseason roster … ” and answers before the question is completed.
“This wouldn’t be worth it,” he said. “The reason I’m coming back is for the playoffs. If health-wise I can’t do it, then I’d tell Bobby [Cox].”
And if the decision goes against him?
“It would hurt me a little bit. But I’d still be there for the players. I’m a team guy.”
Three outfield spots likely will go to Andruw Jones, Jeff Francoeur and the recently acquired Todd Hollandsworth. That leaves Jordan battling Ryan Langerhans and Kelly Johnson for possibly two spots. Since the Braves remain in a pennant race, Cox can’t concern himself with who gets playing time.
“This isn’t like the beginning of the season,” Cox said.
Jordan had thoughts of retiring last month. The knee pain had worked its way up to the cranium. He had been dealing with this since surgery cut short his season two years ago in Los Angeles.
It’s not a pretty sight when an athlete’s mind says one thing and his body says another. Jordan spoke to his father, Alvin, who had coached Brian since he was eight years old, and let it slip that he was considering retiring. Dad wasn’t keen on that idea.
“I knew how my knee was feeling and how much pain I was going through,” Jordan said. “I talked to my dad and said, ‘I don’t know if I can play the rest of the season.’ One thing he stressed to me is, ‘You’re competitive. You’re not a quitter. You’re not going to give up. So whenever you get back out there, you just do the best you can do.’ I had thought about retirement. But then when I got to Rome, I knew I could still play.”
Yeah. He killed ‘em in Rome. He went 8-for-16 against Class A ball pitching and a previously slumping team went 5-1 during his stay. It allowed Jordan to joke, “I was MVP of the Rome Braves.”
He managed to get over teammates calling him Mr. Jordan.
“They could’ve been my kids,” he said.
Nothing against inspiring the youth of America. But Jordan doesn’t want that to be his season highlight.
“One thing I want to do is finish strong,” he said.
That attitude goes a long way to fueling an athlete’s popularity. But mind and body aren’t on the same page. Jordan’s moving parts apparently aren’t big on sentimentality.
Permalink | Comments (18) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Jeff Schultz
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By dannycardwell
August 31, 2005 11:17 PM | Link to this
jordan will go out like he played, hard, with class. god knows we need more like him i hope he goes into coaching with eddie perez
By PJ
September 1, 2005 08:02 AM | Link to this
If Jordan comes back and has even moderate success as a pinch hitter during September, he’ll make the postseason roster ahead of Kelly Johnson. We don’t need three left-handed OF bats on the postseason roster.
The OFs would be: Francouer in RF, A. Jones in CF, and Hollandsworth/Jordan in LF with Langerhans off the bench.
I think Hollandsworth is going to see more and more playing time down the stretch.
By alan
September 1, 2005 09:33 AM | Link to this
My problem with Hollandsworth taking over in left is: are his numbers that much better than Langerhans? Langerhans is truly a great fielder, and with his speed is good on the bases, and he hits okay and is intense. Hollandsworth is a new guy, and I’m worried about the chemistry issues of having Langerhans play hard all year long just to have some new acquisition come in and grab his spot. It’s not like they’re bringing in Pujols to take over - the guy’s numbers aren’t that much better. Plus, is Hollandsworth’s fielding as big a plus as Langerhans’s? I’d play Hollandsworth for La Roache before I’d put him in left.
And although I loved Jordan at strong safety with the old Falcons, and as on outfielder with the Braves all those years ago, I just doubt that after all this time he’ll be able to jump right back into things and compete at the level that Langerhans (or even Hollandsworth) will be able to. I see him getting situational use at best. But whatever happens he will be classy and a positive force in the clubhouse. And if we happen to see Darin Erstad again, he’d better be careful about dirty plays at the plate because Jordan might decide he’s got nothing better to do than go out and put that boy on his a* like he used to do with the Falcons…
By dannycardwell
September 1, 2005 10:06 AM | Link to this
alan, you are right. langerhans numbers were steadily climbing after he got the starting job when mondesi left. he also could be playing centerfield for a lot of teams right now. he got the shaft when bobby brought up johnson. as musc as i respect bobby, he is biased when it comes to johnson. as for brian, he will make a good pinch hitter. all they need from him is a few clutch hits in october, and a homer or two would be a nice bonus.
By Pete
September 1, 2005 10:42 AM | Link to this
The Braves have proven themselves perfectly capable of first-round home playoff flops with Jordan, and without. I expect they will again this October, assuming they qualify for the postseason.
I hope the best for Jordan, he seems like a good guy, but production hasn’t been his long suit for many years now.
By Steve
September 1, 2005 11:04 AM | Link to this
I like Langerhans in left but give Jordan a chance he deserves. I still don’t understand what they see in Kelly Johnson. His defense is horrible!
By chris
September 1, 2005 02:10 PM | Link to this
Nice to see our positive Atl fans are back at work again…flop….maybe if we could sell out a playoff game we could be more critical of our team but until then..put your money where your mouth is and buy some tix….GO Braves!!!
By Del Young
September 1, 2005 06:41 PM | Link to this
Hey Chris — If you could lower my age about 20 years and add $100/week to my income I would be more than happy to oblige thank you. GO BRAVES.
By Bill Lowry
September 1, 2005 11:09 PM | Link to this
One thing is guaranteed with Brian on the post season roster…he will give it everything he’s got…he’s got as much heart as anyone on the team..that counts for something.
By Rashid Muhammad
September 3, 2005 10:07 AM | Link to this
For sure it counts for something Bill, but is that something runs on the scoreboard?
By Paul
September 3, 2005 11:03 PM | Link to this
The question is not “Why not Jordan” but “Why Hollandsworth”. This team has played so well, and the young guys have contributed so much, that it is a threat to some great team chemistry to bring Hollandswoth in. It must be demoralizing to the young guys and to Jordan, the players who have gotten us here. Todd is no upgrade.
By razor shines
September 4, 2005 09:42 PM | Link to this
why doesn’t john sh*#holtz or bobby cox promote or have more african-american ball players on the team? Is he afraid of team chemistry or fans backlash at the ball stadium? this would however fix the team need for speed (sterotype-but true),and the repair the off and on team slumps,because with speed you can manufactur runs and create choas for the defense! Does anyone else out there feel the way I do ! diehard braves fan
By Ron Roberts
September 5, 2005 08:28 AM | Link to this
What an IDIOTIC post, Razor. Sorry, I usually don’t label folks’ posts in such a venomous manner, but that’s the sort of crap that doesn’t even need much discussion.
Rafael Furcal, Andruw Jones, Brian Jordan, Raul Mondesi and Julio Franco (platoon) were all on the opening day starting roster this season. That represents 55% of the starting nine.
What’s racist about that?
By Joe Roman
September 5, 2005 11:11 AM | Link to this
Sadly, I think Bryan Jordan’s playing days will be over when the playoff roster is set. Is there some way he and Eddie Perez can just be a presence in the dugout for the post-season? Both would be valuable in that role.
By DD
September 5, 2005 08:55 PM | Link to this
Jordan will likely make the roster for the first playoff series. In a best of five series, Bobby only needs three starters and probably will only carry 10 pitchers. He always leaves himself flexibility with bench players and usually carries three catchers. If he has 10 pitchers and 15 position players, assuming three catchers, seven other starters (outfield of Francouer,A. Jones, and Hollandsworth). That leaves five more bench players. They would be Julio Franco, Pete Orr, Wilson Betemit, Jordan and either Langerhans or Johnson. The Hollandsworth move makes sense to me: you need more veterans in the mix for the playoffs. In the second round of the playoffs Bobby will want at least one more pitcher and either the third catcher or Jordan will likely go then…….
By Dewan
September 8, 2005 12:24 PM | Link to this
I don’t know about the rest of you but chemistry aside what has Hollandsworth showed to us Braves fans. I am not hating on the guy but his BA before coming was the same as the 2 rooks in left and he has gotten worse since being here. Even before the RBI’s last nite Langs was playing pretty good and seemed to be better than anyone we have had in left all year to include BJ, KJ, and Raul. The one who should be the 1st to play in the outfield besides Langs, is Wilson. That kid can hit albeit without power but he can hit and is a switch hitter. Whatever we do please let Hollandsworth do what he was doing for us on 1 July, (exactly)(nothing).
By T Robb
September 8, 2005 03:40 PM | Link to this
On racism: I think for me, the time I think about it the least is on a baseball field or watching baseball. Sorry, Razor, I don’t see it the way you do. But I’d have a beer with you. Not saying there’s not racism, but I don’t think most white folks are overcome with the idea of ethnic cleansing when they’re rooting or playing for a team.
And please don’t tell me Andruw Jones isn’t an African-American, as everyone’s favorite race-baiter did earlier this year.
Are you the Razor that played in the Expos organization or just his namesake?
By razor shines
September 12, 2005 01:13 AM | Link to this
Rafael Furcal, Andruw Jones, Raul Mondesi and Julio Franco ,are not african-americans or consider themselves black! if you don’t believe me ask one of them (I did),and watch the look on their faces and listen to the words that will come out of their mouths,it won’t be pleasant,I assure you.I am not a racist I assure you….some of my best friends are white..In a matter of fact I had a white friend over beer and chips to watch the braves play the Nats..I am not a racist but a realist! brain jordan is the only african-american on the team…too many foreingers not enough made in the usa…not a racist but my be a patriot!go braves…fire bobby and hire dusty