AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > June > 20 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBenching Andruw a good move by Cox
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Given the possible forces of nature that have conspired to scramble Andruw Jones’ head and liposuct his batting average, you would have expected some drastic remedy by now.
In Curaçao, where Jones is from, many still practice forms of voodoo. I’m thinking we wouldn’t have made it past May without some sort of spiritual sledgehammer. But in Atlanta, all the Braves’ struggling center fielder had to show for himself was a .202 batting average and beaded necklaces hanging in his locker.
“People just give them to me,” he said. “They’re not for luck.”
Not going to hang a dead chicken?
“No. Hopefully not.”
The problem isn’t what Jones is hitting but when he’s hitting it. Two years ago he was hitting .175 when he asked Bobby Cox to rest him in a game in Washington. But that was in April. (He came back to hit close to .300 with 22 homers in May and June.)
But it’s already late June. Jones’ average is so anemic that agent Scott Boras may have to fabricate two secret bidders for his client, not just one. You don’t dig holes like this without paying some sort of price in free agency.
Jones is on a pace for 592 at-bats. With a .202 average, he would need to hit .289 the rest of the season just to finish at .250. History and logic scream: He ain’t hitting .289 the rest of the season.
You worried Jones would have to take a hometown discount to remain a Brave. But he’s already marked down.
The Braves closed out a series [mercifully] against Boston Wednesday. Cox didn’t sacrifice a chicken (he would opt for a starting pitcher first). But he did bench Jones.
It was only the second time this season Jones was scratched, the other in Game 2 of a doubleheader at Boston. So this makes twice he was absent against the Red Sox, who last season inquired about trading for him. (Stats Boras hasn’t kept: Jones is 0-for-17 with seven strikeouts against Boston this season. Coco Crisp, who might’ve been dealt here in return, hit a three-run homer.)
Now, the Braves are trying to act calm about all this. But they had already dropped Jones in the order. Benching him against the best team in baseball — twice — is significant.
Jones probably inadvertently put it best when he said: “I think [Cox] just felt like we can play without me.”
He says he’s not feeling the pressure of impending free agency. He says he has never hit for average (though adding: “I never was a .200 hitter”). He claims his home run and RBI numbers aren’t far off (actually, they are).
He is understating his struggles, and everybody around him knows it.
“I’m just trying to get him to settle down and relax, do what he can do instead of what everybody expects him to do,” hitting coach Terry Pendleton said. “The toughest part is trying to get him to slow down. He’s trying to rush. He’s trying to make up 50 points with one swing. He’s trying to drive in 10 runs with one swing. He can’t do that. It’s impossible.”
Jones says he doesn’t pay attention to the criticism.
“We all say that,” Pendleton said. “He hears a lot. He’s just trying to prove people wrong. Some guys just say, ‘Forget that.’ “
General manager John Schuerholz said he has “genuine frustration” and “genuine wonderment” about Jones’ plight. But he still believes there will be a market correction.
“A player who is 30 years old and has the body of work he has, he’s eventually going to [return to form],” he said.
Jones actually was looking forward to sitting out. “It’ll be good to just rest and watch the game from the bench, get the extra day off, and come back Friday and start a new series,” he said.
This was a good one to miss. With a blindfold. The Red Sox won 11-0. But the Braves, despite losing 12 of 18, are only 1 1/2 games out of first place.
Some things, like that deficit, can be overcome. But .202 in late June — not so much.
Jones says he doesn’t feel the heat. The numbers and his absence Wednesday say otherwise.
Permalink | Comments (60) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves / MLB, Jeff Schultz
Comments
By Scott
June 20, 2007 11:48 PM | Link to this
My personal opinion? Andruw should walk into the GM’s office and sign a contract for 5 years, $60 million ($12 million per year) and get his head clear for good. Nobody can tell me that this free agent thing is not bothering him. And another thing…whipe that freaking smile off your face when you keep swinging and missing!
By Scott
June 20, 2007 11:49 PM | Link to this
My personal opinion? Andruw should walk into the GM’s office and sign a contract for 5 years, $60 million ($12 million per year) and get his head clear for good. Nobody can tell me that this free agent thing is not bothering him. And another thing…whipe that freaking smile off your face when you keep swinging and missing!
By Ripme
June 20, 2007 11:53 PM | Link to this
AJ can and will be replaced with someone who can hit better than 240 AB. Defense also can be replaced with someone just as good and cost a lot less. To bad Braves didn’t trade him before he became a 5-10 player. Hope JS don’t sign him….let him go!
By K. Mann
June 20, 2007 11:59 PM | Link to this
Andruw will be gone at eason’s end. Harris would be a great replacement in center field. Andruw is overrated and will never be worth what anybody pays him. Baseball players are paid way to much as it is. NONE are worth more than the minimum, period.
By Scott
June 21, 2007 12:01 AM | Link to this
Good move to sit AJ. He needed to just take a few days off. Frenchy needs to do the same. Put Escobar in his place. Let Salty play 1st. That’s a nice line up. The Braves are going to regret not winning some games while the Mets are losing too. They’re not going to get the wild card. Why did they trade McBride anyway? He’s was doing well. They want this new guy to start in the future. Does that mean they’re not trying to get a quality vet starter?
By Steve-O
June 21, 2007 12:01 AM | Link to this
Intense column.
By Aww Be Quiet
June 21, 2007 12:06 AM | Link to this
AJ has done a lot for the Braves. I bet nobody was complaining last year when he was carrying the team while Chipper was out as usual. Is he overrated? NO! He’s a great player. If wasn’t no one if talk about him. Ask any team about top outfielders and his name will come up time and time again.
By Mark
June 21, 2007 1:44 AM | Link to this
With Chipper retiring next year and Andruw most likely leaving for a big pay day, I think the Braves should start thinking about the future. Instead of possibly trading Salty, Escobar, or even Willy they should keep them and bring in some veteren guys. With the money they save from not having AJ’s and Chipper’s contract (maybe even Hampton’s, the Braves should be big buyers.
By Grapzz
June 21, 2007 1:49 AM | Link to this
I believe we could pull someone from the Missippi Braves who could hit .202 and still produce sound and highly serviceable defense. Better yet, they could do it at the league minimum!! As a career .264 hitter how can one look in the mirror and say I’m worth $12-$18 million a year? It’s ridiculous! I’ve enjoyed watching Andruw’s defense all these years but who doesn’t know since day-1 to throw him a slider with two strikes and he’ll be strolling back to the bench? Let him go.
How can a major leaguer look himself in the mirror and say that as a career
By Braves Fan 79
June 21, 2007 1:52 AM | Link to this
I just think bt giving redmen so many chances…and giving woodward, orr , and andrew so many clutch at bats weve just shorted ourselves alot this season…we should at least be 10 games over .500 right now. Maybe bobbys loosing it? shoot maybe scherultz is loosing it? I mean how do u let a good pitchitter walk away like Ward, and sign crap like wilson and woodward to take his place? and HOW in the WORLD do u not try everything possible to get Glavine back!!?? We talk about being 2 short on payroll to of payed Glavine…but he would of signed for around 6 or 7 mill. But we gave wilson 2 mill, we gave redmen 1 mill, and woodward almost 1mill. So instead of adding another 2 mill or so to that and paying Glavine and depending on up and coming players in the minors to fill the bench….we signed a bunch of CRAP!! Yeah..great strategy scherultz!
By GermanBravesFan
June 21, 2007 2:05 AM | Link to this
I think it’s time to step back and take a closer look at what Andruw’s done for the Braves. I, for one, remember that last time he was up for a new contract, went into JS’s office and negotiated a new deal just to stay with the Braves for LESS than “market value” and without listening to Scott Boras! After that, he had done nothing than live up to the expectations! He DID carry the Braves when Chipper went on the DL… So, he is having a TERRIBLe year this year and everybody wants to get rid of him? My theory (being sarcastic) is that Andruw wants to stay with the Braves but he knows that he couldn’t IF he let Boras negotiate the new deal AND if he performed up to his potential. So, he is having a sub-par year, so that the nobody will offer him what Boras is asking for…. He’ll re-sign with the Braves for less than what Boras is asking for (and for something the Braves can afford).
OH well… as I said, just being sarcastic!
Bottom line: if Andruw wasn’t in his contract year, most Braves fans would forgive him for his sub-par season!
By Ralph
June 21, 2007 2:09 AM | Link to this
I don’t know if benching Andruw really matters. After the way the Braves have been playing the last month. The worse enemy the Braves have is themselves. To be honest and non-partial Bobby has not done a very good job either, leaving the pitchers in to long. AGAIN THE BRAVES ARE NOT A COME BACK TEAM. They can’t even score a run, let along come back from being 5 or 6 runs under. The whole team is in a vacuum, a boring, no spirit, no motivation or desire to win vacuum. Bobby has got to stop his undying dedication to his players and bench a few when they are not hitting. They are not playing like a team, but play for a selfish individual purpose. Most of the young player try to swing for the fences and do more harm than good by striking out. Frenchy and Thorman help the opposition by swing at pitches that most professional players won’t, they don’t know the strike zone. Put them in a strike zone for moron class. Ask a Braves player if they know the concept of team work, and they’ll give you a blank look. I can’t recall a team that gives up in the first inning like the mighty Braves. The Braves are falling apart and are becoming a predictable team. They should rename the team to General Hospital Braves. I really thought that they would be a different team this year, but as games come and go they resemble the 2006 Braves more and more everyday.
By George "Boston Brave". Spitz
June 21, 2007 2:22 AM | Link to this
The issue remains not Andrew Jones but Willie Harris and Matt Diaz. Even on a bad night for the Braves, Willie and Matt had two of the 5 team hits. The previous day against one of the best pitchers in the game, Josh Beckett, Harris went one for three and Diaz drew a walk. That was an on-base percentage of 500. Assuming Andrew Jones make some sort of recovery, it is hard to see him hitting more than 250 while it is difficult to imagine Willie and Matt slumping below 280. Willie is hitting 286 against left-handers and last year Matt was better against righthanders than lefties. Willie has the type of speed required for centerfield and Matt has proven a much better fielder than his reputation from brief appearances at Kansas City. Both have what it takes now to be full time players on a pennant winning National League team.
By Coach (NOT EVEN DRINKING THE KOOL AID )
June 21, 2007 3:10 AM | Link to this
Benching ? A good move ? Only a month late. I’ts not going to change , what you see now is what we will see for the rest of this season and I’ll tell you why. The scouts have Andruw’s number , they know he is susceptible to the high strike and the breaking ball down and in. He will consistently see fastballs up and way , breaking balls down and in. Everybody and their little sister know’s Andruw all but refuses to hit the ball to center and right field. His arrogance is his own undoing , giving away two-thirds of the diamond to the pitcher is suicide in this day and age of highly computerized stats , scouting sheets and video. Andruw is a gold glove in CF and a triple AAA bat in the box. Webster’s would describe Andruw as a total Conundrum.
By hop
June 21, 2007 6:01 AM | Link to this
the braves have far more problems than andrew, he will make a comeback. all hitters have slumps and a.jones is no exception.
the braves real problem is starting pitching and playing inexperience every day players.
n case no one has notice we have coporate owners who do not give a damn about the braves and will not spend the money to get proven players.
the braves will continue to struggle as i have posted earlier and we will drop even further in the standings unless we get new owners who care.
By Larry
June 21, 2007 6:29 AM | Link to this
Great!
Now how can we get Bobby Cox to bench himself?
By Charlie
June 21, 2007 7:01 AM | Link to this
Can’t pitch…can’t hit…no bench. What does that add up to? This version of the Braves, 2007 (especially in June) isn’t much different than the June 2006 group. The only reason we’re 1.5 games back is that the Mets are allowing us to stay close. At the end of the season, though, the Mets will win the division, and the hapless Braves will be in third or fourth in the final standings. McBride may feel badly right now, with the trade to the Tigers, but he’ll be playing post season baseball, while the Braves roster will be vacationing with their inflated baseball salaries. I’m done spending time and money watching the Clowns from Atlanta.
By Johnny Evans
June 21, 2007 7:39 AM | Link to this
LEAVE ANDRUW ALONG==THERE HAS BEEN A FEW NON STARS=BUT STARS MADE BY THE MEDIA=HAVE A BAD YEANO NEGATIVE INK FOR THEM=HOW SOON ONE FORGETS=WHAT HE DONE FOR THE TEAM==RECKON ALL NEGATIVE PEOPLE THINKS THE WON LOSS RECKSON IS ALL BECAUSE OF ANDRUW==SHOWS WHAT THEY ARE MADE OF ==I GUESS=I DO NOT LIKE TO SEE HIM GO THIS=NEITHER DOES HIS TAMMATES NOT TRUE BRAVE FAN WOULD=GUESS SINCE THAT BROKE THE 14 SEASON STREAK=PEOPLE HAS TO BLAME SOMEONE== JOHNNY EVANS CHESAPEAKE VA
By Johnny Evans
June 21, 2007 7:40 AM | Link to this
LEAVE ANDRUW ALONG==THERE HAS BEEN A FEW NON STARS=BUT STARS MADE BY THE MEDIA=HAVE A BAD YEANO NEGATIVE INK FOR THEM=HOW SOON ONE FORGETS=WHAT HE DONE FOR THE TEAM==RECKON ALL NEGATIVE PEOPLE THINKS THE WON LOSS RECKSON IS ALL BECAUSE OF ANDRUW==SHOWS WHAT THEY ARE MADE OF ==I GUESS=I DO NOT LIKE TO SEE HIM GO THIS=NEITHER DOES HIS TAMMATES NOT TRUE BRAVE FAN WOULD=GUESS SINCE THAT BROKE THE 14 SEASON STREAK=PEOPLE HAS TO BLAME SOMEONE== JOHNNY EVANS CHESAPEAKE VA
By Johnny Evans
June 21, 2007 7:40 AM | Link to this
LEAVE ANDRUW ALONG==THERE HAS BEEN A FEW NON STARS=BUT STARS MADE BY THE MEDIA=HAVE A BAD YEANO NEGATIVE INK FOR THEM=HOW SOON ONE FORGETS=WHAT HE DONE FOR THE TEAM==RECKON ALL NEGATIVE PEOPLE THINKS THE WON LOSS RECKSON IS ALL BECAUSE OF ANDRUW==SHOWS WHAT THEY ARE MADE OF ==I GUESS=I DO NOT LIKE TO SEE HIM GO THIS=NEITHER DOES HIS TAMMATES NOT TRUE BRAVE FAN WOULD=GUESS SINCE THAT BROKE THE 14 SEASON STREAK=PEOPLE HAS TO BLAME SOMEONE== JOHNNY EVANS CHESAPEAKE VA
By Jim
June 21, 2007 7:44 AM | Link to this
Hey Andruw……if you would start listening to your hitting coach you would get straightened out! Use the whole field and quit trying to pull the dang ball and hit 600 ft. home runs every at-bat! Hardhead! Look at the way Renteria and Chipper use the whole field. Do what they do! Grrrrrr!
By Jim
June 21, 2007 7:48 AM | Link to this
Hey Johnny Evans…..if you are a product of the Virginia school system it doesn’t speak very well for it!
By The Rev
June 21, 2007 7:48 AM | Link to this
How easily do we cast stones at those who are struggling. None of us are perfect. Unfortunately for these young men their struggles are broadcast in front of millions. We also tend to forget that these are not just “players” in a child’s game but men with families they have to support. Let’s not become childish and revert to name calling for the sake of catching a blogger’s attention so they will comment. Why get so riled up over this? Let’s think and pray for the women and men who fight for us to enjoy this past time. And also pray for those in all countries for they to are human beings. So next time when you attend a game or watch it on TV instead of screaming and shouting, why not support them? An innocent competition b/n 2 teams to ease our minds. Instead of the boos, why not replace them with Let’s Go Bravos!? Win or Lose…Andruw Jones will overcome his individual struggles, the Braves will overcome their team struggles, and I pray and hope we shall overcome all of our struggles.
By Johnny Evans
June 21, 2007 7:52 AM | Link to this
WHAT WILL YOU NEGATIVE PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY=WHEN ANDRUW BOUNCES BACK AND CARRIES THE TEAM=LIKE HE HAS SO MANY TIMES=OH==GUESS SOME HAS A CHANCE TO BECOME A SPORTS WRITER=AT LEAST IT IS THE WRITER’S JOB TO REPORT AND COMMENT ON ISSUES=BUT FANS TEARING INTO SOMEONE CONSISTING= I THINK THE SPLIT UP OF THE BEST BASE ANNOUNCING CREW HAS GONE UN-NOTICED==THE BRAVES WAS THE BEST IN CALLING GAMES==YES=I AM BACK AT IT AGAIN==JOE SIMPSON IS EXTREMELY NEGATIVE ABOUT ANDRUW=ALL THE TIME=WISH SOME WOULD REMIND JOE WHAT HIS STATS IN BASE BALL WAS==I NEVER HERAD OF HIM=INTIL HE BECAME AND ANNOUNCER=AND THOUGHT HE WAS A GOOD ONE=UNTIL HE STATED TO ACT LIKE STEVE STONE=KNOWS EVERYTHING==EVEN JOE MORGAN HAS TONED DOWN HIS COMMENTS ON BASEBALL PLAYERS IN GENERAL= I THINK THE WRITERS WHO CAN MAKE CONTACT WITH JOE TELL HIM=FANS EVERYWHERE IS TIRED OF HIM BASHING ANDRUW AND A COUPLE OF THE OTHER BRAVES=I THOUGHT TBS ANNOUNCERS WAS SUPPOSE TO BE POSITIVE WHEN IT CME TO THE BRAVES=OH WELL JOE=WHO ARE YOU-I AM 67 NEVER HEARD OF YOU AS A PLAYER. JOHNNY EVANS CHESAPEAKE VA
By serbok
June 21, 2007 7:53 AM | Link to this
The reason the Braves are NOT leading the division is simple!!!!! It’s name is Bobby Cox I hate to say it~ I really do! I like the guy~ But as we all know this IS NOT a popularity contest? IT’s just plain and simply Cox! A true HOF manager in a division where the other 2 teams are trying to give away the playoffs? I wonder where they would be? IF they didnt have a HOF manager? Its just soooo ridiculous! I mean the guy has SUCH loyalty? Lets let AJ lead off then counter with woodward~ as he has hit in number 2 spot b4, then Let ORR bring’em in? I couldnt imagine what it must be like in Bobby’s head right now? hearin all those wheels and gears startin to try and move again, after 16 years of downtime! Think about it! A screech here and a boing over there? What was that? Must be my imagination? Hello old friend~ where ya been? OH :o( It’s you:o( thought just maybe~ you were that hit and ru~~~~~~~~ where did ya go? Steelers wheel?????? Stuck in the midd~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Screw it~ time to get ejected!? So Sad:o(
By Johnny Evans
June 21, 2007 7:58 AM | Link to this
HEY JIM YES I AM AWARE OF MY SPELLING=HAVE ONE EYE AND THE OTHER ONE CANNOT SEE THAT WELL=PLUS THIS COMPUTER DOES NOT PRINT WHAT I AM THINKING=THANKS I JUST TOLD MY WIFE=I SHOULD HAVE PROOF READ THE MESSAGE. GLAD THAT YOU ARE ALERT=BUT I DO HAVE EYESIGHT ISSUES==SORRY JOHNNY
By VABrave
June 21, 2007 7:59 AM | Link to this
These guys make me sick!! AJ should have been benched long ago, bit BC didn’t want to hurt his overinflated ego. We have had a .200 hitter in the 4 spot all year. How crazy is that. We need to keep Harris and Diaz in the lineup. With Chipper getting hurt AGAIN we need some hitters in there. With our pitching, or lack there of, we need all the offence we can get. JS—PLEASE let AJ go and bring the CF from Mississippi up.
By Dave
June 21, 2007 8:08 AM | Link to this
The article is about benching A.J. I agree with the benching. Don’t know if it’ll help because he doesn’t seem to be listening to T.P. He tries to kill the ball on every pitch; notice how he almost falls down on every strike out? No control. You’d think as a pro all these years he’d know that sometimes a controlled swing and hitting that sweet spot…when you feel like you really didn’t swing that hard…and the ball just sails out or you get a nice line drive… He’s still one of the top two or three defensive center fielders in baseball. It’s yet to be seen that anyone in the minors can play defense like Druw. Maybe sacrificing a chicken will help, nothing else has.
By ChampDawg
June 21, 2007 8:12 AM | Link to this
Keep his @$$ on the bench.
By Plate Appearance
June 21, 2007 8:49 AM | Link to this
ON ANDRUW As far as Andruw is concerned, I agree with the preceeding comments about Andruw’s history with the Braves.
He’s a proven RBI man and home run hitter. Power and run production are not easily substituted for — even with high average guys like Harris and Diaz.
I’d like to see Andruw stay with the Braves — and to continue to produce, which I believe he’ll do.
I’m not hearing anyone say that Andruw lost any bat speed, so it’s not a physical problem.
In spite of what he says, his problem has to be mental and/or mechanical. If so, then something needs to change in his thinking and also then, in a corresponding fashion, in his plate mechanics.
I also liked the suggestion by a previous blogger that JS might work to sign Andruw right now to a five year contract at 10-12 million a year. A lot of his problems might well have to do with the added pressure of this being a contract year — in spite of what he says.
I wish the fans too, would be more loyal to Andruw, irrespective of his drop in production this year. Problems like the ones he’s facing can be worked through.
I’ve heard some columnists talk about Andruw being somewhat stubborn about not adjusting his swing. Andruw, you may need to do so. In fact Andruw, you do need to do so. If something isn’t working, then that something does have to be “fixed”.
But hey fans, let’s support Andruw during this time. He is a long time Brave. He is a Brave!
And in spite of a streak of stubborness apparently with his hitting, there’s no Brave who plays the game with a greater fervency and wants to be on the field day in and day out, as Andruw does.
I for one hope Andruw remains a Brave for life!
JS, why not try to lock Andruw up now, as you did earlier with McCann?
And Andruw, drop Boras as you did before. And sign now with the Braves.
Take the pressure off yourself in this way. And get back to being who we know you to be — and who you really are!
It’s my belief, in spite of what some of the naysayers are saying, that most of the fans STILL BELIEVE IN YOU ANDRUW! This slump will turn around!
By doobird
June 21, 2007 8:57 AM | Link to this
Said it over and over … will always wonder how many World Series the Braves would own had BC been managing some other team and we had a “MANAGER”.
By Kelley
June 21, 2007 9:12 AM | Link to this
It simply amazes me to hear people complain about Bobby. He is only in the top five all time in wins. You don’t get there by luck and not knowing what you are doing.
You can’t bench everyone in a slump right now, who would be left to play? The bottom line, the Braves are still only 1 1/2 games out. They desperately need another starter and the bats need to get hot. Bobby can’t snap his fingers and magically make the players start hitting. Is it his fault there have been so many injuries this year as well?
I think some of us are just spoiled to always being in first for so many years. Yes, it is quite frustrating to watch right now. But blame Bobby?
When Bobby leaves and someone else takes over I think we’ll all see what it’s like to have a team that’s not in the playoff hunt year after year.
By NCBravesFan
June 21, 2007 9:23 AM | Link to this
*In Curacao, where Jones is from, many still practice forms of voodoo. I’m thinking we wouldn’t have made it past May without some sort of spiritual sledgehammer. But in Atlanta, all the Braves’ struggling center fielder had to show for himself was a .202 batting average and beaded necklaces hanging in his locker.
“People just give them to me,” he said. “They’re not for luck.”
Not going to hang a dead chicken?
“No. Hopefully not.”*
Maybe someone can sacrifice a chicken to help your writing talents. This paragraph is profoundly unfunny.
By regular guy
June 21, 2007 9:34 AM | Link to this
I agree with the first comment. Boras needs to hammer out a deal for Andruw as soon as possible and get that off his mind and shoulders. He will come back then to his former self. We can’t give up on him because of the current slump and the Braves should not let him get away to another team where he will most likely thrive.
By Richard
June 21, 2007 9:46 AM | Link to this
Andrew or no Andrew the Braves are in serious trouble. With NO consistent pitching past Smoltz and absolutely NO #4/5 starter the Braves are doomed.The only reason they are still in the hunt is that the Mets are playing poorly and Philadelphia started slow. Folks, remember this. All of the baseball experts picked the Braves to finish 3/4 this year. It is because of a lack of starting pitching and not Andrew Jones. If the Braves were winning and in first place we could all simply shrug and say poor Andrew is having a bad year. But, we can win without his bat.If he was hitting .300 I do not believe the Braves would beat the Mets or the Phils in the long run. NO PITCHING will kill most all individual offensive performances every time. GO BRAVES!
By No More Kingman
June 21, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this
Andruw seems to think it is comical when he strikes out, I think he is doing real damage to his marketability for the contract. More and more teams are looking at OBP. Teams now realize that Dave Kingman type players kill the offense more than help it. The 30 HR’s does not balance the immense amount of rallies killed. Andruw single handedly kills everything the guys ahead of him start.
Unfortunately the Braves have 2 guys going like this now when you add in Francoeur, throw in a little Thorman who is a great hustler but just doesn’t have it, I’m amazed they ever score at all.
By Terrell in the ATL
June 21, 2007 10:45 AM | Link to this
”**Not going to hang a dead chicken?
“No. Hopefully not**.”
=
Let’s not harm any chickens.
I hear Mike Vick is available.
By Lex Luthor
June 21, 2007 10:51 AM | Link to this
Carlisle:
4Ks, one grounder, and one weak line drive. Every other pitch was just rocked! Why didn’t he get pulled?
By Lex Luthor
June 21, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this
Maybe Jones should take Jesus Christ on as his personal savior. Jobu isn’t getting enough of Andruw’s rum to be willing to help out.
By Jason
June 21, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this
Fact: Everyone in the league had learned to throw Andruw sliders low and off the plate. It has always been is bogey pitch. He ends up head out and on his back foot almost every time.
Until he learns to hit that pitch, his value will continue to plummet. Trade him for some prospects or pitching. Mississippi has a couple of players that can hit as good as he is right now.
If you do not trade him now…at season’s end you get NOTHING for him. This will be a true test for Liberty and JS.
By Chris
June 21, 2007 11:16 AM | Link to this
Jesus? Jesus no help with curveball.
I was at the game last night (unfortunately), and anyone who saw Willie Harris’s diving catch in the 8th inning just saw the future of the CF position for the Atlanta Braves. Get a LF with some pop in his bat, and Druw will be but a memory. And not a very good one at that.
By Sneakin' In
June 21, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this
To borrow a phrase from a famous movie criminal…”This team needs an enema!”
By FSSikes
June 21, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this
With the McBride trade going down, think Sosa
By Mark Lemke
June 21, 2007 12:03 PM | Link to this
The Braves are Tin Men, they have no heart.
By Lex Luthor
June 21, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this
Are you telling me that Jesus Christ can’t hit a curve ball!?!
By Batter Up!
June 21, 2007 12:36 PM | Link to this
Willy Harris is the right man for centerfield. I too was at the game and that catch was awesome! Do you hear me, AWESOME!!! He can catch and hit. Goodbye Andrew
By Andrew Jones
June 21, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this
I really don’t appreciate you all talking so bad about me. I’m trying, I really am. You gotta believe in a brotha!
By iwalterp
June 21, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this
PlateAppearance, your remarks about summarize my thougths on Andruw. I watched him his entire career as a Brave and I feel he has given them a full days effort each time he took the field. The problem with Andruw is that despite his one 50 homerun year he is not a prestigious homerun hitter like Big Poppy, Albert Pujous, or Delgado. Unlike these powerhitters most all his long homeruns are pulled to the left field seats. The power hitters I mentioned can take a pitch on the outside part of the plate and drive it into the opposite field seats. Andruw does not have that opposite field power. He knows his value to this team has been as a cleanup hitter who would hit 25-30 homeruns a year and drive in over 100 runs. He stubbornly refuses to listen to Penndleton about going the other way because he knows he won’t hit many home runs that way. So goes the myth of a cleanup hitter. He must not only drive in runs ,but do it by way of the homerun. The truth of the matter is this Braves team has some really good hitters like McMann, Chipper, Johnson, Renteria, Diaz and Harris who could drivein many runs without the homerun if properly placed in the lineup. The overall mentality of the team would have to change from playing for the three run homer to get your RBI’s to line driving a team to death one base at a time. That comes from top-down not the other way around. Cox would have to change. The sad part is Andruw could hit for a decent average by driving the ball up the middle and to right ,but his homerun numbers would take a serious hit. Teams don’t pay free agents $15 mil who are great defensive players and hit for an average, they want the fans to see the big bopper who can hit the tape measure homerun.
By jch
June 21, 2007 1:09 PM | Link to this
Benching Andruw is only a good move if he stays there a while. Sit him down for a week or so then give him a shot at earning his position back from Harris.
Emphasis needs to be on his earning the position back.
Both Andruw and Harris should be given a fair shot at the position. Andruw’s poor performance opened the door for Harris and he’s played extremely well - now that he’s there, he should have equal opportunity to stay at the position.
From what I’ve seen so far, he isn’t going to give it up easily.
By michael
June 21, 2007 2:14 PM | Link to this
AJ problem is that he is hardheaded. He has ben trying to pull that outside pitch for years. The next one that needs to be benched is Frenchy. If a microphone is near by he is talking. If the trend continues with Andruw he need to be bench and let Harris play center.
Beard
By michael
June 21, 2007 2:14 PM | Link to this
AJ problem is that he is hardheaded. He has ben trying to pull that outside pitch for years. The next one that needs to be benched is Frenchy. If a microphone is near by he is talking. If the trend continues with Andruw he need to be bench and let Harris play center.
Beard
By michael
June 21, 2007 2:14 PM | Link to this
AJ problem is that he is hardheaded. He has ben trying to pull that outside pitch for years. The next one that needs to be benched is Frenchy. If a microphone is near by he is talking. If the trend continues with Andruw he need to be bench and let Harris play center.
Beard
By Mike M
June 21, 2007 3:22 PM | Link to this
Experts say that a large percentage to hitting is “mental”. This is true, but, with AJ, there are some fundamental mechanical flaws that have finally caught up with him and until he makes some adjustments (better balance, keeping hands inside the baseball, stay tall on the backside, and most importantly, a timing mechanism), I am not sure he can return to where he was last season. The pitchers at this level are too good and are not going to make mistakes day in and day out to AJ. When it comes to hitting, there is only two pieces of information you need to be successful if you have some athletic ability and skills, that is pitch and location. It’s not like AJ does not know what pitch is coming 75% of the time or the location (with his hands “outside the ball” mentality. He can return to be a respectable hitter at this level, but, not with his currect mechanics. It is not a secret, nobody can hit at any level of baseball (youth, high school, college, or pro) with everything that going wrong with his swing. Make the corrects and let’s get going! The season in not even half over yet.
By Bushwacker
June 21, 2007 4:02 PM | Link to this
How many teams won the world series with a ,light hitting great defensive short stop over the years. Bobby Cox should announce to the world that as long as AJ is a Brave, he will be Bobby’s center fielder even if he hits .100. I think just hearing that from Bobby would take all the pressure off Andruw and he would relax and take off in the second 1/2.
By Daxxed
June 21, 2007 4:54 PM | Link to this
By Charlie
June 21, 2007 7:01 AM
Well then if you are no longer going to watch the Braves then we should not see any more of your comments
By Brandon
June 21, 2007 8:03 PM | Link to this
I am the biggest Andruw Jones fan in the world, he was struggling just like this before he went on that homerun tear in 2005, do you’ll realize how hurt heplays and how many games he play a year, when you are out there as much as he is your going to go through slumps, ALL YOU PEOPLE DO IS COMPLAIN, YOU COMPLAIN EVERY YEAR ABOUT ANDREW AND HOW IS SHOULD BE REPLACED BY A PLATOON PLAYER, HE THE BEST CENTERFIELDER IN BASEBALL PERIOD, EVEN KEN GRIFFEY JR. SAID THAT
By Me
June 21, 2007 8:11 PM | Link to this
This is Major League Baseball. What have you done for me lately?
By r1U
June 21, 2007 11:20 PM | Link to this
Lots of whining and accusing going on…any suggestions for improvement ??? What players will become available and what are we willing to part with??? Leave Salty alone!!! Frenchy, McCann, and Salty are looking pretty danged awesome…JS is a builder. We have had great talent and have developed it in the past. We need pitching!!! It is way too early to push any panic buttons…there aren’t any teams in our division that are rabbiting… Go Braves!!!
By fix it
June 22, 2007 12:43 AM | Link to this
Cox gives Andrew a break. Hell he’s been on break all year. When is he going to start work?
By Elmer
June 22, 2007 12:52 AM | Link to this
Brandon you’re a idiot. Andrew is not the best CF in baseball, you need to open your eyes and look around the AL and NL. What do you expect other players to say?