As the United States prepares to celebrate it's Thanksgiving holiday—traditionally with a turkey dinner—and baseball teams work on their budgets and rosters, this would seem the perfect week for the Los Angeles Dodgers to kill two birds with one stone.
By plucking and stuffing one turkey (Andruw Jones) the Dodgers would satisfy both the holiday tradition as well as dropping some dead weight—emphasis on weight—from their roster and payroll.
Jones was foisted upon the Dodgers by that most satanic of player agents, Scott Boros, supposedly to fulfill the team's need for a power hitter in the middle of the lineup.
After signing a contract for about $10 million per for two seasons, Jones embarked upon a crash diet resembling a Las Vegas buffet that ballooned his weight by over 20 pounds over the previous season, one noted for increased size, injury, and reduced production.
Most folks, when given a chance to redeem themselves from a poor season, work hard to justify the faith shown to them, especially when it comes from another team. Of course, most folks don't employ someone with the ultra arrogant personality of Boras to represent them either.
While attempting to achieve the silhouette of a zeppelin may not be the best idea for a professional athlete, arrogantly stating one's indifference to the new team's fans over their justified dismay is quite another. Jones repeatedly said he did not care what the fans thought.
Continuing this theater of the absurd, Jones actually was offended the fans would boo him for not performing in a manner that came close to justifying his salary. Since the fans don't play the game, they just don't understand was his reasoning.
A player who is overweight can easily play below his skill level and suffer knee injuries is the fans retort, from which scant appreciation for a supposed professional athlete unable to grasp this basic concept will spring.
The Dodgers have been the team to break barriers in the past. They broke the color line with Branch Rickey's signing of Jackie Robinson. They brought baseball to the west when Walter O'Malley convinced Horance Stoneham to bring the Giants to San Francisco while the Dodgers inhabited Los Angeles.
Now is Frank McCourt's opportunity to make baseball history. Andruw Jones showed complete disregard for the Dodger team and fans with the manner he prepared and performed last season. He committed a significant breach of contract by not conducting himself as a professional and being prepared to play the season. Given he was a veteran of 12 years with the Atlanta Braves, Jones can not claim ignorance as to what is required to play a Major League season.
While still under the ownership of Peter O'Malley, the Dodgers had a fantastic opportunity to void a previous contract. Darryl Strawberry failed the team and it's fans by lapsing into a major abuse of cocaine, which lead to his being released from the team.
Wanting the situation to just disappear, O'Malley paid off Strawberry, who dragged his powdered nose up to San Francisco then later out to New York to play with the Yankees.
If O'Malley would have refused to pay Strawberry, Major League Baseball, along with all other professional sports, could be in a much stronger position regarding drug use of all sorts by it's players. Whether it was from urging out of the office of the commissioner or threats from the players union, or possibly a bit of both we cannot be certain, that O'Malley did not stand up against an out of control player is certain however.
Now McCourt has the opportunity to play O'Malley's mulligan, removing the bloat from both the Dodger clubhouse as well as it's payroll by refusing to pay a player for a second season when said player did not prepare himself to play the first season of his contract.
There are those who would feel this position is hard and cold-hearted. While wanting anyone who has major issues threatening their life to get all the help they need, one must also recognize a professional athlete has obligations to their teammates, the franchise and it's fans-as well as to their family and themselves.
Jones effectively stole the Dodger's money last year, and limited their options player personnel wise. He should not be allowed the opportunity to repeat these crimes against the Los Angeles franchise and it's fans as well as the sport in general.
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about 1 month ago
He should get voided and we know we're not going to resign him again. He has to preform well otherwise as this is his contract year but if he fails hard again then he'll get a minor league deal or something. You know if I was paid 22 million to sit on the bench for next year I'd be happy.
Maybe Jones will have the silly smirk on his face when the Dodgers tell him you've been voided. Get out.
I really hope we do not get a 400 strikeout machine next year.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for your comments Allen.
If still around next year, the highest and best use for Mr. Jones would be cleaning the toilets on the Reserved level.
about 1 month ago
Wow. This article clearly articulates the anger and indignance over the way Jones negligently allowed his body and his baseball skills to deteriorate. I am not sure if there was a weight clause or a stat clause in his contract with the Dodgers; but if there was one, I think the Dodgers' front office would have played it by now.
As one who saw him in his last year here in Atlanta, I must say that the erosion of his batting skills was well documented by 2007 when his average plummeted to a weak .222, a full 40 points below that of his previous season. Having seen him inherit Atlanta's CF behind Dale Murphy and Otis Nixon, I have watched his meteoric rise to stardom with his speed, power and fielding. He was supposed to be the second coming of Willie Mays.
Yet, only once (2000) did he live up to Atlanta's full expectations, batting .303, 36 HRs and 104 RBIs.
He came up far too fast in my opinion. He didn't get a chance to appreciate the minors; his skill in the field and his ability to clock AAA fastballs had him going from A-ball to the majors in virtually a year. When he proved he could hit major league heat, he received as much praise as possible. I think he started to believe his own press and got just a bit cocky; Cox actually benched Jones in the middle of an inning because Andruw lazily played a very catchable fly ball on a hop!
Then came all the breaking balls.
Curves, sliders, slow curves, 6-12 curves, circle changes...and suddenly, Jones was helpless. At first, pitchers would only give him the breaking ball diet if the situation was ideal, especially with Chipper batting around him. Veteran pitchers realized quickly that he was always sitting dead red, while only the young call-ups trying to make a point would throw Jones a heater down the middle. The result was a very streaky Andruw- red hot one week and helplessly pathetic the next.
It would take Andruw days to reclaim his timing after getting the breaking stuff. More and more pitchers learned the obvious- Andruw simply couldn't hit an average breaking ball away from him or a nasty one inside. Batting coach Terry Pendleton worked desperately to teach him to go with the pitch; he would do it for a time, but he would always revert back to pulling everything. A failure to hit breaking balls combined with an appearance of apathy and extra weight have made the demise of Andruw Jones.
A demise that the Braves apparently saw coming and one the Dodgers did not.
from about 1 month ago
Thank you for your comments Abner. Obviously you have seen the majority of Jones major league career and are in an excellent position to comment on his strengths and weaknesses.
I do remember the time Cox yanked him in the middle of the inning. I was greatly impressed with your manager that day.
Jones represents the type of foolish free agent acquisitions Collitti has made in his time as the Dodgers GM. It is troubling the McCourts have seen fit to have him continue instead of being replaced by Kim Ng.
about 1 month ago
Look, this is a double edged sword. On one hand, Jones was a complete embarassment to the Major League game. On the other hand, though a club can guarantee money, a player can only guarantee his best effort. Its the ultimate gamble, and is where there should be some changes in contracts.
I do Not know the legal wording would come of it, other than the aformentioned weight clause, or anything like that, but just like there is incentives to hit certain numbers, there should be clauses saying you don't get paid if you dont hit certain numbers.
Now, in the current situation, Maybe Andruw should just donate part of his paycheck to one of the Dodgers prefered Charities or something.
But until the biz side is fixed, we are stuck with people who literally get fat, happy, and sloppy.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for your comments Nate.
I do appreciate your statements, but feel Jones did not give anywhere near his best effort. His manager tried to cover for him, but that was Torre being loyal. Jones does not seem to have the capacity to show that sentiment to his team.
Until someone is willing to stand up to the union and agents like Boras, the fans will have to suffer more fools in uniform.
about 1 month ago
I feel the same, hence the embarassment to MLB comment. I mean, being a bit big is one thing, and a lil slow another, but cant hit the broad side of a barn, nor care too, yeah...
about 1 month ago
If you smile you're sure to hit HRs for sure =p
from about 1 month ago
Only if the pitcher feels the same way about you 8^D
about 1 month ago
heck yeah he should be dumped asap. what a ridiculous signing in the first place he is way past his prime. waste of money for sure! another scott boras special
from about 1 month ago
Appreciate you stopping by and commenting Austin.
I wonder if stiffs like Jones and Schmidt ever feel any embarrassment when cashing their checks.
about 1 month ago
I agree with you 100%. Weather or not they will try to void the contract is the question. Maybe they should just embarrass him by talking about him until it dawns on him that he should either shape up or ask for a trade before his career is ruined. The Dodgers could use that $10,000,000.00 for more youth, more pitching or even more Manny.... Marty
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for dropping by and commenting Marty. I appreciate your input.
I would say last year Jones showed he is incapable of being embarrassed. Laziness and arrogance are in his toolbox though.
At this point, I'm afraid the only positive contribution we can look to Jones providing would be sweeping out the trash in the rows after the game is over, since Jones and trash share a kindred association.
about 1 month ago
If he didn't even bother preparing for the season, with the appropriate weight management, diet, and exercise, he can't possibly be giving his best performance. If a ballet dancer never rehearsed for the show, or a Broadway performer never showed up for rehearsals, then went on to give extremely low performances, they would be fired on the spot. When you sign a contract, you are required to prepare and perform at the levels set forth and expected from said contract. By blatantly disregarding his own health, he put himself at risk for injuries that could further cost the Dodgers organization. His complete lack of accountability for his actions clearly shows how much he disdains playing for the Dodger organization, and he should be let go. If he can't play for us the way he is expected to (and the way he sign up for), why should we keep him? He's dead weight on the roster and there are many more players who will actually perform, and be paid less for it, just to get the chance to be a part of the Dodgers organization. If we can find several players who, together, could be paid Jones' salary, and who will actually perform up to contracted standards, we should give them that opportunity and drop Jones' like a tub of lard.
from about 1 month ago
Thank you for your salient comments Jo.
I see you have just signed up with Bleacher Report. I hope you enjoy spending time in this corner of the internet sporting world.
Your comments on entertainers are quite appropriate as players and agents try to use entertainers as justification for their salary, yet look the other way when the conversation turns to responsibility.
about 1 month ago
I remember when Jones first came up...I was blown away by his prowess in the field and his penchant for getting big hits. Remember, he was a key part of Atlanta's 1996 playoff run. The general consensus early on was that he would become a special player.
But then, he turned in possibly the worst contract year by a big-name player in sports history. He bats .222 with 138 strikeouts! He was never known as a great hitter, in the sense of having a lot of plate discipline and being able to hit for average when his power deserted him, but...his last year in Atlanta was abysmal. Unfortunately for him, his first year in LA proved that the last year in Atlanta was no fluke. I'd be surprised if he plays a meaningful role for anybody next season.
from about 1 month ago
I appreciate your stopping by and leaving some very good comments Joe.
Jones did show he had the talent early on, but later it would seem his desire tank sprung a couple of leaks.
I remember the thought before last season was how his numbers were down the last year in Atlanta due to an elbow injury he played with all season. Turns out it was some missing internal organs instead.
about 1 month ago
wow! great read J.C.,
well said, and well phrased,
dont forget to tell me the following of this story!
from 29 days ago
Thanks for your support Miah.
I'll try and keep you posted as the story continues...
about 1 month ago
I agree that Jones is lazy, but seriously, who didn't see this coming?? Andruw Jones, a Scott Boras client, has NEVER hit over .300 in his career. The year before the Dodgers signed him he hit .222 in Atlanta, which isn't exactly a pitcher's park. He never had an OBP above .366. So honestly, as a Dodger fan, you would have to be more mad at the Dodgers for signing him than Jones for continuing to suck.
from 29 days ago
Thanks for your comments David, sorry it took so long to respond to them.
I would say the Dodgers signed Jones for defense - he was an upgrade over Pierre - and slugging. I would have been happy with a .250 avg if he cracked around 25 homers. There were no visions of .300 hitting sugarplums dancing in my head 8^D
As a Dodger fan, I am not happy when giving any of Lucifer Boras' clients big bucks over many years. But there are different levels of suckage, and the Jones of 2008 resembled an airlock blowing out on the space station.
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