Posts tagged AndruwJones at FanHouse

Andruw Jones was overweight, hitting .161, and had struck out in 74 of his 205 at-bats so far this season when he went down injured. According to Jones, those numbers are set in stone.

"This year," Jones said, "it's basically over."

He's reacting to the fact that his knee injury flared up again during his rehab assignment. The proverbial writing, however, is also on the wall with Matt Kemp, Manny Ramirez, and Andre Ethier the everyday starters in LA's outfield. At this point you'd even have to consider Juan Pierre ahead of Jones on the depth chart, given Jones' pathetic play in 2008. He knows it:

"If the team needed me and I was the only one who could be out there, I would wrap it up and play," said Jones, who cut short the first of his two rehab assignments to step in for an injured Juan Pierre in early July. "In this situation, we have other guys who have been getting the job done. I'll try not to be in their way."

Good thing for Andruw that his agent, Scott Boras, was able to squeeze an extra year out of the Dodgers ... otherwise he'd be in line for a minor league contract or retirement next year. Either way, the unemployment line is not far off for someone once destined for Cooperstown.

It's been a tough year for the perennially overpaid, overrated Juan Pierre. First, the Dodgers sign Andruw Jones after Jones' worst season as a pro, somehow hoping he would turn things around. He hasn't. Then Pierre goes out and actually gets on base a little bit -- not too much, but just a little bit -- before seeing his OBP drop back down into the .320s, where it currently sits. (.324. Ouch.) Then, just when Jones is getting ready to clear the way for Pierre once and for all, the Dodgers turn around and trade a third basemen and some other guys for one of the best hitting outfielders of his generation. Where's the love, people?

So now Pierre is confused and angered and all the things athletes say when they think they should be playing, even if they shouldn't be. Juan Pierre definitely shouldn't be playing, but actually still is, but is also still angry. I don't know, just read the blockquote:

"I wouldn't say it's bad, but it's been difficult. You go on the bench, and then you work your way back in the lineup and possibly going back to the bench. All I've ever done is be Juan Pierre when I wear this jersey. They're sticking it to me this year for whatever reason. "

There's more, but as the story notes, Pierre isn't even being benched. Andre Ethier is, despite the fact that he's much younger and much more talented than Pierre at this point in their respective careers. Yeah. Juan would probably do well to keep quiet, keep his head down, and hope no one in the Dodgers has a sudden wave of enlightenment along the lines of "Hey, um, I hadn't noticed this, but it seems Juan is slugging .318. Uh-huh. What in the world are we thinking?"

Bill Plaschke's most recent column, dedicated to Frank McCourt's belief that some of his young players a) lack listening skills and b) might need to be traded, as taken some recent heat from some of the most respected Dodger bloggers around.

"There is a certain type of player that will thrive and excel here," McCourt said. "There is another type that won't last here."

[...]"Giving them a lot of playing time, now we've seen them a little closer, we've seen their approach," he said, pausing. "And we've all learned a lot."

Without naming names, he said he has learned that some kids are ready to be winners, and some are not.

"You have to be patient, but, on the other hand, young players have to be receptive and respectful, eager to learn and listen," he said. "How many years of experience do we have with our coaches in that clubhouse? Don't you think maybe these guys could learn something from them?"

And rightfully so. (Note that Ned "Hot Seat" Colletti has echoed similar statements, but he's got more to worry about than the media.)

With a rejuvenated Juan Pierre heading to the disabled list, the crowded Dodger outfield is suddenly pretty depleted. And Los Angeles, with Arizona scuffling at the top of the standings, could probably use some offensive help. They'll get it -- in the form of Rafael Furcal, Andruw Jones and Nomar Garciaparra -- but the best word to use might be "eventually".

Jones, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery May 27, is aiming to return for the start of the second half of the season, July 18 in Arizona.

Garciaparra said he thought he could be back by July 4 or 5. Furcal said he was looking at July 5 or 6 as possible return dates.

I'm going to spare you the routine of posting quotes from 'Druw re: "rejuvenation" and "time off" helping and whatnot, because none of that matters until he gets out on the field and actually performs up to his contract.

Sure feels like we've been talking about Curt Schilling a lot this year. You know, for a guy that hasn't pitched a single freaking inning yet. That's probably because his blog, FakeBloodySock.com 38Pitches, has been getting to much pub for being a whiny, hit n' run joint.

But Schilling might not throw a single regulation pitch this season -- and maybe ever again -- because his next scheduled surgery (June 23) could effectively end his career.

On WEEI radio's "Dennis & Callahan Show," Schilling said, "We're still nailing down exactly what kind of surgery it's going to be. When asked if he thought it would end his season, Schilling said yes.

"My season is over and there is a pretty decent chance I have thrown my last pitch forever," he said.

It would seem odd not to have Schill prominently featured as one of baseball's faces. Some people see him as a gasbag type that will spout off on any topic, and others (raises hand) can at least smell our own, so we throw him a little First Amendment love.

And welcome to the least juicy chunk of celebrity meets sports news you will hear all year long. The Dodgers, as in the entire Los Angeles history of the team, is having a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame dedicated to them.

The Hollywood Historic Trust and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce this Friday, June 20 at 11 am in celebration of the organization's 50th anniversary in Los Angeles. An Award of Excellence star and commemorative plaque will be presented to the Dodgers in recognition of their significant contributions to the community of Los Angeles and world culture and entertainment. The Dodgers will be the first sports franchise ever to receive such an honor.

There will be all sorts of crazy celebs there, including Frank McCourt, Joe Torre, Russell Martin, Charley Steiner, Eric Karros, and, well, Vin Scully actually is a celeb in my book. Although from what I understand, he already has a star on the WoF with his own name on it.

The press release makes some good points though -- the Dodgers, like most Los Angeles teams, have been celebrity infused since the beginning. Additionally, they have five World Series titles and made huge civil rights strides by bringing Jackie Robinson into baseball. No word on whether Andruw Jones was invited or not.

One of the "rules" about starting your own blog is that you are supposed to find a specific subject and concentrate on that particular avenue. Otherwise, you just end up like a lot of blogs, getting lost in the murky stream that is the blogosphere.

Andre Ethier seems to grasp that, as witnessed by his brand new food criticism blog on MLB.com, Dining with 'Dre.

Thanks to everyone for taking a look at my new blog, where I'll be reviewing restaurants around the Los Angeles area throughout the season. I can't really call myself an expert or a true food critic, but I love to try new restaurants and so we though it would be cool to show off some of my favorites...or maybe some of those that I won't be going back to anytime soon.

Obviously, as a professional athlete getting publicity on MLB.com, Andre could blog about whatever he wanted and he would generate traffic. But this idea is still extremely unique and it has tons of potential.

Ethier has said he will deal with Los Angeles area restaurants, which is great. I am sure there are literally thousands of food joints to hit up. But if he started including criticisms from food he ate while on a road trip, then he gets the ability to market outside of the Los Angeles-centric audience.

Of course, the downside is that he gets way too into this blog and ends up like Andruw Jones.

H/T: Dodger Thoughts

Frank Wren, the new general manger of the Atlanta Braves, did something that not even his relatively self-promotional predecessor, John Schuerholz, would attempt to pull off. That would be to simultaneously bash a former player (and beloved homegrown talent Andruw Jones), bash another GM and promote himself, all with one swift, not-so-innocuous comment on Sporting News Radio (via Larry Brown).

'We had the ability to watch over the last two or three years that Andruw was not the same, and he wasn't the same player he was three years ago. We had already seen the decline begin. Now he very well may get it back to some extent but we had seen the decline so [letting him go] was easier.'

Not for nothing, Frank, because Ned Colletti is hardly a genius (see: Jones and Pierre, Juan), but what, exactly, have you pulled off this season? Greg Norton is a beast but until the Braves lock up another innings eater or middle infielder, it might be better to let actions speak instead of words.

Look, we all saw Druw stink up the joint last year but in terms of power, I find it tough to believe Wren thought that was a permanent outage. LB makes a good point about "work ethic" (or as I like to call it "ability to stop pounding donuts")

Either way though, it just seems silly. There's no benefit for Wren -- aside from pumping himself up -- from embarrassing both Jones and Colletti on the air, so just throw the DL'd chubster a bone and say you "hope the longtime Brave can find his stroke again" or somesuch fake speak.

It's pretty rare in professional baseball when you think a trip to the disabled list is a good thing. But in the case of Andruw Jones, that is exactly the situation. The former slugger formerly known as a superstar was placed on the DL, in advance of having surgery on his right knee.

Now the club is going to invest 4-6 weeks of recuperatory time in the 31-year-old slugger, who will be on the DL for the first time in his career. Dr. Neal Elahrache, the Dodgers' orthopedic surgeon, will perform the surgery on Tuesday at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic.

'He was really determined not to have it done, but surgery is the best thing,' general manager Ned Colletti said. 'It will not only help him physically, but hopefully it'll help his game. Obviously through seven weeks it's been disappointing for him and for everyone involved.'

Andruw getting out of the lineup, out of the public's eye and out of his head would all be good things. Don't be surprised if the surgery is "quick" followed by six weeks of intense "rehabilitation".

See, my theory is that if Jones would just not be as chunky, his ability to hit and field the baseball will improve. I have to believe that the Dodgers feel the same way and given the opportunity to pull a "golf ball sized wart" out of his knee, they might as well drain his stomach too. So don't be shocked to see Jones come back a little lighter, is what I'm saying.

Fantasy Spin: Obviously you can drop him now. Jones might be worth a flier if he comes back in better shape, but I'd probably wait about a month before making a play for him.

The Jacksonville Suns did that thing where they pull a stud prospect pitcher early even though he is fine and pitching well. I say "that thing" because such a manuever is usually followed by a call-up to the major leagues. And that's the news coming out of Dodger-land as well, with Clayton Kershaw dealing and the Dodgers making a run in the NL West.

Beginning with Tuesday's game in Chicago, the Dodgers will need a fifth starter on almost a traditional five-day rotation through the All-Star break. The last time the spot came up Saturday in Anaheim, manager Joe Torre went with a tag-team of Chan Ho Park for four innings (one earned run), followed by Hong-Chih Kuo for four scoreless innings in a 6-3 win.

Bear in mind that a few weeks ago, when we thought Kershaw was getting the call, the Dodgers were not as hot on the heels of Arizona as they are now. The team was inconsistent, except for Andruw Jones, who stunk all the time. Suddenly, they are surging, just three games back. And they have a prospect that their manager has likened to Sandy Koufax (whether that's accurate or not is beside the point).

So a call-up coming seems pretty likely. Or at least pretty reasonable. So, um, welcome to the Kershaw-dome. And any other number of horrible Public Enemy jokes I will be slinging your way.

Fantasy Spin: If you haven't burned through your transaction cap listening to me on Kershaw advice, go ahead and run back out there and grab him. He's a phenom with an otherwordly curveball and tons of strikeout potential. Non-keepers want to be trying to move him as soon as he gets up, if not earlier, because of his innings cap and the hype involved.