Andruw Jones hits three HRs, and I say, “Big deal”
The third of his three home runs Wednesday night had scarcely cleared the fence in Anaheim when the cry went up three time zones away: “See? I told you the Braves should’ve re-signed Andruw Jones!”
Let the record reflect that Mr. Bradley never once said, or thought, as much. Yes, he’s hitting now. But, were I Frank Wren, I wouldn’t have taken him over the winter. Andruw Jones had already disappointed this organization enough. And not just this organization.
He hit .222 with more strikeouts than hits as a Brave in 2007, the year his contract expired. Then, after Scott Boras inexplicably got the Dodgers to pony up $36 million over two seasons, he hit .158 with twice as many strikeouts as hits and was summarily released. What in any of that made us think he had anything left? What tangible reason did the Braves have to re-sign him beyond sentiment?
We just saw with Tom Glavine the peril inherent in sentimental sporting journeys. The Dodgers could cut Andruw Jones and not have it become a civic talking point because he was just another free agent who’d bombed. Here he’ll always be Andruw Jones, hitter of two homers in Game 1 of the 1996 World Series and the peerless patrolman in center field, the guy we alternately cheered and cussed for more than a decade. Here he’d have been an outsize presence, same as Glavine was.
Loading ...In hindsight, the 2009 Braves could have used an outfielder capable of hitting 14 homers and driving in 34 runs. We had, however, no reason to believe Andruw Jones would be that outfielder. But half those homers and RBIs have come in his past 10 games, which means he didn’t hit the ground running as a Ranger, either, and Jones is still only hitting .250, with just as many strikeouts as hits.)
He has gotten a fresh start with Texas, and good for him, but nothing about bringing AJ back to the A-T-L would have been fresh. It would have been just another stale idea, another Farewell Tour, another agonizing goodbye just waiting to be pronounced. The Braves could use an outfielder, but they didn’t need the angst this outfielder would have brought.
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209 comments Add your comment
Steve
July 9th, 2009
3:05 pm
“the guy we alternately cheered and cussed for more than a decade”…. Does that make him the Josh Smith of the Braves?
Chief Nock A Homa
July 9th, 2009
3:16 pm
I’m of the opinion that it’s about being in the right place at the right time, as well as being a good athlete, that helps an athlete come back and/or perform better….
If Andruw had come back to the Braves, it might have very well been another disaster season for him…
Chop Chop
July 9th, 2009
3:17 pm
Well, the Braves couldn’t take a chance on Andruw being finished. That’s why he wasn’t brought back. Now that it appears he isn’t finished (the strikeouts don’t mean much to me…the Braves have plenty of people in the lineup who don’t strike out much), it’s easy to go back and wonder about what might have been. I’m glad to see the guy doing well for an up-and-coming ballclub. Maybe he can impart some wisdom from all those winning years with the Braves? Maybe he can be a bit of a leader? We forget about how good Andruw was for us. We assume that he was just a lazy bum who got by on talent. Hell, I read an article earlier this season where he even admitted as much. Last year’s debacle seemed to drive home the point that Bobby’s beloved Andy needed to get his act together. Some guys have to hit rock bottom, you know?
Anyway, by the time his career ends, Andruw Jones may very well find himself inducted into the Hall of Fame. He’ll go in as a Brave, so we’ll just have to boo him and call him lazy while he’s giving his speech in Cooperstown.
Trainwreck
July 9th, 2009
3:20 pm
Well I’m happy for him anyway… I hoped he would do well in Texas
rlinaug
July 9th, 2009
3:21 pm
again, nicely done.
Mrs. Chanandler Bong
July 9th, 2009
3:30 pm
Good article, MB. I find it similar to what may/may not happen if Frenchy leaves and finds success elsewhere. All the people screaming for his demise will then be complaining about the front office letting him go.
chris
July 9th, 2009
3:31 pm
Hi Mark,
I agree. But are you saying that we didn’t need or that we didn’t need him and still don’t need him? Just curious what your thoughts are as far as going after him now.
Chris from MD
The ghost of Moose Granger
July 9th, 2009
3:31 pm
Andruw is doing better in Texas because he’s listening to his coaches. He was humbled when nobody, not even the Braves, wanted to offer him more than a minor league deal. If the Braves had welcomed him back he would still be taking giant windmill swings on pitches outside the zone and falling flat on his rump like before. He started out the season as the fourth outfielder and had to work his way into the lineup. How about that? An incentive to do better? When did he ever have that in Atlanta?
Don’t fool yourselves, second-guessers. The Andruw that’s playing well in Texas is not the same Andruw as we would have seen in Atlanta. Rudy Jaramillo may be the best hitting coach in the game, but he doesn’t work here.
Texas_Dawg
July 9th, 2009
3:35 pm
Mark,
You forgot to mention that that .250 is actually .250/.348/.581. How many current Braves outfielders have +.900 OPS?
You should have just stuck to the reasons it would have been a risky move to sign him. Trying to spin his stats as some you wouldn’t want in the Braves outfield is just silly though.
Hillbilly Deluxe
July 9th, 2009
3:35 pm
Good for Andruw that he’s having a decent year so far but I wouldn’t have signed him either.
Dawgs and Braves
July 9th, 2009
3:36 pm
If you look at Andruw’s swing now, it is nothing like it was the past 2 seasons. He cut way down on his stride to minimize his head movement. Credit Rudy Jaramillo the Rangers hitting coach with that. If only we had a hitting coach that could improve players swings. TP should have been fired a year ago.
Steve
July 9th, 2009
3:38 pm
Andruw is only batting .250. However, he has on On-base % of .348 (not bad for a slugger with a low batting avg.). He also has a slugging % of .581 (higher than anyone on the Braves and a Offensive Production % of .929 (also higher than anyone on the Braves). When you see his 14 homers and 34 RBIs, remember that he has only had 160 at-bats. Chipper leads our team with 9 homers (in 250 ABs).
I wanted the Braves to resign him during the off season. We could have gotten him for next to nothing with a lot of incentives in the contract. I guarantee that Bobby Cox and Frank Wren wishes that somebody on the Braves roster currently had those numbers.
bushwacker
July 9th, 2009
3:45 pm
Don’t blame Andrew for losing it while in ATL.
What we are finding out here is the Braves have no real coaches who actuallly work with the players and make them better.
Bobby does a good job managing a game, but he does not actually work with the guys, when you get to Atlanta you are exepcted to know how to play, the coaching stops at the minor leagues.
The same coaches and mgmt that now call Matt Diaz a dangrous hitter because he will swing at anything in the “area code” are the same ones who blasted Francouer early in his career when he was tearing the cover off the ball for not taking enough pitches, THEY HAVE RUINED JEFF FRANCOUER, you see it every at bat,he’s waitng to see if its a strike before he swings instead of just reacting to the pitch.
Who cares if he never walks and swings at pitches out of the zone if he’s hitting 28 with 30 and 100 which is what he did in the beginning.
Our coaching staff is incompetent and useless!
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 9th, 2009
3:45 pm
Good stuff Mark, it simple, he has good coaching in Texas. If he were here he would be released already. Everybody in Texas hits .250-.290 with 25+ homers.
Andruw Jones is God
July 9th, 2009
3:46 pm
Good for him. He wouldn’t have done this with Atl. Hope he comes back all the way and makes the HOF, like I was thinking he would a few years back.
Just be glad he’s not doing it for the Mets.
Frenchy
July 9th, 2009
3:47 pm
Good calls guys, now if only I could get traded to Texas, Rudy J. could fix my mucked up swing, I’ll swing at anything if its close, you know I love the first pitch, TP cant help me & I need a fresh start, go ahead & send me to Texas please so I can rake again, PUUULEASE
brewdawg
July 9th, 2009
3:49 pm
Will we see a similar resurgence in Jeff Francouer once he inevitably moves on after or during this year?
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 9th, 2009
3:50 pm
Compare Andruw’s numbers with….oh i don’t know Ian Kinsler. IK is batting .251 with 20 HR’s in 330 at bats. Andruw .250, 15 HR’s in 160 AB’s Sounds like an all star to me, not God but an all star.
Bama Aaron
July 9th, 2009
3:51 pm
I was a little disappointed he didn’t take the minor league offer in the off-season and try to prove himself. But in the long run I don’t think he’s being doing that well in ATL. He finally humbled himself enough to listen to their hitting coach and I don’t think that would have happened here. Best of luck to him and let’s move on to finding someone else who can help us.
Mark Bradley
July 9th, 2009
3:52 pm
I just don’t have any faith that Andruw can sustain anything, Chris. OK, one lousy year can be an aberration, but one lousy year followed by a second (even worse) season? I’d call that a trend.
Of course, if he winds up hitting 25 homers with 70 RBI this season, I might call that trending upward. I’m flexible that way. But no, I don’t see Andruw Jones as any long-term answer for the Braves.
x fan
July 9th, 2009
3:54 pm
and who’s next? Hopefully it will be …… Jeff “Rally Killer” Francouer.
I am sick of seeing this Jones prototype.
let em go!
Steve Brown
July 9th, 2009
3:56 pm
Of course you would give up on Andruw, but never Chipper, Frenchy, Kelly Johnson, Bennett, Carlyle, etc. Atlanta Braves have a subconscious (benefit of the doubt) redneck bias. Since someone else mentioned Josh Smith, what makes anyone think he is a winner.
kirkinga
July 9th, 2009
3:59 pm
So we can second guess everything from not signing Smoltz, to the Texeria trade, but we can’t second guess not signing Andruw this offseason? What a load of b.s.! Of course we can second guess because he’s playing better and because our OF still leaves something to be desired.
I’m glad to see Andruw doing well for himself. I thought he would be a low risk sign for them this offseason. I still would like to see him back. I hate the strikeouts too, but none of the guys who have played CF for us this season are as good as Andruw even though they are younger. McClouth doesn’t have his arm, nor can he come in on balls as good.
No real Braves fan remembers just the bad about Andruw or pretends all he was was his last two seasons here. Real fans know better.
Timbo
July 9th, 2009
4:00 pm
Wish he was back here . . . better than what we have!
GoDruw
July 9th, 2009
4:01 pm
“But half those homers and RBIs have come in his past 10 games, which means he didn’t hit the ground running as a Ranger, either, and Jones is still only hitting .250, with just as many strikeouts as hits.)”
Not exactly true. Andruw literally hit the ground running starting the year off. He batted like .400 for the month of April. He slumped with the rest of the rangers during may and june and is starting to pick back up along with the others. But I agree with the Braves decision. Who knew.
Herschel Talker
July 9th, 2009
4:02 pm
Andruw Jones is fat. And he likes men.
All I'm Saying Is...
July 9th, 2009
4:05 pm
Andruw hits three homers and while I’m happy for Andruw cause I thought he was and is a nice person, I otherwise can only elicit a big ole yawn because, despite the putrid state of RF and an aging wonder in LF, I’d still rather have our outfield without Andruw than to have him on the squad. GO BRAVES!
MWGT1990
July 9th, 2009
4:06 pm
Glad to see his swing is coming back…best wishes to Andruw. Regardless of whether he’s a Brave or not, he gave us some great years and stories. How easily we forget and turn on folks. I hope he does well and stays in the AL
He started it...(again)
July 9th, 2009
4:06 pm
Of course you would give up on Andruw, but never Chipper, Frenchy, Kelly Johnson, Bennett, Carlyle, etc. Atlanta Braves have a subconscious (benefit of the doubt) redneck bias
You forgot to add Escobar too. They’re ready to give up on him too! They can keep the Keith Lockhart’s around forever, but not the Andrews, Yunels, or Wille Harrises. But that Matt Diaz sure will get that uniform dirty want he! ::rolls eyes::
Mark Bradley
July 9th, 2009
4:08 pm
Oh, I’d give up on Jeff Bennett. But never on Josh Smith.
Javy Vazquez/Lopez
July 9th, 2009
4:09 pm
Right on BW Texas Ranger, if we had Andruw could you imagine the screaming if we had Frenchy & Andruw in the outfield, both leading the league in strikeouts under the watchful eye of TP. He would not be the same Andruw youre seeing in Texas, just ask him & Frenchy, Francouer is hoping he gets traded to Texas next! Theyre in 1st place with no pitching, but they can score some runs unlike da Bravos! We wont win any in Colorado with 2-1 scores trust me, better step up the bats.
Tbone
July 9th, 2009
4:10 pm
Uh….Chop Chop…., surely you are not serious about Andrew going into the hall of fame. Compare his numbers to Dale Murphy’s….who ain’t gettin in. Andrew was good in his day…..but no HOFer.
GoDruw
July 9th, 2009
4:10 pm
I’d swap GA and JF for AJ any day.
coach smith
July 9th, 2009
4:11 pm
Mark Bradley
You are so far off on this
How exactly has Andruw “disappointed this organization”
Is 10 straight gold gloves and nearly 400 HRs a dissapointment?
What about when he kicked Boras to the curb and took less money to stay with the Braves? Was that a disappointment?
And you also said “one lousy year follwed by another”
In 2007 Andruw hit 26 HRs and had 94 RBIs…is that LOUSY?
because I am confused by your definition of lousy since you turn right around and say *”Of course, if he winds up hitting 25 homers with 70 RBI this season, I might call that trending upward.”*
well lets see, in his WORST year (one you call lousy) here in at Atlanta, he hit 26 hrs and drove in 94
if that is lousy I’ll take it….I just don’t see how anybody can say he disappointed this organization by being one of the best fielding and power hitting CF in the history of the game!
Stat Man
July 9th, 2009
4:12 pm
We had just as much reason to think Andruw could be productive as Glavine.
Looks like we went 0 for 2.
coach smith
July 9th, 2009
4:13 pm
don’t forget MB….AJ has those 14 hrs in ONLY 46 GAMES!!!!
no Brave even has 10…in 80+
Ken Stallings
July 9th, 2009
4:15 pm
Andruw isn’t just listening to good hitting advice. More importantly, he got himself in better physical condition. He’s lost about 20 pounds of fat and that makes him better all around.
I’m glad he finally wised up. If he had done that in Atlanta in 2007, he’d still be playing here.
coach smith
July 9th, 2009
4:16 pm
Tbone
sorry but AJ is most likely going to the Hall of Fame
he not only hit all those HRs but won an unprecedented 10 straight gold glove and was widely regarded as one of the best ever in CF on a team that constantly WON….
that matters and it is Murphy’s fielding and being on bad teams that kept him out
AJ is likely to cross the 500 hr mark if he plays long enough (only 32) with NO accusation of STERIODS in the steriod era
that will get him in
RTN-Norcross
July 9th, 2009
4:16 pm
The coaching staff has ruined Frenchy hitting prowness just like they did to a young talent like Ruben Gotay who they expected to tear the cover off the ball without giving him a decent chance, then letting him go.
Jack Hass
July 9th, 2009
4:18 pm
Andruw hit 26 HR and had 94 RBIs in his supposedly “down” last season with the Braves. Sure, he hit .222…but…
Dave Kingman AVERAGED .234 for his 16 year career, 5 times in a season with 300 or more ABs he hit less than .222, and yet he has received serious consideration for the HOF. He only hit 57 more HRs than Andruw, and in 2.5 more seasons.
And only 3 times did he hit more RBIs than Andruw did the year the Braves decided he wasn’t worth keeping.
What kills me is that the Braves gave up on a guy pushing 400 HRs because of that ONE season.
GoDruw
July 9th, 2009
4:18 pm
I don’t know if AJ will make the hof but assuming he plays 5 more years, he will way surpass dale murphy in all offensive categories (he might pass murphy’s 398 hr this year alone).
crackbaby
July 9th, 2009
4:19 pm
MB – why couldn’t you simply write about AJ’s 3 homers and say, “good for him”? Why headline the article with your slant that the Braves should not have signed him in free agency? Very few of us would have thought the Braves should have signed Andrew this season just ’cause he hit 3 homers for Texas the other day. No wonder people call you media types haters.
You’re negative comments are childish and unprofessional. Nothing short of muckraking – which you may regard as a virtue. It would be nice to see AJ contribute to the Rangers improbable playoff run. They both deserve some success.
Please write better columns.
AlabamaBrave
July 9th, 2009
4:20 pm
Anybody have any thoughts about making a play for Jeremy Hermida (sp?) or Cody Ross? Hermida seems affordable.
Stat Man
July 9th, 2009
4:21 pm
coach smith –
you were making a good point right up until you stuck you foot in your mouth about Murphy’s fielding. You’re knocking a man’s fielding skills who won FIVE GOLD GLOVES AS A CONVERTED CATCHER???
Get your facts straight before you go saying ANYTHING negative about one of the greatest Braves ever.
rob
July 9th, 2009
4:21 pm
barely cleared the fence!!! did you see the homers in the paper. two of three could have went out in any park. i think it is funny how some people can get a paycheck by writing some of this stuff. (bisher) where are the articles about francoeur not producing or shafer still with more k’s than hits. the guy is doing fine in texas and really doesn’t care what the ajc has to write about
Kentavo
July 9th, 2009
4:24 pm
I’m with Bradley – Braves never the big one with Andruw on the roster.
Kevin
July 9th, 2009
4:25 pm
What a stupid article. Regardless of what you thought about Andruw, he would have come dirt cheap. There was literally no harm in bringing him back to see if he had anything left. Afterall, he was injured most of 2008. We found that out after the 2008 season.
And “he didn’t hit the ground running as a Ranger either”? Do you even watch baseball. Andruw hit over .344 in the month of April with like 3 homers.
Is it so hard to admit you were wrong and that Andruw is a good player that we could have had for next to nothing?
Terry Pendleton needs a new job
July 9th, 2009
4:25 pm
A lot of uninformed posters here.
Guys, get a clue.
In AJ’s last two years in Atlanta, he hit the following:
2006 .262 41 129
2007 .222 26 94
In 2005 he hit a majestic 51 HRs. Don’t forget another 128 RBIs as well.
Where’s the trend downward? He goes to a new town, new coaches, etc, and has a bad year. I don’t think he’s the first player to sign a fat contract and lose his focus.
We’re going to be very sorry we let Andruw get away.
GoDruw
July 9th, 2009
4:26 pm
The third barely cleared the fence because it was a line drive.
Trey J
July 9th, 2009
4:26 pm
I loved Andruw Jones, but I understood giving him the blues! Andruw isn’t the answer to the Braves Center Field problems.
Stat Man
July 9th, 2009
4:28 pm
TP needs a new job:
Where’s the downward trend you ask???
Using your won numbers, I’d say from 51 to 41 to 26 would be going down. What school did you graduate from??
dawgdad
July 9th, 2009
4:28 pm
Mark, I’m with you on Andruw not maintaining his swing. He will be back to airconditioning the park again in weeks chasing that outside slider. I was so hoping you were right about Cox losing patience with Frenchy, but looks like once again you bombed, like Georgia going all the way in 2008 and the Braves turning it around in Second half last year. Well, at least hopefully Bobby Cox knows we are waiting for some permanent action. How you can bench a guy hitting over .500 for his last eight games for 1 infield hit Frenchy I will never know.
coach smith
July 9th, 2009
4:30 pm
Stat Man
5 gold gloves over a LONG career is not in the same ballpark as 10 straight in a big CF
I love Murphy but he couldn’t carry AJ’s jock defensively….Most people agreed that AJ was “one of the best EVER in CF”
Murphy wasn’t in that category
atlbravesfan44
July 9th, 2009
4:30 pm
WHERE’S THE TREND DOWNWARD???? Open your eyes and look at those home run totals plummetting, dude.
coach smith
July 9th, 2009
4:31 pm
Trey J
the Braves don’t have CF problems
with a GG all-star CF in McLouth and Schafer and Blanco…how do the Braves have “CF problems”?
I think people would want him playing RF or LF if he came back
Mark Bradley
July 9th, 2009
4:31 pm
Andruw Jones isn’t a Hall of Famer at this moment and I doubt he’ll ever be. His career average is .259. Harmon Killebrew is the only Hall of Famer I know of — there could be others; I haven’t made an exhaustive survey — with a lower career BA, and he hit 573 homers. Andruw has 385.
Alan
July 9th, 2009
4:34 pm
The Braves screwed up by not re-signing Andruw, who will no doubt be in the HOF when his career is over. He’s now hitting clean up for Texas & has 14 home runs in ONLY 160 at bats. How many players in the non-steroid era can hit 40+ home runs a year like Andruw in 500+ at bats. He will end the season with 30+ home runs and 100+ RBI’s this year in less than 400 at bats. The Braves will not have one player on our current roster who will hit 30 home runs this year.
Frank Wren is an idiot !!
AppalachianBrave
July 9th, 2009
4:35 pm
Actually stat-tastic Stat Man….Glavine has NOT been productive. I don’t remember him even throwing a pitch this year. Good call front office, sympathy and pats on the back don’t win games. I would’ve bet anything that Glavine wouldn’t be 4-0 after a month of work…like his replacement is. I will love Glavine all the way to the Hall, one of my favorite Braves of all time, but you got to know when your time is done as a player.
Andruw was great and can probably still be great. He’s always been a streaky player, and he had his opportunity to come back to ATL. Best of luck to him, but all this “what might have been” is boring.
Just sayin’
coach smith
July 9th, 2009
4:35 pm
Mark Bradley
Ozzie Smith made it into the HOF because of his GLOVE (.265 career batting avg)
and the fact that he was considered “one of the best ever at his spot”
that is the same for AJ…except AJ is likely to approach 500 hr if he keeps playing for several years along with that GLOVE and that perception in CF
and he will have done his HR hitting without any accusations of Steriods which in this era will make it more significant
Terry Pendleton needs a new job
July 9th, 2009
4:37 pm
Hey Stat Man,
Show me how many players in the last 50 years have hit 50 HRs, and then maintained that level the rest of their careers. (Roid-users like McGwire, Sosa, and Bonds don’t count.)
Heck, even Pujols hasn’t hit 50 yet.
FYI, Andruw’s RBI totals in 2005 and 2006 were career highs. His 94 RBIs in his “off” year were 1 higher than his career average to that point of 93, and only 7 less than his career average since 1997. Seems he was trending upward to me.
Hmmm, what school did YOU graduate from?
al
July 9th, 2009
4:38 pm
You tell them coach Smith,you say nothing but the truth. You could have added the only disappointment to speak of, is the disappointment these Andruw haters have for having to eat crow.
miles
July 9th, 2009
4:39 pm
HOF voters should take in to account that Andruw is the best or second best outfielder ever if he could get to lets say the magic 500 HR’s.
don
July 9th, 2009
4:40 pm
Actually it is a big deal. How many of the present group of Braves have hit 3 homeruns in a game this year? For that matter, how many of them have hit 3 homeruns in a month?
It just adds to the list of screwups by management. Marquis is an all-star. Wainwright is just coming into his own as a stellar starter. Andrus is the leader for rookie of the year in the AL. Saltalamacchia is progressing quite well at Texas. Feliz may be the best of the group. Harrison has a bright future.
As for Andruw, how many Braves have 13 homeruns? The Braves screwed up. But, then, it certainly isn’t anything new. Why are the Braves now so mediocre? Look in the front office.
coach smith
July 9th, 2009
4:40 pm
actually OZZIE’s career batting avg was .262
Terry Pendleton needs a new job
July 9th, 2009
4:41 pm
“”WHERE’S THE TREND DOWNWARD???? Open your eyes and look at those home run totals plummetting, dude.”"
Dude.
Dude.
HR’s aren’t the only measure of a player’s production. I’ll take RBIs over HRs any day, thanks. And Andruw was doing just fine in that department.
Stat Man
July 9th, 2009
4:44 pm
Coach smith:
I wasn’t comparing the two – was jsut rebutting your statement that Murphy’s fielding was part of the reason he didn’t make the HOF.
That’s complete idiocy.
Also note that Murph only played the OF full time for 12 seasons. Again, as a converted catcher to be gold glove in 5 of 12 seasons certainly DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING to do with a lack of HOF support.
Wish him well!
July 9th, 2009
4:44 pm
I’m glad Andruw is doing well. But, unless you have a crystal ball, no one know if he would have been successful in Atlanta. I really think it was better for Andruw and the Braves for it to work out like it has. Obviously, the Rangers batting coach is tops! It’s easy to criticize because some moves don’t work and some do, but personally, I like the center fielder we have now.
rob
July 9th, 2009
4:46 pm
look guys i have been saying this for 2 years that it is going to be a while before shafer is ready. not just for center field but just ready. so how can you put him in a category with McLouth and Blanco. with Nate here that pretty much sums that up. if you want to compare of who would you rather have anderson or andruw?
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 9th, 2009
4:48 pm
Don’t blame it on Wren, if AJ was here he would be hitting .220.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 9th, 2009
4:49 pm
Roland Office was the be CF ever
How Soon We Forget
July 9th, 2009
4:49 pm
Braves made the right decision to move on without AJ in 2009, but tough to say that he was cussed for more than a decade. Definitely the best defensive CF of his generation (if not all time) and tremendous power/production from the CF position for many years (including a near MVP year). AJ better get big props when Glavine, Maddux and Smoltz get inducted into the HOF. Their ERAs would be significantly higher without AJ’s defensive abilities.
Terry Pendleton needs a new job
July 9th, 2009
4:49 pm
What I don’t understand is why we continue to give an underachiever like Jeff Francouer all the chances in the world to succeed, and yet we cast off a potential HOFer with years of proven success after one supposedly “off” year.
Just saying.
Stat Man
July 9th, 2009
4:50 pm
TP – simply put, you listed HR totals for 3 years. Those numbers declined by 20% followed by another 37%. If you are going to argue a point, at least have a point.
Meaning, don’t throw out numbers that factually state a downward trend then question when I (or anybody else) simply points it out. If you have a problem with being disagreed with, then start your argument with your best stuff, don’t bring it when your B material has holes shot in it.
BTW – Duke – with honors – on a debate scholarship. Bring It.
BJE
July 9th, 2009
4:53 pm
Very good point -Mrs. Chanandler Bong…
It may be worth our time to put together an aggregate list of posters who have bashed Frenchy. Since there is no “responsibility” for an opinion on a message board, if he does have a resurgence, it would be interesting to have a master list of those who stated that he was finished.
Therefore, if Frenchy improves, we wouldn’t have to listen to them anymore. If, however, he doesn’t ever return to any sort of productive form, their opinion is validated and they may gain a margin of credibility.
Is anyone willing to completely write him off? If so, let’s get the list going.
Stat Man
July 9th, 2009
4:54 pm
AppalachianBrave:
You obviously misread the meaning of my post. I was pointing out that the odds of either Jones or Glavine having anything left was a coin flip. We passed on AJ & signed Glavine – thusly the Braves braintrust went 0 for 2.
1eyedJack
July 9th, 2009
4:54 pm
Lots of people have hit a lot of home runs in Texas. Good hitter’s park.
Alan
July 9th, 2009
4:55 pm
Mark,
Are you really that clueless? Andruw will be in the Hall of Fame, there’s no question about that. Yes he currently has 385 home runs but did you forget he’s only 32 years old. By the time this season is over he will have 400+ home runs and won 10 straight gold gloves. Those by themselves are Hall of Fame numbers. But the fact is he probably has 3-4 years left in him of hitting 25-40 home runs a year which will put him over 500 home runs when his career is over.
Did you forget for over 10 years Andruw Jones was considered the best outfielder in the game for 10+ years and considered one of the top 3 defensive outfielders to ever play the game?
If Ozzie Smith can make the Hall of Fame because he was a GREAT defensive player with a career .262 batting average and 28 career home runs. There’s no doubt Andruw will be in the Hall of Fame with 10 straight gold gloves, 400+ career home runs, 1,300+ RBI’s, and 140+ stolen bases.
Trey J
July 9th, 2009
4:56 pm
I used to love the Braves and I hate to go this route, but He started it again has a point. We give away every good or great player of color ……..(I swear this gets old but there is some truth to it)
Let’s start with Justice after he won the series for us. Yeah I know Glavine was on the mound! Oh have you guys forgot about Jermaine Dye, gave up on Fucal (yeah I know he played us last year but it didn’t have to be that way) wouldn’t try to resign Gary Sheffield. We told Andruw to catch fire and for the money he was asking for I agreed but not to at least make him an offer this year when he would have played for almost nothing was just plain stupid. Look at our lineup Willie Harris could at least can hit and steal a base. I mean it seems as if the Atlanta Braves have all but given up on getting minority fans. Winning would get more fans to the ballpark but getting diversity on our team would get us some loyal fans.
This isn’t something I like saying but it’s true. I now live in Columbia MD. and I go to Baltimore and Washington games……they remind me of the 1990 Braves…….they are young with a lot of potential yet right now they suck! However, they do have what we used to have when the TOMAHAWK CHOP meant something a young diverse but talented team. Note to management winning solves all problems yet doing what you are doing now ain’t working and if you ever want to get the Braves back in the Series you better get some more diversity on your team. Look at Philly,NY Mets and even the Marlins. That’s just in your division. Come on man! This is Atlanta in 2009! Whassup?
Casey
July 9th, 2009
4:58 pm
Random event… even a blind dog finds a bone every now and then. Even a bad baseball player will have a good stretch every once in a while.
Bravo
July 9th, 2009
5:04 pm
why is it everyone is so blind? We could have easily signed Andruw to the contract Texas had and still would have had some left over to sign Smoltz. We could have waited then for Smoltz to return after the All-Star break. Andruw would have been a low risk, high reward. Of course I’m talking about him playing LF starting the season. But just think now, we could very well have had the best defensive outfield in the game now and in stead of looking for another power outfielder and power 1st baseman, we’d instead be only looking for one. Think of a rotation after the All-Star break of Lowe, JJ, Hanson, Vaquez and Smoltz.. moving KK to the pen. We could have moved Lowe now and gotten some proven prospects. Then could have moved KK in the off season for needs once Hudson showed he was ready to return.
Alan
July 9th, 2009
5:05 pm
Trey J.
There are many reason why Andurw is not playing for the Braves this season, RACE is not one of those reasons.
Bringing up Willie Harris proves you have no clue. Willie has never stolen more than 19 bases in a season, was a sub par infielder, and a career .248 hitter with no power. But you act like the Braves let him go because of his color. Get a freaking clue!! Since leaving Atlanta two years ago Willie has hit .245 and .251 with 17 home runs and only 22 stolen bases in 523 at bats.
Bravo
July 9th, 2009
5:06 pm
I’m telling you, Lowe has got to go now while there are takers. You mark my words.. if we don’t move him now, we will pay later.
Terry Pendleton needs a new job
July 9th, 2009
5:07 pm
Stat Man, I’m still waiting for my answer.
I’ll explain it to you again, since you don’t seem to get it.
50 HRs is a historic anomaly in baseball. It’s unsustainable. Using it as a figure to prove a player is on a “downward trend” is fallacious, as someone as bright as you believe yourself to be should know.
If you actually paid attention, you would see that in the 8 years PRIOR to Andruw hitting 51, he averaged 30 HRs per season. For the two years AFTER he hit 51, he averaged 34 HRs (41 and 26). His HR production wasn’t trending downward, it was NORMALIZING to his career average following a season that deviated from the norm.
Andruw wasn’t, and never will be, a 40+ HR guy year after year. He is a guy that will give you about 30-35 HRs, a ton of RBIs, and some consistently amazing defense in CF.
Seems they gave that debate scholarship to the wrong kid.
Trey J
July 9th, 2009
5:09 pm
Coach Smith well said! However, my point is the Braves can’t hit.
They don’t have any pop at all…….and they lack any sort of diversity on their team. I don’t want this to be a race thing cause I love the Braves but I’m just saying why oh why is our team so lilly white? I just asked the question and if it hurts some feeling well “it is what it is”. It would be one thing if we were winning but come on man we are a 500 team! Oh we can wish for better with the great pitching we may have but we ain’t nothing but a mediocre team. Not good enough to be bad and not good enough to be great.
Sort of reminds me of the Hawks back in the 90’s!
CJDawg
July 9th, 2009
5:09 pm
I hope Atlanta releases Bradley as well as Pendleton. I don’t know which one is more pathetic. My God, I wish Smoltz had knocked you out.
regular ole fan
July 9th, 2009
5:09 pm
Hey Andruuuuuuuu Way to Go Buddy!!!!!! Nice!!!
Andruw Jones : Greatest Centerfielder in Braves History.
(Props to Otis N. for “the catch” as well)
We miss you buddy. Hope Dallas area giving u some luv! Real Braves fans love DRUUUUUUUU!!!
Crack some more big guy. Glad ur doin well!
Texas lookin good for playoffs.
25 foreva
Bravo
July 9th, 2009
5:09 pm
I know Trey, I think your right.
We traded Murphy, let maddux walk, let glavine walk, let smoltz go…
I mean, when is it going to stop!! Please stop the madness!!
Luv 2 Hate Me
July 9th, 2009
5:10 pm
Stuck with TP! He sucks and I know why he’s sticking around. They want him to be the nex manager when bobby retires. For now people we are stuck with Terry until he gets a raise and hopefully he’ll put a better batting coach in place who’s 10 times better than him at his current job.
Pretend Hero
July 9th, 2009
5:10 pm
Mark, you are correct, Andrew is hot a Hall of Famer at this moment. He is however on a pace that would easily put him in the Hall of Fame. He was one of the youngest players ever to hit 300 home runs. He won 10 consecutive gold gloves. A lot of the people voting will also remember those two home runs in Game one of the WS he hit as a 19 year old. If he get to 500 home runs, he is in the HOF. 500 Home Runs and 10 Gold Gloves would be first ballot material.
That does not mean he will get to 500, but certainly right now he is in the lead for comeback player of the year, and its pretty easy to think with the DH, better conditioning, and an actual hitting coach he will hit another 115 Home runs. As a hitter he should be able to easily play for 5 to 6 more years. His worst full season before last year was 26 home runs. That puts him at 38 years old, 541 home runs, 10 gold golves, and a highlight reel to rival anyone ever put on the ballot. You are a fool if you dont think he will go into the Hall.
Bravo
July 9th, 2009
5:11 pm
Trey, you know I think your theory could explain the hawks too. Everything is so much clearer now.
regular ole fan
July 9th, 2009
5:11 pm
I think of Texas Rangers as ATLANTA BRAVES WEST!!!!!
Those ex Braves make us proud here in the ATL
Pretend Hero
July 9th, 2009
5:13 pm
This is also one of the most childish columns I have ever read. I dont know if you are just in love with Terry Pendelton and you realize how bad Andruw’s career resurgence makes him look, or if you truly have something against Andruw Jones.
Trey J
July 9th, 2009
5:13 pm
Allan I got a clue! I just wonder why my team can’t find people of color like everybody else that’s kicking our butts!
Hey please don’t make this a race thing I just asked a question if you don’t have a answer shut up!
Oh yeah Andruw Jones is better than anything we got!
Stats don’t lie!
Bravo
July 9th, 2009
5:19 pm
You know what Trey, I just figured out the differnce between the two of us. Your the racist!! I mean, like you said, you use to love the Braves back when they had the likes of Justice, Dye, Sheffield and Furcal. I love the Braves now and guess what.. I even loved them then! I’m feelings for the team didn’t change with the color and yours did. Guess what? I even loved the team back in the 80’s with Chambliss and Washington. Go figure huh?
Pretend Hero
July 9th, 2009
5:20 pm
This may be a flawed comparison, but I think of Andruw in Texas like Randy Moss in New England. When Moss left Oakland, he could have gone to about 25 different teams and ended his career with a wimper. There were a handful of teams with the support structure, coaching staffs, and players where he could go and get both the structure and challenge that he needed to live up to his potential.
Andruw back in Atlanta with TP would be a horrible disappointment for all of us. Andruw in Texas with a real hitting coach, a team with some sort of structure (dont forget the have also provided support for Hamilton and his issues), and coaches and fans who seem to want him to succeed, seems like a recipe for success.
Read the Fortworth Paper if you want to see what they are saying. Seems like the love him there.
Trey J
July 9th, 2009
5:20 pm
Ok, folks you can talk all the talk you won’t but the only time we won a World Series we had a diverse team. Bottomline, we ain’t like that now. I loved the Braves of the 90’s this team ain’t issh!
I went to see them at Camden Yards and was embarrased to have my Braves Jersey on! I went to see them last weekend in Washington and damn if they didn’t do it again. I’m a fan! I follow my team more than what I can say for a lot of Atlanta people.
I used to say we didn’t have bad sports fans until I actually moved.
Face it folks we suck as fans in Atlanta! We don’t show pride until the Falcons win! You see everybody in Baltimore loving this sorry team they have (I’m talking about the O’s and Washington fans love their sorry Nationals). God don’t let me even tell you about Football season.
So yeah if I want more diversity on my team it’s my right to feel that way. I never said Chipper sucked! I never said McCain was garbage now did I. However, I did say that we could do better and I won’t stop sayin’ it.
S.J.M.
July 9th, 2009
5:21 pm
GOOD; THE BRAVES WON’T BENIFIT FROM THOSE 3 RUNS. THEIR LOYALTY IS ALWAY WITH THE WRONG GUYS.
Bravo
July 9th, 2009
5:23 pm
Yeah, I wish the Hawks had some diversity.
Stat Man
July 9th, 2009
5:24 pm
TP:
You obviously don’t get it.
I used YOUR numbers that YOU provided in YOUR initial post and simply did the math. For anybody to give numbers that have declines of 20% then 37% and close by saying “where’s the dropoff” is a fool.
First rule of debating Einstein – those that go first are not allowed to enter different data after the fact. YOU laid out the numbers my man. I’m not saying you don’t have a point – just that your original post asking where’s the dropoff was ridiculous. A 4th grader can see that the numbers YOU provided were in a declining order.
Now quit trying to justify a bonehead post you made. Man up to it and say you didn’t fully state your case, here’s the additional historical data you MEANT to add and go from there – you have a valid point, I agree. But the fight you are trying to win has long been lost.
Bring it.
Dean
July 9th, 2009
5:24 pm
What TrainWreck said: “Well I’m happy for him anyway… I hoped he would do well in Texas”