Will the real Andruw Jones please show up?

by WestsideBrandon on Jul 13, 2008 12:50 AM PDT

So, I just got back from the Dodgers 5-3 loss to the Marlins. I'm not too bothered about the loss or what exactly the Dodgers are doing wrong in terms of player personnel. However, while I was enjoying the game, Andruw Jones came to the plate around strikeouts 3 and 4 (I can't remember, they all looked exactly the same) and a fan yelled, "Hey, can you untie the real Andruw Jones and let him out of your basement!" Everyone laughed, but then I got to thinking. That's quite a plausible explanation. There is no way that this guy is the same Andruw Jones as the one who hit 41 homers two years ago and 51 the year before.

Look, we all know that he had a down year last year. But was that any indication of this? .222 with 26 homers and 96 RBIs (his 07 stats) would have made him easily the best power hitter on the '07 Dodgers. Plus, the average that everyone looked at was not as big of a dip as many fans might've thought. His average during his 40-50 homer seasons hovered around .265 and he's never been much of an average guy. Anyone could've just called last year a bad year, but a prelude to this debacle? I don't think so.

This is not the same Andruw Jones. I don't know what it is, Joe Torre doesn't know what it is, only the imitation guy wearing number 25 for the Dodgers knows. This guy still fields like Andruw and throws like Andruw, but was has happened to that bat? All he gets is outside breaking balls because he can't hit them. When he finally gets a fastball, he gets so excitied that he swings no matter how far away from the strike zone it is.

It's a complete mystery and its nobody's fault. Though he obviously wasn't worth the 18 mil we're paying him (even at the time of signing), Ned Colletti had to look at last season for Andruw as a low water mark. As I already mentioned, his statistics for last year would've had him earning that 4 or 5 spot in the order. This guy looks totally hopeless up there. The boobirds are awake whenever he's at the plate, but even after months he is still powerless to shut them up. I don't know if he has to do some soul searching or if he just needs some advice from Don Mattingly (I sure as hell hope its the latter, otherwise we're stuck with him for another year and a half).

One thing I do know: I want the real Andruw Jones to put on the Dodger blue soon.

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The GM should be fired if he continues to play like that.

by Linix129 on Jul 13, 2008 12:52 AM PDT 0 recs

Uh Oh

I think you’re looking at “the real Andrew Jones”.

by MickS on Jul 16, 2008 1:58 PM PDT 0 recs

First of all, it's "Andruw."

Second of all, did you see this guy two years ago? There is no way that guy is the same as this guy. Just do me a favor, and find some clips of him from then. Everything is different.

by WestsideBrandon on Jul 17, 2008 12:37 AM PDT up 0 recs

clips won’t resurrect his swing, bro.

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by wongy on Jul 17, 2008 11:22 PM PDT up 0 recs

I thought this was a blog for Dodger fans.

Are you guys really that pessismistic? I’m sorry that I’m trying to look on the bright side here, but there is no way that a guy who was that good just two years ago is this bad now. Something is wrong, and you know what? It may not get fixed anytime soon. I’m just trying to say that the Andruw Jones on the Braves was a different guy. If we can just get a part of that guy to Los Angeles, we could run away with this division.

by WestsideBrandon on Jul 18, 2008 12:01 AM PDT up 0 recs

i am a pessimist when it comes to andruw jones. it’s only because i’ve never been a fan of him. he’s really lazy on defense sometimes. he never attempts to dive for balls.

his swing is a joke right now, and hopefully bringing in mattingly will help. which i doubt, but i’m hopeful about that part.

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by wongy on Jul 18, 2008 2:17 PM PDT 0 recs

He's gotten much better on defense since he's come back.

That’s for sure after watching the series against the Marlins. He covers a ton of ground and has an excellent arm. If he keeps it up, at least we have a good fielder. He definitely comes across as lazy sometimes. Bobby Cox once took him out of a game for lack of hustle. Andruw calls it being laid back. Whatever it is, it doesn’t look good to the paying customer. You are completely right about the hitting, though. You or I could do better at the plate. But the fact remains that he has had success in the Big Leagues, which is more than you or I could say. If he just rekindled a little bit of his former self, we would be in a far better position. That being said, we wouldn’t have to worry so much about him coming alive if Furcal were healthy.

by WestsideBrandon on Jul 18, 2008 4:22 PM PDT up 0 recs

yeah, his arm is still there

i know sending him down would sound crazy to a lot of you, but i’m sure he’ll take it as a reality check and work on mechanics. they did it with brett myers (who’s a pitcher i know), but he’s worked on his lack of mechanics. i think it would help the team and andruw in the long run.

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MATT KEMP 4 VICE!

by wongy on Jul 19, 2008 8:31 PM PDT up 0 recs

It probably would, but...

Joe Torre is going to want to give him some time to work with Don Mattingly. If the Dodgers hadn’t just changed hitting coaches, I would’ve toatally agreed with you. However, we might as well give Donny Baseball a chance. After all, Andruw can’t be doing much worse.

by WestsideBrandon on Jul 19, 2008 9:24 PM PDT up 0 recs