When he was with the Braves, Andruw Jones without a doubt earned a reputation as one of the best centerfielders in the game. Then, he got to the end of his contract and seemingly lost his ability to make contact with the ball and even some of his range in the outfield. Now that he's with the Dodgers, he doesn't exactly have the patience of the fans and media as he did in Atlanta whenever he had a slow start. That is, if you consider the following article by T.J. Simers as an good reflection of the feelings of the rest of LA:
"As for his play on the field, the Tubbo has one home run, and so far it looks as if he has only warning-track power, which suggests he has lost something.
"If you think that's what I've got, warning-track power, then write it down," Jones said, and it always helps when I have a player's permission to criticize him. "I lost my power, I suck, I should retire."
"I hope you're not waiting for me to disagree with you," I said.
Then Jones went out, and struck out on three pitches in his first appearance at the plate. I wonder if he cared.
Hard to disagree with Simers, but as a former Andruw fan, I fear the negative press may hinder his chances of breaking out of his slump. I don't think any writer in Atlanta ever wrote such a negative article about any athlete. Not sure why Simers felt the need to make it personal between he and Andruw. Just an ugly situation that may get uglier soon.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-simers11-2008may11,0,7611597,full.column
Monday, May 12, 2008
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Braves acquire Norton. Who?
So yesterday, the Braves picked up another utility player in a trade with Seattle. They acquired Greg Norton, who by all appearances had been having good results this year with limited playing time. His average so far this year is .438, but just 16 plate appearances. His career average is .253, while playing for 5 different teams, notably the Mariners, Rays, and Rockies.
I have to ask, do the Braves really need another guy like this? The move was apparently made because of an injury to Martin Prado, who will miss up to six weeks with a sprained thumb. The injury left Ruben Gotay as the only backup infielder, until Omar Infante makes his introduction as a Brave, after suffering a broken hand in winter ball, within a week or so. I get that they were short a player for now, but what about a call-up from the minors? What about Brent Lillibridge? I know he didn't do that well when he was last up but have they given up on him? Is there no one else at Richmond?
My concern in this is one I've had before, that Frank Wren is too eager to make moves based on how it should work out on paper. Every Braves fan knows that over the years they've been successful because the players are able to mesh together and most players fit in. The few players who haven't fit in, Lofton and Deion Sanders notably didn't stay around that long. Correct or not, I give credit to John Schuerholz for always keeping these factors in mind when making, or not making, trades. I just wonder if Frank Wren is thinking the same way. Hopefully this move will work out and Norton will fit in, as will all the other players new to the team this year. I just hope Wren remembers you can't just bring any player in and expect his numbers alone to fill a hole, his personality has to fit in as well in order to benefit the team.
I have to ask, do the Braves really need another guy like this? The move was apparently made because of an injury to Martin Prado, who will miss up to six weeks with a sprained thumb. The injury left Ruben Gotay as the only backup infielder, until Omar Infante makes his introduction as a Brave, after suffering a broken hand in winter ball, within a week or so. I get that they were short a player for now, but what about a call-up from the minors? What about Brent Lillibridge? I know he didn't do that well when he was last up but have they given up on him? Is there no one else at Richmond?
My concern in this is one I've had before, that Frank Wren is too eager to make moves based on how it should work out on paper. Every Braves fan knows that over the years they've been successful because the players are able to mesh together and most players fit in. The few players who haven't fit in, Lofton and Deion Sanders notably didn't stay around that long. Correct or not, I give credit to John Schuerholz for always keeping these factors in mind when making, or not making, trades. I just wonder if Frank Wren is thinking the same way. Hopefully this move will work out and Norton will fit in, as will all the other players new to the team this year. I just hope Wren remembers you can't just bring any player in and expect his numbers alone to fill a hole, his personality has to fit in as well in order to benefit the team.
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