Spring Break
So Long Mr. Jones
Patrick Parker
Issue date: 9/25/07 Section: Sports
With the baseball regular season winding down and the playoff spots getting etched in stone with every passing day, I figured this will be the last time the name Braves should ever be spoken about until the 2008 season begins. But, I'm not just talking about any Brave, I'm talking about the infamous Jones boy who for some reason needs to spell his name with a U.
Ever since the "Stark Truth" was released by ESPN's Jason Stark this year - highlighting the most overrated and underrated players in baseball - Andruw Jones's overrated status according to Stark's book has become a complete reality.
Entering this season Jones was in his last year of his contract with the Braves. Scott Boras - Jones' agent - was looking to cash in on the nine-time gold-glove-winning centerfielder in the open market over this winter.
Both Jones and Boras were pretty much guaranteed a huge salary, close to Alfonso Soriano's contract with the Cubs that reached 8 years, $136 million, because Jones was without question the best centerfielder in the game entering the season. He saw his 2005 home run king season launch himself into possible Hall of Fame glory.
That is unless he has the worst season of his career - in his contract year - but no one could have seen that coming, right?
Wrong.
Stark was on to something in his book, as he highlighted how Jones was falling in comparison to what he was like in the late 90's. When this book came out and the Jones' position was highlighted, I couldn't help but agree 100 percent with Stark.
Most of the news in recent weeks has been the collapse of the Mets' lead in the NL East and the Red Sox' collapse in the AL East. But, one thing baseball analysts are missing is how much Jones has collapsed.
Entering the season Jones was known for his home run power and his ability to drive in runs - knocking in over 100 RBIs over the last two seasons. But, for a Braves fan who has watched Jones throughout the years, he has never been known as a clutch RBI guy and this year it really was shown to the rest of the world.
Ever since the "Stark Truth" was released by ESPN's Jason Stark this year - highlighting the most overrated and underrated players in baseball - Andruw Jones's overrated status according to Stark's book has become a complete reality.
Entering this season Jones was in his last year of his contract with the Braves. Scott Boras - Jones' agent - was looking to cash in on the nine-time gold-glove-winning centerfielder in the open market over this winter.
Both Jones and Boras were pretty much guaranteed a huge salary, close to Alfonso Soriano's contract with the Cubs that reached 8 years, $136 million, because Jones was without question the best centerfielder in the game entering the season. He saw his 2005 home run king season launch himself into possible Hall of Fame glory.
That is unless he has the worst season of his career - in his contract year - but no one could have seen that coming, right?
Wrong.
Stark was on to something in his book, as he highlighted how Jones was falling in comparison to what he was like in the late 90's. When this book came out and the Jones' position was highlighted, I couldn't help but agree 100 percent with Stark.
Most of the news in recent weeks has been the collapse of the Mets' lead in the NL East and the Red Sox' collapse in the AL East. But, one thing baseball analysts are missing is how much Jones has collapsed.
Entering the season Jones was known for his home run power and his ability to drive in runs - knocking in over 100 RBIs over the last two seasons. But, for a Braves fan who has watched Jones throughout the years, he has never been known as a clutch RBI guy and this year it really was shown to the rest of the world.
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