For What He’s Worth
Andruw Jones has been released by the Dodgers. That ill-fated project has ended and Los Angeles is lighter in the pocket for their troubles.
What is Jones worth now? A multi year pact? Hardly. A single year contract in the neighborhood of 10 million? Let’s hope not.
He’s worth exactly two things; a one year contract and an attitude adjustment. From 1997 through 2006 Andruw Jones put up exceptional numbers and compiled nine gold gloves. He stayed away from the DL, stole a number of bases and led the league in homeruns and rbis once. More or less he enjoyed a decade of dominance in line with some of baseball’s greats.
In 2008 Andruw showed up to Spring Training with lingering injuries, overweight and without the zeal that allows a player to hit, hit for power, run, field, throw and steal bases at record paces that had characterized his early career. What happened?
Let’s take a look at another wonderful career that fizzled out a little too early. From 1989 to 2001 Roberto Alomar was the overall best offensive and defensive second basemen in baseball. He did everything you need to do to be great and because of his great run will be a strong candidate for the Hall of Fame when he becomes eligible next year. Aside from a little incident with an umpire Alomar was often noted for his love for the game and boundless enthusiasm. Yet like Jones, who has shown decline at the youthful age of 31, Alomar was virtually finished at 33. How do these stars go south so quickly and at such a young age?
For Jones a big part of it has been his physical conditioning. He needs to stay on top of that if he is to remain in professional baseball. Alomar, however, was always in respectable shape. But what seems common amongst the two is that they lost the love for baseball in their early thirties. Alomar, the jovial young second basemen, became cranky in his early thirties. Andruw Jones lacks effort and drive.
Jones, however, will be given the chance to turn it around. Teams such as the Braves, the Giants or even the Yankees should think about giving Andruw a chance. Comeback player of the year? Let’s hope so.
Baseball and Relativity 
Being out of condition seems to be a problem for many players. Even our Big Papi would be well served by paying more attention to his weight.
Julia
http://werbiefitz.mlblogs.com/
I think a lot these guys get caught up in making money throughout their 20’s, and by their 30’s, that is all they care about. Along the way, they lose their love for the game. This is a very good point. Very few players remember that they are playing a kid’s game throughout their career.
http://homerfoodandhistory.mlblogs.com/