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Review of “Bama Profiles in Courage: Laykin”: (Capers) Barr flexes through an emotional range that most writers would never dare attempt … Humor and Bama sorrow are fused together like twined tree trunks that keep each other standing…..It’s part satire, part character study, with a wry lens on fame, fandom, and the modern South. Well done, Capers, well done.”– Ian Allen, The Times Literary Supplement.

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Andruw Jones Overrated?

Jayson “Effing” Stark examines Andruw Jones career using stats that no one has ever really heard of.  Here is the link to the ESPN column [link].  If Stark is going to be an Andruw hater, then he should attack Jones on how he spells his first name.  Or the fact that Jones owns the rare…

Capers Barr
1–2 minutes

Jayson “Effing” Stark examines Andruw Jones career using stats that no one has ever really heard of.  Here is the link to the ESPN column [link].  If Stark is going to be an Andruw hater, then he should attack Jones on how he spells his first name.  Or the fact that Jones owns the rare platinum sombrero [He struck out 5 times in one game].

Basically Stark’s angle is that Andruw Jones five years ago was getting over 400 putouts a year at center field, where defense was his primary asset.  In more recent  time, Andruw has been swinging for the fences and seeing a steady decline in all of his defensive numbers. He  has continued to win gold gloves so everyone assumes he’s the same guy he’s always been, only now with some extra pop in his bat. But in reality he’s put on some weight, doesn’t get to as many balls as he should be and ranks in the lower third of defensive ratings for CFs.

Sure, Andruw has lost a step or 2 since 2001 as a result of him bulking up, but the quality of his outfield mates has improved in recent years. I believe the 2005 outfield with Jones, Drew, and Thomas/Langerhans was nicknamed the “Kudzu Kids” because they covered the outfield like Kudzu covers the South; also the current right fielder Francouer has incredible range.

The MVP needs to stop being all about numbers. It needs to be about the impact on one’s team for F’s sake, and where they might be without a player.

So as a result sense he is overrated when people lump him in with Griffey, Mantle, Mays and DiMaggio in the “greatest all-time CFs” discussions. By the way, I am not even trying to argue that Andruw is the greatest CF of all time or anything. I just think it is ridiculous to call him the most overrated of all time.

Conclusion: Andruw has lost a step but the decline in his putouts can be partially attributed to a significant defensive upgrade in right and left field.

15 responses to “Andruw Jones Overrated?”

  1. jon koncak Avatar
    jon koncak

    If were going to get on Andruw for the way his first name is spelled, then the same goes for Jayson Stark. Can you really call someone overrated when the hall of fame bound? Sure Jones looks like a wounded duck at times when flailing at the plate at strike 3, but who else would you rather have in CF?

    I also wonder where the excessive amount of love for Jones is coming from for him to be “overrated”? It certainly isn’t from most Braves fans. On the subject of Jones and Francoeur me and most every other Braves fan I talk to quickly mention how both of them need to get their head out of their ass at the plate, not at how their the greatest ball players in the league. WTF is it about ESPN wanting to trash Atlanta sports and fans all the time?

    You want to trash Vick and the Hawks? Go ahead. They’ve earned it. But Andruw Jones? Sure he needs to be more selective at the plate, but he rarely gets injured, doesn’t bitch 24/7, and eats up fly balls like Fulmer does butter rolls at Ryans Steakhouse.
    Get a grip Gayson.

  2. Taco Bell Soft Tacos Avatar
    Taco Bell Soft Tacos

    As bad as I hate to say it, Stark is right. 7 years ago, Andr(U)w was a threat on the base paths, now he is not. I love his power numbers, but when you look at his sabermetric stats, he is a better Adam Dunn. I am not a sabermetric crack fiend like a lot of the new school baseball guys, but I do look at certain stats more from a saber point of view than a traditional point of view. To me, WHIP is a better indicator of a pitcher’s value more so than ERA. OPS is a better indicator of a batter than the number of RBIs. Agree or disagree, that is not the point. The point is, there are statistics out there that are supported by Andr(U)s’ numbers that lead to the conclusion that he is over-rated.

    A rumor I have seen and been told lately is that when Andr(U)w signs with a different team after this season the Bravos will go after Mike Cameron. Makes perfect sense, and I hope Cameron will be Andr(U)w’s replacement. Cameron’s offensive stats have been down by playing in a pitcher’s park in SD and defensively, he is almost as solid as Andr(U)w is. What ever the case, we have to stop losing to the fucking Phillies and win the NL East.

  3. Jon Koncak Avatar
    Jon Koncak

    My basis for Andruw not being overrated is that he’s never been one of my favorite players. Everytime I watch him play, I don’t see that much plate discipline, but he’s is a future hall of famer nonetheless.

    However, I’ve always liked Cameron. If he shows up in Atlanta, he’ll be my favorite Brave. He’s old school, so I hope you’re right, TBST.

  4. Bowie Ra Kuhn Avatar
    Bowie Ra Kuhn

    Andruw Jones is not going to make the Hall of Fame.

    His stats are not nearly good enough to get in.

    Great-fielding center fielders? Think Paul Blair.

  5. Bowie Ra Kuhn Avatar
    Bowie Ra Kuhn

    Jones is a career .265 hitter. he has one .300 plus season in hs 11 year career. That is not going to get a player enshrined into Cooperstown.

  6. Jon Koncak Avatar
    Jon Koncak

    For those that don’t think A.Jones will make the hall of fame,

    I don’t mean to be a jackass, um, wait, yes I do. Most of these stats should end with “and counting”:
    – Jones has 9 straight gold gloves
    – He will likely finish his career with more than 500 home runs.
    – He is a 5-time all-star
    – Was the Major League Player of the Year in 2005.
    – .990 fielding percentage

    Of the 17 center fielders currently in the hall of fame, Jones’ 350 career home runs is more than those hit by 13 of those HOF’ers. Which HOF CF’s have more HRs than Andruw right now? Dimaggio, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Duke Snider. Jones will pass Dimaggio, Snider, and probably Mantle. His RBI numbers will parallel. Check yo’ self, foo!!

    http://www.baseball-almanac.com/hof/hofstce.shtml

    Granted his average is the lowest of the list of CF HOF’ers, but his power numbers when he’s done will be second to only Willie Mays and he’ll have enough Gold Gloves to make Ozzie Smith say “WTF?!?!”.

    Now, if the debate is, whether or not he’s a 1st ballot guy, then there’s an argument. But if you don’t think he’ll get in just because you think he’s a terrible hitter, then you’re an idiot. I can’t think of any better way to describe it other than you’re knowledge of baseball is about as thin as the powder on the bubble gum stick from a 1989 pack of topps baseball cards.

    Jones isn’t my favorite player and I have major problems with the way he flails at the plate, but he’s got 5 really good seasons left in him.

  7. Jai Eugene Avatar
    Jai Eugene

    Amazingly, Andruw hit a home run to the opposite field today. Has he given up on on trying to pull every pitch?

  8. Taco Bell Soft Tacos Avatar
    Taco Bell Soft Tacos

    It had to have been an accident. I can’t remember the last time until today Andr(U)w went Oppo for a HR.

  9. Jai Eugene Avatar
    Jai Eugene

    I feel confident that it was a flaw in his wound up spring swing.

    TKGB’s first post goes up in the morning. I have seen it, and it is good.

  10. Taco Bell Soft Tacos Avatar
    Taco Bell Soft Tacos

    i will be looking for it. hopefully it can be at least half as good as most of the posts on here.

  11. Jon Koncak Avatar
    Jon Koncak

    Law of averages. He even hits a curveball sometimes.

  12. Bowie Ra Kuhn Avatar
    Bowie Ra Kuhn

    Andruw Jones = Dave Kingman

  13. Andruw Rocks1 Avatar
    Andruw Rocks1

    Andruw if the best player on the Braves team. He has also given 10 years to a team that is undeserving of his talent and unappreciative of his loyalty. The last time he negotiated his contract, he took less than he was worth because he wanted to stay an Atlanta Brave. That awful general manager didn’t give him credit for that when he had the opportunity to discuss Andruw with Joe Morgan on ESPN. Andruw has been hitting poorly, but for those horrible Braves fans to boo him at games is unforgiveable. I hope he leaves Atlanta and goes to a team that will greet him with open arms. I noticed they never boo Franceour for his swinging at the first thing coming or Chipper for his half-hearted, subject to miss a game because of a scratch-overpaid, self-important self! I have been a lifelong Braves fan, but I will support Andruw no matter where he goes. By the way, if he spells his name: ANDRUWOOO, but pronounced it Jasmine…It is his name, and a proper name; therefore, he can spell and/or pronounce anyway he wants.

  14. Jai Eugene Avatar
    Jai Eugene

    Wow. Andruw is going to hurt himself swinging so hard at pitches

  15. Andruw Lovers Lose Avatar
    Andruw Lovers Lose

    I wonder, a year after this was written, how everyone feels about Andruw Jones now. Hehe, suckers.

    Mr. Andruw Rocks1, you’re right. Chipper is the most half-hearted batting champ I’ve ever seen.

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