Sunday, September 30, 2012

I'm Sick Of Andruw Jones


See the look on Andruw's face? That smile? Chances are this isn't the first time you've seen it. I'm sure you've seen it after every one of his 46 hits this season. Which is great. I love seeing players have fun playing baseball, which is one reason I love Nick Swisher*. But the thing that bugs me the most about Andruw Jones is we've seen that same look, that smile, another 71 times... the number of strikeouts he has.

*Yes, Swish has been seen smiling after striking out, but I've seen Nick mad at himself as well. Whereas Andruw always seems amused by his failures.

Although I've seen Andruw fail a number of times before, it was Saturday that really pushed me over the edge. It was the top of the 3rd inning, and the bases were loaded with one out. Jones had worked the count full. On the 6th pitch of the at bat, Ricky Romero reared back with his nearly 6.00 ERA and threw a 4-seam fastball, Jones swung and... whiffed. And what look did he have on his face as he started walking back to the dugout?

Not exactly like this, but not too far off either.


Like I said, it was only in the 3rd inning, so it's not like the Yankees lost due to that strikeout. But after seeing the Yankees, as a team, fail over and over again with runners in scoring position, it really ticked me off that the Jays were one out away from getting out of a bases-loaded no-out situation (which they did after Eduardo Nunez lined out one pitch later). The fact Andruw smiled afterwards made me want to jump in my car, drive to Toronto, find Mr. Jones, and beat the ever-loving **** out of him. He didn't have to break his bat over his knee, a la Bo Jackson, but being just a tad upset over striking out in that situation would have sufficed.

It doesn't help that Andruw's batting line this season is .198/.295/.409, including .202/.294/.411 against left-handed pitchers. Oh, and Andruw's only reason for having a job is to hit left-handed pitching, so that batting line against them doesn't fly with me at all.

It also doesn't help that Andruw Jones' fielding leaves a ton to be desired. His fielding percentage in RF this season, where he's played 131.2 innings, is .963. Compare that to a league average of .985. Which is crazy since his fielding percentage in LF, where he's played 321 innings, is a perfect 1.000.

Don't get cocky about that, because I'd still much rather have Brett Gardner out there.

I think my biggest problem with Andruw is the fact that the team has an option... Chris Dickerson. Not that Chris crushes lefties, but his MLB career line of .253/.344/.316 is better than Jones' (sans the power). Looking at his minor league numbers, I'm not really sure why he has only gotten 94 MLB plate appearances against lefties, as opposed to 503 PA vs. RHP. Chris hit .289 against left-handers in 90 AAA at bats. 

It would be one thing if Andruw Jones was having a good season, and therefore holding Dickerson back, but that's not the case. To be frank, Andruw has stunk. And I, for one, can't wait to be rid of him. I don't even think Joe Girardi would want this guy back, and that's saying a lot seeing as how the current Yankee manager seems to have some sort of man-crush on the guy.

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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)