Andruw Jones, Bravs part ways.

[cb4_89]

i just hope its not the jays. Though JP learned his lesson with Vernon.

[Rafael122]

Orioles should go after him, regardless of how bad Jones was this year. The mere threat of Jones batting behind Tejada and Markakis would be nice. They have a need at center field (I don't believe Patterson is an every day outfielder). I'd rather go after Rowand though assuming he leaves Philly.

[sunshinekids99]

So Boras wants 7 years 20 million per season for Jones. I would like to think nobody is dumb enough to give out that type of money for Jones, but I doubt it.

Article is on wiretap if anybody is interested.

[Basketball Jesus]

I like Jones but, man, is he one of the most overrated offensive players in the league. His defense is still top-5 good but $20MM? Pass...

[2poor]

I would take Crawford over Jones in a heartbeat too, and probably for a quarter of that price tag.

But seriously, you just had a miserable year, your team didn't win the division for the first time in forever, and you think you should get superstar money?

[High 5]

-= original quote snipped =-

Any non homers want to bring in the zone rating drop that Jones experienced in the past two years? Believe me... no laughing matter. If I'm not mistaken, he graded out horribly worse in 2007 than he did in 2004, 2005...

2007 - .863 (18th)
2006 - .846 (20th)
2005 - .878 (13th)

to be fair, factored in with range factor

2007 - 2.67 (10th)
2006 - 2.61 (9th)
2005 - 2.48 (7th)

Independently, the numbers mean nothing, but looking at Jones' sharp decline in AFR, its evident hes not the fielder he once was, and there are at least a handful of players who patrol the OF better. None have the arm Andruw has (sans Ichiro) but the guy is a shell of his former self.

So because Andruw isn't clearly, without a doubt the best OF anymore that means he's "slightly above average?" He's still top 5 like BBJ said, I'd still say he's the best CF, led the NL in put outs, made great play after great play and should win another gold glove. You can say he's not the best anymore, but you say "slightly above average" is extremely off base.

[mets87]

wow, led in put outs. so lots of fly balls were hit to him.

...

[High 5]

I just put that for the people that were saying Andruw can't get to half as many balls as he used to. He can obviously still cover CF pretty well. Why you follow me in pretty much every thread I post in?

[FNQ]

If you want to reach and say top 5, fine... he barely cracks my top 10.

Crisp
Mathews Jr.
Hunter
Beltran
Rowand *
Cameron
Ichiro
Edmonds *
N. Logan *

* I'd equate on the same level... although Edmonds decline has been sharper and much more apparent... if you believe he's top 5 still, super... I'm not going to give him preferential treatment just because he used to be the best defender at the position.

[High 5]

Andruw loses points from some people because he gets the best jumps off the ball and takes the best routes so his great plays don't always look as spectacular as plays like Crisp and Hunter, even though he makes probably just as many unbelievable *looking* plays as they do. My opinion on him in 2007 has nothing to do with the years before, I saw all but a few of his games and that's where my opinion comes from.

[FNQ]

^^^ Thats 100% true.

I try not to factor that in - he does get good jumps (though it has waned a lot recently) but still takes great routes to the ball. Essentially his reflexes and speed aren't what they used to be and that has taken down from elite status, while other athletes in their athletic prime (a lot named above) are moving up w/experience and notoriety.

I personally would value the youth that gain experience over the vet whos been doing it for a while but has more physical limitations, which is why a lot of my list is younger than Jones.

[mets87]

awwwwwwwwww, someone's bitter that they finished behind us two years in a row. like i said, it's over for you losers. get used to 3rd place.