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'Worst start I've ever had, and I've had awful starts.' He's batting a mere .170
Published on Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Associated Press
Andruw Jones of the Los Angeles Dodgers keeps his emotions in check, as he believes a professional athlete should.
He won't slam his bat to the ground after a rally-killing strikeout or thrust his fist in the air after a game-winning homer.
This year, there have been way more strikeouts (38) than home runs (one) for Jones. But don't be fooled by his demeanor. This hurts.
''People think I'm relaxed and laid back. It's eating me up inside,'' Jones said, the sadness evident in his eyes. ''I'm upset. I'm embarrassed.''
What about that little smile he seems to wear after a strikeout?
''That's the way my face is,'' he said. ''That's me. I can't change that. And I'm not going to break stuff because I strike out. It's not the bat's fault; it's not the helmet's fault. I'm doing whatever I can to help the team win, even if I'm not hitting. I know I'm better than this.''
Jones, 31, was certainly a lot better during an exceptional 11-plus years in Atlanta, where he hit 368 homers, drove in 1,117 runs and won 10 Gold Gloves in center field.
Jones, one of only a handful of major-leaguers to come from Curacao, made a name for himself at age 19 in the 1996 World Series against Joe Torre's New York Yankees, hitting .400 with two homers and six RBI.
Now, with a .170 average, Jones isn't even close to hitting his weight, which just so happens to have become an issue in his dreadful start with the Dodgers.
''It has nothing to do with it,'' insisted Jones, listed at 6-foot-1 and 240 pounds. ''Everybody can say, 'He's fat, he's this, he's that.' I feel great. I go out there; I can run the ball down. I feel fine.
''I work hard — that's all I can do. It's not like I haven't played this game before. This is the worst start I've ever had, and I've had awful starts. All you can do is keep working. If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen.''
Looking for a middle-of-the-lineup power hitter and outfield defense, the Dodgers thought they got both when they signed Jones to a two-year, $36.2 million contract last winter.
They haven't gotten any bang for their buck — at least not yet.
Pitching news
Atlanta ace John Smoltz is throwing again and hopes his injured rotator cuff heals enough to let him move into the Braves bullpen later this month. . . . The Boston Red Sox designated reliever Julian Tavarez for assignment Monday, clearing room for the return of first baseman Sean Casey.
Get the full article here.
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