I had a long talk with Todd Jones recently when I was on a road trip with the Tigers in Boston. It was the first time I had an extensive conversation with him since he has returned to the Tigers. I was on the Tigers beat for much of his first stint with the club and got to know him pretty well. I think Todd is a good person. I like him very much. But he is also one of the most sensitive people I have ever met. He hears all the criticism. He remembers every slight. When he pitched poorly early in the season and was roundly criticized, he took it to heart. There is a website called "TradeToddJones.com. You would think, considering his success after that slow start, Todd would ignore it. Yet, he talks about it a lot. It bothers him. I was among those who thought Joel Zumaya was a better pitcher and should be the Tigers closer. I was wrong. Jones has gotten it done. One of the reasons is that he has taken the criticism and used it to motivate himself. It makes him stronger now compared to during his first stint with the Tigers when it would eat him up. When Todd was first with the Tigers, he was obsessed with Craig Biggio and how Biggio accused Todd of lingering with an injury when he was with the Astros. He could not wait to face Houston in interleague play. Then he blew back-to-back saves, one because Biggio homered off him. These days, Todd would not blow those saves. He is stronger mentally. Oh, and he has better command of his fastball and throws more first-pitch strikes. Seems like he was right and we were wrong. The one good thing about this is that the closer now matters in this town. He is like the Lions quarterback and Red Wings goalie. Not much is said about him when things are going well, but he booed lustily when he struggles. Willie Hernandez won the Cy Young and MVP awards in 1984, yet was eventually booed right out of town. Such pressure comes with the territory of closing games for a contending team.
Random thoughts
- Prediction: The worst football game of the year will be Nov. 4 when Michigan plays Ball State. It would be so much better if the Big Ten forgot about the BCS ramifications and hit the cutting edge by playing a round-robin schedule. That would be much better use of the extra game.
- Something to watch for Friday during the Lions preseason game at Oakland: Improved pass blocking by Jeff Backus. It was alarming how the Lions left tackle was scorched last week in Cleveland.
- Barry Bonds has performed so poorly this season that no team is likely going to want to pay him much to play next season - even American League clubs that can use him at DH. It looks like Henry Aaron's all-time home run is, thankfully, safe.
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9 Comments:
Pat,
It's safe to say that most Tiger fans have been wrong about Todd Jones, as we were all wondering why Dave Dombrowski had signed him for two years. It sure didn't look like he was our best option to close earlier in the season; we expected perfect results, while the rest of the team was suddenly thrusting Detroit into the spotlight. We might be forgetting that Jones began the season injured, and he struggled to get to the form that would compliment the team's launch into success. Todd Jones is more than a professional athlete in this town; he is an avid Tiger fan, as well, and he wasn't contributing, and receiving any of the accolades, after being a part of the dismal Tiger teams of the past. The booing had to be ripping his heart out! I felt bad for him, but I too thought Leyland should be going elsewhere with the game on the line.
But Leyland hung with him, and I believe his confidence helped Todd address his own. As he further healed, and his pride had manure slung onto it, he toughened inside, Leyland better defined his role as a closer, and he quietly silenced his critics.
Todd Jones and Kenny Rogers have been the leaders of this young staff; not sexy, but rock-like steady. Without their contributions behind the scenes, Detroit doesn't find themselves with the best pitching in all of baseball.
On a side note, I've really been enjoying your post-game commentary on WXYT, as it helps keep Tiger fans on an even keel. Thanks for pointing out that the Tigers have 4 of the 18 lifetime .300 hitters on their roster, and your support for Sean Casey and Craig Monroe.
I wasn't particularily thrilled with the acquisition of Neifi Perez, but I do believe the organization knows what their doing. While less of a hitter and fielder than a Craig Counsell, giving up a Chris Robinson, whom Dombrowski forecasts as a back-up catcher in the major leagues, at best, isn't a big price to pay; Counsell would have cost them more, and then a free agent after 2006. It does provide another veteran who has a great clubhouse presence, some added versatility, and at 2.5M per through 2007, not a big drain on the payroll.
Keep up the good work!
Mr. C. & Mr. Jones I think the fans are so used to seeing a closer from the present or past come in and one thinks well the game is over. I am starting to get that feeling with Jones, and it's about time for me. I don't have a stats book but i am sure some of the best that have played must have lost some games. I like the way he gets ahead of the hitter. The walks drive me nuts and i don't think he walks many. Keep up the good work Mr. Jones Vinny
daver,
I think you missed my point. It's that Todd is a unique closer from the standpoint he is hypersensitive in a role that normally calls for somebody to let every thing roll off their back. He has adjusted to it well from when he was here the first time and it was counterproductive. In other words, he has taken a weakness and made it a strength. I agree with you. For a closer with a major league club, especially a contender, the heat just goes with the territory. They must learn to live with it. My point is, Todd Jones has.
caputo
garold,
You must give Jim Leyland credit for never wavering on Jones. He didn't even come close to pulling him from the closer role. I liked the Perez signing. I just wish they would play Omar Infante every day instead and use Perez as their utility infielder.
caputo
Vinny,
LIke you said, the best thing about Jones as a closer is his ability to get ahead in the count. It's his edge over Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney. They don't have as a good command of the baseball.
caputo
Pat,
Other than it being difficult to question the moves of Dombrowski and Leyland regarding this year's team, what do you like about the acquisition of Neifi Perez? As this trade settles in, it is making less sense... banishing Omar Infante to the bench, as if he was a cousin to Charles Rogers. When Omar is at 2B, he is batting .370 in 54 PA, against lefties and righties alike, fielding the position adequately, and he's earned more than this treatment.
LINEUP SHAKEUP:
Granderson needs to be rested occasionally; work in a platoon with Clevlen and Monroe in CF... leadoff with Carlos Guillen. Marcus Thames is batting .326 as the DH this season, with awesome OBP & SLG; best against right-handers, and considerably better than even... yes, Dmitri Young. There's your clean-up hitter, if you want to give Maggs a break for a bit.
I'd like to see Leyland give Dmitri his first baseman's glove back for Saturday against Westbrook, and put him out there in the same lineup with Thames at DH, Monroe, Granderson, Clevlen in the OF, Omar Infante at 2B, and Vance Wilson behind the plate for Saturday; resting Pudge and Magglio, who are both batting peanuts against Westbrook, along with Casey... and yeah, and Neifi too.(how could I forget)
Just for Saturday, with Verlander...
Guillen-SS
Monroe-LF
Young-1B
Thames-DH
Infante-2B
Inge-3B
Granderson-CF
Clevlen-RF
Wilson-C
Barry Bonds play poorly this season? How about we talk to the pitchers that continue to walk this guy at an alarming rate? 281 ab's and 98 bb's? David Ortiz has 89 bb's in 471 ab's. Ryan Howard has 66 bb's in 464 ab's. Also, would you care to name ONE player this year that has a higher OBP than .450 NOT NAMED BARRY BONDS. Barry gets an RBI every 5 at bats...Ortiz every 4. I mean come on Pat, I HATE BARRIOD more than anyone on the planet, but to say he is playing poor is not fair. THEY DONT PITCH TO HIM! We are not talking about in the 8th and 9th we are talking about in the 1st, 3rd and 5th innings they are dodging Barry. I never wanted to see Barry break Babe's mark...but he did. Now baseball is cheating itself by not giving Barry a chance. Two wrongs never make a right.
garold,
i don't think they will play young at first base nor bat him against left-handed pitching much. he has not hit nearly as well right-handed as left-handed and he made those errors in tampa bay. i agree that maybe they should rest granderson for a day or two.
caputo
muhme,
the guy is always hurt, can't run, can't field and has struggled at the plate. he is not the player he was just a couple years ago. not even close. he should do us all a favor and quit. and there is only one athlete on the planet who can match his selfishness - kobe bryant.
caputo
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