Jones Demoted
By Blake VandeBunte • Jul 28th, 2008 • Category: 2008 season, Todd JonesTHANK YOU!!
Thank you to everything and everyone that made this possible. Todd Jones is no longer the closer for the Detroit Tigers. The washed up veteran was told by Jim Leyland that he would now have a new role with the club. He will not be finishing games any longer.
Jones was made aware of this fact before Sunday’s game. A game that Fernando Rodney closed for the club. Jones has had a couple of stints in Detroit, all as the closer. There is a chance that he could be called upon to close a game here and there, but it’s clear that he’s lost the full time job. That almost assuredly means that he will not be back next season.
Jones, 40, is a free agent after this season and has clearly lost whatever he once had to get batters out. Jones’ stats over the past month are off the charts bad. On June 26th Jones came on against the Cardinals (my dad and brother were there) and coughed up a run in the ninth inning. Since then, this is how bad he has been:
- 10.1 innings
- 18 hits
- 12 runs
- 2 strike outs
- 4 walks
- .400 avg against
- 8.71 ERA
See, just off the charts bad. Jones has done some good in Detroit, you won’t find anyone who will argue with that, but his time has come. The bells tolls for everyone at some point. Here’s what Todd had to say about the demotion when he met with the media yesterday:
“I am 40, you knew this day had to come sometime. I don’t like it. But I live with it, because I respect the man who told me.”
To recap, Jones is 40 (read: washed up) but he likes Leyland so it’s all cool.
I think it’s possible (30% chance) that Jones will be a decent 7th inning guy. His strength is that he throws slow with decent control. If he comes on right after Verlander he could be effective as a change of base sort of pitcher. I don’t know, that’s probably the best “glass is half full” argument I can come up with.
So long Jones. It’s been a rollercoaster ride.
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Blake VandeBunte is a posting fiend.
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I am amazed it took this long for Leyland to make a move here. Jones can’t help that he is ineffective as closer. His time was up a long time ago. The real shocker is Leyland is receiving more grief and boos from fans. He is the problem.