The Picture of Failure

Raging anger is not an emotion usually seen at Dodger Stadium. Good crowds usually show up because going to a game is usually viewed as a family night out, a visit from an out of town friend, or sometimes a lack of better things to do. And even when the team is average, or just plain bad, you don't hear a lot of negativity. That's saved for the off-season when everyone wakes up and says "Grady Little? He was really the manager? Seriously, who was the...no, dude..."

So, outside of a churro shortage or accident in the parking lot, you don't hear the negativity. That is until Andruw Jones was signed by the team.

Immediately, there was concern by the fans out here. Comparisons were made to Joe Willie signing with the Rams well past his prime, but then everyone remembered that Namath fucking ruled & needed to be out here to work on the sequel to C.C. & Company. But Jones...where do you begin? (We're looking beyond his name misspelling) The man was an all star and quite the player in his day. And by "the day" we're talking about those days where Trip eyed Campbell's Pork & Beans "4 for $1" special at CVS because internships don't pay money. That was 9 years ago. But this "day" continued for many years...some could even say as recently as two years ago, where he was hitting 41 dongs and getting a gold glove while I dined on lamb chops. So, you see, he was a high quality player as the world evolved.

But there is a difference with time. Just like a "sell by" date and "fresh by" date. What most started to sense, even smell, is that this milk was turning into cottage cheese. Last season someone also left the fridge door open (this happens in Georgia from time to time, we're told). So, at his age, a fading but glorious career, you might think he would get some fielding work off the bench with a team; maybe as a pinch hitter or occasional DH in the American League, right?

Well, $36,000,000 later, Jones arrived in LA with an "Oh no!" from the fans. Lest we forget Nomar "I'm injured" Garciaparra, Davey "I'm really awake" Johnson, and Darryl "Sniff" Strawberry have all shown up within the last 20 years in a similar fashion. And the astute Dodger fans scream "liability" and know what's coming. And, so it has. Each and EVERY time to the plate he is greeted with indifference and SOUNDLY booed as he strikes out yet again. Or grounds out. Vin won't say anything. This is his way, and I wouldn't want him to change. As Jones get screamed at by thousands, Vin says "Say friends, 50 years with the Dodgers. We're talking about Los Angeles and Farmer John Dodger Dogs...next Friday is balloon night." Those B teams on the radio talk him up as he makes a routine catch in the outfield, neglecting to mention that he'll be up at the start of the coming inning to strike out yet again. (Here's a failure stat - in his last 10 games, he's struck out in 42% of his at-bats.)

I could go on, but:

.159 and still in the lineup