December 10, 200421 yr link from the Birmingham News: "Pell City's Jones inks Marlins deal " Pell City's Jones inks Marlins deal Friday, December 10, 2004 From staff reports Pell City resident Todd Jones signed a one-year, $1.1 million major-league deal with the Florida Marlins on Thursday. Jones, a former All-Star reliever who played at Jacksonville State, said he chose the Marlins' offer over a similar offer from the Cincinnati Reds, for whom he pitched last year before a trade to Philadelphia. "I had a lot of fun in Cincinnati, but I think it came down to Florida, on paper, has a little bit better team. With this maybe being my last go-round, I have got to go to the best team." Florida will be the 36-year-old Jones' eighth team. Unless he posts a banner year, there's "somewhat of a decent possibility" that he will retire after this year. Jones, who writes a weekly column for The Birmingham News and the Sporting News during the baseball season, has long dreamed of playing for the Atlanta Braves. He was born in Marietta, Ga. He approached the Braves again this offseason, he said, but they offered only a minor-league deal with no guaranteed money or roster spot. "They always get last dibs," Jones said. "But it was the usual deal with them." After posting his All-Star season with Detroit in 2000, he spent stints with Minnesota, Colorado and Boston. He signed with the Reds last year and created some new demand for his services by going 8-2 in 51 appearances. He went 3-3 in 27 appearances for the Phillies. He had no interest in re-signing with the Phillies. He disliked the 345-foot distance in left-center field, he said, and he disliked some of the fans. "I just hated it ... That was a very confrontational place. They (some fans) came to the game to hate on you somehow. They came looking for a fight. It's every night. It's hundreds of fans. It's ridiculous." The Marlins, he said, anticipate giving him regular work, probably as the seventh-inning setup man for new closer Guillermo Mota. Newly acquired Antonio Alfonseca will likely pitch the eighth inning, Jones said. Jones has a career record of 50-47 and an earned run average of 4.07. He has 186 saves, including a career-high 42 for Detroit in 2000. Todd Jones Copyright 2004 al.com. All Rights Reserved.
December 10, 200421 yr Mota, Spooney, Six Fingers and Jones looks solid. Add Gracesqui or a spring training invite lefty, and pitch them only against lefties. Let Bump, Wayne, Howard and the others battle it out for the final spot. Done.
December 10, 200421 yr Mota, Spooney, Six Fingers and Jones looks solid. Add Gracesqui or a spring training invite lefty, and pitch them only against lefties. Let Bump, Wayne, Howard and the others battle it out for the final spot. Done. 631422[/snapback] I'd still like to add a veteran lefty to the pen.
December 10, 200421 yr Good pickup by the Marlins, this gives us a veteran arm that will likely end up as an upgrade over Seanez.
December 10, 200421 yr Good Seanez replacement. Let's address the lefty problem in our pen and on our bench.
December 10, 200421 yr A solid guy to add, although the Marls should go after a veteran for long relief. I agree with Leg of Cangelosi, Perisho wasn't that bad; however, an upgrade, bringing in a quality lefty would be awesome.
December 10, 200421 yr MORE MEDIOCRITY.....WHY CANT WE SIGN SOMEONE GOOD!!!!! 631447[/snapback] Money? Solid veteran addition to bolster depth.
December 10, 200421 yr I'm not exactly bouncing up and down in excitement, but I like the following statement: He had no interest in re-signing with the Phillies. He disliked the 345-foot distance in left-center field, he said, and he disliked some of the fans. "I just hated it ... That was a very confrontational place. They (some fans) came to the game to hate on you somehow. They came looking for a fight. It's every night. It's hundreds of fans. It's ridiculous." :thumbup
December 10, 200421 yr MORE MEDIOCRITY.....WHY CANT WE SIGN SOMEONE GOOD!!!!! 631447[/snapback] Money? Solid veteran addition to bolster depth. 631449[/snapback] Of course, "Money." And the trend is to buy Veterans who know "how to pitch," as opposed to frequent-flyer minor leaguers. And Jack likes guys over 35 (or over 70). (Example: Leiter)
December 10, 200421 yr That doesnt make it right....There's a reason that people don't resign these players....BECAUSE THEY SUCK. Todd Jones has been on 800 teams for a reason....because he's not good....why can't we sign someone worthy? I want Bradford or Christiansen...these guys at least have been good at some point in their career.
December 10, 200421 yr Todd Jones really isn't that bad compared to other guys we have had in our bullpen . Add one more rp and I'm happy with what we got after our starters leave the game considering our lack of resources(money).
December 10, 200421 yr That doesnt make it right....There's a reason that people don't resign these players....BECAUSE THEY SUCK. Todd Jones has been on 800 teams for a reason....because he's not good....why can't we sign someone worthy? I want Bradford or Christiansen...these guys at least have been good at some point in their career. 631455[/snapback] todd jones has been on several teams for various reasons, and sucking isnt one of them. A hard throwing solid reliever is a commodity and hes been good enough to maintain his career in the bigs. If he sucked he wouldnt be pitching in the majors.
December 10, 200421 yr MORE MEDIOCRITY.....WHY CANT WE SIGN SOMEONE GOOD!!!!! 631447[/snapback] Money? Solid veteran addition to bolster depth. 631449[/snapback] Of course, "Money." And the trend is to buy Veterans who know "how to pitch," as opposed to frequent-flyer minor leaguers. And Jack likes guys over 35 (or over 70). (Example: Leiter) 631451[/snapback] Solid pick-up. Marlins continue to adhere to the "Chin High Philosophy" - spend all additional $$$'s on pitching. I still have my fingers crossed for Pavano. :thumbup
December 10, 200421 yr Jack wants veterans that know how to pitch in major league games. Alfonseca and Jones are veteran Major Leaguers. They will be consistent and that is what Jack wants. Will they be All-Stars, no. But they deliver what Jack expects and that helps him to manage a game. I would love to see Chad Bradford here. Here is what is confusing to me though. We don't give Seanez $600k, but we give Jones $1.1M? :mischief2
December 10, 200421 yr Another mediocre signing in the process of building a mediocre team. 631476[/snapback] What alternatives are available? Remember we have price restrictons. All ready w/ mota, jones, spooney, and alfonseca are bullpen is better than last years where all we had was benitez
December 10, 200421 yr Another mediocre signing in the process of building a mediocre team. 631476[/snapback] What alternatives are available? Remember we have price restrictons. All ready w/ mota, jones, spooney, and alfonseca are bullpen is better than last years where all we had was benitez 631479[/snapback] It'd be awesome if Spooney ends up being like Brad Lidge. He went from 7th inning guy, to set up man, to closer... he also had TJ surgery. If Spooney can come back and have nasty stuff, that would be awesome.
December 10, 200421 yr That doesnt make it right....There's a reason that people don't resign these players....BECAUSE THEY SUCK. Todd Jones has been on 800 teams for a reason....because he's not good....why can't we sign someone worthy? I want Bradford or Christiansen...these guys at least have been good at some point in their career. 631455[/snapback] You have no idea what you are talking about. He has a career 4.07 ERA, despite having pitched in Colorado and Boston for a combined two seasons, and Philly last season. He'll do well in PPS. He's about 3 times cheaper than Cormier, oh and Christiansen is 34/35 years old and has a career ERA of 4.20, Bradford is probably getting a mutli-year deal.
December 10, 200421 yr I like this signing personally, nothing special but should be a solid arm. Plus, there's no multiyear part like there is with the Dragon Slayer. Now go get Chad Bradford
December 10, 200421 yr That doesnt make it right....There's a reason that people don't resign these players....BECAUSE THEY SUCK. Todd Jones has been on 800 teams for a reason....because he's not good....why can't we sign someone worthy? I want Bradford or Christiansen...these guys at least have been good at some point in their career. 631455[/snapback] You have no idea what you are talking about. He has a career 4.07 ERA, despite having pitched in Colorado and Boston for a combined two seasons, and Philly last season. He'll do well in PPS. He's about 3 times cheaper than Cormier, oh and Christiansen is 34/35 years old and has a career ERA of 4.20, Bradford is probably getting a mutli-year deal. 631502[/snapback] I'm sorry but he's garbage....Sure he's an improvement over the garbage we had last year...cough nate bump cough cough....but I actually want to improve garbage with good players not slightly less garbage players. It's my bad i guess for wanting massive improvements on this team.
December 10, 200421 yr The name calling is wholly inappropriate and uncalled for. Jones is after all a bonafide major league pitcher, he not garbage and he doesn't suck or he wouldn't be in major league baseball. Yes, there are some that are better, and many worse, but you undermine your argument with all the trash talk. :thumbdown
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