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Sun Sentinel says: Jacque Jones wants to be here


Lane1974
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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basebal...0,6863345.story

 

Given the opportunity to decide, outfielder Jacque Jones' first choice might be to join the Marlins. That's what Jones, who the Tigers designated for assignment last week, told an associate.

 

For now, Jones has no control over his next destination. The Tigers have until Friday to trade or release him. Either way, they are on the hook for what's left of his $5.5 million salary (about $4.05 million). Any team that acquires him would make the Tigers pay much of the remaining money.

 

Jones probably wouldn't cost the Marlins much more than a low level minor-leaguer and/or the pro-rated major league minimum (about $290,000).

 

"It would probably be his top destination," the associate said. "Last year he was really excited about the opportunity to go down there. It was something that almost came to fruition."

 

Last summer the Cubs agreed to a trade Jones to the Marlins, but the deal fizzled at the last minute. The associate said Jones was looking forward to being surrounded by young and hungry players, a chance he still welcomes.

 

Jones, who can play all three outfield spots, would give the Marlins another veteran left-handed bat off the bench and a candidate to bat leadoff and start in center against right-handers. Getting the bulk of the work against righties, Alfredo Amezaga has struggled atop the order, going 5 for 29 (.172) with two runs through his first two at-bats Monday.

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I think it might be a good signing because we have been known to "resurrect" players careers here, and he had a stellar second half last year, so he is a decent player overall. The only thing that worries me is that the clubhouse has a good atmosphere right now, what type of attitude will JJ bring?? We don't want anybody to break the team chemistry....

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Not sure why we do not take a shot here. Like someone said earlier we have been known to revive careers. Jones went on a tear at the end of the season last year. Could be worth a try. Plus he is interested in coming here. Gotta like his motivation. It's not like we have many better options in house.

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He's not a leadoff hitter.

 

If we sign him we can hit him anywhere from 6-8, but I don't like the idea of a career .327 OBP hitter batting leadoff for us.

 

I wish Maybin would hurry up and get himself ready for the bigs :banghead

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He's not a leadoff hitter.

 

If we sign him we can hit him anywhere from 6-8, but I don't like the idea of a career .327 OBP hitter batting leadoff for us.

 

I wish Maybin would hurry up and get himself ready for the bigs :banghead

I don't think Maybin will end up as a leadoff hitter type player. We're all hoping he cuts down on the Ks, but no way will he ever cut down on them enough to be a decent lead off guy. (not saying he wouldn't be better than what we have, just that he won't end up as a good leadoff guy compared to other actually good leadoff guys)

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He's not a leadoff hitter.

 

If we sign him we can hit him anywhere from 6-8, but I don't like the idea of a career .327 OBP hitter batting leadoff for us.

 

I wish Maybin would hurry up and get himself ready for the bigs :banghead

 

I think he is about .350 OPB without April in his career stats, but I still don't want him.

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Well, if he comes this cheap and we don't have to give up anything else for him, then it might be worth entertaining for a few weeks at least.

 

I mean we have a good offense as it is, so worst case scenario is that he doesn't contribute much there but still plays the OF like an actual OFer. If it doesn't work out after a while I suppose we could let him go all the same.

 

On the other hand, if he can hit well and play well in CF then he could potentially fill that hole for this year, and make our good team even better.

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He's not a leadoff hitter.

 

If we sign him we can hit him anywhere from 6-8, but I don't like the idea of a career .327 OBP hitter batting leadoff for us.

 

I wish Maybin would hurry up and get himself ready for the bigs :banghead

 

I think he is about .350 OPB without April in his career stats, but I still don't want him.

 

April is actually his 2nd best OBP month

 

obp/ops

 

April: .343/.795

May: .319/.757

June: .296/.719

July: .345/.838

August: .326/.781

September: .332/.780

 

Weird that somebody who's splits favor post-allstar break so much has their second best month in april

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An old scouting report on Jones

 

 

Scouting Report by Stats Inc.

Hitting

Jones has tremendous bat speed that can drive a fastball a long way. In late 2003 and last spring, he looked like he was increasing his patience and selectivity at the plate, but often looked overeager during the summer. When he slumps, Jones tends to swing at virtually anything near the dish early in the count. He will get himself in a hole and his at-bats will last a matter of seconds. As his salary increases, he will need to improve in these areas to remain an everyday player for a good team. Greater patience would generate a better on-base percentage, as well as better power numbers, because he'd be swinging at better pitches to hit.

Baserunning & Defense

A smart, aggressive baserunner, Jones isn't blindingly fast, but can steal the occasional base. He's one of the best-fielding corner outfielders in the game in terms of range, but continues to have trouble finding his release point on throws. One might fly to the backstop, and the next might roll to the cutoff man. His throws aren't consistent enough to play right field in many stadiums besides the Metrodome, which has a shallow right-field fence.

 

 

Im sure his range has decreased since 03-04. I wonder if he ever got his throws in check.

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This is not dissimilar from the interest some have shown for Luis Castillo at times during the last few years. We look back and think of "our" Luis or the Twins' Jacque Jones (era) and we want that player.

 

This a bonafide major leaguer with a terrific career, he isn't garbage or trash or any of the other disparaging remarks posted here since the news that he was DFA'd became public. Rather he is a player in the late stages of his career with less to offer than we remember him and perhaps incapable of fulfilling the need we think the FO is looking to fill.

 

Beinfest and company know what they're doing (and yeah some wiseguy will bring Julio, etc.) and so I defer to them on this but fully cognizant that he is not the player that we think of when we hear his name, and with a greater likelihood of failure than success. If they want to take a flyer on him I say sure, if not it's easy to understand why.

 

His interest in coming here kind of reminds me of Mike Piazza earlier this year. Saying the right things and being able to deliver at your end can be two different things. The single biggest question has to be can he play centerfield and second what an *outfield* populated by both Jones and Gonzalez looks likes defensively.

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