What does that mean?
Let's go to the videotape thesaurus...
Uncomfortable: "Ill at ease..." disquieting... self-conscious... awkward... queasy... bloated... gassy... irregular..."
Basically, Jones swung at a few and missed, amplifying a narrative that has shaded his career: He strikes out too much. MLB pitchers will exploit his huge strike zone - itself, the size of a housing project - and the Yanks should deal him for whatever they can get, probably a handful of magic beans, especially when he resembles somebody in a probiotic supplement commercial.
Okay, let's do some old-school blaspheme. Everybody knows it's wrong to compare anybody with the great Aaron Judge. Still, Jones - at a Judgian 6'6" and 240 - conjures just such nonsense. The pair's leviathan-like presences would have conjured a gleam in the late P.T. Barnum's eyes. And both struggled in their early years.
Last year, at age 24, in Scranton, Jones hit 19 HRs, batted .274 and fanned 109 times.
In 2016, at age 24, in Scranton, Judge hit 19 HRs, batted .270 and fanned 98 times.
Uncanny, right? Both are highly touted first-round picks. But 10 years ago, nobody foresaw Judge becoming the greatest slugger of his generation, the man who would chase down Roger Maris. There were doubters, who thought his huge strike zone would be exploited.
We know what will probably happen soon. Unless the overcrowded outfield suffers multiple injuries - (not an impossibility) - Jones will be sent to Scranton or traded for pitching.
If I were a small market GM - (hello, Milwaukee, I'm ready!) - I'd keep Brian Cashman on speed-dial. And whenever one of our 30-something, grungy bullpen vets throws a particular nasty session, I'd call the Yankees, show the videotape, and offer the guy for Spencer Jones.
I'm doing you a favor, I'd tell Cash. This guy, Jones, he strikes out way too much. He looks - well - uncomfortable. Here, have another prune Danish...
Jones and Judge are both slow starters, career wise. I say, treat Jones the same way Judge was treated. Let him play. Let him develop.
ReplyDeleteLet him eat Prune Danish
DeletePlay him or trade him.
ReplyDeleteLook again at Jones's Scranton line. I think the Yankees would readily accept those numbers at the MLB level.
ReplyDeletePrune danish is actually quite tasty when made properly.
ReplyDeleteCoupled with a proper poppy seed danish and a delicious cup of proper WORLD CLASS coffee. . . . it’s. . . you know . . . kinda like . . . All one’s troubles seem so far away - oh I believe in the Fab Four - er - rather - uhm - The Core Four years.
They will not play Jones as long as they have Grisham. Which is a pity, because Grisham is actually a perfect back-up outfielder. Have him spell guys everywhere, put him in for defensive purposes late in the game, pinch-hit him.
ReplyDeleteBut Food Stamps Hal is never going to do that, as long as he's paid $22 million for him. That's Yankees Logic in the 21st century: if we overpaid for some noodnik, he MUST play. ALWAYS double down on your mistakes!
If Hal Steinbrenner were a gambler in Vegas, he would be broke in an hour. Fortunately for him, he's in MLB, so there are no consequences for even his stupidest actions.