By Bob Smizik | Monday, 12:15 a.m.
There were some shocking words coming from Pirates announcers Tim Neverett and Bob Walk during the telecast of yesterday’s game with the Florida Marlins. Trying to put a positive spin on what would become another Pirates loss, both told viewers that manager John Russell was excited about the second half of the season.
At first, the words were hard to fathom. While I’ve not spent a great deal of time around Russell, it still was difficult to believe he was excited about anything -- much less the second half of a Pirates season.
This guy gives new meaning to laid-back. He's rarely been known to raise his voice, let alone show some excitement about, it turns out, a career minor-leaguer. But we'll take the word of Neverett and Walk.
The primary reason for Russell's excitement -- and this was before the Pirates 5-0 loss to the Marlins --was the play of recently recalled Garrett Jones, who has hit two home runs in five games (20 at bats).
There’s no question, Jones is an intriguing player. He’s big, 6-4, 245, but not lumbering. He appears to have above average speed, which, for a baseball player his size, is astonishing. He’s intriguing because he has a history of some power in the minor leagues and the Pirates desperately need some power.
In 2004 in Class AA, Jones hit 30 home runs. In 2005, 2006 and 2008 he hit in the low 20s. He was among the league leaders in home runs and runs batted in playing for Indianapolis in the International League before his recall.
He’s also 28, which is late in a baseball career for a player to be finding himself. But that doesn’t seem to be diminishing Russell’s excitement.
Jones, who’s primarily a first baseman, has been used in left field by the Pirates, and Russell likes his bat so much he has him hitting third in the lineup. According to Neverett and Walk, Russell sees Jones leading an increased Pirates offense in the second half of the season.
Few players who haven’t made an impact by the time they’re 28 go on to do so. But in Jones’ case, some insist there’s a reason for his delayed start. It has been said Jones was blocked in the Minnesota Twins organization by Justin Morneau, an outstanding first baseman. Morneau has played at least 157 games every season for the previous three.
But first base isn’t the only position Jones can play and there’s room for more than one first baseman on a major-league roster -- even a team on which Morneau plays. There’s also a position in the American League called designated hitter.
Which is to say, Morneau alone could not have blocked the aspirations of Jones, whose only MLB experience until this year was in 2007 when he got 77 at bats (2 homers, 5 RBIs) with the Twins.
Here are some of the players who were used as a DH by the Twins in 2007 and 2008: Jeff Cirillo, Craig Monroe, Randy Ruiz. Outfielders who played for the Twins in 2007 were Lew Ford and Jason Tyner.
None of this is to downgrade Jones but just to point out his time in the minors was not strictly a case of being stuck behind Morneau. Still, Jones is worth taking a look at because the Pirates don't have much else.
But if Jones is such a good-looking hitter, what was he doing in Indianapolis for almost the first three months of the season? Why was he not called up instead of Steve Pearce when Monroe was released in June? The fact Pearce and Monroe are right-handed batter and Jones is a left-hander should not have been a factor if Jones has such a high ceiling. Most certainly, Pearce does not.
I’m normally skeptical of so-called late bloomers, but in the case of Jones, I’m optimistic. A man who can get John Russell excited is capable of anything.
Posted
Jul 06 2009, 12:15 AM
by
Bob Smizik