You may have heard of Andruw Jones. Burst onto the scene as a 19-year-old rookie in the 1996 World Series with a couple of monstrous home runs. Became well-known for his great range and diving catches in the outfield. Has a closet full of Gold Gloves. Regularly hit 30-40 homers a year in the early 2000s. Was one of the greatest players in Atlanta Braves history during his twelve-year tenure there. Then he signed with the Dodgers for $36 million in the 2007 offseason (despite coming off a year where he batted .222 with a .311 OBP, easily his worst season) and proceeded to gain 400 pounds and start off something like 1 for his first 50. He finished the season at .158 with 3 homers, one of the worst offensive seasons in baseball history. He was probably the most disgraceful free agent signing of all time.
But if you listen to Jones, it's all Frank McCourt's fault.
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Sitting at his corner locker in the Texas Rangers' clubhouse Friday, Andruw Jones said the main reason he asked the Dodgers to release him this winter wasn't his desire for a change of scenery.He said he asked out mainly because of the way he was treated by Dodgers owner Frank McCourt.
"He wasn't standing behind me, I think," Jones said, adding that if McCourt had shown him more respect, "I almost definitely would be part of the L.A. Dodgers right now."
McCourt was unavailable for comment.
Jones' season with the Dodgers was an unmitigated disappointment, as he reported to camp overweight for the first year of his two-year, $36.2-million contract.
He batted.158 with three home runs and 14 runs batted in and was granted his release over the winter by agreeing to defer a significant portion of the $22 million remaining on his deal.
"As things were going along, I didn't think I was in their plans," Jones said. "I had to make a decision and move on.
"I know they had Matt Kemp, who was going to play center field all the time, so I didn't feel like I was in their plans."
Jones said he started to get the sense that he was on his way out of Los Angeles when he met with McCourt before undergoing knee surgery last May.
"It was disrespect," Jones said of the way McCourt spoke to him.
Jones said he was upset when his agent, Scott Boras, told him in the off-season that McCourt was looking into ways to void his contract.
While acknowledging that McCourt paid him a hefty salary, Jones said the owner had no right to complain about a deal that was mutually agreed upon.
"I got paid that money because that was my value," Jones said, pointing to the numbers he posted in 12 seasons with the Atlanta Braves.
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Emphasis fucking mine.
Good God, Andruw, are you serious? You show up to Dodgers camp weighing 800 pounds with the bat speed of a grandma with arthritis and you expect the fans and front office to show you respect? After a year where you hit fucking .222? Then you watch them acquire Manny Ramirez in July and take off to the NLCS while you hide your fat ass in the minors, and you complain about not being in their plans? Wow. At least nobody can say that you're not a fatheaded dick.
And now, of course, he'll hit four home runs against the Dodgers today. You can put that one in the books right now.
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