Chicago Sports Then and Now

Andruw Jones has hit 388 home runs in 14 MLB seasons.

My son Mike suggested that the White Sox recent acquisition of Andruw Jones might want to be compared to the signing of Jermaine Dye six years ago.

Mike pointed out that it was generally viewed that Dye was on the downside of his career when he was picked-up by the Sox in December of 2004.

Dye’s 2003 season was plagued with two stints on the DL, as he hit a horrible .172 for Oakland with 4 four homers and 20 RBIs in 65 games. However he did improve his numbers considerably the next year, batting .265 while hitting 23 homers and driving in 80 RBIs.

The Jones downside has been going on for three consecutive years. In 2007, his last year with the Braves,Jones batting average dipped to .222, a 40 point drop from the year before, although his power numbers of 26 homers and 94 RBIs were good.

After signing with the Dodgers in December of 2004, there were high expectations in LA of the former Brave star. Yet Jones was on the DL three times in 2008 and hit a paltry .158 in 75 games, while hitting only 3 homers and driving in just 14 runs. Last year with Texas, Jones again had injury issues as he hit .214 for the year with 17 homers and 45 RBIs.

 Loading ...

When Dye was signed by the Sox at age 31, the expectation was that he was going to be the everyday right-fielder. Jones, who will be 33 in April, will not be part of the regular White Sox outfield, that is set with Juan Pierre, Alex Rios and Carlos Quentin. The only place that he can fit is DH, a role that he will likely share with Mark Kotsay. If Jones can have a sensational Spring Training and overcome his career slide, then he might indeed be the everyday DH, with Kotsay playing a back-up role for Paul Konerko at first base. But what are the odds that Jones can comeback to his old form?

It is of interest that Jones and Dye were both rookie outfielders on the 1996 Atlanta Braves National League Championship team. Now the ex-teammates are both struggling to remain in the Big Leagues, Dye still yet not signed for 2010, while Jones must prove that he still has value to stay on the White Sox roster.