TODD JONES SPORTING NEWS BLOG STORIES

Subject: TODD JONES SPORTING NEWS BLOG STORIES Thu Jan 31, 2008 8:16 pm

Santana deal will work out for the Twins

Todd Jones

Posted: January 30, 2008

Well, The Twins finally pulled the trigger and traded Johan Santana. It's always hard to gauge what you are getting when you deal for prospects, but, in the Twins' case, a few factors are working in their favor:

No. 1, Terry Ryan still is connected to the organization. He has an unbelievable ability to evaluate talent. Need we mention, A.J. Pierzynski to the Giants for Joe Nathan, Francisco Liriano and Boof Bonser. If you think that was luck, how do you explain Chuck Knoblauch for Cristian Guzman and Eric Milton? So if Ryan had his hand in this deal, rest assured as long as there's no major injuries, the Twins will be OK.

No. 2, the Twins were not left holding the bag. They can feel good knowing they made a competitive offer to Santana. When he told them no thanks, they waited and got the best deal they could instead of turning into Jim Bowden and the Nationals. Remember when Bowden waited and waited and thought he could convince Alfonso Soriano to stay in Washington? Instead, Soriano walked and the Nationals didn't get much.

Here's some advice to GMs: If you can't sign your guys, forget about posturing and fans' blowback and deal the guys immediately. And when Santana gets his six or seven years at $20 million per, don't say, "Ah. It's just about the money." Some of it is, for sure. But Santana is one of those guys who clubs can't wait to make a mistake on. GMs can't get hurt on Santana deals. He's in his prime and has an amazing track record. Plus, he just went to a huge market to a team that didn't make the playoffs and whose No. 1 starter from a year ago (Tom Glavine) has gone elsewhere. This creates the financial perfect storm for Santana.

The Mets are down, and GM Omar Minaya knows he can't get too much heat for trading the club's future for its now. In Omar's case, there might not be that much of a future if he doesn't do something to land Santana. After all, this is not your regular run-of-the-mill lefthander. This is a No. 1 starter on all but maybe four staffs. You'll see him sign for $120 million or so and no one will bat an eye because he has a track record, and the Mets were desperate to make a splash.

Now if the Tigers could convince the Indians to get rid of C.C. Sabathia for the same reasons, we'd be a whole lot better off. I don't think that will happen, though.

E-mail Tigers reliever Todd Jones at tjones@sportingnews.com.

Subject: Re: TODD JONES SPORTING NEWS BLOG STORIES Fri Feb 01, 2008 7:33 am

Thanks

Subject: Re: TODD JONES SPORTING NEWS BLOG STORIES Tue Feb 05, 2008 9:28 pm

GO JONES

Subject: Re: TODD JONES SPORTING NEWS BLOG STORIES Sat Jun 14, 2008 4:48 am

Hope floats for every team in spring training

Todd Jones
Posted: February 19, 2008

A good way to think of the start of spring training is to picture a harbor, with 30 ships. Some are aircraft carriers: Red Sox, Yankees, Angels, Tigers, Indians, Mets. Some are battleships: Rockies, Dodgers, Phillies. Some are submarines: Mariners, White Sox, Braves. Then there are the PT boats: Giants, Nationals ...

As usual, the aircraft carriers got most of the offseason attention. The Mets added a huge gun in Johan Santana. The Red Sox lost one for now in Curt Schilling, but they still have Josh Beckett and Dice-K in their rotation. The soap opera that is the Yankees played a giant and very public game of musical chairs. They thought they were going to lose A-Rod, but then at the last minute they said they were just kidding and signed him for another decade. The Angels ended up getting Torii Hunter. The Indians didn't get many headlines, but as a guy in their division, I can say they will be better. C.C. Sabathia won the Cy Young Award, which will give him even more confidence. And they signed Masahide Kobayashi from Japan . He'll make an already awesome bullpen even better.

The question is which of the submarines will torpedo the battleships or even take out an aircraft carrier. The Braves are better. Not sure why, but the Mariners feel off. I don't look for them to be as good as last year. But the great thing about spring is even the PT boats can look you in the eye and tell you they are going to win.

As for the players, the young guys want to impress everyone and conquer the world. The established guys want to take their time and prepare for the season at their own pace. Considering I'm turning 40 in April, it's hard not to admire guys like Moises Alou, Tom Glavine and Kenny Rogers. This is a young man's sport, and you have to be extremely proud and driven to not just hang around and compete but also to go out on a good, strong note.

If you're a baseball fan, spring training is your nirvana. My advice is to take some time off work and hit the Grapefruit League or Cactus League, where you can get close and have access to the players. You can go catch the Braves in Orlando at 1 p.m., then drive an hour and a half and hit the Yankees that night. Or you can go to the Phoenix area and see nine teams in a 30-mile radius. Grab a map, some sunscreen and a pair of Oakleys. Just get out there.

Subject: Re: TODD JONES SPORTING NEWS BLOG STORIES Sat Jun 14, 2008 4:53 am

Inge isn't happy, but he isn't causing trouble
Todd Jones

Posted: February 25, 2008

]Brandon Inge was clicking along this winter, enjoying his offseason, when his professional world was flipped on its ear. When the Tigers traded for Miguel Cabrera, Brandon went from starting third baseman to supersub.

Though Brandon is athletic enough to play every position except pitcher, what does he do now?

Brandon was nowhere to be found right after the trade. He was wise not to say anything until he was able to look at his situation with as little emotion as possible. Eventually, the Tigers called him to get a feel about how he was doing with what had happened. Brandon politely told the Tigers he wants to start and asked to be traded. After all, he had done nothing wrong.

Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski, completely understanding Brandon's plight, was willing to move him. But this is where the baseball business gets ugly. Teams saw what happened in Detroit, and they know Brandon wants to be moved. So in the baseball world, even though his ability hasn't changed, his value has gone down because of his circumstances.

Weeks have gone by, and it's clear the team is having a hard time trading him. Teams think Dombrowski will panic and make a bad deal -- but don't hold your breath. He does not make decisions with emotions. Before spring training, the Tigers reached out again to Brandon. They let him know he's still on the team and had to consider reporting to spring training with a team for which he doesn't have a starting job.

Brandon is now practicing at catcher, third and left field. He's not happy, but he's here. He's joking and making the best of the situation. The Tigers still are trying to make a deal. This is such a personal situation that, as teammates, all we can do is be there. Joke and talk if he wants to talk. You never judge a guy and say, "Aw, shut up. You got your money. Why don't you just be a good teammate and do this with us?"

It just ain't that easy. We need Brandon, but he has to want to be here. He is being asked to cut off his nose to spite his face. Once you accept a backup role, it's hard to get a starting job again.

If Brandon doesn't accept all of this, it could create a destructive environment. So give him credit. He hasn't made this all about him by whining in the press and holding a grudge against Cabrera. I've been on teams where a guy wanted out so badly he was willing to do whatever he could to make that happen. Brandon Inge would never do that.

Subject: Re: TODD JONES SPORTING NEWS BLOG STORIES Sat Jun 14, 2008 4:57 am

Someone should sign Barry Bonds*
Todd Jones

Posted: March 6, 2008

When you heard the talk about a team possibly signing Barry Bonds, you probably figured it was a no-brainer. Well, a no-brainer one way or the other. There's not much middle ground with Barry. The two schools of thought:

• 1. Sign him. He's the greatest home run hitter of our time, he has done nothing that has been proved to be illegal, and he would put fannies in the seats.

• 2. Don't sign him. He's a cheater, and he's getting what he deserves. He's a clubhouse cancer, his legal issues would be a constant disruption, and this is a guy who always has been and always will be about himself.

Those are the choices. Now let's play G.M. and explore some options. First of all, we'll be playing A.L. G.M. because everyone concedes Barry isn't physically able to play the field on a regular basis.

So who needs him?

How about the Yankees? Their clubhouse is used to drama, he'd like the short porch in right field, the Steinbrenners like to make a splash, and, of course, they could afford him.

Angels. Not a fit. Too many hitters and not enough spots.

Blue Jays. Frank Thomas is already there.

Red Sox. Heard of a guy nicknamed Big Papi?

White Sox. They have a big lefty bat at DH with Jim Thome.

Tigers. Jim Leyland likes Bonds but doesn't need him.

Twins. Keep dreaming.

Royals. Could work, surprisingly.

Rangers. Tom Hicks won't be starstruck again.

Indians. Already good enough.

A's. His OPS and walks-to-strikeout ratio scream Billy Beane, but salary could be an issue.

Mariners. Their marketing department is so good that it could make fans like him.

Rays. They've talked about him.

Now let me be clear. Every team has probably thought about signing Bonds. After all, this industry has proved that as long as you can play, teams will look the other way when it comes to off-the-field stuff. The reason I believe Bonds hasn't signed is because teams don't know how many games he would play. Those perjury charges aren't going away, and that has clubs handcuffed .

The club that signs him would be putting a big stamp on its organization. It's still to be determined whether that would be a good stamp for forward thinking or a bad stamp for showing an unhealthy concern about the bottom line.

I'm not sure what the answer is, but it's an issue worth chewing on.

E-mail Tigers reliever Todd Jones at tjones@sportingnews.com.

Subject: Re: TODD JONES SPORTING NEWS BLOG STORIES Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:02 am

And you thought the mound was just a pile of dirt

Todd Jones

Posted: March 11, 2008

Have a question for Todd? E-mail him at tjones@sportingnews.com, and he'll respond to questions in an upcoming mailbag.

Next time you check out a game in high def, take a look at the mound. All mounds are not all created equal.

Baseball is one of the few sports in which 90 percent of the game is played in two areas: the mound and the batter's box. Now I don't know much about batter's boxes except that hitters are just as frantic about the boxes as pitchers are about mounds. If hitters can't get their feet set, they feel uncomfortable These guys are in such tune with their surroundings that if the box is too chewed up and they have to move even 3 inches, it can mess them up.

Mounds are the same way for pitchers. Back in the day, mounds were built with the home team in mind. The Astrodome, for example, was notorious for high mounds. And look at who pitched there: Nolan Ryan, J.R. Richard and Mike Scott -- all tall, hard throwers who benefited from a high mound.

Everyone knew the mound at Candlestick Park was the worst in baseball. Because of the wind, the mound would dry out. By the middle of the game, it was like you were pitching on baby powder.

Huge craters would form, the kind that NASA would be proud to explore.

Shea and Dodger stadiums were others that would be doctored to accommodate the home team. No reason to alert Congress -- I'm just saying the mounds weren't checked as much then as they are now. If opposing teams didn't say anything, it was just understood: You had to work on your angle to get the ball down in those places.

Usually, a bad mound is a result of a poor mix of clay, dirt and sand.

Pitchers can mess up a mound, too. Pitchers who land on their heel and then turn as they finish their delivery can chew up the dirt and make one of those craters. Because you can't ask guys to change the way they throw, as a reliever you have to be aware of who's pitching before you.

Few pitchers bother calling the grounds crew to fix a hole. Do that and you feel like you've got to strike out the next three guys on nine pitches because you've made a fuss and slowed down the game. Umps don't like the game to be held up for this reason, so most pitchers figure it's best to keep things moving.

Pitchers also aren't likely to start out at a different spot on the rubber if there is a problem. Move just three inches to the left or right and it's like moving across the street. Sure, Hall of Famers can paint the corners no matter where their feet start out, but for the rest of us, it's all we can do to get our outs . Asking us to move on the rubber is like asking Batman to ride shotgun. It's a weird feeling we don't need.

E-mail Todd Jones, a reliever for the Tigers, at tjones@sportingnews.com.

Subject: Re: TODD JONES SPORTING NEWS BLOG STORIES Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:06 am

A silver spoon means a target on your back

Todd Jones

Posted: March 26, 2008

If you look around spring training, you can find guys who were drafted just last year but are already in big league camp. There's a reason: money.

You know there's a fair chance it was written into their contracts. On the field, I've seen these guys work out fine because they are the cream of the crop athletically. Off the field and in the clubhouse, however, is another story.

So this big hot shot gets a ton of money on a big league deal that's all guaranteed -- which is fine -- but then the agent gets cute and wants his player invited to big league camp. Why not? He's already got guaranteed millions he hasn't earned yet, so why not complete the silver spoon daily double? How about letting this kid experience something about real life in pro ball, such as riding buses or staying in minor league dorms?

Nah. Give him big league meal money, let him wear crisp, white uniforms and pick out new spikes whenever he needs them because he's a can't-miss kid. Like he doesn't have enough going against him socially anyway. He's got millions in the bank while the whole rest of his team will make between $850 to $1,100 a month in A ball. Now, when he goes back to the minors, he'll have to deal with the Haterade that will be served in the clubhouse.

Every player should have to go through minor league camp. One bowl of soup, one sandwich. One giant tub of peanut butter and an equally giant tub of jelly with one knife. Yep, all the guys get one knife to share.

In big league camp, there are breakfast spreads and lunch spreads every day. In the minors, you pull into Hardee's on your way to the park or you eat nothing 'til lunch.

These are the learning experiences that make kids want to get out of the minors and into the big leagues. This time also is a rite of passage. The best relationships are built in minor league spring training.

I'm all for guys getting however much money they can, but to miss the misery and, yes, the beauty of the minor leagues is a travesty.

Remember the line in Bull Durham? "The big league club has 100 grand in him." So unless the club totally misses, Silver Spoon Guy will make it, but when he's robbed of his journey, what's he going to do when he's a rookie on a big league club and he's got the bucket in B.P. for, I don't know, the whole year? What about when he's in the 'pen and has to carry the candy bag? Or, on rookie dress-up day, when he has to serve all his teammates while wearing a dress on the team charter? His agent won't be able to help him then.

Those are the stories you tell for the rest of your life, not how much money you signed for or how many people you struck out in high school.

By the way, I led the state of Georgia in strikeouts my senior year, and I still had to go to minor league camp when I signed out of college. I guess I needed a different agent.

E-mail Todd Jones, a reliever for the Tigers, at tjones@sportingnews.com.

Subject: Re: TODD JONES SPORTING NEWS BLOG STORIES Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:18 am

Cabrera's contract is a big deal -- in more ways than one
Todd Jones

Posted: April 4, 2008

So I guess Miguel Cabrera is happy to be a Tiger. As a fan, I look at his new seven-year, $153 million deal and understand: He's good, and he's young. As an old guy who feels like I know the game, it's fascinating to consider the impact this deal will have throughout major league baseball.

If you're Ryan Howard, you're doing back flips. Because Howard is in that same good-and-young category, he now can see the framework of his future deal . Every contract affects other players in the same class.

Take Mark Teixeira, for example. He knows seven- to 10-year deals are out there, based on what Alex Rodriguez and now Cabrera have received. Now consider that both New York teams could be looking for first basemen next offseason because Carlos Delgado and Jason Giambi are potential free agents. Then consider that Scott Boras is Teixeira's agent.

Boras, with the right guy and the right teams being worked into a frenzy, could produce a $180-$200 million deal. Tex is young, has pop, plays good defense and plays hard. He's also the kind of guy who might want to push the envelope where deals are concerned.

That's not a bad thing. If you're a player with good life left on your career and an offseason lining up just right, you'd be crazy to do anything other than push. Go out, try to win, put up monster numbers and see what happens. Don't hate A-Rod because he was able to do it twice in his career. He earned the right to do what he did. Good for him.

The players association was excited for Miguel because the union never wants to see potential market changers sell themselves short. When a deal with the length and annual salary of Cabrera's gets into the books, something very important is created: precedent.

Teams with these kinds of players recognize their value and save themselves millions by deciding to bite the bullet early. Case in point: Albert Pujols. His seven-year, $100 million deal (signed in 2004) has been good for both sides. He got big bucks well before he could become a free agent, and look what he has done for the Cardinals. He has won a championship and helped transition a Big Mac town to a new era. The Cardinals deserve credit for picking the right guy. He loves to play, won't quit and wants to get better every day. Kudos to the scouts who stood up and said: "Yes, this is the guy. He is not only special on the field but in our community."

The Phillies did the same with Chase Utley. Barring injuries, he'll be a bargain. You can add Grady Sizemore, Curtis Granderson, Troy Tulowitzki and Jake Peavy to that list.

Now here's a heads-up to players: Teams don't pay for bad guys or cancers. Being great on the field is only half the battle. If you want your money, do the right things all the time. Don't be a dumb-dumb and then ask for all that money with a straight face.

Getting the big contract shouldn't be the end. It should just be the beginning.

E-mail Todd Jones, a reliever for the Tigers, at tjones@sportingnews.com.

Subject: Re: TODD JONES SPORTING NEWS BLOG STORIES Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:26 am

A funny thing happened on opening day—baseball
Todd Jones

Posted: April 8, 2008

E-mail questions to Todd Jones, a reliever for the Tigers, at tjones@sportingnews.com.

On opening day, a funny thing happened on the way to the ballpark. Baseball happened. The Nationals hit a walkoff homer to open their new park. In his Cubs debut, Kosuke Fukudome hit a game-tying, 3-run homer in the ninth. Toronto's Roy Halladay went seven innings, gave up three runs -- and lost. Chalk all this up to what happens in baseball. Even the rainout at Yankee Stadium.

Baseball is a funny game, so funny things happen on opening day -- like they happen just about every day. But opening day or opening week does not make a season, even though it generates far more interest than most games.

So, as players, how do we handle all this extra attention? As someone well-versed in dealing with good and bad, I've learned a few things. If you are the goat -- believe me, if you play long enough, you will be -- you deal with it. The media doesn't like it when players duck out after they mess up.

I've seen reporters not even bother with a guy the next time he has a good game. The player stands in front of his locker waiting to talk to somebody and he isn't asked a single question. Turnabout is fair play.

Everybody knows it's easier to stand in front of your locker when it goes well. But your teammates don't miss a thing. You'd better be there when it goes bad, too. By taking your medicine, you are telling the media, "Hey, I keep it real." And the media will file that away. Next time you give it up, maybe they'll write about how good the hitter was instead of how bad you were.

If you say that you stunk, you can defuse a situation. Guys watch the news and read the paper. Say you blow a game and try to skate by saying, "If that guy had made that play for me, it would have been different." That's not gonna work.

Take the blame and you can get instant street cred in your clubhouse. I've had teammates come to me the next day and want to talk about that play and, in their own way, admit they could have made it. And the next time you're in a sticky situation, that guy might just run through a wall trying to make the play for you.

E-mail Todd Jones, a reliever for the Tigers, at tjones@sportingnews.com.

Subject: Re: TODD JONES SPORTING NEWS BLOG STORIES Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:29 am

Buckner reconnecting with Boston is special

Todd Jones

Posted: April 16, 2008

I experienced a first last week: I was on hand for the championship ring ceremony when the Tigers played at Fenway Park. I had not witnessed, up close, one of these love affairs between a team and its city.

The Red Sox did their ceremony first-class. They brought back all the city's championship teams, from the Celtics to the Patriots to the Bruins. Bill Russell, Tedy Bruschi and Bobby Orr were there. Once the legends started parading onto the field, the entire Tigers team came out to the dugout to watch.

As each Red Sox player was announced, he was shown on the video board and the cheers got louder and louder. The final few were the backbone of the team -- Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Mike Lowell and Jonathan Papelbon. Once they all were lined up on the field, the announcement came that Bill Buckner would throw out the first pitch. It was Buckner's first appearance at Fenway since 1997, when he was a White Sox coach. Unless you've been hanging out with those Geico cavemen, you know Buckner was blamed for losing the 1986 World Series.

Well, when Buckner walked across the field, the fans went crazy. Thee stroll from the Green Monster to the pitcher's mound must have been one of the most emotional moments of his life. Tears were streaming down this man's face. He had been taunted, ridiculed and made the butt of so many jokes for so long. It was if he had been pardoned. Yes, the good ol' media had reduced this man's career to one play. The guy had 2,715 hits but will be remembered for the ground ball he missed while playing first base for Boston in Game 6 of the '86 Series.

When the Red Sox asked him back, he showed up. Not with a chip on his shoulder, either, but with a look of relief and gratitude for the chance for closure. _ e emotion was raw. For more than two decades, Buckner's misplay had taken on a life of its own, and no one knew how to deal with it. So after the Sox won their second World Series in four years, the club decided it was time to let a man file away his angst and move on.

As a player, you feel for the guy. No one wants to be the goat in the World Series. Still, ask any player this: Would you rather be the goat in the Series or never play in one? A lot of guys would choose to be the goat.

E-mail Todd Jones, a reliever for the Tigers, at tjones@sportingnews.com.

Subject: Re: TODD JONES SPORTING NEWS BLOG STORIES Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:32 am

Tipping pitches means disaster for hurlers
Todd Jones

Posted: April 25, 2008

Randy Johnson did it for years. Andy Benes would do it when throwing his slider. Some believe it has been C.C. Sabathia's biggest problem this season. I'm talking about pitchers tipping pitches, of course.

Pitchers are creatures of habit. When our brains are focusing on the hitter, our bodies are on autopilot. Our hands, shoulders and heads move in a certain way during our windups based on muscle memory. If something changes in our delivery, chances are good someone will pick it up instantly.

When Cito Gaston was managing in Toronto, he had his bench pick apart the pitcher. One guy would study the pitcher's hands, one would study his feet, one his cadence between pitches.

When Roberto Alomar signed with Cleveland (after playing with the Blue Jays and Orioles), a funny thing happened. The Indians suddenly became good at studying pitchers. Derek Bell, another former Blue Jay, went to the Astros and the same thing happened. He used to tell me after an inning he could call every curve I threw. To this day, I still have a habit of looking toward third base before I throw a curve, and Bell could pick that up from left field. So you know others picked it up, too.

Benes used to bite his lip on his slider. You could tell by the way Johnson set his hands if he was going to throw a slider or fastball. Kenny Rogers' mouth flies open on his changeup -- but only after he throws the pitch. From his windup, Hideo Nomo did things differently on his fastball than on his split-finger pitch.

A lot of pitchers tip. I'd say most of the time it's by how they get the ball out of their glove. You've heard of a pitcher who flares his glove? Well, he's probably digging for a grip on his secondary pitch. Whether it's a split or a change, you have to somehow get the ball in the back of your hand. Guys do that by pushing it into their glove, causing the glove to flare open. So the next time you're watching a game, check the pitcher from his stretch and see if he digs before starting his delivery.

Tipping pitches is our greatest fear. We don't know we're doing it, and most of our pitching coaches are watching different things and don't see it, either. Pitching is such a mental game of cat and mouse that when a hitter knows what's coming, the pitcher has no chance.

So if you see a pitcher on your favorite team tipping, for Pete's sake, let him know.

E-mail Todd Jones, a reliever for the Tigers, at tjones@sportingnews.com.

Subject: Re: TODD JONES SPORTING NEWS BLOG STORIES Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:35 am

Reflecting on more than 15 years in the majors
Todd Jones

Posted: April 29, 2008

This one is all about me. Hey, I turned 40 last week, and not many active big leaguers can say that. So indulge me.

A lot has changed since I reached the big leagues in 1993.

We don't have roommates on road trips anymore. Getting our own rooms was a big deal for a while, but now it's old hat.

The minimum salary was $109,000 my rookie season; now it's about $400,000.

We used to have a president for each league. Now we have only a commissioner. Sure, he's a wolf in sheep's clothing because he's an ex-owner, but he has done a good job growing the game. Realignment was all about getting his Brewers out of the A.L., but he did introduce the wild card and interleague play.

I was a rookie and a player rep for the Astros when work stopped in 1994. Those were trying times. A mediator tried to settle the differences but was overmatched. Then owners tried to use replacement players, but fans saw through it. Finally, in '95, we got on with the game.

That year also brought us the excitement of Hideo Nomo and Cal Ripken, and both helped save the game. Mickey Mantle gave a wonderful testimony on how he wished he'd played the game, and he encouraged kids not to be like him. Soon after, he died.

In '98, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa captivated the nation. Ballparks opened 2 hours early so fans could watch batting practice -- and teams could sell more beer. I was with the Tigers then, and of all the Cardinals' opponents that year, we were the only team not to give up a homer to Big Mac. But when he hit BP, we were there. Oh, we played it like we were out there stretching or whatever, but not one guy was in our clubhouse when Big Mac hit. He would get loose in the cages out of sight so that when he came out for BP, it was lock and load for three rounds of baseball nirvana. We would crush him asking for stuff, and he'd always sign whatever we wanted. The whole league acted 10 years old around Big Mac.

Then steroids hit, and I just need to say that if Jose Canseco had hit 38 more home runs -- giving him 500 and maybe a ticket to the Hall of Fame -- none of this would have happened the way it did. Canseco would have been content. There would have been no subcommittee meetings or Mitchell Report, and guys out of the game wouldn't have been dragged through the mud.

Baseball is more uniform now. Umpires adhere to one governing body of accountability. Used to be, they could be fat, pompous pigs -- routinely out of position -- and eject you with no warning and hold a grudge. Now, they're polite and treat you with respect, and we have a much better rapport with them.

We were all shook up by 9/11. I feel we -- and the NFL -- helped the country begin healing. I'll never forget the first night back. They played Lee Greenwood's "Proud to be an American, " and we all cried.

As an older player, you never know when your time is going to be up, so the grass is greener and the park is louder. You thank God for your good health and good luck. You've stuck around long enough to figure out that your career is not about you; it's about your teammates and how you leave the game. If somehow you made it better for somebody, you've done your job.

E-mail Todd Jones, a reliever for the Tigers, at tjones@sportingnews.com.

Subject: Re: TODD JONES SPORTING NEWS BLOG STORIES Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:38 am

Versatility makes Smoltz a one-in-a-million pitcher
Todd Jones

Posted: May 10, 2008

To my surprise, I see John Smoltz wants to head back to the bullpen. That's not the whole story, though. During spring training, I had one of the most interesting conversations I've had in a long while, and it happened to be with Smoltz.

While exchanging pleasantries, he shared with me that his shoulder was bothering him. He said he thought he would be able to pitch with the pain he described. Believe it or not, pitchers have to learn how to deal with pain. Not many guys go out there and feel right all the time.

The older you get, the more it seems the opposite is true. Those who know Smoltz have heard stories about him coming to the park, saying one thing or another was hurting, then going out and throwing a two-hit shutout. So you know that if he can li_ his arm, he's pitching.

The remarkable thing about the conversation was hearing him say he would be fine if he could remain at around 80 percent. He figured the Braves had a good team and a strong rotation with Tim Hudson and Tom Glavine, plus the chance of a return by Mike Hampton. Smoltz figured at this stage of his career he would just pitch through the pain because there wasn't much to be saving his arm for. The Braves have been good to him, and he wanted to give them whatever he had left.

As a starter, you try to cruise through the first few innings . When you get into a jam, you tend to go as hard as you can until it's over or you're out. John understands that calming down and working slower often is better than throwing harder and harder in those situations, but he said he knew he would have trouble fighting the urge to come out slinging .

So John already is thinking about Plan B: When he gets off the disabled list, he wants to close again. He figures he can use his great stuff for damage Control -- getting three outs three to four times a week. Because injuries usually occur when the arm is tired, Smoltz figures he can use his arm more efficiently throwing fewer pitches in each outing. With 154 saves under his belt, he certainly has the track record. He'll be fine.

After we spoke, I didn't know whether I should retire or just give credit where it's due. The guy is a one-in-a-million pitcher. He can dominate as a starter and a closer, and, depending on what the Braves need, he'll be there for either. I just hope he's never asked to do both at the same time.

E-mail Todd Jones, a reliever for the Tigers, at tjones@sportingnews.com.

Subject: Re: TODD JONES SPORTING NEWS BLOG STORIES Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:43 am

Clubhouse life is different than it used to be
Todd Jones

Posted: May 15, 2008

Clubhouses are like big dorm rooms (minus the keg parties). We practically live together, considering how much time players are around one another. But it's not the same today as it was 15 or 20 years ago.

Guys nowadays show up earlier than we used to and leave way earlier than we used to. I can remember when guys would hang around until 2 or 3 in the morning after every game. An older player would call a team meeting, so to speak, and guys would grab a garbage can full of whatever guys drink, sit down and figure out whatever was going on that particular night. If it was 2 a.m. when everything was figured out, then everybody would shower and leave. If it was 4 a.m., then it was 4 a.m. The best times in my career have been with teammates figuring it out. Now, any figuring out that needs to be done is taken care of before the game.

These days, if you get to the park at 3 p.m. for a 7 p.m. game, you're late. Even though most clubs don't require their players to be at the park before 4 at the earliest, guys arrive way before 3. Perhaps we like that lunch spread the clubbies lay out as much as we like the dinner spreads.

Another difference in clubhouses today: Most of them have a bunch of TVs. If there are 10 TVs, five are showing that night's opposing pitcher so hitters can see what they'll be dealing with. They watch for tendencies of the opposing pitcher, such as what he throws when he's ahead or behind in the count. They also look for arm angles and release points.

The other TVs are used for chilling out. I've been on clubs with rules such as no soaps or movies, only baseball. I guess those clubs figure watching an out-of-town game will really lock you in. Other teams will let you watch whatever you want, within reason.

If the team is going good and you happen to have watched Tin Cup to start a winning streak, guess what? You watch Tin Cup until you lose three in a row. I was on a team that watched Major League the entire first half of a season. We were hot, and the movie became part of the routine. We could recite lines from that dang movie, and we'd even act it out because we knew what lines were coming.

Clubs have different rules about who controls the TV and music. On many, the first guy in is in charge. Well, until players abuse this privilege. Then the skipper has to take it away.

E-mail Todd Jones, a reliever for the Tigers, at tjones@sportingnews.com.

Subject: Re: TODD JONES SPORTING NEWS BLOG STORIES Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:47 am

Joba has right to show emotion on the mound
Todd Jones

Posted: May 24, 2008

So a big deal was made out of Joba Chamberlain's fist pump. You know the one. Two days after Joba gave up a game-deciding, pinch-hit 3-run homer to David Dellucci, he struck out Dellucci in the eighth inning with two outs, no one on and the Yankees leading the Indians, 6-3. Afterward, Joba pumped his fist like he does most of the time. Boom, you've got a debate.

Joba, by the way, is the Yankees' big-time setup man who is tossed about in the media as the savior of the Yankees' bullpen or the rotation, depending on how the rotation is faring. One day, he's putting out fires. The next day, Hank Steinbrenner blows his top about how that arm needs to be in the rotation. In other words, it's a waste of time and talent for Joba to help the Yankees make it a seven-inning game whenever they're leading. OK, OK, I'm ranting.

Back to the topic: Joba was accused of showing up the Indians and displaying way too much emotion. People all over the place, including Hall of Famer Goose Gossage, chimed in and said it was unprofessional and the game has no room for such behavior.

The thing is, players usually don't have problems with such antics as long as guys are consistent with their behavior. For example, guys never said a lot about Sammy Sosa's hop or Barry Bonds' pose because they hopped and posed all the time. You knew it wasn't an attempt to show you up. Sure, we'd like 'em all to hit their homers and run the bases like Chase Utley, Carlos Delgado or Derrek Lee, but they don't. But as long as guys act the same game after game, you just deal with it and move on.

A lot of guys have seen Joba's fist pump numerous times. I can tell you his raw emotion is why he's a cult hero at Yankee Stadium.

When the game is on the line, guys handle pressure differently. Mariano Rivera, for example, shows no emotion whatsoever, and that's fine. But it's not fair to say because Mariano acts one way, Joba should act the same. They're two different people. Joba is an aggressive pitcher. If he became too concerned about controlling his emotions, it might take away some of his aggressiveness.

Now one thing guys who show a lot of emotion have to be aware of is how such behavior can be a double-edged sword. If you draw attention to yourself after a good night, you'll eat crow from time to time after you have a bad one. The other guys will take extra satisfaction in beating you. As long as you're OK with that, most guys will cut you slack when you beat them and show emotion.

Joba says he's not changing. He's prepared to live with the good and the bad of being emotional out there. That's who he is. And that's also why he is pretty dominant on most nights.

E-mail Todd Jones, a reliever for the Tigers, at tjones@sportingnews.com.

Subject: Re: TODD JONES SPORTING NEWS BLOG STORIES Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:49 am

Most umps are good, but replay is coming
Todd Jones

Posted: May 26, 2008

After everyone made such a huge deal when a couple of home run calls were blown, I decided to set the record straight: Umps today are great.

Relationships betweens umps and players are awesome. I know what you're thinking. I'm sucking up in case an ump reads this. Well, I'm not above tossing out a compliment to get a call, but I'm not buttering anyone up. I can tell you of one umpire who was just an old, crabby, lousy excuse for an ump . This guy was unapproachable and an egotistical jerk. He would call foul balls by using his foot to signal. He was so cool he didn't need to motion with his arm. And MLB let him get away with that stuff. No longer. Breaking up the umps' union and combining N.L. and A.L. umps into one pool went a long way in improving player-umpire relations.

OK, so Bob Davidson misses a call on a Carlos Delgado homer at Yankee Stadium. After the game, he admitted, yep, I missed it. As players, that's all we can ask. All we want are guys giving their best effort, making sure they're in position and doing whatever they can to make the best call. Umps feel bad when they miss calls. I know guys have had umps apologize for blowing a call. Yet I've never heard a player say, "Well, you dumb-dumb, you cost me the game." What do you say after an ump admits his mistake? You tell them it's OK and move on. Umps never have made fun of me for hanging a curve and giving up a walk off jack.

Now comes news about instant replay being considered. Good umpires would welcome it for home run calls and foul and fair calls. Their goal is to get the call right, and any ump who thinks he never needs help is a lousy ump.

Replay will happen. The problem will be deciding how to use it. How many times can a call be checked? Will replay be considered only after the fifth inning? Just for playoff games?

One place where replay should never be used: calling balls and strikes. Umps wouldn't want that, and you can't blame them. They make 250 split-second decisions every game, and they're going to miss their share. But that's the human element, and really, that makes the game great.

Besides, if I need every call to go my way, I'm not a very good pitcher. If I'm confident enough to make another great pitch, there's no reason to go off on an ump if he blows one.

Well, the next time I face Jim Thome or Albert Pujols, I might like to strike that last comment.

E-mail Todd Jones, a reliever for the Tigers, at tjones@sportingnews.com.

Subject: Re: TODD JONES SPORTING NEWS BLOG STORIES Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:54 am

An admission: The draft makes us think of long-term job security
Todd Jones

Posted: June 5, 2008

Major leaguers look at today's draft differently than fans do. We see kids who eventually will replace us. Baseball is a young man's sport, and these guys' ability to win big league jobs someday hits us all at some point.

I have friends who are scouting directors, and, for them, the draft is a culmination of an 18-month process. Scouts beat the bushes all over the world trying to find guys.

American kids are in a good place and a bad place. The bad: U.S. kids -- and those from Canada and U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico -- are the only players who are subject to the draft. Players from the rest of the world can sign as free agents. That means all clubs can bid on their services, giving those players -- in theory, anyway -- more bargaining power. Because Americans have no say in where they're picked or who picks them, clubs have tremendous leverage.

There is an advantage to being drafted: a signing bonus. Even a midround pick is able to get more than the majority of Latin players, who can be signed for as little as a new pair of shoes and a spot in an academy.

For the top prospects, the draft is a celebration of a job well done. The kids have been given the ability to play baseball and play it well. They get their signing bonus and a Nike shoe deal, an Oakley contract and maybe an Easton deal, and they're on their way. Sure, their representatives -- wink, wink -- will beat up the club for extra perks, but then it's off to the bushes to pursue a dream.

The days before the draft can be agonizing. Clubs need to know who they are drafting now more than ever. These kids have taken tests and thrown bullpens or put on private workouts for all the clubs that are interested. Their parents long ago altered their lives to help their sons make it big. And now there's a house full of family and friends hanging around, waiting for the phone to ring.

Even with all the research that goes into scouting these days, the draft remains a crapshoot. You can have all the tools, but if you don't have enough heart, you'll never make it. And that's one thing you can't measure on a test.

E-mail Todd Jones, a reliever for the Tigers, at tjones@sportingnews.com.

Subject: Re: TODD JONES SPORTING NEWS BLOG STORIES Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:59 am

One of the biggest big league thrills is watching your buddies do well
Todd Jones

Posted: June 9, 2008

Probably the coolest part of my job is getting to know all the different guys in the major leagues. It's very cool when guys are making history, especially when they're my buddies Ken Griffey Jr. and Manny Ramirez.

Junior reached the 600-homer milestone on Monday in Florida. Man Ram or Manny Being Manny or Baby Bull reached the 500 plateau on May 31. I had the honor of playing with Griffey for the Reds when he hit No. 500 on Father's Day in 2004. The most fun we had with that was watching Junior bring his entire family to the park every night until he hit the milestone.

We gave him the hardest time because it took him like 10 days. Ken Sr. would come into the clubhouse and declare he was tired of having to hang around the whole game waiting for his son to hit a homer. "Hey, Junior, hurry up. Your mother and I are ready to go home," he'd say.

When Junior finally hit 500, he was in St. Louis and the fan gave him back the ball. Junior was so blown away that he invited that fan to the All-Star Game at his expense. What also was cool was how all his teammates went to the plate to celebrate with him -- except us in the bullpen. So the next inning, he came running over to us, and we all gave him a big hug and a high-five.

A couple of days later we were in New York playing the Mets, and Nike had 500 balloons waiting in the clubhouse when we walked in. We popped as many as we could and put them in Junior's locker. I kept one -- and I still have it. It's the little things that matter.

Being Man Ram's teammate in 2003, I got a look into his life, and what a treat. He's truly a wonderful, carefree guy who only wants to hit and play baseball. There's not a whole heck of a lot on his radar except his family and baseball. He's a big kid. Heck, we all are, but Manny takes the cake.

I think he can't figure out why people go crazy when he's around. He just wants to hang out, and the next thing you know, there's 250 people around him chanting "Manny! Manny!" when all he wants is to go to the restroom.

Don't let him fool you, either. He's smart and is as good as he wants to be. The knock on him is what people put on him. They want him to throw his helmet when he does bad, but he won't. They want him to treat every day in the big leagues in Boston like he's the luckiest guy on the face of the earth. He won't. They want him to panic when the Red Sox are one game from elimination and say something colorful, like guaranteeing a win. He won't.

He just hits, and if he doesn't hit, then, well, he'll hit tomorrow. He's refreshing. He's having fun, and it shows. He's good, but baseball is not all he's about and that bugs folks.

You know what else is cool? Griffey and Manny have made it through the steroids era without a trace of controversy. What's not cool: that I even have to mention that.

E-mail Todd Jones, a reliever for the Tigers, at tjones@sportingnews.com.

Subject: Re: TODD JONES SPORTING NEWS BLOG STORIES Sat Jun 14, 2008 8:13 am

Dudes, I defintely just e-mailed Todd Jones.

What if he e-mails me back?!?!?!?

That would be like, awesome.
_________________
"Contrary to what everybody else thinks, I still think I can come back and help this team."

Todd Jones on shoulder injury.

Subject: Re: TODD JONES SPORTING NEWS BLOG STORIES Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:19 am

Crafty managers find a way to light a fire
Todd Jones

Posted: June 19, 2008

Much ado about nothing? Every year, managers rant at their teams. They are looking for a spark anywhere they can find one. Ozzie Guillen gets credit for a seven-game winning streak, but how much did he really have to do with it? John McLaren tears into his team during a postgame news conference. His team doesn't win seven straight, but it plays better. Does that mean he gets the same spark?

What's a manager trying to convey with a rant? First of all, with all the media coverage, managers know exactly what they're doing when it comes to blowups in front of reporters. You don't see too many spontaneous tantrums like Hal McRae had in Kansas City in the '90s -- although my buddy Sean Deveney, for one, contends that the unrehearsed variety is the only way to go.

Teams get a 10-minute cooling-off period after games before the media is allowed in the locker room. I've seen skippers throw bats and helmets and cuss us up one side and down the other, then they're calm as they can be during a news conference.

But managers don't have the luxury of putting distance between themselves and the media the way players do. Every day they have to answer the numbing, often-repetitive questions. If skippers don't pay attention, they can get put in a bad place by the media. For example, players don't want to talk about their teammates not doing too well, so the media will go to the manager. A skipper will say, "You guys have the same numbers. You know what's going on. You write it, but I'm not going to help you bury one of my players!"

If the skipper knows what he's doing, any tirade in front of the media already has been discussed in a closed-door meeting with his team. You don't want to use the media to communicate to your players. Now he might use the media to reinforce a point he already has made. Some players respond only when they are called out publicly.

I've heard of managers who will call a team meeting just so one player will get his point. I've been in meetings when a manager gets right in a player's face and challenges him to a fight or just to step it up and play better. Charlie Manuel is known for saying, "If you're hot, stay hot! If you're not hot, get hot!"

What fans need to realize is that most managers' bursts really are premeditated. The important thing is finding a way to get your message across. If being perceived as wacky is what it takes, a manager will do it.

E-mail Todd Jones, a reliever for the Tigers, at tjones@sportingnews.com

Subject: Re: TODD JONES SPORTING NEWS BLOG STORIES Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:31 pm

Todd Jones

The write stuff can sometimes be all wrong
Thursday, June 26, 2008

The day after my teammate, Ryan Raburn, hit a homer to beat the Giants, everyone arrived at the ballpark talking about an article in the San Francisco Chronicle instead of the victory.

The part of the game story written by Henry Schulman that caught our attention: "Adding to the wickedness was the fact that (Jonathan) Sanchez was beaten not by one of Detroit's high-salaried thumpers, but a .219-hitting scrub named Ryan Raburn."

We all kind of lost it when we read that. Schulman had just called one of our teammates a scrub! A scrub? Isn't that a little harsh? I can't think of anybody who has played in the major leagues who deserves to be called a scrub -- not even Bob Uecker. The reporter went on to write that Raburn hit his home run three-quarters of the way up the left field bleachers, which measures something like 425 feet.

Our skipper, Jim Leyland, was livid. We all were. Ryan just laughed it off -- what else could he do? He'd just been humiliated by a guy he'd never met. He was embarrassed by a guy who has probably never played one thing in his life that was hard, or done something at which he wasn't good. Schulman, apparently, has always been the best at everything he has tried.

We were bothered most that he picked on a young guy trying to make a name for himself -- and earn a living for his family. You'd like Raburn. He works hard, shows up early, doesn't say anything and plays when he's told to. He's a role player -- a backup -- who's very useful. He plays outfield and infield in the big leagues -- something Schulman could never do, let alone hit a ball 425 feet.

This kind of comment angers me because of how tough this game is to play. As a kid, I always dreamed of hitting the winning homer in Game 7 of the World Series. When I reached the big leagues and saw how hard this game is, and how good these guys are, I was glad just to be on a team that went to the World Series.

We all wish we could be Derek Jeter or Mariano Rivera, Chipper Jones or Greg Maddux. But the truth is, we are reminded every day of what we can't do. We can't run fast enough, throw hard enough, hit enough homers or do this or that. We get it. We have limitations, but we want to improve.

I've got thick skin -- reporters don't bother me, for the most part. But a personal attack on a guy's ability or perceived place in this game is enough. This article is a shout to all players who have been singled out for what we can't do. At least we're on the field.

We know what it feels like to grab a bat or a ball and go out there and take a chance. I'd much rather be a scrub than a guy who sits on the sideline and watches what happens, then writes about it.

Hey, Henry, how about next time you just report on the game. Call it as you see it and show the players on the field some respect. Use backup or utility player instead of scrub.

If not, then grab a bat, get in the box and try your hand at hitting.

E-mail Todd Jones, a reliever for the Tigers, at tjones@sportingnews.com