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Wednesday, July 02, 2008

The HUB: Walters: Can you just give Todd Jones a break?

He’s your most consistent Tiger pitcher in his eighth year of service to the team. And you people boo him. You boo him for 10 minutes or 10 pitches of questionable merit.

The people who rail on Todd Barton Givin Jones - and you do know who you are - make it difficult for me to call Tigers’ fans the most knowledgeable in the game. Because he doesn’t suck.

...Whew. That felt nice. And yes, I’m willing to overlook the statements Todd Jones made as a member of the Colorado Rockies, expressing his difficulty in welcoming a gay teammate. I don’t care if my closer is homophobic, because looking like an ass does not impugn his ability to save baseball games.

and I’m willing to overlook the fact that mass murderer Nicholas Sheley is a St Louis Cardinals fan!

Repoz Posted: July 02, 2008 at 06:54 AM | 12 comment(s)
Related News: General, Detroit

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1. villageidiom Posted: July 02, 2008 at 08:18 AM (#2840099)

Can you just give Todd Jones a break?

Sure. Arm or leg?

Just wanted to get the easy joke in early.

2. RB in NYC (Now a Man with Options! Maybe!) Posted: July 02, 2008 at 08:34 AM (#2840101)

I don't really get this column. I mean, besides the usual "Don't boo your own players" stuff, which is fair enough, it's not like Jones is being singled out for attention. Just because he only has one blown save, it seems like several of his appearences (like say, April 15 or May 9) have not been the type to inspire undying love and devotion from the home fans.

And all this other stuff, he won the Rolaids Relief Award, he was an All-Star. Well, that was 2000 when Jones put up a 133 ERA+. They aren't booing 2000 Todd Jones.

3. Greg Pope Posted: July 02, 2008 at 08:36 AM (#2840102)

I'm stunned that Todd Jones has been a Tiger for 8 years. I just considered him a journeyman who happened to get the closer job a couple of times.

EDIT: Ahh, he is a journeyman, he's just had 2 separate stints with Detroit. He's a journeyman with over 300 saves.

4. Rusty Priske Posted: July 02, 2008 at 08:49 AM (#2840109)

I would happily boo Jones anytime I saw him. Ever since his article that implied that a ballplayer who came out as gay would be in danger of getting beaned whenever he came up to the plate.

In my eyes Jones is no better than Rocker, and I would boo him too.

5. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: July 02, 2008 at 09:05 AM (#2840117)

He's a journeyman with over 300 saves.

Heck, Rich Gossage was a journeyman. As was possibly future HOFer Lee Smith.

6. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: July 02, 2008 at 09:06 AM (#2840118)

A little soon for serial killer jokes. The guy killed a two-year-old.

7. Stately, Plump Buck Mulligan Posted: July 02, 2008 at 09:53 AM (#2840157)

The people who rail on Todd Barton Givin Jones - and you do know who you are - make it difficult for me to call Tigers’ fans the most knowledgeable in the game.

WTF?

8. Shooty misses Bill King Posted: July 02, 2008 at 09:59 AM (#2840162)

WTF?

I also find it difficult to call Tigers fans the most knowledgeable in the game.

9. ian Posted: July 02, 2008 at 10:05 AM (#2840171)

Todd Jones is entertaining because he'll come into a 5-2 game, make it 5-4, then get the cleanup hitter to fly out to the warning track with the bases loaded.

And then there'll be a fight between fans that are pissed that he almost blew it and fans that say "He did his job! He got the save!"

10. Mike in MI Posted: July 02, 2008 at 10:05 AM (#2840172)

Jones was booed quite a bit for the blown save this weekend but he even said after the game that 3 run saves like that should never ever be blown or something like that.

11. Jon Koltz Posted: July 02, 2008 at 10:06 AM (#2840173)

Leave Todd Jones alone!!! Right now!!! I mean it!

12. RMc is the President of the United States Posted: July 02, 2008 at 03:11 PM (#2840497)

Can you just give Todd Jones a break?

No.

Next question.

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Wednesday, July 02, 2008

The HUB: Walters: Can you just give Todd Jones a break?

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