Comment from jsonline about Mike Jones

[yoshii8]

I was just reading the article about the Brewers off-season written by Tom Haurdricourt, and I came across this comment that really bothered me:

 

"Melvin noted that things might have been different if not for significant injuries suffered by 2001 first-round pick Mike Jones and 2004 first-rounder Mark Rogers, both drafted out of high school. Jones never will pitch for the Brewers and Rogers might not, either, after missing the last two seasons due to multiple shoulder surgeries."

 

Why would they keep him in the organization if there is no chance that he would ever play for the Brewers? I understand that he doesn't have a good chance anymore, but this article wasn't an editorial, and I think it is very unprofessional to write something like that.

 

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Edit...

Haudricourt article: Pitching tops Christmas shopping list

--1992

[Brian the Automator]

Is Mike Jones still Brewers property, or did he leave via minor league free agency? If it's the former, that's extremely tacky.

[yoshii8]

In the transaction forum it says that he was re-signed, I really don't understand the point of him doing this.

[DHonks]

I noticed the comment, too. From what I remember, I thought Jones was sitting in the 88-91 range. Frankly, he's only about 18 months removed from Tommy John surgery. He's still young enough that if he can keep his arm healthy for next year, he could start to see some command and velocity return.

[jwaltz]

If Mike's velocity and command can come back even part of the way he could have a shot to make the bigs as a reliever of some sort.

[Mass Haas]

Baseball America entry confirming Jones was re-signed.

[foamboy1]

Even if Melvin's comment is true, it's unnecessary. What kind of message is he sending to Jones, a guy busting his butt to try to fulfill his dream. Poor form.

[brewjihad]

Even if Melvin's comment is true, it's unnecessary.

 

It's not a Melvin quote, it's a quote from the article written by Haudricourt. Melvin had nothing to do with it, this was just Tom throwing an opinionated, unnecessary comment into a news story.

[splitterpfj]

It's not a Melvin quote, it's a quote from the article written by Haudricourt. Melvin had nothing to do with it, this was just Tom throwing an opinionated, unnecessary comment into a news story.

Exactly. Read that closely, Doug Melvin did not say Jones will never pitch in Milwaukee, that was Haudricort's own opinion.

 

Tom says Doug told him things might be different if Jones and Rogers hadn't gotten hurt, then Tom says Jones won't pitch in Milwaukee, and Rogers might not either.

[JoeHova]

I think it's ambiguous (though unlikely) from the wording whether Doug said something along those lines to Haudricourt, which is why it's misleading. However, I have no problem with a guy stating their opinion about something like that and it's probably accurate. Jones has had an ERA (small sample) of 5.08 and 6.09 the last two seasons he's pitched in AA and has thrown 185 innings total over the last 5 seasons. He's not likely to ever make the majors, though stranger things have happened. You always want to have some hope for any minor leaguer but there have to be at least 20-30 pitchers in the system more likely to make it than Jones.

[foamboy1]

My bad. I thought it was a Melvin comment being relayed. In reviewing...I believe you are right.

[AzBrew]

Mike Jones is living his dream. For any of us who wake up every day and say I wish I had....let's at least give him credit for not quiting. Although most everyone has written him off except the Brewers, he keeps competing. Numbers can all be explained or exploited, yeah his stats look questionable, what isn't; is Jonesy's heart. He gives the Brewers and his teammates everything he has; if that doesn't get him to the Bigs so be it, but it won't be because he didn't try. Haudricourt wakes up everyday for him and only him. If it wasn't for the misfortune of athletes and the irony of life Tom wouldn't have anything to write about. Some how he feels his opinions matter, he gets paid for them, so this may be his validation for stating them, heaven forbid he find and say something positive. A half empty kinda guy!

[Brian the Automator]

If it wasn't for the misfortune of athletes and the irony of life Tom wouldn't have anything to write about. Some how he feels his opinions matter, he gets paid for them, so this may be his validation for stating them, heaven forbid he find and say something positive. A half empty kinda guy!

Well, there is a reason his colleagues call him "the Prince of Darkness".

[1992casey]

I edited a link to the Haudricourt article into the lead so people could see the context.

 

As brewjihad says, we're seeing yet another example of Tom tossing in an opinion among facts. He has no business doing that in a news story; that should be reserved for a column or his blog. And even in those cases, to maintain his own integrety, he should be making it clear that he's expressing his own opinion rather than that of someone else. A separate paragraph would be a nice start.

 

Why keep Mike around? I'd respond by saying, "Why not?" On the Brewers' end, the investment has already been made and he isn't crowding someone else off of a roster. And on Mike's end, he's done everything in his power to deserve a continued opportunity.

[Brian the Automator]

I would love... LOVE... for Mike Jones to wind up at Milwaukee at some point so that Tom would run into him in the clubhouse.

[yoshii8]

Why keep Mike around? I'd respond by saying, "Why not?" On the Brewers' end, the investment has already been made and he isn't crowding someone else off of a roster. And on Mike's end, he's done everything in his power to deserve a continued opportunity.

I'm not sure if you meant this answer for me, but I was saying it as a rhetorical question.

[BrewCrew Fan]

I remember taking my son to see Mike pitch in High School and he handled the pressure of all the scouts very well and last year I got to sit next to him during a spring training game while he was charting pitches for Jeffress. What an awesome game to see and to sit and listen to Mike talk to some of the younger pitchers sitting around was even better. No ego, just a great team mate waiting for his arm to heal up so that he could resume his pitching career. I wish Mike the best and if he doesn't make it to the bigs on the mound perhaps he can make it as a coach because you can tell he truly loves the game.

[jschris]

I would love... LOVE... for Mike Jones to wind up at Milwaukee at some point so that Tom would run into him in the clubhouse.

 

Wouldn't that require TH to actually attend a game rather than follow along with his comped mlb.com subscription?

 

In all seriousness, I've been rooting for Mike as he just keeps persevering. He's still young enough to make it if all the chips fall correctly for him for once.

[biedergb]

I think Mike gets his reputation for two reasons:

1. He is still in the organization, and this organization (like others) has been riddled with high draft pick pitchers who never get a chance to show their potential due to injury. Mark Rogers is slated to be next to take over this reign. Even though they are both in the system and competing to do what they all dream about, we still view pitching prospects with a arm injury/surgery history as another one of those busts. Right or wrong, I think this still clouds our judgement on these guys.

2. Wasn't he called out by Ash or Melvin a year or so ago. They questioned his toughness and whether he was truly having pain. Or so at least it was reported.

 

Anyway, count me in as one of those pulling for him.

[paul253]

Are Jones and Rogers both healthy enough to start the season? Wouldnt it be nice if both had injury free seasons? I'd like to see them move Jones to the bullpen right away.

[AzBrew]

"Are Jones and Rogers both healthy enough to start the season? Wouldnt it be nice if both had injury free seasons? I'd like to see them move Jones to the bullpen right away. "

 

Well I don't know about Rogers and only heard that Jones is healthy and finished '08 pain free. Made every start and every appearance required, while starting the season with less than a year off Tommy John. (broke camp with ony 9 months off surgery). Well with another contract in hand Jones will have to make a team out of spring training so: Here's to you Jones, if any one can do it - my money is with you!

[JJHardy7]

I've seen Jones pitch a few times in Huntsville and to me it's clear he's lost some velocity, but that's no reason for TH to add his poor opinion of him. The thing that drives me the most nuts (not a fan of TH) is that he defends his 'scouting' ability like no other -- especially in his mailbag. I don't really think he knows all that much more than those that catch the minor leagues on a somewhat regular basis. From what I've heard, he simply doesn't see the minor league guys play all that often and relies on what others have written or said.

 

I really hope Mike Jones gets to the bigs. To me it's pretty clear he has a very strong work ethic. 2009 will be a very important year for him and I hope he gets up to Nashville at some point so I'll be able to see him pitch a little bit more regular. I'd have to imagine last year was tough for him since he simply couldn't do what he wanted and I'm hoping that was just a growing pain year for him.