Spring Break
Jones and Kuroda Fill Dodgers' Holes
Matt McConnell, 1L
Issue date: 1/1/01 Section: Sports
January 2008
During our final exams, the Dodgers signed free agent outfielder Andruw Jones and Japanese pitcher Hiroki Kuroda These signings fill the Dodgers’ two biggest needs for a power hitter and a reliable starting pitcher.
Jones, who spent his entire 12-year career with the Atlanta Braves, has hit 368 homeruns and has a slugging percentage of .497. Last year, a down year, Jones hit 26 homeruns and had 94 RBIs. With those numbers below his career norm, Jones would have still led the Dodgers in both categories, illustrating the team’s need for a slugger in the middle of the lineup. Jones will give the Dodgers a legitimate power threat and take pressure off of budding superstars James Loney and Matt Kemp.
Jones is one of the best defensive center fielders to ever play the game. He has a quick first step, a strong arm, and has won 10 straight Gold Glove awards, which are given to the three best defensive outfielders in each league. Last year Dodgers’ fans became alarmingly used to runners regularly taking extra bases on weak-armed center fielder Juan Pierre. The mere presence of Jones will stop that disturbing trend and make the Dodgers stronger defensively.
In Japan, Kuroda had an ERA of 3.69, averaged close to seven innings a start, struck out more than six batters per nine innings, and walked very few batters. Dodgers’ fans will be excited if Kuroda could perform near his Japan averages. In 2007, the Dodgers had “The Big 3” of Brad Penny (3.03 ERA), Derek Lowe (3.88 ERA), and Chad Billingsley (3.31 ERA). However, the other two spots of the rotation included pitchers such as an injured Jason Schmidt (6.31 ERA), Brett Tomko (5.80 ERA), Mark Hendrickson (5.21 ERA), Esteban Loaiza (8.34 ERA), David Wells (5.12 ERA), and Eric Stults (5.82 ERA). Last season the National League’s average ERA was 4.57.
Therefore, the Dodgers received above-average to excellent pitching from “The Big 3” but the other two spots in the rotation featured six different pitchers that performed well below the league average. Thus, if Kuroda can be a league average pitcher, he will dramatically improve the Dodgers’ rotation this season.
Considering the addition of these two players, it is no wonder manager Joe Torre stated to ESPN, “I’m very curious and anxious to get to Spring Training."
During our final exams, the Dodgers signed free agent outfielder Andruw Jones and Japanese pitcher Hiroki Kuroda These signings fill the Dodgers’ two biggest needs for a power hitter and a reliable starting pitcher.
Jones, who spent his entire 12-year career with the Atlanta Braves, has hit 368 homeruns and has a slugging percentage of .497. Last year, a down year, Jones hit 26 homeruns and had 94 RBIs. With those numbers below his career norm, Jones would have still led the Dodgers in both categories, illustrating the team’s need for a slugger in the middle of the lineup. Jones will give the Dodgers a legitimate power threat and take pressure off of budding superstars James Loney and Matt Kemp.
Jones is one of the best defensive center fielders to ever play the game. He has a quick first step, a strong arm, and has won 10 straight Gold Glove awards, which are given to the three best defensive outfielders in each league. Last year Dodgers’ fans became alarmingly used to runners regularly taking extra bases on weak-armed center fielder Juan Pierre. The mere presence of Jones will stop that disturbing trend and make the Dodgers stronger defensively.
In Japan, Kuroda had an ERA of 3.69, averaged close to seven innings a start, struck out more than six batters per nine innings, and walked very few batters. Dodgers’ fans will be excited if Kuroda could perform near his Japan averages. In 2007, the Dodgers had “The Big 3” of Brad Penny (3.03 ERA), Derek Lowe (3.88 ERA), and Chad Billingsley (3.31 ERA). However, the other two spots of the rotation included pitchers such as an injured Jason Schmidt (6.31 ERA), Brett Tomko (5.80 ERA), Mark Hendrickson (5.21 ERA), Esteban Loaiza (8.34 ERA), David Wells (5.12 ERA), and Eric Stults (5.82 ERA). Last season the National League’s average ERA was 4.57.
Therefore, the Dodgers received above-average to excellent pitching from “The Big 3” but the other two spots in the rotation featured six different pitchers that performed well below the league average. Thus, if Kuroda can be a league average pitcher, he will dramatically improve the Dodgers’ rotation this season.
Considering the addition of these two players, it is no wonder manager Joe Torre stated to ESPN, “I’m very curious and anxious to get to Spring Training."
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