"With cleanup hitter Jeff Kent taking the day off to rest his legs, Torre moved Andruw Jones from seventh in the batting order into the No. 4 slot, though the manager said the $36-million free agent would likely bat fifth or sixth in the future. Jones, who hit his first home run for the Dodgers the previous day, responded by striking out three times. He was 0 for 4, failing to get Juan Pierre home from third with one out in the eighth inning with the score still 2-1 by grounding out to short."
Now, it's not Torre's fault that the Dodgers signed Andruw Jones. But there is simply no excuse for batting him fourth.
Jones had 26 HRs and a .413 slugging percentage last season.
Jones has 1 HR and a .327 slugging percentage this season.
I already know the reasoning. Something about jump-starting Jones's (What's Torre's nickname for Jones? A.J.? Jonesy? The Druwster?) confidence and protection in the lineup from Ethier. Then, maybe a story about his Gil Hodges.
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