Jones had 40 saves for the Marlins in 2005
Maybe, in the Tigers' case, the fifth time will be the charm.
The Tigers signed closer Todd Jones, reportedly, and if that's the case, the 37 year-old Jones will be the fifth closer the team has used since Opening Day 2005. Jones pitched previously for the Tigers between 1997-2001.
The Closer Carousel started with free agent signee Troy Percival, who gave way to Ugueth Urbina, who gave way to Percival again, who gave way to Kyle Farnsworth, who gave way to Fernando Rodney. Percival was injured and his career may be over. Urbina was traded to Philadelphia and now he faces attempted murder charges. Farnsworth was traded to Atlanta and just signed with the Yankees. Rodney is still with the Tigers, but is deemed a risk because of his age and inconsistency.
Todd Jones must really want to pitch in Detroit again to sign up for a job that has been poison to those preceeding him.
Jones, who reports say will come on board for two years and $11 million, is actually a pretty good signing for the Tigers. The money is still a little high, and one only has to go back one day on this blog to see what I think of signing free agent pitchers. However, in relative terms, the Tigers made a wise choice, because Jones is a veteran who is proven and who shows no signs of slowing down. Troy Percival was supposed to be last year's Todd Jones, but Percival had some injury concerns prior to signing in Detroit. Jones has been mostly healthy. Of course, a pitcher's arm can fall down and go boom at any moment, and it usually seems to happen after the ink dries on a new contract. Have I confused you yet? Bottom line: good signing.
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(l to r) Piazza, Thomas and Clemens: all out of work -- for now
Speaking of baseball, the Mets aren't offering arbitration to Mike Piazza, the White Sox are doing the same with Frank Thomas, and the Astros appear willing to let Roger Clemens be on his way. Looks like the makings of a pretty good team -- if this was 1995.
Actually, all of the above can still play a little bit, given the right situation. Piazza can be a serviceable DH/first baseman, Thomas still has plenty of pop in his bat, from a power standpoint, and Clemens keeps himself in ridiculously good shape. I still think Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski should give Roger's agent a call, even if it seems like a longshot that Clemens would consider Detroit.
But it just goes to show me how fast time flies, and how old I have become. I blinked and the last ten years have flown by. Wasn't it just yesterday when the mention of Mike Piazza and Frank Thomas, for example, meant you were talking about two of the most feared hitters in baseball? Wasn't Piazza just the second coming of Johnny Bench?
I remember seeing Hal McRae in his prime, and now his son -- Brian -- has seen his career come and go and is now a TV analyst, retired from playing. When sons of players you remember watching are now old and retired, you start to look at your own waistline and cholesterol counts a bit closer.
Does Aaron Boone or Brett Boone have a son in the minor leagues yet?
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