Well, we won't have Todd Jones to kick around anymore:
Todd Jones, who represented the best and most challenged times in recent Tigers history, has decided to retire at age 40. Jones made the announcement today in his weekly column for the Sporting News.
"So this is it," Jones wrote. "If you're a Tigers fan, I'll never stress you out again. If you're not a Tigers fan, you'll never have me as your ace in the hole, convinced I'll blow a lead against your team."
--snip--
Jones was a popular figure in the clubhouse during his long big-league career. Personable and accountable, he was a manager's dream with his ability to enter the ninth, throw strikes, and usually make off with the save.
In addition to the Tigers, Astros, and Twins, Jones pitched for Colorado, Boston, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and Florida.
Jones will continue to write a weekly column for the Sporting News.
"I have tried to give fans a look at what it's like from a guy who's passing through the game," he wrote.
Unless Jones remains in baseball somehow, I'm not sure how interesting his column will be. Jones always has written from the perspective of the white, American-born, veteran player, and I've always gotten the impression that he's sort of the archetype: spends his offseasons hunting and fishing, loves the American flag, doesn't really want to know whether he has any gay teammates. Probably a good guy to have a beer with. I know guys like that, and I like them.
That doesn't make Todd Jones a great writer, though. Frankly, I learn more from one Doug Glanville column than from all the Todd Jones columns I've read.
Not that they haven't been interesting. But if Jones' next job isn't interesting, I doubt his columns will be. In the end, I suspect his legacy will be all about his pitching. And he was a pretty good pitcher for a long time.
Rob Neyer
