Background: After bouncing from Colorado to Boston to Tampa Bay to Cincinnati to Philadelphia the past two seasons, Jones has given Florida the National League’s best closer this side of Billy Wagner. Even better, Jones, wanting to play near his Alabama home, signed for $1.1 million, deferring $550,000 without interest. He can earn $100,000 if he receives the Rolaids award for the league’s top closer.
What’s up: Jones digs music, particularly Staind. This season he has lived out a Mike Jones rap lyric I have taken liberties with: “I’m (Todd) Jones, don’t act like you don’t know the name. Nothing changed but my change.” And his number (50). And his results. Jones hasn’t closed regularly since 2001, when he lost his job to Matt Anderson in Detroit. He assumed the ninth-inning role when ineffective Guillermo Mota was hurt.
Stat line: A scene from Friday’s victory explains Jones’ dominance. With two runners aboard in the eighth inning, he tried to get the Cubs’ Derrek Lee to chase an 88-mph fastball with no luck. With two strikes, he reached back and delivered a 93 mph heater that Lee swung through to end the inning. Jones has converted 20 consecutive saves. He has not allowed a run in his past 16 appearances spanning 17 innings.
What’s next: Pittsburgh reliever Rick White was a teammate of Jones’ in Colorado in 2002. Both let Coors Field invade their brains, leading to failure. He was asked if Jones could continue his marvelous run. “Absolutely,” White said. “He has a cutter, and more than anything he’s throwing with confidence.”
Renck’s take: Jones can rub teammates the wrong way because he isn’t afraid to express his opinion in the media on everything. He understands his limitations and knows how to exploit weaknesses. When in Colorado, he always told me he could close again, perhaps knowing the adrenaline rush would accent his stuff. Turns out he was right.
