Todd Jones (baseball)

Infobox MLB retired
name=Todd Jones


caption=
width=250
position=Pitcher
bats=Left
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1968|4|24
city-state|Marietta|Georgia
deathdate=
debutdate=July 7
debutyear=by|1993
debutteam=Houston Astros
finaldate=August 15
finalyear=by|2008
finalteam=Detroit Tigers
stat1label=Games pitched
stat1value=982
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=3.97
stat3label=Saves
stat3value=319
teams=
* Houston Astros (by|1993–by|1996)
* Detroit Tigers (by|1997–by|2001)
* Minnesota Twins (by|2001)
* Colorado Rockies (by|2002–by|2003)
* Boston Red Sox (by|2003)
* Cincinnati Reds (by|2004)
* Philadelphia Phillies (by|2004)
* Florida Marlins (by|2005)
* Detroit Tigers (by|2006–by|2008)
highlights=
* All-Star selection (2000)
* 2000 AL Rolaids Relief Man of the Year

Todd Barton Jones (born April 24, 1968 in Marietta, Georgia) is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was an effective middle reliever for a variety of teams, and he had an up-and-down career as a closer. He is known for his distinctive moustache. On September 16, by|2007, Jones became the 21st member of the 300-save club. His nickname, "Rollercoaster," given to him by Tigers Hall of Fame radio announcer Ernie Harwell, comes from his penchant for putting lots of runners on base with the game on the line yet still managing to get the save — an emotional "rollercoaster" for those watching the game.fact|date=July 2008

Baseball career

Jones graduated from Osborne High School in Marietta, Georgia and attended Jacksonville State University in Alabama. He was drafted by the Houston Astros in the first round of by|1989 Major League Baseball Draft and made his major league debut during the by|1993 season.

Initially used mainly as a setup man, Jones soon became a closer for the Astros. His best years came with the Detroit Tigers from by|1997-by|2001, when he logged 142 saves. On September 27, by|1999, Jones threw the last official pitch at Tiger Stadium, striking out Carlos Beltran as the Tigers defeated the Kansas City Royals 8-2. [cite news | title=Moments in time during the Tigers' last game at Tiger Stadium | work=Associated Press | date=September 27, 1999] [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET199909270.shtml September 27, 1999 Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers Box Score and Play by Play - Baseball-Reference.com ] ]

While playing for the Colorado Rockies in April by|2003, Jones made remarks criticized as anti-gay comments during a discussion of the play "Take Me Out". Jones publicly apologized, but did not retract his comments. [cite web | url=http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2003/0430/1547422.html | work=ESPN.com | date=April 30, 2003 | accessdate=2007-04-30 | title=Reliever says mistake was to make views public]

Jones signed a one-year contract with the Florida Marlins during the by|2004 off-season. After an injury to incumbent closer Guillermo Mota, Jones took on the role for the first time since being traded to the Minnesota Twins in 2001. He finished the by|2005 season with a 2.10 ERA and 40 saves. On December 8, 2005, Jones signed a two-year contract to return to the Tigers. In by|2006, he also participated in the inaugural World Baseball Classic.

Jones was a finesse pitcher and showed good durability. He threw a low-90s fastball as his main pitch, usually aiming for contact.In every year since the strike-shortened by|1994 season, he has pitched in at least 51 games. On May 21, 2006, he became the Detroit Tigers' all-time leader in saves, passing Mike Henneman. [cite news | title=Inside the Tigers | date=May 22, 2006 | work=The Grand Rapids Press | page=C4] On July 27, by|2008, Jones lost the closer role to Fernando Rodney.

On September 25, 2008 Todd Jones announced his retirement from Major League Baseball [http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=462319]

Personal

Jones is a devout Christian, and is known for using Contemporary Christian music when entering from the bullpen. During the 2006 playoffs, he entered to "Last One Standing" by MercyMe. [cite news | title=BEAT IS ON FOR RELIEVERS; Baseball's Best Late-inning Pitchers Take The Field As Their Theme Songs Blare | work=The Press Enterprise | first=Jeff | last=Eisenberg | date=October 7, 2006]

Since 2002, Jones has been writing a weekly column, "The Closer," for "The Sporting News" and Jones was on the cover of the baseball preview issue with the caption "Don't Tell columnist Todd Jones but (Beware of The Tigers)".

Jones also appears every Tuesday on the nationally syndicated talk show "Rick and Bubba".

Jones currently resides in Pell City, Alabama with his family, where he owns a sports memorabilia store.

Awards and accomplishments

* All-Star (2000)
* AL Relief Man of the Year (2000)
* Led American League in saves (42, 2000)
* Along with Juan Rincón, led MLB with 11 relief wins (2004)
* Ranks 14th in all-time saves (318)
* Made first World Series appearance in second stint with Tigers (2006)
* Appeared on the cover of "The Sporting News" (March/April 2007)

ee also

* List of Major League Baseball saves champions
* List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders

References

External links

*baseballstats |mlb=116734 |espn=2924 |br=j/jonesto02 |cube=J/Todd-Jones
* [http://www.sportingnews.com/experts/todd-jones/ Column at SportingNews.com]