The Detroit Tigers JaCoby Jones had an up and down game against the Rangers
By Ash Thompson
As with all first-year full-time major leaguers JaCoby Jones has had spectacularly good and bad plays. Against the Rangers, he had both.
The Detroit Tigers are the only major team playing games right now. It’s nice to see that they’re managing to put an entertaining product in the park. Last night the Tigers chased Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cole Hamels in the first inning. They took an insurmountable seven-run lead to begin the game.
Mike Fiers allowed one run in six innings pitched. Niko Goodrum made it on base all five times he went to the plate. Nobody cares about any of that. There is only one thing that Tigers fans are talking about today.
JaCoby Jones‘ highway robbery of Adrian Beltre‘s home run in the sixth inning is the story of the game. Jones, playing in his first full season at the major league level, is very much a typical rookie. He makes spectacular plays that hint at his potential, but he also makes boneheaded mistakes.
Even within the same game Jones nearly cost the important early runs. When he hit a line drive to Texans centerfielder Delino Deshields, Jones casually jogged toward first. Deshields dropped the ball. Only then did Jones run. He lackadaisically sauntered to second and almost didn’t beat the throw. Later in the inning, he jogged to home plate while the play was still active. Mikie Mahtook decided to stretch an easy single into a double. Jones obliviously crossed the plate after the matter was settled at second base. Mahtook was safe, but if he hadn’t been Jones run would not have counted because he wasn’t paying attention.
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Situational awareness is the foundation of base running. It’s not sexy, unlike stealing a home run with a breathtaking defensive play. It is, however, the sort of thing that Jones needs to nail down in order to be a part of the Tigers success when the games matter more.