ATLANTA (AP) -Andruw Jones hopes a return to his longtime home will get him going in his first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
For the first time Friday night, Jones played a game at Turner Field as a member of the visiting team. He spent a dozen seasons with the Atlanta Braves before leaving as a free agent and signing with the Dodgers.
Jones received a warm welcome from the fans who remember his 10 straight Gold Gloves and a career-high 51 homers in 2005, when he finished runner-up in the NL MVP voting.
The center fielder was cheered when his picture was shown on the video board during pregame introductions, and a smattering of boos was drowned out by a standing ovation when he came to bat leading off the second inning. He fouled off a couple of pitches, then took a called third strike.
Manager Joe Torre hopes a return to Atlanta will be just what Jones needs to shake out of his slump.
“All bets are off here,” Torre said. “This was the only organization he’s ever been with. Hopefully it works to our benefit, where all of a sudden he steps in the batters box and he’s comfortable. I’m sure there’s an emotional tie here.”
Jones’ reception in Los Angeles hasn’t been nearly as good. Hitting just .157 with no homers in the first 15 games with his new team, Jones already has gotten booed by the demanding Dodger fans.
“When you don’t do good and people have so many expectations of you to do what you’re supposed to do or do what you normally do … those things happen,” Jones said. “But you just have to be patient and keep working hard on it.”
He’s used to getting off to slow starts, so there’s no need to worry just yet. Then again, he’s coming off one of the worst seasons of his career. Jones batted just .222 with 26 homers and 94 RBIs in his final season with the Braves, who made no effort to re-sign him.
“It’s a young season,” Jones said. “There are a lot of months left and a lot of games left. I just have to keep working hard.”
Torre has seen signs of progress.
“He’s in a big slump,” Torre said. “But the last three days I’m very comfortable watching him hit. His stance in the batter’s box, his approach is so much more solid.”
As usual, no one has complained about Jones’ defense.
“He glides around out there,” Torre said. “It’s fun to watch him. I hate to say it, but even when we played against him I had fun watching him.”
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