I find it funny that, in one post, we’re talking about a cat named for Ruben Sierra (who disappeared entirely for the better part of three seasons before coming back) and Andruw Jones (who everyone, including Craig, left for dead).  I still think its too early to discount a nice Sierra-esque comback and ride into the sunset.  He’s got too much time ahead of him to be done just like that.

I don’t think one loses talent as much as they don’t utilize their talents or abuse their talents.  Gifted athletes/intellectuals will be able to get by for a period on their gifts alone but long-term success is more a byproduct highly developed competencies/skills, the ability to deal with challenges/adapt to changing conditions, and a strong work ethic/commitment that helped to developed the necessary skills and abilities to suceed.

I suspect that Andruw Jones was able to survive longer than most on his gifts alone, a true testament to his incredible talent, but because he may never have properly developed the other factors he could not make appropriate adjustments to retard the drop off.  As a counter examples, consider Yaz, Ripken, Maddux, Schilling or Gwynn - who are all gifted talents but had incredible desire, amazing work ethics and the ability to make adjustments as their physical abilities declined and while not able to dominant as they had in their youths they all finished their careers as above avergage players.

I agree that people discount his injuries too much. The man threw his body around for how many years? Diving, running into walls. Those were bound to take their toll on him. However, don’t you think he might be a bit more motivated with so much negativity surrounding him? Maybe not considering the millions he’s made and the millions of cheeseburgers. Still, I think the years of torment his body went through to win 10+ Gold Gloves might be a major reason for his decline. For all the talk about him being fat last season, he was the same weight at the beginning of his MVP season.

I’ll take him back in Atlanta as long as we can pay him in donuts and gold club girls.

forget about 600, even a remotely decent decline would see him end with 500+ HR quiet easily, which given that he’s a CF, makes a him a lock (albeit overrated) choice for the hall.

Speaking of Ruben Sierra, the case of Jones might be another big win for Bill James, since Jones’ BR top comp from age 22 to 27 is ..... you guessed it , Ruben Sierra.