Los Angeles Dodgers: Hitting Woes Continue for Andruw Jones

Andruw Jones has never been mistaken for a player that hits for a high average. After all, he has only hit .300 or better once in his career (.303 in 2000). However, no one expects him to be flirting with the Mendoza line, as he did at points last year and currently sits below this year.

Just three seasons ago Jones had the best year of his career, belting 51 home runs and driving in 128 runs. Unfortunately, last year was his worst season in the big leagues, hitting only 26 home runs, driving in 94 runs and hitting a career worst .222.

Even after this, the Los Angeles Dodgers still decided that he was worth the near $15 million they offered him for the 2008 campaign.

Granted we are just three weeks into the season, but executives in the Dodgers front office have to be worried that he wasn't worth the money.

Seventeen games into the 2008 season, Jones is hitting an ice cold .169 (10-59) with just one home run and three RBIs.

Most general managers and front office executives would tell you that it is early in the season and that he will come out of this slump. Normally I would agree with them, except for the fact that he is coming off his worst season.

Many people felt that because last year was a contract year, he was expected to have the greatest season of his career.

The general trend in sports has been for players to exceed expectations in their contract year, but unfortunately, Jones did the exact opposite.

This would leave me worried if I'm working in the Dodgers front office.

At this point, no one knows if his swing will ever return to the form it once was, or if he is going to be stuck in this slump for the remainder of his career.

Only time will tell.