By Nathan Krohn
Doug Jones has always been a coach. During his 16-year major league baseball career, he was always the one with the answers. He was the teammate his fellow pitchers looked towards when they needed advice; now Jones is the one the Boise Hawks look towards as their new pitching coach for the 2015 season.
Growing up in Southern California, Jones, like many other ball players, began his career in little league at the age on nine.
It wasn’t until his second year at Central Arizona Junior College, did Jones first entertain thoughts of a career in baseball.
“Coach said that scouts come out and kids get drafted [from here],” Jones said during a phone interview from spring training. “So I thought I might have a chance.”
At the age of 21, Jones was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the third round of the 1978 supplemental winter draft. He spent four years with the Brewers before finally getting the big break he needed.
“I broke camp in 82’ and replaced an injured player,” Jones said. “ I just needed that break.”
Jones never looked back. After signing with the Cleveland Indians, he was named to three consecutive All-Star teams (1987-1989). In 1988, Jones finished fifteenth in the American League MVP voting after setting the Indians single season saves record (37) that stood until 2006.
Jones says his approach and learning experiences at the minor league level are what taught him the skills he needed for a successful career.
“[I] got to learn how to pitch, not just throw,” Jones said. “I learned mechanics and how to deliver in certain areas of the strike zone. You don’t need seven different pitches, you can throw two and be effective.”
Jones went on to play for seven more teams in a career that spanned 16 years, featured five All-Star appearances and over 300 saves.
Looking back at the batters he faced during his career, Jones reminisced about the ones that gave him the most trouble.
“The Mattingly’s, the Boggs’, Tony Gwynn,” Jones said exhaling. “They’d get you sometimes and you’d get them sometimes.”
During his time in the major leagues, Jones found that giving advice to players in need was something that came naturally to him.
“I’ve always been a coach, coaching came easy [to me],” Jones said. “In Cleveland, they’d ask me to go sit by a guy and talk to him about pitching. Help him understand his role.”
Eventually, as the years went by and his teammates got younger, Jones found himself turning into a de facto coach. In fact, in his final season at the age of 43, Jones was the oldest player in the MLB.
“When I was in Oakland, I’d sit around in meetings and look at these guys who were young enough to be my kid,” Jones said with a laugh. “They would just ask me for advice and the way to do things because I’d been around.”
Following his playing career, Jones worked in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization and most recently, as the pitching coach for the San Diego Christian College baseball team.
The lessons he learned during his career and the teaching method he developed mentoring teammates, is what he plans on passing along to the Hawks pitching staff.
“I want to tell them everything I’ve learned,” Jones said. “Mechanics, the mental aspect of the game, understanding how hitters think. Those come with experience but we try and share that with them.”
With the season quickly approaching, Jones is ready to jump into his new position and start developing the skills that will one day produce big league talents.
“I’m excited to develop some pitchers,” Jones said. “Have them experience this level, understand that you don’t need to throw every pitch 100 percent and go out and learn how to play as a team.”
Doug Jones has always been a coach. During his 16-year major league baseball career, he was always the one with the answers. He was the teammate his fellow pitchers looked towards when they needed advice; now Jones is the one the Boise Hawks look towards as their new pitching coach for the 2015 season.
Growing up in Southern California, Jones, like many other ball players, began his career in little league at the age on nine.
It wasn’t until his second year at Central Arizona Junior College, did Jones first entertain thoughts of a career in baseball.
“Coach said that scouts come out and kids get drafted [from here],” Jones said during a phone interview from spring training. “So I thought I might have a chance.”
At the age of 21, Jones was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the third round of the 1978 supplemental winter draft. He spent four years with the Brewers before finally getting the big break he needed.
“I broke camp in 82’ and replaced an injured player,” Jones said. “ I just needed that break.”
Jones never looked back. After signing with the Cleveland Indians, he was named to three consecutive All-Star teams (1987-1989). In 1988, Jones finished fifteenth in the American League MVP voting after setting the Indians single season saves record (37) that stood until 2006.
Jones says his approach and learning experiences at the minor league level are what taught him the skills he needed for a successful career.
“[I] got to learn how to pitch, not just throw,” Jones said. “I learned mechanics and how to deliver in certain areas of the strike zone. You don’t need seven different pitches, you can throw two and be effective.”
Jones went on to play for seven more teams in a career that spanned 16 years, featured five All-Star appearances and over 300 saves.
Looking back at the batters he faced during his career, Jones reminisced about the ones that gave him the most trouble.
“The Mattingly’s, the Boggs’, Tony Gwynn,” Jones said exhaling. “They’d get you sometimes and you’d get them sometimes.”
During his time in the major leagues, Jones found that giving advice to players in need was something that came naturally to him.
“I’ve always been a coach, coaching came easy [to me],” Jones said. “In Cleveland, they’d ask me to go sit by a guy and talk to him about pitching. Help him understand his role.”
Eventually, as the years went by and his teammates got younger, Jones found himself turning into a de facto coach. In fact, in his final season at the age of 43, Jones was the oldest player in the MLB.
“When I was in Oakland, I’d sit around in meetings and look at these guys who were young enough to be my kid,” Jones said with a laugh. “They would just ask me for advice and the way to do things because I’d been around.”
Following his playing career, Jones worked in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization and most recently, as the pitching coach for the San Diego Christian College baseball team.
The lessons he learned during his career and the teaching method he developed mentoring teammates, is what he plans on passing along to the Hawks pitching staff.
“I want to tell them everything I’ve learned,” Jones said. “Mechanics, the mental aspect of the game, understanding how hitters think. Those come with experience but we try and share that with them.”
With the season quickly approaching, Jones is ready to jump into his new position and start developing the skills that will one day produce big league talents.
“I’m excited to develop some pitchers,” Jones said. “Have them experience this level, understand that you don’t need to throw every pitch 100 percent and go out and learn how to play as a team.”