Stubborn Jones vexes coaches

NEW YORK - Atlanta Braves hitting coach Terry Pendleton has spent several months offering suggestions to Andruw Jones, hoping he'll alter his stance at the plate.

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He's given hints, tips, advice, words of wisdom, recommendations, and counsel.

But nothing he's said has dented Jones' stubbornness, despite a .256 batting average and only two RBI in his past 11 games.

"I'd like to see him change his stance," Pendleton said. "I'd like him to spread out a little more, which will help his approach to the ball."

Jones said Friday that, with all due respect to Pendleton, he's been successful in the past and he isn't going to change.

"I've got 250 home runs like this," he said. "What's wrong with that? I've been successful like this."

Jones has frustrated Pendleton and manager Bobby Cox with his refusal to heed the hitting coach's advice.

Jones insists he's a pull hitter, while Pendleton has suggested he drive pitches on the outer half of the plate to right field. Jones is willing to work on Pendleton's points during batting practice, but reverts to his old ways during games.

"You've got to do what's comfortable for you," Jones said. "You can't take that stuff to the game because it's not going to work. I don't agree with all the stuff being told to me, but I've got to listen because they're older. When the game starts, you do what you want to do."

Cox has dropped Jones to seventh in the batting order occasionally, but nothing has spurred the center fielder's hitting. He leads the major leagues with 19 double plays, is batting a paltry .219 with runners in scoring position, and has only five home runs in the past seven weeks. Since May 1, he's batted .245.

"He's working hard at it," Cox insisted. "Evolution takes a long time. Even when he's not hitting, you still win with him because he wins games defensively."

NOT SO CHIPPER: Andruw isn't the only Jones who's struggling.

Chipper Jones is in a rut again. He's gone hitless in his past 11 at-bats and his average is down to .217. The third baseman, a career .323 hitter in July, is batting .224 this month.

"He's the best looking .220 hitter I've ever seen," Cox said. "I've got a lot of confidence in him. He's still going to hurt you if you make a mistake."

Perhaps, but either pitchers aren't making any mistakes against him or he's swinging poorly, because he's raised his average just three points since the All-Star break.

"I'm hoping one of these days it just clicks," Jones said.

TRUE CLOSER: Cox was asked Friday whether the team has any plans to return John Smoltz to the rotation and while he wouldn't rule it out completely, he made it clear Smoltz will be the closer the remainder of the season.

"He would be great at either one," Cox said. "I think he could win 20 games as a starter. But a closer like that is almost impossible to find."

Smoltz has 18 saves and has finished 32 games, 25 shy of next year's contract option vesting automatically. If he doesn't finish 57 games, he can become a free agent.

Reach Bill Zack at bzack30143@aol.com.