Chipper’s back in lineup at San Diego
San Diego – Chipper Jones said his back was still sore, but not too sore to play.
The veteran third baseman returned to the Braves lineup for Monday night’s series opener at San Diego, after missing a three-game weekend series at San Francisco with a strained oblique muscle in his right side and, most recently, back spasms.
He went 0-for-3 and lined out once in six innings Monday before manager Bobby Cox took Jones and catcher Brian McCann out in the sixth inning after the Braves fell too far behind to catch up in a 17-2 loss.
“My back’s still bugging me a little bit,” said Jones, who had back spasms Sunday in San Francisco while he was hitting to test his strained side. “[But] I got out in front and overextended on a change-up [Monday], first swing of second at-bat, and it felt alright. I was just trying to stay within myself, not try to do too much, and made it through.
“We’ve got tomorrow [off] and I’ll be ready to go Wednesday.”
The Braves and Padres are off Tuesday before resuming the three-game series Wednesday.
Jones hit from both sides of the plate in the indoor batting cage Monday before the team’s regular batting practice, and said both his back and side had improved enough that he wanted to play.
“I’ve still got some pain in my back from the spasm,” he said before Monday’s game. “The side feels a lot better.”
The side had been the bigger concern, since Jones was confident the back would be a temporary thing.
Still, before it was announced he’d play Monday, he said: “I’m just afraid of getting another [spasm] if it’s not healed. I’ve got some pain in my back. It’s upper left side; still bugging me.”
He wasn’t in the original lineup Monday, but after taking swings early in the afternoon, he told Cox that he might be ready to play and would test it on the field during batting practice.
After he took batting practice and fielded grounders, the lineup was changed and Jones was in. Martin Prado moved back from third base to second, and utility man Omar Infante was bumped after playing second base in the San Francisco series.
The Braves were glad to have Jones back, particularly at San Diego: He entered the series batting .397 with six homers in 16 games at Petco Park, with a robust 1.215 on-base-plus-slugging percentage (OPS).
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23 comments Add your comment
Castrologist
April 12th, 2010
6:49 pm
David Eckstein is a little gnat. But he’s good. Let’s hope JJ can give us a great effort and also get some run support.
Rich
April 12th, 2010
6:52 pm
“Chipper’s back in lineup at San Diego”
What about the rest of him?
I’m here all week, folks. Tip your waiter.
Sleeze
April 12th, 2010
6:56 pm
Let’s just hope Chipper’s ingrown toenail doesn’t flare up again, because that will be another week or two out..
northbeach Scott
April 12th, 2010
7:09 pm
As JJS said, Toes are not to be triffled with, ask Chippa.
BravesfaninWis
April 12th, 2010
7:14 pm
My guess is he will come up lame during this series and miss even more time. I hope that doesn’t happen, but we are talking about the injury prone Chipper Jones here.
Boo
April 12th, 2010
7:35 pm
Only the 7th game of the season and already I’ve seen enough of Melky Cabrera, Nate McLouth and Troy Glaus.
willieg hates bill shanks
April 12th, 2010
7:45 pm
THIS TEAM IS [PATHETIC THEY CANT EVEN BEAT SAN DIEGO I TOLD ALL YOU IDIOTS THE BRAVES WOULD BE 10 OUT OF FIRST BY MAY 15 IT WILL BE SOONER BECAUSE THE PHILLIES ARE NOT LOSING SORRY BRAVES I TOLD YOU ALL THE OWNER OF THE BRAVES ARE CHEAP SUCKERS. THE YANKEES WILL WIN IT AGAIN .
willieg hates bill shanks
April 12th, 2010
7:46 pm
and the article on chipper they score more runs without him.
Hawksfan
April 12th, 2010
7:54 pm
Wow im really trying to get into Braves baseball, but the sport is just soooooooooooo boring.
Drew
April 12th, 2010
8:06 pm
What is going to take for Frank and Bobby to see what everybody else is seeing? Terry Pendleton is one of the worst hitting coaches in the Major Leagues. Year in and year out, the offense has been sub-standard.
Rick
April 12th, 2010
8:37 pm
Same old Braves. No hitting
Greg Mendel
April 12th, 2010
8:55 pm
Yesterday folks were saying it was only the 6th game of the season, so it’s stupid to write off the Braves after their performance in just six games. That a logical point — but we aren’t talking about other teams. We’re talking the haplessness of the Atlanta Braves as observed over the past three seasons. After just six games — and especially after four innings of the 7th game — the Braves look just like they looked last year. Lousy pitching, no hitting. An optimist would say they will — or can — do better. An observant, objective Braves fan would have to admit the 2010 team sure looks a lot like last year’s. Yes, they could fulfill the potential predicted for this season, but hoping they will, versus the ugly evidence so far, suggests they’re more likely to finish at the bottom of the division. “Mediocre” is a stretch. They’re awful. And there’s no light at the end of the tunnel.
Braves82
April 12th, 2010
9:07 pm
Trolls are so silly, and willieg is an idiot.
sugarfoot
April 12th, 2010
10:25 pm
Glenn Hubbard would make a better hitting coach than Terry Pendleton. Doesn’t anyone remember TP’s problems at the plate? Oh, and the pitching, the pitching! Chipper, who?
jake
April 12th, 2010
11:09 pm
Chipper returned? How can you tell?
Castrologist
April 12th, 2010
11:32 pm
Chipper hit a seed his first at bat. No time to panic. We have got to start hitting though. It’s cool we play the Phillies next week.
georgiadawgg
April 13th, 2010
8:32 am
Don’t forget people its Cripple Jones, not Chipper. Wait till next year, thats all I’ve heard for the last 10 years. I hope the scumbags never win another game. Move them down to to southern mexico.
Lionel Porta
April 13th, 2010
9:46 am
Chipper Jones is over rated at this stage of his career…his best work is way behind him. He needs to retire at the All Star Break
GTFan
April 13th, 2010
11:38 am
Chipper is a joke!
GTFan
April 13th, 2010
11:40 am
The Braves are playing like their old selves again! I hate our baseball team, they suck! I can’t wait for college football to start, so much more interesting and exciting to watch.
BravesFan1972
April 13th, 2010
12:31 pm
I can’t believe some of you morons come on here and trash Chipper Jones. I guess you don’t really realize what he has done for the Braves. Remember, he took a salary cut or restructured his contract so the Braves could afford top notch pitchers. He’s the best third baseman in Braves history and will contribute a lot this season you little babies. Grow up, spoiled, sore losers.
mobetter
April 13th, 2010
1:00 pm
It is what it is with chipper. Either people are bad mouthing him when he is injured or expecting him to come big with a clutch hit or bomb in crucial situations. And more times than not he performs in the clutch. Not to mention his defense at third goes unnoticed. I still think he has done alot for the Braves over the years and will come through when needed this year.
mobetter
April 13th, 2010
1:04 pm
By the way…how many players these days stay with a baseball club for more than 5 years? Chipper has been loyal to Atlanta. You just don’t see that much anymore these days. There is alot to be said for that. I will stick with chipper until he retires.