Chipper reiterates commitment to play in 2012
After the Braves’ season ended with a five-game skid and no postseason berth, Chipper Jones reiterated his intention of returning for the 2012 season.
Jones said the team’s September collapse would have no bearing on his decision.
“I’ve committed to playing next year,” he said. “I won’t commit past that; let’s put it that way. [But] I’m looking forward to it. As tough a pill as it is to swallow, for a lot of these young guys it’s a learning experience.
“We got our butts kicked for the last couple of weeks of the season, and they’re going to learn a lot from it and be better ballplayers for it.”
Jones, 39, came back from season-ending knee surgery in August 2010 to hit .275 with 33 doubles, 18 homers and 70 RBIs in 126 games in 2011, despite being slowed much of the season by knee and leg injuries.
He spent three weeks on the disabled list after arthroscopic knee surgery in July.
His .344 on-base percentage was a career low, 61 points off his career OBP before the season. However, his 33 doubles were his second-most since 2003, and he hit .305 with nine homers and a .905 on-base-plus-slugging percentage (OPS) in his last 42 games.
Jones has one season left on a three-year, $42 million contract extension, and will turn 40 on April 24.
His contract also includes a $9 million option for 2013 that vests automatically if he plays in 123 games next season or averages 127 games over 2011-2012, but Jones has not indicated a desire to play beyond 2012.
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217 comments Add your comment
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
September 29th, 2011
5:29 pm
Braves new theme song: Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day
richie
September 29th, 2011
5:31 pm
well damn
49YRBraves Fan
September 29th, 2011
5:39 pm
Chipper did more to coach than Fredi and his crappy bunch. Glad you are there Chip! On and off the field!!!
Get rid of Gonzalaz
September 29th, 2011
5:40 pm
I can at least say it wasn’t Chippers fault. But he has 14 million reasons to come back to this stink hole
bruce
September 29th, 2011
5:41 pm
very good news!!!!
Jerry Willard
September 29th, 2011
5:41 pm
Dave ,
Why was Bradley on Outside The Lines this afternoon instead of you?
Summer of George
September 29th, 2011
5:41 pm
Nice speech last night Chipper, but a bit too little, too late.
M. Bourn had a very classy interview after game. Made no excuses! That kids allright.
Kimbrell, live and learn…you tried to get too fancy with your pitches and cost you the walks and the run.
All pitchers needed to cut down the walks….that bit your butts in the end.
Give Jurjjeins and Hanson time off till next September so they can finish the year healthy next season. Seems like they’re only good for 2 months a season before they tank with an injury.
Wanted: Consistent hitters to fill the lineup.
And until next year, Go Milwaukee…I’m mentally drained……………..
richie
September 29th, 2011
5:43 pm
all i know is. Bourn is the answer in center. keep him here
Summer of George
September 29th, 2011
5:44 pm
M. Bourn quote last night after game….”win as a team, lose as a team”…Cliche, yet very classy of Mr. Bourn, who did his damndest last night.
rally
September 29th, 2011
5:46 pm
Really Delusional Comments on this page by the commenters….
Okay so we lost Hanson and Jurjjens and you make an excuse for injuries why we didn’t make the playoffs seems to me Phillies lost one pitcher for 5 months and another for 2 months. Not buying it and not buying another Braves ticket.
Go_Bravos
September 29th, 2011
5:48 pm
Hey Chip, are the Braves still the only team that can hang with the Phillies in the postseason??
JoeMac
September 29th, 2011
5:48 pm
Chipper has had a nice career, but it is past time for him to go. He needs to retire before his body retires him. It was sad watching him try to compete. Stick a fork in him; he is done. Prado should be playing 3d next season.
BewdifulDogs
September 29th, 2011
5:49 pm
Thank god for the no name Rays… most exciting finish in baseball apart from Sid Bream’s world record sprint that I can recall !
garynpOH
September 29th, 2011
5:49 pm
I don’t think our coaching staff is not very good
keep Bourn and add a bat and we will be fine
nothing less than frustrating to see how the team has been handled
did i mention that the coaching staff is not very good
JoeMac
September 29th, 2011
5:52 pm
The Braves have not hung with the Phillies all season, while the Cardinals are one of only two teams that won the season series from the Phils. Win or lose, St. Louis is the better team and should be where they are, and the Braves deserve to be where they are.
Blondie
September 29th, 2011
5:58 pm
Chip, sweetie… it’s time to hang up your cleats and call it a day. It’s been fun, but it’s time to end this with grace and dignity… before they have to send you to the glue factory.
Puma
September 29th, 2011
5:59 pm
It sucks, but this is still a playoff-caliber team. We just plain stuck it up this last month. I think we need another potent bat in this lineup, and we’ll be OK – it was supposed to be Heyward, but I don’t know what the heck he was doing this year.
Other big problem is what to do with Lowe – I assume we are stuck with another year of that crap since no team in their right mind would take him off our hands. Still don’t understand Fredi G running him out there when he had much better arms sitting in the bullpen – Minor and Tehran. You can play someone just because they make a lot of money.
jim
September 29th, 2011
5:59 pm
At 39 Chipper might have a distorted view of youth. The kid pitchers were not the problem. The main cogs in the offense — Prado, Chipper, Uggla, Mac sputtered or disappeared during the stretch drive. Freeman was slowed by a leg injury, and slumped the last week and a half, but he still gave the most competetive ABs and there was nobody I’d rather have up there last night as the last hope for the season.
John
September 29th, 2011
6:03 pm
The bad news just continues for you Braves Fans. Chipper is coming back for the 2012 season. As JoeMac has stated, he is done and his big salary is killing your ability to try and upgrade the team. He gave a “Pep” talk to the team prior to the game and then promptly went out and went 0-5 with 3 K’s. Braves, you are a better club with him gone and not a distraction.
NickGranite
September 29th, 2011
6:18 pm
“Stick a fork in him; he is done. Prado should be playing 3d next season.”
The only problem with your analysis JoeMac is Chipper is still better than Prado.
Bob
September 29th, 2011
6:24 pm
A poor leader of his team, a disruption in the locker room, and a has-been who plays a partial season, but makes a $15M…who is Chippah Jones?
farmer
September 29th, 2011
6:24 pm
Chipper you are done.. I have great respect for what you have accomplished all these years but please just hang it up and save that 14 million for upgrading the team, and maybe we cna dump Lowe on someone and have another 15 million. but if n ot, Chipper please retire
01HAWK
September 29th, 2011
6:29 pm
PRADO is a UTILITY MAN and not a bonafide starter. We need 2 outfielders.
SLIPPER JONES is counting his BENJAMINS. He has already said he does not care what the fans think earlier this year.
SLIPPER played in only 126 games……………….That means he missed 36 games. That is not worthy of 14 MILLION .
18 HR’S and 70 RBI’S for a 3rd basemen is a 5 million dollar contract at best. Also a .275 AVG.
63 year Braves fan
September 29th, 2011
6:31 pm
Chipper should do the right thing for the Braves and their fans. Retire, you have made all The money
you will ever need. You look old and slow and rookie pitchers make you look bad. The Braves could use your 14 million to sign a young, fast contact hitting free agent or two. Chipper is not the future.
cht65
September 29th, 2011
6:31 pm
here are the chipper haters again…. chipper was an all star this year and was the most clutch player this year. Has the 3rd highest batting average on the team and is still a solid 3rd baseman…. The problem with this years team was simple: Prado’s game fell way off, two of our best pitchers got hurt, Lowe blows, and McCann wasn’t the same after his injury…
Ishmail
September 29th, 2011
6:32 pm
Jeez, “chipper” why don’t you settle for the millions of $ you already have and go shoot some critters and bang some Hooter’s waitresses. You had one decent stretch this year, but stunk it up the first half and then again during the final stretch. You sure as hell ain’t worth your salary
Bob
September 29th, 2011
6:33 pm
And cht65…what does that say about the rest of our team? Our GM?
01HAWK
September 29th, 2011
6:35 pm
FREDI is another BOOBY COX.
All the talent the BRAVES had over the years and only one CHAMPIONSHIP.
alex
September 29th, 2011
6:37 pm
Midlife crisis in action.Larry, we thank you for the past, but that’s what it is “the past”, we want a future, sorry but your NOT invited to the party (unless of course the parties at hooters and your buying!)
Braves Notes: Heyward, Chipper, Coaches, Reyes | Forex News
September 29th, 2011
6:54 pm
[...] Chipper Jones says the team’s September failure hasn’t affected his decision to return in 2012, reports David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. [...]
CJ
September 29th, 2011
7:00 pm
Everyone needs to lay off Chipper. It seems like his NL batting title he won a few years ago has been forgotten already. The management offered him this contract and while I agree its way too high it can be seen as a reward for all the quality years he has given to the organization. Even pushing 40 he is still a quality player and I give him kudos for playing down the stretch with 2 bad legs. If any of you actually knew something about hitting you would realize that his numbers were pretty good considering how bad his body is breaking down. I do hope that this next year will be his last however, it is time to go before he really gets injured and his age catches up to him, presently he still goes off on a high note in my opinion. Ps prado? really? the braves really need to think about shopping for a 3rd bagger next year or there will be a huge hole over there when chipper hangs them up
mike sauerhouse
September 29th, 2011
7:06 pm
Great! Another year with “Ground Out Jones”…guess I’ll have to wait to cheer for them again
Greg
September 29th, 2011
7:16 pm
Here’s the sad thing: Chipper ended up being one of the best hitters on the team. Just ponder that for a moment. We are in a world of hurt for next year. The list of hopefuls who didn’t pan out this year is astonishingly long. Frankly I’m depressed. How far are we, for example, from the Phillies? Measure it in miles.
Stevo
September 29th, 2011
7:22 pm
Nothing sadder than one a professional athlete doesn’t know when to hang them up. Chipper, last year should have been your last. Not this one and certainly not the next one.
RedandBlack
September 29th, 2011
7:31 pm
Chipper Jones is a Hall of Fame Baseball Player, folks. Do you all not watch how differently pitchers pitch to him? They are so careful, and they rarely give him anything over the middle of the plate. Chipper is heads and tails in ability and talent above any other player on the team. Jones is a catalyst and a keystone for the Braves.
It is great to see young players like Freddie Freeman and McCann stepping up more and more. Freeman’s play reminds me of how Chipper played when he started out in spring training 1994. And, Jones has been carrying this team since 1996.
The Braves have always accomplished as a team. Without Chipper Jones, the Braves would have accomplished nothing. Glad to have him on the Braves. Go Dogs!!
Big Wally
September 29th, 2011
7:50 pm
There’s another twenty inning ending rally killing double plays you can count on.
RaleighDawg
September 29th, 2011
7:51 pm
Chipper’s averages for the last three years are: .268 BA, 15 HR, and 62 RBIs….all of this for $15 million a year ? What happened to his promise of “hanging it up” when he couldn’t get it done any more ? This is a clear example of what’s wrong with MLB and their guaranteed contracts. I’m willing to bet if MLB players contracts were like the NFL players you would see more heart and desire on the field. But as it stands now the playoffs just get in the way of Chipper sitting in a tree.
Big Wally
September 29th, 2011
7:53 pm
and we know that Fredi-cat Gonzalez is afraid to say anything to his veterans, so count on Chipper limping around, grounding into double plays along with that worthless D. Lowe getting the ball to pitch every 5 days. The coach/Mgr./GM won’t learn a thing from this debacle.
fire fredi
September 29th, 2011
7:54 pm
Chipper, Bourn, Freeman, Kimbrel are a-ok in my book..the rest are marginal players. Mccann had a flat the last month and Champion don’t do that.
Fredi and his staff is coming back per DOB report. So I’m out of here..no more Brave fan after 40 years. They don’t care so why should I.
Constanza was a joy to watch and we were winning till he got hurt and Fredi stop playing him. He was not the answer but we were winning.
J-Hey is overrated frenchy, Schafer.
JJ
September 29th, 2011
7:58 pm
I just don’t know how Chipper thinks his knee will get any better.When you have BONE oin BONE it ain’t gonna allow you to play enough to earn 14million dollars.It is not right to hold a TEAM hostage because you can.Do the right thing and allow your TEAMMATES a chance to get players that they can count on to be there everyday and allow Prado to know where he will be playing on regular basis.Please Chipper,do the right thing and take D-Lowe with you into retirement.GO BRAVES
Worm
September 29th, 2011
7:59 pm
Yeah, We can take the Phillies next year..Sadly, Chipper needs to DH in the AL..
BRAVESFAN
September 29th, 2011
7:59 pm
All he has to say is I’m Chipper Jones, who the hell you.
Big Wally
September 29th, 2011
8:02 pm
I agree with all the previous bloggers about Bourn being a player. The problem is, his agent is Scott Boros, which means when his contract expires next year, there is zero chance that he signs with the tidewad Braves. When the Braves are out of it in July next year, look for Worthless Wren to trade him for some washed up outfielder (probably Diaz again).
MikeY
September 29th, 2011
8:22 pm
Note Chipper’s 2013 option:
2013 option guaranteed at $9M with:
123 games in 2012, or
average of 127 games in 2011-12
2013 option price increases by $1M each for:
128, 133, 138, 140 games in 2012, or
averages of 132, 137, 138, 140 games in 2011-12
So if he has another year next year like 2011, it is very possible he will be back in 2013.
phillip
September 29th, 2011
8:24 pm
chipper you’re presents on the field or on the bench is awesome…..manager?????
JoeFan
September 29th, 2011
8:24 pm
Chipper is not going to walk away from the money. Can’t blame him either. He still needs to come off the bench with the Braves finding a full time third baseman. That’s just one of the holes. Don’t believe they have enough time or money in the offseason to fill them all.
Maxwell Smart
September 29th, 2011
8:24 pm
“As tough a pill as it is to swallow, for a lot of these young guys it’s a learning experience. We got our butts kicked for the last couple of weeks of the season, and they’re going to learn a lot from it and be better ballplayers for it.”
Are you kidding me? Like it’s the young guys’ fault — the guys who played the full schedule, who didn’t sit out the game against Cliff Lee with “flu-like symptoms,” who don’t come up with a hangnail or the vapors every other week? The guys who busted their but while Chipper was nursing his ego? They’re the problem?
That is rich. There may be someone on the club who knows how to win, but it damn sure isn’t Chipper Jones. Stats he’s good at. But a winner he’s not. He’s the dark cloud hanging over the franchise. Whatever it takes, the Braves are better off without him.
ray
September 29th, 2011
8:25 pm
Chipper wasn’t that good, but he played better than other vets : Mc Cann, Lowe, Gonzalez. with or without him, the team needs a new owner, new manager, new GM, new hitting coach and maybe new pitching coach. other than that, the team is fine.
when you waste about $29 mill on total duds (Lowe, KK, Mc Louth) you have to cut corners elsewhere.
things have gone downhill since JS made that Teixeira disaster. Wren can’t undo that and actually defended that fiasco. he can’t manage a limited budget properly.
maybe it;’s no coincidence that first Roy Clark left and now Kurt Kemp followed.
who needs Andrus, Feliz or Harrison anyway ?
when you start avoiding high school palyers in the draft mainly to save money, you know there’s a problem..
don’t expect much improvement with the current ownership and management. in fact, the Nats and Mets will soon pass us. the Phils won’t be our only worry.
sorry, but I have the same problem as Kimbrel- I let emotions get out of control.
floridaBRAVESnut
September 29th, 2011
8:28 pm
Ahhhhh….the great game of baseball. I have without a doubt enjoyed this season. All of it……. Right up to the last out of the game last night. I have enjoyed Chippers play and leadership. McCann’s home runs and great plays. Freemans stretches and power to all fields. Bournes hustle. I went to DC last year and got tickets right behind the Braves dugout and watched D. Lowe as he was rooted on each player and every play. When you think about the games you watched, the games you went to, or even listened to on the radio you will find a memory. Like it or not they are our boys of summer and I will cry for a few more days then count down the minutes to opening day. Thank you Braves….from the people that say Hi at the gate to the guys on the field….you all have made memorys for me…….See ya next year……..
MR
September 29th, 2011
8:34 pm
Part of the problem with this team is the building a club around an aging Chipper and a good hitting catcher. Neither will be strong for 162 games and it showed badly this year. How about Liberty Media leaving town for good and taking Frank “No Thanks I’ll Pass” Wren with them. I’ll go through a rebuilding process for a few years with those two gone with a big smile on my face.
The Iladelph
September 29th, 2011
8:38 pm
The Phillies came through Atlanta like Sherman…Like Sherman!!!
Fatass McCann
September 29th, 2011
8:38 pm
14 million …. cough cough
Braves Believer
September 29th, 2011
8:39 pm
Does anyone on this post know if we have a 3rd base prospect in the minors ready to take Chippers place? I’ve read about pitchers, shortstop and outfield but nothing about 3rd base. All the writers say we are rich in the minors but if so we already should have a outfield and 3rd base ready for replacement(another Chipper Jones ready)..
GoBraves!
September 29th, 2011
8:48 pm
Great news! They’re set at most positions for next year. If they can get a power hitting outfielder and a good hitting shortstop they should contend.
Worm
September 29th, 2011
8:49 pm
@the illadelph, Hope you signed up for food stamps while you were here.
chris
September 29th, 2011
8:54 pm
Chipper was one of the few consistent hitters as inconsistent as he was…glad to have him back and as some of the comments stated, I think he did more to coach this team than Fredi did this year..glad to have him back one more year..id hate to see him playing in any other uniform before he retires..he’s meant a lot to this organization and deserves some respect for that
Voice of Reason
September 29th, 2011
8:55 pm
Great news from the anchor of the team–and I mean that in terms of persistent, dead weight, not as something to build around. Likely to miss at least 25% of the games, carry a surly, sour look on his face for the other 75% and offer “leadership” in the form of trite platitudes that would make Crash Davis blush. Certainly an outstanding big-leaguer in his prime and a true-blue Brave, Chipper’s bat speed is toast and his fielding mistakes always occur at the worst times. Freeing up $14M with McLouth and Kawakami is nice, but a full $28M to play with would be better. Please let us remember you as the kid who came up in the early 90’s and owned the Mets–not as the old man unwilling to let go of the game when his time has passed. Let the young guys have their time.
Jordan
September 29th, 2011
8:59 pm
http://isportsweb.com/2011/09/29/braves-blow-wild-card-lead/
Legend of Len Barker
September 29th, 2011
9:11 pm
Shall I post my Chipper Jones Tweak Counter for the entire 2011 season?
Big Wally
September 29th, 2011
9:16 pm
overheard from Chippa’s rally speach before the game yesterday “uh, oh, guys, uh, oh, we kinda need to win this one, uh, oh, you know what I mean, uh, oh”.
Chipper's Back!
September 29th, 2011
9:21 pm
With a healthy chipper j, the braves will rule the division next year. He was hurt most of the season and didn’t have his bat. Next year, his game will explode! Braves to the playoffs in 2012!!!!
phil
September 29th, 2011
9:25 pm
Ishmail
September 29th, 2011
6:32 pm
Jeez, “chipper” why don’t you settle for the millions of $ you already have and go shoot some critters and bang some Hooter’s waitresses. You had one decent stretch this year, but stunk it up the first half and then again during the final stretch. You sure as hell ain’t worth your salary
<<<<<<<<<
Where do idiots like you come from? Gainesville, Fl?
bulldogbubba
September 29th, 2011
9:31 pm
Please retire to the woods.You have achieved great things for ‘our” team.Please go and be with your Wife and sons for the sake of “our” team.Let them retire your number so that the rest of the team can move to the next level with the money that is rightfully yours but would help ‘our” team move the next level.Thank you for your consideration. THE FANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
phil
September 29th, 2011
9:32 pm
You chipper bashers are pathetic….an embarassment to us all….worse than FG is bad as a manager.
phil
September 29th, 2011
9:34 pm
bulldogbubba
September 29th, 2011
9:31 pm
Please retire to the woods.You have achieved great things for ‘our” team.Please go and be with your Wife and sons for the sake of “our” team.Let them retire your number so that the rest of the team can move to the next level with the money that is rightfully yours but would help ‘our” team move the next level.Thank you for your consideration. THE FANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Another genius poster….go sweep some floors.
Jeff R
September 29th, 2011
9:40 pm
Chipper has 14 million reasons to return… along with his bum knees. Seriously, Chipper showed grit this season… just don’t think a 40-year-old injury prone Chipper is best for the 2012 Braves.
Bobby Dews
September 29th, 2011
9:40 pm
We don’y have anything to worry about now…thank god!
Henry Aaron's Ghost
September 29th, 2011
9:40 pm
UNDERSTAND one thing folks, Jones is NOT walking away from $14 million. Would you? He will come back and hang in for the year. Whether he hits .350 or .195, he gets his $14 million. He will stay. Even if he decided to go someway, the Braves would have to arrange some big buck buy out. That ain’t happening with this mob.
I have been watching the Atlanta Braves since the VERY FIRST game they came into Fulton County Stadium. I went to my first big league game there and saw Hank, Eddie Matthews, Gaylord Perry, Willie McCovery and Willie Mays. In all these years, I have watched the good ones come and go. I have seen the good, bad, and very ugly teams here. This was about the most disappointing Braves team I can remember. So much talk of promise before the season and they failed badly. There is at least a dozen players on this team, the manager, several coaches, the GM and even ownership, that needs to take a hike. Sadly, as long as the Braves have their current ownership group, this is what Atlanta has. A couple of good players, a bunch of broken down and over the hill players who will not hit, field or pitch. Freddie failed terribly. He simply was a deer in the headlights when it came to big game decisions. It is what it is. THIS is the best it will be. No playoffs. No world series. No MPVs. No Cy’s. Just record losses, blown saves, and huge strike out numbers by overpaid secondbasement. 160 plus K’s. Man.
Furman Bitcher
September 29th, 2011
9:41 pm
Top 3rd Basemen in NL. I wouls say his stats are 2nd best to Ramirz so you bashers need to shut the hell up.
Sortable Batting
RK PLAYER TEAM AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
1 Aramis Ramirez CHC 565 80 173 35 1 26 93 1 1 43 69 .306 .361 .510 .871
2 Placido Polanco PHI 469 46 130 14 0 5 50 3 0 42 44 .277 .335 .339 .674
3 Chipper Jones ATL 455 56 125 33 1 18 70 2 2 51 80 .275 .344 .470 .814
4 Ryan Roberts ARI 482 86 120 25 2 19 65 18 9 66 98 .249 .341 .427 .768
5 Casey McGehee MIL 546 46 122 24 2 13 67 0 3 45 104 .223 .280 .346 .626
Furman Bitcher
September 29th, 2011
9:43 pm
Besides Chipper had better stats than Arod at half the price
Sam from the Swats
September 29th, 2011
9:55 pm
All these stats about Chipper mean nothing. The money stat is what do you do with runners in scoring position 8th inning and beyond. Chipper has not stepped up in these spots. He was 0 for 8 the last 2 games of the year. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched him come up to bat and all the fans yelling for him, and I’m like “what are they yelling for”? Then just I I guess, strikeout, or slow roller to second. I hope next year is his last year, cause we need a new beginning with some new young players.
Brother John
September 29th, 2011
10:05 pm
How ’bout Freddie Freeman for player/manager? The way he slammed his helmet on the ground and bounced it into the upper deck after hitting into the season ending double play showed me a man with some fire and emotion!! This man will be a Hall Of Famer. Dan Uggla. Great defense all year long (contrary to all media reports!) and the best “hustle” of anybody on the team. Great job, Dan. Chipper Jones. I can’t believe anyone on this blog can doubt the heart of this warrior. Leaves it all on the field. Probably won’t be able to walk when he’s 50 years old. Thanks, Chipper. Michael Bourne. Fantastic play this year! Complete professional on and off the field. Please make Atlanta your permanent home. McCann and Heyward, find your way out of the darkness. We need you. Fredi, please resign before you embarrass yourself and this city even more than you already have!!
Mark in ATL
September 29th, 2011
10:15 pm
Chipper is the best option this team has at 3B…..Prado isn’t close….glad he’s coming back.
Jeff R
September 29th, 2011
10:15 pm
Correct, Hank’s Ghost. Chipper will crawl onto the field before giving up 14 million clams. Can’t say I blame Chipper, though. How may of us would walk away from such a big payday?
Sam from the Swats
September 29th, 2011
10:16 pm
Heart of a warrior? Dude hasn’t played a full season in 12 years!! He’s one of the highest paid players on the team.
Jeff R
September 29th, 2011
10:19 pm
Prado would be a better defensive third baseman than Chipper. But Prado has shown a proclivity to injuries too. Yet Prado at third opens up left field to a power bat acquistion, I think.
Sam from the Swats
September 29th, 2011
10:20 pm
@Phil…0 for 8 last 2 games when needed most with $14 million/year..Pujols didn’t go 0 for 8.
Jeff R
September 29th, 2011
10:20 pm
Enter your comments here
Cecil
September 29th, 2011
10:30 pm
I don’t think I can watch another year of slow, lofin, voice of the Braves. Quit and go hunting. I’m tired of watching infielders on opposing teams bobble and bonce a grounder and still throw chipper out before he loafs down the baseline. He wouldn’t know “Hustle” if it hit him in the ass. The few times he has tried to hustle, he pulls a muscle.
mace224
September 29th, 2011
10:37 pm
Bourne the answer? We got beat by the guy we should’ve gone after.
Stanco
September 29th, 2011
10:50 pm
Chipper I appreciate everything you have DONE for the Braves through the years……but your time has come…..you are DONE. How great would it be if there was close to $30 million to help restock the roster with KK, McClouth, Chipper and Lowe gone (unfortunately it will cost the Braves to rid themselves of Lowe). Just think of the 2012 roster with 2 $15 mill a year 40 y/o players…that sounds like a championship team now dosesn’t it?? The best thing that can happen for 2012 is for the team to be sold soon. As with any successful organization or business, the passion and desire starts at the top…and there is none of that at Liberty Mutual…
Noholdsbarred
September 29th, 2011
10:56 pm
Famous Gonzo Quotes:
Baseball–”that’s the way it goes sometimes”, gotta just “Tip your hat and come back tomorrow”–uh , next year that is!
bravesfanbob
September 29th, 2011
10:57 pm
As I said MANY times before this season ever started, the man who needs to be running this team is Roberto Kelly. He took most every player who came up through the San Francisco Giant organization, and taught them how to WIN in baseball. When they were failing in the big leagues, the organization moved him up to be the 1st base coach, and work directly one on one with the players, and in his first year, they won the World Series. He averaged 89-51 records in his 3 years in Augusta GA for the Giants Class A team. There is no manager in baseball who is a better on field manager, and his players love him. Being a season ticket holder in Augusta, I got to know Roberto and his family very well, He went through the loss of an infant while he was here, and still managed to keep his head enough to manage the Greenjackets to the best record in the history of the Sally League. He says he learned how to treat players from Bobby Cox, but is a completely different type of manager. He creates runs. His team that year was last in home runs, 12th of 14th in batting average, but 1st in runs scored. The team had over 300 stolen bases. the only position player he had that is an everyday major leaguer is Pablo Sandoval, and he only batted .260 for him. With Bourn, Constanza, and Antone Richardson, who also played for Kelly, he would turn the Braves into a running machine. Bottom line… He would win!
Since57
September 29th, 2011
11:04 pm
Can’t really understand many of the negative Chipper comments. My bet is that Chipper does not need the $15m, he is a gamer and although he is overpaid given his current performance, he has been the face of the franchise since the Braves got him instead of goofy Todd Van Poppel. Glad to have him back for ‘12 and hope that the Braves can rebound from the disappointment with a healthy Chipper, productive Heyward, Prado and BMac, and those great young arms plus Huddy leading the staff.
I Hate Scrubs
September 29th, 2011
11:13 pm
Matt Diaz sounded all giddy to be a part of (his words) “one of the biggest nights in baseball history”. Of course, Matty, it wouldn’t have been a big night if we never traded for you and left Constanza in the lineup. The team fell apart the moment you arrived. I see Japan or Independent league in your near future. Maybe you and Kenshin can hang out.
angry mangy mutt
September 29th, 2011
11:22 pm
Hopefully he will change his mind. The guy is a future HOFer, and will be one of the few with only an average glove. Maybe I would feel different about him if I had not lived for a few years not too far from where he grew up or if he was willing to get dirty more often than he did. Heart was not something he had enough of. It was said about him in high school and he displayed it time and time again.Sorry if that offends some of you but it is what it is – guess it was the lights.
A bigger problem is Parrish followed by McDowell. The numbers do not lie. The offense was bad all year. The pitching coach is an unnecessary position. Nothing personal but these guys across the league get paid for their expertise and yet pitchers go down left and right. When they get healthy again and find their groove, injured again. The science is now in place to correct mechanics and yet most of these clowns ignore it. For a couple of years Hanson was being warned but…Jurrgens, bad decision to not use him as bait when he was hot despite most of us knowing he was eventually going to go down.
We need an owner who wants to build a champion not a contender. he talking heads can say what they want about us fans but we are wiser than most of the others, We spent several years spending $ and time going to the games and watching them just to watch the same ole thing. Now for the past decade we get knocked b/c we have realized that we want the Braves to win more than the brass.
angry mangy mutt
September 29th, 2011
11:28 pm
Forgive my incoherent ramblings there. Got off subject and wasted the time of whoever read it. I will feel differently in a month or two. Maybe.
Brick
September 29th, 2011
11:50 pm
Only 46 homeruns til Chipper reaches 500…………………..Stay on Mr.Jones. We want to see you reach 500
Lost Cause
September 29th, 2011
11:54 pm
I smell a new hitting coach.It is obvious TP wasn’t the problem after all. Same squad worse performance. I healthy Jones would be nice player/hitting coach.
bulldogbubba
September 29th, 2011
11:55 pm
Hey Phil, I wouldn’t want to take your job. Love on Chipper all you want that is your right. I bet this time next year we will have this same conversation because we will have the same results. Go now and sweep away.XOXO
We can beat those Cheese Steaks!
September 30th, 2011
12:01 am
Great Stats, but fails under pressure time and again…That Slippery Jones career. A leader not!
bravesfaninNashville
September 30th, 2011
12:13 am
Glad to see you back Chipper…. He makes our lineup better and the team plays better when he’s around. His influence is undeniable. His skills are in decline but he still commands respect and he’s always a threat. Prado is not close to the player Chipper is and we have no one on the horizon that we are blocking. Now please find a way to make even 1/3 of Lowe’s salary and all of his future losses go away and use that money we save somewhere smart.
JJ
September 30th, 2011
12:16 am
People tickle me to death by saying a healthy Chipper.There is no such animal!Chipper will only be healthy if he has knee replacement surgery.BONE on BONE don’t get better.Get a grip people,Chipper’s knee is in bad shape if the reports are true.He will be a parttime player and for what they are paying him,that ain’t right.GO BRAVES
Charlie Lau
September 30th, 2011
12:32 am
Chipper, I appreciate your contributions and your professionalism. Just what in the hell did these people expect as Schultz so aptly put. You are the team leader on and off the field.
As recently as Monday, I saw you make a barehanded play that very few third basemen can make. The same night you hit an absolute bomb to put your team ahead although they couldn’t hold that lead. You were frequently on base or driving in critical runs.
You played hurt and didn’t complain because you knew you meant more to your team hurt than a replacement at full speed. You only need to look at your numbers. Your average all season was even higher with RISP.
Most of these clowns on here have no idea what they are talking about but just want to bitch and you make a nice target since you make more than they do.
Very glad you are returning and if your average, RBIs, health are good, wish you would not close the door on 2013. Hope you will consider a future with the organization.
Rey
September 30th, 2011
1:27 am
For 14 million, who would you rather have? Chipper or Kemp? ……….I know me too.
bravesfaninNashville
September 30th, 2011
1:36 am
Rey …… that’s and easy call because Kemp is entering his prime and Chippers finishing his career. When Chipper was 27-32 there was no one in baseball I would have wanted to trade him for. The only better players were Bond’s and ARod and they’re both handfuls in different ways and both made more money then Chipper. The man has played hurt and led this team for 15+ years. My only wish is that he hadn’t made the comment about the Braves beating the Phillies public because he lit a fire under Philly to bury us and we never beat them again this year after that comment. Bad public move. It could have motivated us but instead it motivate the Phillies.
Murphy47
September 30th, 2011
1:47 am
Example 1- Cards with a couple games to go…they get the TYING run on first and that guy in the dugout is jumping and demanding the crowd get up…just thought it was sweet.
Example 2- Braves in the 7th thru the 13th inning- just sit there and pout in the dugout…Freeman and Hinsk I saw up cheering…I also saw Mac, Jhey, and CJ just sitting there staring at the ground, made me want to puke. Coached and played college, I know you can’t cheer like an idiot every pitch…But Hooooly S—– seems strange the team jumping up and down, (WHILE LOSING!!!!) finishes 40-2 and the team who stares at the ground (WHILE TIED AT HOME) ends 2-40. Really reminded me of that long Astro playoff game years ago when Chip just seemed to give up and again stare at the ground from like the 8th to the 17th or whatever the h–l it was. Their lack of (i wasnt there it just seemed like it) heart actually made it a lot easier to deal with. If they don’t care…wht the —- should I?? In Vegas I had 180.00 at 24-1 to win WS- just wanted the shot!!
That said……that $#((*@# Chipper is my fav player ever, him, Murph, Glav, Smol, and Mad. I’m glad he is coming back, MORE than glad…it will NEVER be the same when hes gone, NEVER. I’m 35 and followed them my whole life…those 30-80 know the feeling i’m writing about. 1st b hall of famer, 390 ob, call still lead and coach at the same time, one of the best to ever put on a baseball uniform, and that’s not a stretch….lots to say, but not the energy to think. Keep PLEASE keep Mic Bourn…We have a first baseman till the year 2030, man for playing a seemingly down year Uggla and his dirty uniform EVERY GAME i really started to love, and I think everybody got a reminder that K Medlen is a FORCE…i love that little gamer, and Kimb is a little psycho who will only get better…love that guy, I hope Prado is reading all his old great press, all his armour and crosses he looks like a knight…Jhey, who the h–l knows, standing 11 feet from home doesnt seem to be helping…we have more great pitchers coming back next year take forever to type, we clear N Mclouth, GET A BAT!!..i guess i did have more to say. Have a great year everybody
Murphy47
September 30th, 2011
1:51 am
i hope Prado ISNT reading all his old great press meant to say…i also noticed hes starting to catch balls in left like B Bonds, if you hit 340 with 55 bombs….then go ahead
We can beat those Cheese Steaks!
September 30th, 2011
2:07 am
“Gant, Justice, Grissom, McGriff ”
The Four Horseman!
Now we got Four Hamburgers!
G. Tampa Bedwetter
September 30th, 2011
3:06 am
Chipper ……….. please change your sorry assed mind and go hunting illegal aliens on your farm; you are much better at that.
Notso Fast
September 30th, 2011
5:18 am
The Braves will not win it all next year with the present team so changes will have to be made. It would be nice if Chipper would retire and let the rebuilding start but you can’t expect a man to walk away from the guaranteed money. The Braves can only keep putting together some young players and get ready for 2 years from now.
raymond
September 30th, 2011
6:26 am
CHIPPER IF YOU CARED ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ORGANIZATION YOU WOULD RETIRE INSTEAD OF MILKING IT FOR EVERY DOLLAR YOU CAN GET OUT OF IT. Is is pitiful that we pay top dollar ( 14/15 million a year) for 18 home runs and 70 RBIs. There are plenty of veteran guys ( McCann, Hudson) that can do the all important clubhouse leadership thing. Hell you can barely bend over to catch the ball and the scary thing is next year you will be even older. Because of your selfishness, I dont think you will be remembered the way you want to.
MikeY
September 30th, 2011
6:48 am
Braves will free up significant money for next year. Losing Kawakami, McLouth, A Gonzalez, Linebrink, Sherrill, and probably non-tender Moylen (but could re-sign him at a lower salary than the $2+ M he will get in arbitation)) saves the Braves about $19.6M (even after paying McLouth’s $1.25M buyout). The Braves will owe some large arbitration increases (Bourn, Jurrjens, Prado) and may have a few more arbitration-eligible for the fist time (maybe Hanson). But overall the Braves will free up significant money. Key free agent need will be a shortstop. Other than Reyes and Rollins, there is not much out there at SS, and I doubt the Braves have the money to sign either. Both have had injury issues. I could see re-signing Gonzalez to a one-year, $3M deal. Everyone else will be back (if the Braves decide to keep them). Lowe’s $15M contract looks un-tradeable, unless we trade for another team’s problem (think Carlos Zambrano, or Carlos Lee, even though I do not want either). We might sign another veteran reliever or 2, and maybe improve our depth. The real issue I see is RF. A Heyward-Diaz platoon? Not the production I would like to see in RF. It would be nice to sign a much better hitting RH-hotting 4th outfielder.
Liberty Media Man
September 30th, 2011
6:48 am
To all the whiners who complain that Liberty Media is “cheap”. Check out the payrolls for post-season teams like the Rays & Brewers when compared to the Braves. The Rangers & Cardinals are comparable to the Braves’ payroll.
When your general manager blows $30 million this season on Lowe, McLouth & Kawakami, not exactly return on the investment.
Tomahawk Squawk
September 30th, 2011
7:31 am
Terry Francona is getting Released today
Please Fredi…Get out of the way!!!
Voice of Reason
September 30th, 2011
7:34 am
Again, to all the Chipper defenders, I admire your nostalgia. Chipper is deservedly a Hall of Famer. But facts matter. Here are the three main reasons I wish Chipper would retire (putting aside all the speculation about attitude and leadership).
1. Bat speed, bat speed, bat speed. Once you lose it, it is gone. Ask Jeff Bagwell. Ask Derek Jeter. Once its gone, pitchers don’t fear you.
2. Lost power. It is hard to generate power pushing off two bad knees. They’re not going to suddenly get healthier. Chipper remains a pretty good hitter based on his raw ability, but he is more punchless than at any other time in his career.
3. Age. The body ages and heals more slowly and less completely. Chipper is not getting younger, and he was never an iron man even in his prime. Plus, he’s not exactly reknowned for his rigorous offseason conditioning program. To think he’ll play more than 100-110 full games is wishful.
Chipper has been an excellent player. He’s often been fun to watch. But its over–time to move on.
What starts with "Ch" and rhymes with poke?
September 30th, 2011
7:54 am
Why does this have to be Chipper’s decison. The Braves should just release him. If he’s on the roster next spring, it shows the organization is not serious about fielding a team.
And don’t start with me about Chipper being a HOFer; he’s not. In this steroid era his numbers don’t stand out. Even when he was juicing, his own stats weren’t overwhelming. Though he had double digit opportunities, not ONE time in the playoffs did he put the team on his shoulders. Leadership? Nope. The past month epitomized the Chipper Jones era–all talk, no action. The biggest games of the season and he can’t get the one big hit the team needs. His baserunning and fielding has always been atrocious, so at least that hasn’t changed.
Frank Wren, find another third baseman. Chipper, retire (or demand a trade).
Gym Nash
September 30th, 2011
7:57 am
When C. Jones flew out to the center fielder in the 9th inning on Wednesday, even my 8 year old son turned to me and said, “warning track power.” That’s all Chipper’s got anymore.
tonto
September 30th, 2011
8:09 am
Another year to steal some more gravy. Do the right thing Larry and let the Braves use all that money to get young………..
nick p
September 30th, 2011
8:19 am
chipper is not the aqnswer to this braves team, he will miss a bunch of time and will cost the team $14 million which means no significant changes can happen to the line up!
Arkie
September 30th, 2011
8:20 am
Chipper is a future HoF player, but baseball is BIG Business. You have to pay players for what they do – not what they did. Prado appears to be a good utility player. As much as I like Bourne, is he the next rental. Heyward possibly needed more minor league time. Frency’s defense was above average. Heyward’s ability?? Need two OF, third base and maybe a short stop. Are any available in the minors? Start to rebuild or buy a case of band-aids with the same results each year.Spend the money wisely, our manager and coaches will ruin young players. Chipper would be a good Manager/Hitting Coach candidate. No one doubts his loyalty and devotion to our Braves, but his body is one step or swing from the DL. What will 2012 bring, probably the same results unless severe changes are made. will this happen – NO.
phoenix
September 30th, 2011
8:24 am
So Hall of Famer C Jones will be back, clogging up a roster spot, and tying up $15 million dollars in 2012. Woo-hoo. “But he’s Chipper, he’s been great” the fans say. OK. So was Hank, Murph, and Niekro. Let’s bring them back too. They would be as effective as Chipper, and they probably have more range.
Mid Town Joe
September 30th, 2011
8:28 am
It’s a shame Chipper didn’t have this fire in his Belly for playing during his 1st 10 years in baseball.
vermont 39
September 30th, 2011
8:32 am
Chipper haters…WOW!!!
What a sorry bunch of SORE LOSERS!!!
If the TEAM had scored more runs, we wouldn’t have had to use our big 3 in the BP every day.
TP was brutalized by you guys for years…why does this Hitting Coach get a FREE PASS???
This team ran out of gas…get a better training regimen…and hitting coach
smallmouth6
September 30th, 2011
8:32 am
David and Carol, Thank you for your coverage this year and putting up with so much on this blog. Take a break and get some rest. Yours hours have been long.
What else is he going to do?
September 30th, 2011
8:40 am
For those that are interested, I just looked up his salary history and to date the Braves have paid Chipper ~$155 million, so next year will put him at ~$169 million over his career. I suspect the money is a nice incentive, but a bigger factor is figuring out what else Chipper would do. He was raised a baseball player, his Father is his ultimate hitting coach, his entire life appears to revolve around the sport, (other than killing the animals that have the misfortune of inhabiting his ranch). Does anyone really expect him to walk away from a decent year and admit he is done while still under contract? The athletes that do walk away from the game on their own typically have other interests and passions in life and I just don’t get that impression from Chipper.
So let’s make the best of another Chipper season, (or two), watch him ascend the career batting stats, and hope that Wren can make a few moves to improve this club in the offseason.
George
September 30th, 2011
8:41 am
Mr Larry [ Chipper ] Jones is the PROBLEM.
MikeY
September 30th, 2011
8:45 am
Here’s an interesting website:
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/playerrankings/positional/regularseason/3B
Ranks MLB players “based on various offensive and defensive statistics. Players increase their scores with every contribution they make to the game — batting, slugging, baserunning and defense.”
This site ranks Chipper the 6th-best 3B in the majors.
Other Braves:
Prado (LF): 20th
Bourn (CF): 5th
Uggla (2B): 8th
McCann (C): 6th
Freeman (1B): 11th
Gonzalez (SS): 15th
Heyward (RF): 26th
3B was a weak position across the majors; Prado would have been the 9th-best 3B in MLB.
All this points to a glaring flaw in the Braves: we did not get much production from our corner OF positions. Prado just does not cut it at LF, which is traditionally a roster spot for a top hitter (and a place to hide a defensive weakness, if needed). And we have to do something in RF. Either Heyward needs a personal batting coach that can fix the holes in his swing, or a good RH hitter to platoon with him, or both.
We are going to have money to spend this offseason. Pitching looks fine – we need a couple of bats (SS, OF) and a continued look to improve team speed.
smallmouth6
September 30th, 2011
8:45 am
Chipper: Keep playing. I don’t know what games the folks on this page have been watching for 20 years, but it wasn’t the ones you were in. Give us one more good year.
Ron Hyatt
September 30th, 2011
8:47 am
Retire NOW Larry. Might as well write off 2012 as well.
Mako
September 30th, 2011
8:52 am
CHUMPER…stay in Texas…see if you can hit a deer or two; hopefully the early morning light won’t get in your eyes like the lights against Marlins. But you say you’re coming back..why..another Hooters girls you got your eye on? Inquiring minds want to know Slipper! No more Chumper!!!
Twoote
September 30th, 2011
8:59 am
PLEASE…..Chipper.
Retire!.
Or seriously renegotiate your contract…. to $1 million for next year.
Mako
September 30th, 2011
9:06 am
smallmouth6….I don’t know what game you’ve been watching for the past few years, but Chumper making 14 million+ and hitting 18 homers works out to about $783K per homer or better yet, 70 RBI works out to $201K per RBI….he isn’t worth it anymore and hasn’t been for a few years. It’s time to wake up…this isn’t 1999….Chumper is a old man now and way past his prime!!!!!! Dump the Chump!!!!!!!
Dr. Phil
September 30th, 2011
9:11 am
This team became the negative version of the teams in the 90’s that came from behind and never gave up. We can blame Wren, the hitting coach, and injuries to the pitchers, but the buck has to stop with the manager.
FL dawg
September 30th, 2011
9:15 am
Here’s a thought. CJ will go down as one of the best SH to ever play. Why not put some of that $ to good use and make Chipper a player/coach. He cant be any worse than Parrish or even TP.
Sideline Dude
September 30th, 2011
9:16 am
PLEASE Chipper, just retire. The Braves certainly don’t need a washed up, tired, old hanger-on who can only play a third of a season. They should have traded him years ago when they could’ve gotten something for him. He might have been a decent DH in the AL. He should make like horse hockey & hit the trail.
The Alpha Male
September 30th, 2011
9:18 am
I hope Chipper does play…. I just hope its for the Texas Rangers so we can free up $13 million for better use.
Damon Dingle Barryhill
September 30th, 2011
9:34 am
Why would anyone dog Chipper? Yeah, he’s not an MVP anymore, but he’s one of the only guys on the team that can hit with RISP. He will drive in runs, put up a tough at bat, and yes.. hit a sac fly when he needs to. Don’t be all over him for the $13 MM. He won the batting title a few years ago, and signed a big contract afterwards to finish up here in Atlanta. True, he’s not worth it statistically but who really is? D Lowe? If you’re gonna complain about an overpaid player that actually HURTS THE TEAM, call out D Lowe.
Lemke's Knuckler
September 30th, 2011
9:36 am
“We got our butts kicked for the last couple of weeks of the season, and they’re going to learn a lot from it and be better ballplayers for it.”
I agree 100%. Sometimes failure is the best path to success. You have that bad taste in your mouth when something like this happens and it makes you do what it takes to never feel like that again. I don’t think there’s a single player on this roster that won’t grow from this experience.
MiaBchNOTBravesFan
September 30th, 2011
9:40 am
The headline should read:
CHIPPER ALL ABOUT THE GREENBACKS, WILL RETURN TO LEECH FINAL YEAR OF CONTRACT
(Quote) “I know that I will not be healthy next year. Hell, I’ll be lucky to play in 81 games. My oblique is always cranky, I have no right knee, my hip always bothers me, I have painful bunions, and my post-PED’s body is a wreck… that said, I’d be a fool to walk away from all that loot!”
“I figure I’ll sit next to Derek (Lowe) and talk about how to spend all that dough during our free time. Unless he is in Mississipi, like KK was this year.”
MiaBchNOTBravesFan
September 30th, 2011
9:43 am
Dingle: he hurts the team by always being hurt, like he has been for the past seven seasons. As far as I am concerned, he is no better a salary leech as Lowe-tard is – and I HATE Lowe-tard!
gp3
September 30th, 2011
9:45 am
Chipper…You have been a pleasure to watch and a complement to the organization, but it’s probably time to hang it up. We have enough young up-and-comers and your salary prohibits signing anyone who could fill immediate needs. Although you aren’t the only one who needs to go (i.e.: McLouth, Wilson, LOWE), @ $14,000,000 you are not worth it. The Braves have the making of a great team next year. Please don’t hamper that and retire with dignity, because if you don’t leave soon, the flack you get from everyone would certainly diminish what has been a memorable career.
Bobby L
September 30th, 2011
9:47 am
Hitting into less double plays during the last few games, and I might have a better attitude for Chipper playing one more season. Oh yeah, and there was the grounder lost in the lights, too. I can picture a whirlpool tub in the dugout for Chipper next year.
MiaBchNOTBravesFan
September 30th, 2011
9:49 am
“When your general manager blows $30 million this season on Lowe, McLouth & Kawakami, not exactly return on the investment.”
FIRE FRANK WREN – HE IS THE PROBLEM!!!
FL dawg
September 30th, 2011
9:50 am
D lowe hopefully goes back to the pen, allowing Tehran, Delgado, Hanson, Hudson and maybe JJ To fill the rotation. The reason ATL got as far as they did this yr was because Fredi had to burn out the BP. Hopefully they recover.
MiaBchNOTBravesFan
September 30th, 2011
9:52 am
Normally, teammates buy gag gifts for their aging teammate, like a walker.
In Cripple Jones’ case, a wheelchair is not a gag gift, but a necessity to survive 2012. Like most of the players in the MLB, he’s a greedy LOSER!
wins-by-a-link
September 30th, 2011
9:52 am
This may sound radical to some of you Chipper haters but when you enter into a contract with another party you are expected to honor that agreement, Chipper has been one of the greats of baseball and put up some pretty good numbers this year, How much do you think it would cost to sign another player who could match those numbers? Chipper is not Superman and cannot carry the whole team, Look for Chipper to become the Manager for the Braves some day, For me that day can’t get here soon enough.
MiaBchNOTBravesFan
September 30th, 2011
9:53 am
TRADE HANSON & JJ FOR A TRIPLE-A STUD LF’ER THAT CAN OJT WITH US NEXT SEASON!!!
JoeMac
September 30th, 2011
9:53 am
@smallmouth, I am sure Chipper would love to give you one more good year, if…. if he had it in him, but he does not. He is over the hill and needs to retire. I cannot recall the last meaningful hit he had. He constantly swings at pitches way outside while looking like a statue on pitches over the plate; His fielding has dropped off; his power has dropped off; you can see pain in his face everytime he runs. Chipper has had a very good(not great), career, but it is about 3 years past time to go to Texas and live the rest of your life. Retire Chipper before your body retire you.
MiaBchNOTBravesFan
September 30th, 2011
9:55 am
LET’S RID OURSELVES OF CHRONICALLY INJURED AND, BY EXTENSION, USELESS PLAYERS. LET THE KIDS PLAY AND DEVELOP, LET’S REBUILD!!!
Fols
September 30th, 2011
10:01 am
I don’t think any of us expected this to be it for Chipper.
Hope the Braves manager grows a pair and builds a line-up that is less reliant on him. He’s going to miss at least 40-50 games next season. It’s just the natural progression of Chip in his older playing days.
If the Braves had a clue and wanted to push him to one more chance at a title, they’d realize this is his swan song.
Buy, Trade or Steal one big hitting corner outfielder for the guy. Solidify the top four spots in the batting order with EVERYDAY ball players. Bourn, Freeman, Uggla and our new FA to be. Use the speed at top to get on and into scoring position, have 2 big boppers there to drive him home.
Then you have Chip and Mac back-to-back to clean up the mess. This way when those two miss the games they WILL miss….it’s less disruptive to the heart of the order. I’m tired of rotating batting orders because of missed games. We need to establish an order and run with it unlike this year. I don’t believe we put together a normal ‘healthy’ order until the season really started to slide.
gp3
September 30th, 2011
10:09 am
where the f&*k was constanza the last month???..diaz signed to hit righties (joke)…jack wilson signed for defense???(joke)…damnest bad managing in years, and if you make it to the major leagues, who the F%*k needs a hitting coach anyway????? especially larry parrish???? hahahaha
i’ve been a bravos fan since 1968 and been through alot (even charlie spikes in right field)…this is the most pi*&$ed off i’ve been in a long time…go wtach moneyball frank wren…remember KK??? do we still owe him???…CRAP
We can beat those Cheese Steaks!
September 30th, 2011
10:30 am
NewsFlash*
Larry will be playing for at least 2 more years!! 2012 and 2013!
sigh…..
bruce mac
September 30th, 2011
10:44 am
So lets see, Chipper gets paid $14 Million to play 126 games or less. Perfect example of why MLB is doomed. Chipper is maybe a $5 Million player, if he could play 150 ganes, Not only can he not play 150 games, due to his old age, but they don’t want him to play 150 because that means they have to throw another $9 Million up a wild hogs rear end. What a game. Absoulute horse crap.
TechRon
September 30th, 2011
10:55 am
Go hunting Chipper and forget about baseball. Diaz needs to go. Trade Prado and Heyward while you can still get something good for them. Another bad year and they will be worth far less. Definitely keep Freeman, Uggla and Bourne. I would even say that McCann should be considered for trade if they get a good offer after the way he dogged it through September. Dump Lowe for sure. Dump the whole coaching staff for sure. I have been a Braves fan since 57, but I am done with them as long as this “coaching staff” is there. I have better things to do than support idiocy.
Mako
September 30th, 2011
11:06 am
Dumping Chumper, Kamakize & sLowe would save about $26M….think Liberty Media would let the Braves go get a couple of in-their-prime players with that money? Nah, Chumper is the big draw for the Granny’s and teenagers at Hooters, Kamakize is the big TV draw on the Japan market and sLowe is loved by the Beer vendors and cussed by every fan whenever he pitches. Yep, we’re screwed…maybe 2013
dap01
September 30th, 2011
11:15 am
Chipper is still a great player if he rests offen. He should not play more than 3 days in a row. He still produces.
We need a stong hitting left fielder.
Bourn is a GREAT CF that we should hold on to. He is championship level.
We need 2 more top relievers to go with our stay with our starters who can not go over 6 innings in ANY game.
We need to get rid of Lowe and eat whatever part of the contract that is necessary.
We need a new hitting coach. Parrish was probably the worst ever.
dap01
September 30th, 2011
11:16 am
Chipper was not even in the top 10 of the Braves problems this year.
Wilbo
September 30th, 2011
11:18 am
So it’s good news a third baseman who can’t move 18″ to his left to field a ball is going to come back and gobble up 3 times as much salary as he’s worth?
TechRon
September 30th, 2011
11:19 am
I sure wish WE had hired Ozzie Guillen instead of letting him go to FLA.
COME ON!
September 30th, 2011
11:22 am
Here’s the profound difference between a town that understands winning or seriously striving to win big prize…
Boston: “This cannot happen”; “Who is to blame for this collapse?”; “Fundamental Chnages Needed!” ; “Replace the GM?” ; “Francona out as Manager?”
Atlanta: “There were a lot of good things this season”; “Coaching staff will return in tact” ; “We got our butts kicked over the last month of the season, and they’re going to learn a lot from it and be better ballplayers for it”; “We ran into some great pitching down the stretch”; “It’s just one of those things” ; “I’m proud of the club. We battled today. The ball that Pence hit, you couldn’t throw it or place it any better. And they got the win. It’s a good club over there”
Does anyone get pis*ed off at any of this?? The south is so freeeeeeekin SOFT!
wjones
September 30th, 2011
11:31 am
For all those who think that releasing or “dumping” Chipper would save money, what are you smoking? Chipper has a contract for next year (as does Wren and Fredi, both signed through 2013, so do you really think management wants to pay people for the next two years to sit at home?). We owe him $13 million for next year, so unless Chipper decides to retire and fork over some of it, it is owed to him. So yes, it IS Chipper’s decision.
As for real savings for next year, here is some guarantee money the Braves have to play with–KK’s $6.667 million comes off, as does McLouth’s $6.5 million (Braves have to buy him out at $1.25 million or exercise an option to keep him at $10.65 million–what do YOU think?), Linebrink’s $5.5 million (White Sox paid $3.5 of that), and Sherrill’s $1.2 million. Other possibilities are Moylan, who made $2 million, is arb eligible and injured; Gonzo, who made $2.5 million and is a free agent; and Hinske, who made $1.35 (Braves have option to either renew him at $1.5 million or buy him out at $100,000). Another possibility is if the Braves could sweettalk another team into taking Lowe, since he is in the last year of his contract. If the Braves would agree to eat, say, $10 million, that would free the Braves up another $5 million and clear his roster spot. I don’t know what management is thinking, but to me the $15 million is a sunk cost, and if you can come back with some money AND give the team a better chance to win, it’s a deal worth doing. And I know what we all think of Lowe, but out of the other 29 teams, is there ONE team, ONE pitching coach, who thinks that he can solve Lowe and get him back to where he was, and that $5 million is worth a shot? Remember how Leo used to take older pitchers and work wonders with them. Would a Dave Duncan, or other such coach, see something and want to work with him? It’s certainly worth finding out, IMHO. Remember how Javy Vazquez did the second half with the Marlins after the Yankees gave him up for dead last year?
Should be interesting to see how things develop.
COME ON!
September 30th, 2011
11:34 am
Did W Jones just write: Another possibility is if the Braves could sweettalk another team into taking Lowe? LOL
joe
September 30th, 2011
11:36 am
it’s hard to imagine all the boneheads that still think Chipper is so wonderful. Limited power, mediocre defense, no speed…….
TomTomClub
September 30th, 2011
11:39 am
First off, let me say that FG should be fired along with LP. They are both in over their heads but it appears that we are going to be stuck with them for 2012. It is what it is!! On field changes i would like to see the club make are as follows: 1) Trade Jair Jurrjens-RHP and Martin Prado-3B to ChiSox for Carlos Quentin-RF and Brent Morel-3B. This would give us a RH power outfielder to compliment Dan Uggla in the lineup and a young 3B prospect to spell Chipper next year and take over for him in 2013. 2) Trade Jason Heyward-RF, Arodys Vizcaino-RHP and Tyler Pastornicky-SS to Cleveland for Asdrubal Cabrera-SS and a A-ball Outfield prospect. I know this appears to be overpayment for Cabrera but he is a great SS who plays great defense and hits for avg., power and can steal a few bases for you. He would solidify the SS position and also be a perfect #2 hitter behind Bourn. 3) Sign Coco Crisp-OF to play LF. He is a lifetime .275 hitter who has great speed(stole over 40 bases this year). 4) Trade or release Derek Lowe-RHP. We can only hope he has a good spring training and we are able to find some team(sucker) who will be willing to take him off our hands. Even then, we will probably have to eat 10M or more of his salary. If unable to trade him(likely), simply release him and move forward with one of our young guns. 2012 lineup would be as follows: 1. Michael Bourn-CF 2. Asdrubal Cabrera-SS 3. Freddie Freeman-1B 4. Carlos Quentin-RF 5. Brian McCann-C 6. Dan Uggla-2B 7. Chipper Jones-3B 8. Coco Crisp-LF. The starting rotation would be Hudson, Hanson, Beachy, Minor and Delgado or Teheran.
Capt. Obvious
September 30th, 2011
11:40 am
Your #3 hitter should hit more HR than 18 and definitely drive in more than 70 EVERY year.
CHIPPER IS RUINING THE YOUTH MOVEMENT. Leadership? I hated his comments the last week. I really hated how he hung his head on the friggin bench all game long. Yeah, nice leadership.
YOU HAVE OVERSTAYED YOUR WELCOME!!! Go knock up another Hooters girl. Anybody notice how bad the Braves play once hunting season starts, also?
Go get in your stand, you overpriced chump.
wjones
September 30th, 2011
11:47 am
“COME ON!
September 30th, 2011
11:34 am
Did W Jones just write: Another possibility is if the Braves could sweettalk another team into taking Lowe? LOL”
Yep. You never know til you try. It’s worth the effort to try. Never underestimate the ego of a “pitching genius”. How many ’scrap heap’ pitchers did Leo turn around? And I know it’s hard to believe, but if a team with some money thinks they can get a guy who will slot in as a 4th to 5th starter, give them 30 starts and 180-200 innings at somewhere around a 4.50 ERA, at somewhere around $5 million, there might be takers.
fairweatherfan
September 30th, 2011
11:56 am
No question that Chipper has been a truly great player but this is a BAD DEAL for the Braves. I would bet a bunch that his performance will decline next year and he will continue to have a rash of injuries. Chipper should retire and look forward to getting inducted into the HOF rather than ending his career on a sour note as an ineffective player. BUT….this decision on his part is all about the money.
The Abs Man
September 30th, 2011
11:58 am
More than astounding, Fredi keeps not only job for 2012, but zeros as Parrish and Snitker also remain.
Tells all.
Defines Braves’ organization as clueless plus totally insulting toward knowledgeable fans.
Chipper Jones
September 30th, 2011
11:58 am
Of COURSE I will be back. Look at what a GREAT year this was for ME.
I hit my 450th home run. A few more years I might get to 500. Boy that would look good on the back of my baseball card.
At the start of the year, I was mad cuz Fredi made me take fielding practice and let other guys hit in MY spot in the batting order, but I got that straightened out. I told him this thing was about ME producing runs. I said nobody gets rbi’s or home runs taking infield practice. And sure enough, by the end of the year, I was back hitting third
Anyway. I had a great time this year.I really enjoyed the second half, where everyone paid lots of attention to me. I’d say something about my knee every so often and all the reporters would crowd around my locker and dote on me. And then if I mentioned it again the next day Fredi would let me take a few days off. It was great. I took the kids to the zoo and went roller skating with them.
Anyway, I gotta go. It’s hunting season. See you guys in February. I’m thinking I’m gonna play like two or three more years. I figure I can get my $14million next year and then $10million a year after that (see, the sacrifices I am willing to make for my team?) and that way I can get $34 million AND 500 home runs
Did I mention I’m headed off to go hunting?
It was a great year. Woulda been better if Bobby had been there. I wouldve got a few more days off. I wouldnt have had to waste my time practicing. And I woulda hit third all year. That mightve cost me a few home runs. I’d be really peeved if I ended up with like 498 home runs because of that. But maybe not cuz then I guess I could sign for another year and get another $8million or so. That’d be good money to take the kids to the zoo again
The Abs Man
September 30th, 2011
12:05 pm
Horrid 2012:
Lowe, Chipper about as washed-up albeit past-classers as punch-drunk boxer.
And every time saw Glavine in booth, recall he couldn’t bolt to Mets quicker than Usain Bolt for 3-years, $39 million.
Then pouted and stomped feet when Braves dropped him at end depriving mercenary another million.
Packer Ed
September 30th, 2011
12:07 pm
Enter your comments here
Packer Ed
September 30th, 2011
12:12 pm
Why Chipper? You are looking and acting like a clone of Brett Favre and you know how that ended.
Chipper, do yo want to really destroy your legacy?
If Braves mangement were top notch and not second tier, you would not be allowed to come back.
Chipper Jones
September 30th, 2011
12:18 pm
“Chipper, do yo want to really destroy your legacy?”
Im the greatest switch hitter ever. I was the MAN on for a franchise that won 14 straight division titles. That’s the greatest achievement in the history of sports. Anyone that doesnt think so can kiss my behind. I was Bobby Cox’s favorite son. The fans should realize how lucky they were to be able to watch me play. If they dont, well then they can kiss my behind
Now excuse me, I gotta get going or I will miss some hunting time
BipolarBrave
September 30th, 2011
12:22 pm
Larry Jones! he is old even though the man thinks he can play but he is injured all the time…because of oldness he is done…maybe he can be backup yeah? he has to take pay cut.
tdc
September 30th, 2011
12:24 pm
I don’t have a problem with Chipper playing next season. At least restructure your contract so the team can use that money on somebody else. He does not deserve to be making 13 million next year.
Chipper Jones
September 30th, 2011
12:24 pm
“It’s a shame Chipper didn’t have this fire in his Belly for playing during his 1st 10 years in baseball.”
Dude, until 2001, I was making like nothing and there were other guys on the team stealing MY spotlight. How motivated would YOU be if they were only paying you $4million a year and if every day you had to deal with folks saying that Fred McGriff or Andres Galarraga was the star of the team? I mean in 1999 I was MVP and what did they do? Did they bow down to me? Did they pay me? No – $4million again in 2000. It’s a wonder I didnt tell them to kiss my behind and take a month off to take the kids to the circus
RoyU
September 30th, 2011
12:26 pm
Chipper should not come back if he really wants the Braves to do well. The Braves can use his money to finally put a decent full time third baseman in place in addition to providing funds for another decent player for whatever position. There is no question of Chipper’s loyalty to the Braves but even he should be able to see that with his too often injuries, he disrupts the team as much as he helps.
Chipper Jones
September 30th, 2011
12:27 pm
“CHIPPER IF YOU CARED ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ORGANIZATION YOU WOULD RETIRE INSTEAD OF MILKING IT FOR EVERY DOLLAR YOU CAN GET OUT OF IT”
Kiss my behind. Here I am, the greatest player in the hostory of this franchise, the main man during a run of 14 straight division titles, and you think I should just step aside and give up what I want?
Man, just plant a big ole kiss on Hoss’ MVP behind.
Gimme my shotgun. I’m goin huntin’
Bill
September 30th, 2011
12:34 pm
Why would someone so overpaid not play when so little is expected from him. Good bet he will be injured multiple times next year and his OBP will continue to drop. Should spend the money on other players.
Robert
September 30th, 2011
12:38 pm
“And don’t start with me about Chipper being a HOFer; he’s not”
I disagree. He is a future Hall of Famer. Not first ballot, but a HOFer.
He was one of the finest hitters of his generation and one of the better switch hitters of all time
I am not an admirer of the complete package that is Chipper Jones. I think he is an arrogant, entitled, selfish jerk who is an average fielder, a marginal base runner, and an absolute zero if not a negative as a leader. While in his prime he could carry a team for stretches, he never elevated his team.
But none of that changes the fact that he was a great hitter
A Hall of Fame caliber hitter
Chipper Jones is the Dominique Wilkins of baseball – a totally one dimensional player who was all-world at that one thing he could do well
Roja
September 30th, 2011
12:39 pm
Old man, washed up Chipper played only 126 games in 2011.
Brian McCann, who is 12 years younger than the old man played a whopping 128 games.
Ain’t facts a bitch?
Roja
September 30th, 2011
12:43 pm
I find it hilarious that the year David Wright won a Gold Glove at Third Base, Chipper Jones had FEWER errors. If Chipper had played for a NY team, he would have wone several gold gloves for his fielding prowess.
CC
September 30th, 2011
12:46 pm
Do we want to see yet another player, Chipper, go out like Smoltz and Glavine? They both hung on too long and became degraded shadows of what they were in their prime, and became embarrassments in their attempts to clutch the glory for too long.
Players — Once the slide begins in your old age, for cryin’ out loud, step aside and be remembered for your excellency, and not taint it with an over-blown sense of your own value. Once people start shaking their heads slowly but respectfully you know you’re beginning to lose your fans. They respect who you’ve been, and so hold back. But when they start calling for you, even you, to call it quits what they are really asking is for you not to diminish who you have been to them.
Forever will I remember Smoltz and Glavine, not just for their shining careers in Atlanta, but also for their persistence in continuing to keep bodies and careers, that were clearly on artificial life-support, in the public’s eye. We shouldn’t have had to see that.
Chipper, Michael Bourn just said: “Win as a team, lose as a team.” Now, you may have a contract that allows you to stay on through next year. But you have the choice to help or hinder. We see the gimpy knees and your effort to run the bases. If you wait too long and insist on playing too much in your declining days, you just may go out as a liability, and with your head down — and our heads wagging in pity. If you are valuable in the clubhouse and can still contribute occasionally on the field, we can handle that. But please, for the legacy of your career, don’t demand or expect more than you can beneficially give. It’s OK to root and encourage, for the sake of the team, the young players who grew up wanting to be just like you.
In your sunset days, Chipper, show them how to exit the game.
Robert
September 30th, 2011
12:48 pm
“The past month epitomized the Chipper Jones era–all talk, no action”
Yup – Chipper had lots of words. He was always quick to point out what his teammates needed to be doing. He had advice and criticism for anyone and everyone from John Smoltz to Jason Heyward.
But leaders dont lead with words. They lead by example.
And there was Chipper – his team struggling to stay afloat and hold on to a rapidly dwindling wild card lead with a week to go in the season – leaving the team to be at the hospital for his kid to get elective surgery on the day before a scheduled off day
Family first they said. Sure, in the long run, the big picture, family first. But not in every single situation. I mean if that were the case, then the guy scheduled to start Game 7 of the World Series could decide the morning of the game that it was a nice day to take the kids to the zoo and just blow off the game
You are the face of the franchise. You are the supposed clubhouse leader. You’re making decent money. I know, ARod made more than twice as much this year and his stat line didnt match up to Chipper’s. But see if you cant overlook that blatant sign of disrespect for just a minute At that time of team crisis, you needed to be on the field. You needed to be there before during and after every game.
I know the Braves ok’d the absence two weeks prior. Heck, two weeks prior they probably figured it would be wrapped up and being the day beofre an off day it might be a day they’d rest Chipper anyway. Once they ok’d it, they couldnt rescind.
But Chipper had a choice. And when the moment came – nonemergent, non life threatening sitaution at home – crisis crunch time on the team where I’m the captain – he chose to bail on the team
That’s not a professional. That’s a dabbler.
They say it was ok with the rest of the team. If so, then there is the crux of the problem. There’s the example he set and that’s acceptable operating procedure in this organization
Dabblers dont win World Championships
The result we saw is what happens when dabblers face professionals at a time when it would be more comfortable and convenient to be somewhere else than playing baseball
There’s leadership by Chipper Jones
Roja
September 30th, 2011
12:48 pm
David Wright of the New York Mets made more than twice as many errors (21-9) as Jones and won the Gold Glove honor with a significantly lower fielding percentage (.954 to .971). Shows what playing in NY and being loved by ESPN will do for an inferior player!
Robert
September 30th, 2011
12:53 pm
“This team ran out of gas…get a better training regimen…and hitting coach”
Training regimen? Do you remember this past spring – when Chipper Jones was APPALLED at the idea of having to take infield practice?
And you think you’re gonna get these guys to do a training regimen?
Do you realize how uncomfortable that would be?
Let me ask you something? On a nice crisp October weekend, do you wanna be jogging, biking, and lifting until your muscles burn and your lungs are gonna explode before hitting the cage to hit a thousand and the diamond to field five hunred?
Or would you rather be chilling in a deer stand with a brewski and a Playboy?
Robert
September 30th, 2011
12:57 pm
“My oblique is always cranky, I have no right knee, my hip always bothers me, I have painful bunions, and my post-PED’s body is a wreck”
Again – I am hardly a big Chipper fan – but I believe he never did PED’s
I’m not saying that because I’m a “homer”
I’m saying it because he did not show the physical changes and did not have the ridiculous statistical surge that was the telltale
He had the expected career trajectory – with reasonable highs. He wasnt a guy who couldnt hit A-ball pitching suddenly hitting 35 dingers anf hitting .300 like Bret Boone
IHEARTCARROLL
September 30th, 2011
1:00 pm
Just based on statistics of 2011 3rd basemen, Chipper is 5th in BA, OBP,and slugging, and 2nd defensively in fielding percentage.
So, could you do a little better seeing that 4 3rd basemen ranked above him in one category or another? Maybe. If you are willing to run off someone who spent his entire career with the Braves.
Like him or not, the vast majority of MLB teams do not have a better 3rd baseman.
Likewise, most MLB teams did more poorly than the Braves.
But I agree. If we don’t win the WS every stinking year. Fire all the coaches and the whole team and start over. After all, we are the best fans. Why should we not have the best team every year.
TeheranTime
September 30th, 2011
1:04 pm
I agree that Martin Prado is a utility man. I also feel that Chipper Jones is a PT starter at best. I have nothing against Chipper. I am a fan of his and have been for years. I just think the injuries have limited him to being a shell of the player he once was. Shortstop is a great concern as well. Alex Gonzalez ended up with a decent number of home runs and fields the ball well but it seems to be a feast or famine situation with him offensively. Atlanta needs players who are consistent hitters who do the small things. Things like bunting players over, stealing bases, hitting the sacrifice fly and getting clutch hits. The starting rotation ended up being obliterated due to injury and caused the bullpen to be even more overused that it already was. Scott Linebrink and George Sherrill should be allowed to walk. Linebrink was the spark to a good number of rallies this season and Sherrill just gives an uneasy feeling when he pitches. Kris Medlen could fill the Linebrink role nicely. I really hated to see Peter Moylan go down to another injury. He could have been key. I hope that Atlanta begins to develop some durability out of its starters and allows them to pitch a little longer thus saving the bullpen for the stretch run and playoffs a little more. 70 relief appearances seems to be a healthy number. 85 appearances is just WAY too much. This bullpen will see more and more pitchers blow out their arms if it doesn’t stop. Derek Lowe needs to do the right thing and the graceful thing and retire. He is done. He is killing the Braves. I hope to see Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens come back healthy. Jurrjens was injured practically the whole season though he pitched well early. Brandon Beachy can be REALLY good. I hope the young guns like Mike Minor, Randall Delgado and Julio Teheran get more than a look. I also think that it’s time for Atlanta to begin to look really deep at the organization. It’s like they’re resting on the laurels of a special run in the 90’s and that is way beyond history. The Boston Red Sox had the same collapse as the Braves and they have done the hard thing. They have begun a change in leadership. Terry Francona is gone. Atlanta needs to shake it up. They need to shake it up in the front office, among the coaching staff and on the field.
We can beat those Cheese Steaks!
September 30th, 2011
1:09 pm
Slipper will try and squeeze out 2-3 more seasons..
Betcha…
Hey were the Hooters Women at?
Robert
September 30th, 2011
1:10 pm
“chipper was an all star this year and was the most clutch player this year”
Poll time. Which was Chipper’s most clutch moment down the stretch this past September
Was it
A – Losing a chopper in the lights with two outs in the ninth, ultimately costing the Braves a game
B – Two on one out in the eight inning of Game 161, Braves down 4-2, when Chipper grounds into the first double play Brandon Lidge had gotten all season
C – Late innings of game 162. Leading off the 8th, strikeout. Bottom of the 10th – drive to the warning track. Bottom of the 13th – down 4-3 – facing elimination, if you ever get wanna get the leadoff man on base some way some how now is the time – another strikeout
D – Sept 21 – After taking the day off Chipper makes a huge personal sacrifice and gets to the ball park in time to pinch hit in a Braves loss to the Marlins
For me it’s a tossup between C and D. I mean, one the one hand you see the total dedication – that “all hands on deck” mentality he preached while on the other you just have three clutch performances in a single game
We can beat those Cheese Steaks!
September 30th, 2011
1:16 pm
“But none of that changes the fact that he was a great hitter
A Hall of Fame caliber hitter
Chipper Jones is the Dominique Wilkins of baseball – a totally one dimensional player who was all-world at that one thing he could do well”
Interesting comparison…HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.
One thing about Slipper he sure knew how to disappear in crunch time over the past 16 seasons..
Look at how many big series he and his teams folded in? It’s beyond a pattern.. Hugh???
We can beat those Cheese Steaks!
September 30th, 2011
1:20 pm
Plus he disappeared in those two WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIPS!! Overrated….Mr clutch he is not nor ever was?
Slipper is going to try and play at least 3 more years.. He’s like that Boxer that cant quit as long as some dope continues to throw him millions!
Cant say I blame him…shoot….
Robert
September 30th, 2011
1:22 pm
“Just based on statistics of 2011 3rd basemen, Chipper is 5th in BA, OBP,and slugging, and 2nd defensively in fielding percentage”
As you point out, his stats werent bad. In fact they were quite good.
They werent $14 million dollar stats – but that isnt even really the issue if you ask me. His production was better value for the dollar than Derek Lowe’s was.
Side note. Yes his production was also far better than ARod’s. A – $30 million is less to the Yankees than $14 million is to the Braves and B – I dont care if the Yankees waste money – this is about the Braves not the Yankees – bottom line dont defend keeping Chipper to me by citing what some other team did with THEIR overpaid player
But it’s not about the stats – or the relatively poor value for the money
The real problem is that Chipper is toxic to this team
He makes it all about him – and the team follows – He talks big leadership, but the example he sets is horrible leadership. The team yields to him – they step back and wait for him to be the man on the field and they follow the example he sets (not the example he talks about)
People said Fredi was just like Bobby. That’s wrong. The residual Booby Cox factor on this team isnt Fredi G. It’s Chipper Jones.
It needs to be purged, or at least silenced
I have no problem with Chipper PLAYING next year. But he needs to suit up, shut up, decide his priorities (hey, if it’s ALWAYS family that’s his preroagtive, but then it’s time to retire)and let someone else lead and set the examples on this team
Someone needs to get Roger Dorn into line
JB
September 30th, 2011
1:23 pm
I realize that you can’t reason with the unreasonable, but here goes. All of you idiots who keep saying that Chipper should “do the right thing for the team” and “retire.” Would you walk away from a job and leave that kind of money on the table? Especially if, several years earlier, you had taken less money than you could have made at another job, with the understanding that your company would make up for it later? Would you simply turn down that money? I didn’t think so. So stop demanding that Chipper do it, hypocrites.
Robert
September 30th, 2011
1:25 pm
“Look at how many big series he and his teams folded in?”
They were taught that it was a crapshoot. They were taught that the regular season was what mattered and that division titles were an accomplishment
Besides – it’s tough to play in October. It’s cold and dark and you’ve been at it seven and a half months and you hurt and ache and you really miss your family
They folded because the playoffs are a situation where dabblers arent gonna make it.
We can beat those Cheese Steaks!
September 30th, 2011
1:28 pm
Slipper, 5 ko’s in crunch/time, money ball time!!!!!!!!
Stats are good, but its about Rings, its about crunch time my Grasshopper!
enough said…..
Robert
September 30th, 2011
1:30 pm
“All of you idiots who keep saying that Chipper should “do the right thing for the team” and “retire.” Would you walk away from a job and leave that kind of money on the table? Especially if, several years earlier, you had taken less money than you could have made at another job”
Ok – but stop being a hypocrite. Quit talking about the team and about ladership. Come out and say it. It’s about ME. I have a chance to make big bucks and to see my name in lights and in the big man spot in the batting order. I’m gonna play next year and I expect them to shine my shoes and kiss my behind like they always have. And my minions, I mean, teammates, better be ready to bow and courtsey and hide their eyes when I start spewing about all hands on deck.
By the way, next year, I might make the “all hands on deck” call from home. I might be taking a day off to take the wife to a concert in the park
Chipper
September 30th, 2011
1:33 pm
Bite me, I’m taking the 14 mill and phoning it in again.
I need enough ho money to keep me going till my pecker falls off.
Screw the Braves.
Kevin
September 30th, 2011
1:47 pm
wow it just keeps getting worse and worse
braves fan forever
September 30th, 2011
1:50 pm
Well first of all I am a Chipper fan.I am glad he is coming back next year.Second I really think they need to put Martin Prado on the trading block and see whats available for him.Third if Bmac is still having problems with his back then lets get him healthy,but even healthy he is a great hitter,but below average defensively too many pass balls and too many stolen bases and when he came back called way to many bad pitches.I hope it is just his back maybe bothering him.Heyward is a puzzle.I think he might need to get his eyes checked.Larry parrish need s to give his salary back.He didn’t earn a penny of it as well as Fredi G.Lowe pitched like he wanted out of atlanta so let him leave.KK an Mclouth are gone maybe send alex gonzalez too.Hinske looked like he put on 30 pounds and maybe we need him to go.I do love the way kris medlen pitched he can replace lowe.Oh and one other person who need to go LINEBRINK.
Robert
September 30th, 2011
2:20 pm
“Heyward is a puzzle”
It’s no mystery what’s wrong with Heyward. Heyward was doing just fine until he listened to Bobby Cox’s idiotic hee-hawings about him being too patient at the plate – after that he started hacking at everything and since then he’s a .220 hitter
The puzzle is how to solve it. I’d hypnotize the kid and try to erase from his mind every memory of Cox – try to make it as if he had never met the donkey – er, man
jerry
September 30th, 2011
2:22 pm
Liberty Media can’t afford Chipper and whatever it takes to win? Well, I guess the Braves are just f– ked.
We can beat those Cheese Steaks!
September 30th, 2011
2:23 pm
ole boys club have to be some of the biggest underachievers in the history of professional sports..
Wait till next year
September 30th, 2011
3:17 pm
“Jones said the team’s September collapse would have no bearing on his decision.”
Well how about your knees, and the bone on bone situation that caused you to have no range, and limited movement during the Philly series?
Will that do it?
Jay Dubu
September 30th, 2011
3:20 pm
““I’ve committed to playing next year,” he said. “I won’t commit past that; let’s put it that way.”
I sure hope not. We appreciate what you’ve done over the years, but it’s time to ride off into the sunset. Don’t do like Glavine and Smoltz, and stay too long, and have your last year be comedic material, and be forced out.
FL dawg
September 30th, 2011
3:53 pm
The difference with Atl and winning teams, yes Boston. Is they won 2 WS in the past 10 yrs yet still fire their manager and coaching staff. What the hell did Fredi G. do to earn another shot? Yes Line of bricks and Sherill and D down Lowe should be shot, wait a minute ATl owes Lowe way too much, put him back in the PEN! The Braves will be fine with the rotation of Hudson, Hanson,JJ, Tehran, Delgado and Lowe eating innings and saving the super talented and thanks to Fredi burnt out BP. Thats what the NEW Braves mngr should do if ATL is even gonna be a 500 team. Shame. Bourne, Uggla,McCann, Prado and our ROTY have to play for this lack of mngmnt. Braves season ticket holders are iriots.
Jay Dubu
September 30th, 2011
4:20 pm
“Only 46 homeruns til Chipper reaches 500…………………..”
That’ll take 3 more year at least.
Chipper Jones Must Stay
September 30th, 2011
4:28 pm
Wow didnt realize we had this many idiots in Atlanta. Did you not watch him play when he came back from his mid season knee surgery????? Hits 305 in last 42 games. He is one of the best hitters we have and will be again next year. He is a distraction for the pitchers knowing he is in the line up. Seriously people either stop commenting or get a fricken clue.
Anyone on here saying fire freddi or force chip to retire, YOU ARE ALL RETARDS AND KNOW NOTHING ABOUT BASEBALL. Which applies to FL dawg, Jay dubu just to name a few idiots.
Do us real fans that actually know things about baseball a favor and go play in traffic or go eat paste since thats what morons like you people do.
Chipper is the face of this team, the hardest worker, great mentor to the young guys, a force in the lineup healthy or not.
Those of you saying look at his salary for next year of course he is coming back… You are the king of all idiots. Chipper plays bc he loves the game, he doesnt care about the money, he has made enough that he doesnt need it. and in fact he has said that everytime he is questioned on his salary being a factor. Get you heads out your assss and stop pretending to know anything about this sport.
And FL Dawg, us season ticket holders are the real braves fans unlike you. We go out and support our team every game while ppl like you piss and moan from your couch. The team specifically stated they hoped for sell out crowds for the philly series to help get them pumped up, not 1 sell out for the series. I was at all 3. Fans dont show up= lack of motivation. Big crowds= pumped up players. so like I said your an idiot.
ONCE AGAIN ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE SAYING FIRE FREDDI, RETIRE CHIPPER, CHIPPER ONLY IN IT FOR THE MONEY………. YOU ARE ALL MORONS.. PLEASE STOP POSTING SO REAL FANS CAN CHAT.
Robert
September 30th, 2011
4:31 pm
“Chipper is the face of this team, the hardest worker, great mentor to the young guys, a force in the lineup healthy or not.”
The hardest worker?
Leaving the time in the heart of the playoff drive to be with family for an elective non life-threatening situation – that’s what you consdier working hard and being a great mentor?
Chipper Jones Must Stay
September 30th, 2011
4:33 pm
Robert
September 30th, 2011
1:10 pm
“chipper was an all star this year and was the most clutch player this year”
Poll time. Which was Chipper’s most clutch moment down the stretch this past September
Was it
A – Losing a chopper in the lights with two outs in the ninth, ultimately costing the Braves a game
YOU ARE AN IDIOT.
Yes it is chippers fault that the Marlins play in a football stadium where the lights are right in his eyes. Man you nailed it. Seriously, i hope you dont have a job, no one could be dumb enough to hire someone that is as dumb as you. Just jump off the ledge man, we will all be glad you did.
Chipper Jones Must Stay
September 30th, 2011
4:35 pm
Robert you are an absloute moron, you know nothing about baseball that much is clear.
If your family member was having surgery wouldnt you want to be there?? Another example of how dumb you are
Chipper Jones Must Stay
September 30th, 2011
4:36 pm
and being a mentor or being hard working has nothing to do with him being there for his family you dolt.
Can we get an idiot button in here ????
Chipper Jones Must Stay
September 30th, 2011
4:56 pm
The real problem is that Chipper is toxic to this team
He makes it all about him – and the team follows – He talks big leadership, but the example he sets is horrible leadership. The team yields to him – they step back and wait for him to be the man on the field and they follow the example he sets (not the example he talks about)
Wow just found another awesome nugget of wisdom from you Robert. hahahahahahaha You really know nothing, it just becomes more evident by each comment of yours i read.
Chipper toxic?????? What drugs are you on?
All about chipper????? So he doesnt mentor the youg guys, he didnt take the time to go and sit and watch Heyward in the cages for multiple days to give him advice on fixing his swing. So when Frenchy was here, he didnt take him underneath his wing and teach him how to play at the major league level. So all the thanks the rookies always throw his way for all the advice and mentoring he gives them is just media propoganda to keep it all about chip??? hahahha man you are dumber than i thought.
So hitting .305 in last 42 games isnt leading by example, nor is finding his power again down the stretch for 9 HRs?? Seriously JUMP OFF A CLIFF YOU F#CKING MORON.
Bravefaninok
September 30th, 2011
7:52 pm
– Losing a chopper in the lights with two outs in the ninth, ultimately costing the Braves a game
Bonafacio was running a perfect throw wouldn’t have got him,he would have been standing on 1st no matter how chipper played it(it was a high chop).
Hy Ronatt
September 30th, 2011
7:58 pm
A smart team would see what they could get in the AL in return for a DH. But that’s a smart team we’re talking about.
alexcox
September 30th, 2011
9:36 pm
aa
alexcox
September 30th, 2011
9:42 pm
tdos ustedes han comentado verdades pero yo carajo vi tdos estos problemas y lo comunicaba pero este GM d mierda no LEE ni a aprendido en sus 9 con el equipo por favor si algun due|~o lee los blog d esta pajina q VENDEN o VOTEN a este perdedor.
wjones
October 1st, 2011
11:21 am
Maybe it’s just me, but for ONCE I would like to see a Braves legend RETIRE AS A BRAVE! We have, without exception, sent all of our legends packing before their careers ended—-Spahn, Mathews, Aaron, Niekro, Murphy, Smoltz, Glavine….so if Chipper comes back next year and retires as a Brave, that will be very cool with me. Plus, he not only is productive at the age of 39 (for those who bitch about playing time, look at how many games 39 year-olds routinely play, i.e., Aaron, and get back to me), but he is giving us a transition year to either prime someone else (Prado?) to take over or find out if they need to pursue trade/FA signing. Plus, it gives him one more chance at the playoffs..Maybe the team could rally around “win one for the Chipper?” Corny, I know, but whatever works.
And I understand some of the negative venting since the Braves didn’t get in–I am extremely frustrated as well—but some of you don’t have a CLUE or are just writing for attention. If you have learned anything about Liberty Media, you know they aren’t just going to throw away money. Fredi and Wren both are signed through 2013—Liberty has to pay them whether or not they have jobs. So if you sign someone like Francona—if he even wants to manage right now—-it will take MAJOR bucks AND a long term contract–on top of continuing to pay Fredi. Not realistic. Lowe is going to make $15 million next year, and the only way to avoid some of that contract is to trade him and get another team to take on some of the salary. If you release him YOU STILL HAVE TO PAY HIM $15 MILLION AND ANOTHER TEAM CAN SIMPLY PICK HIM UP AND PAY HIM WHATEVER THEY AGREE TO ON TOP OF WHAT THE BRAVES PAY HIM. If you kill him you have to pay his family. If you get him drafted into the army you still have to pay him. The money only goes away if you trade him and get another team to take on some of the salary. I would honestly try to get someone to take on at least $5 million–that is real money that can be used to either acquire players or pay raises. And $5 million isn’t a big deal to most teams; Linebrink was making that, for goodness sake! The same is true of Chipper. The Braves owe him $13 million next year, dead or alive. You can’t simply release a player with a guaranteed contract and get out of paying him. Not to mention he is still very productive! I do agree with some of you about conditioning. Everyone has injuries, but we seem to have injuries to a lot of our younger players–you expect Chipper, Lowe, Hudson, etc., to have injuries as they age—but with McCann, Jurrjens, Hanson, etc., maybe it’s partially a conditioning thing. I know if the early 90’s the Braves had a good conditioning coach that everyone raved about. Other than Justice, I don’t remember position players of any merit having a lot of issues during that time, and other than the occasional pitcher (Smoltz being the exception–he tended to overdo himself and had many surgeries over the years), we were fairly healthy, certainly more consistently than the last two years. McDowell is certainly a different personality than Mazzone, and I’m not sure how I feel about him staying. Mazzone didn’t work well with young pitchers, but did wonders for retreads (such as Lowe?). He did preach about doing a lot of throwing, and maybe that’s what we need to get back to for pitchers to pitch deeper into games. I will admit, though, that we have historically worn out our bullpen, as do most teams now, because of the combo of starters not pitching deep, hitters working the count better, umps calling a narrow strike zone, and relievers only pitching one inning or less, regardless of effectiveness. It’s silly that we’ve gotten to 13 man pitching staffs, and something needs to change soon.
Sorry for the offtopic ramble there.
a fan
October 1st, 2011
1:43 pm
Chipper showed his true colors ” they got their buts kicked” I thought he was part of the team, he should have said we. His attitude when striking out swinging at bad pitches was telling over the last two weeks of the season. He has lost mobility moving to his left, bad knees and age will do that to you. If they keep him and he struggles he will force Freddie into a corner, Prado is the guy to play third.
Spock
October 1st, 2011
8:25 pm
CJMS–you really don’t help your argument by calling everyone who doesn’t agree with you an idiot, it makes you look like a spoiled-brat 12-year old jock-sniffer
Rafy
October 2nd, 2011
4:12 pm
Its time for Chipper and the Braves to move on! We need a third baseman that can play everyday!
His selfishness is killing the team. With the millions Wren is paying to him, they can get a quality good player and healthy! But Chipper, thanks for some wonderful years!
alexcox
October 2nd, 2011
6:10 pm
a
alexcox
October 2nd, 2011
6:25 pm
YO espero si c queda wren q busque primero un couch d bateo lejitimo y al gunas armas como trade lowe por mickeal yuong,salir d nate , linebranic martines wilson trade jj por carlos quintin ia algo q q observe en los juegos interligas jason vargas le hase dano alos philips y seria un arma en la division usaria a alex y prado en el banco con hiscke,contansa y dias esto seria para temporada212 cuando c retire chiper bajar yuong a 3base y suberia patronis ss y buscaria 2 para el bulpen
Chipper Jones Must Stay
October 3rd, 2011
10:49 am
Spock
October 1st, 2011
8:25 pm
CJMS–you really don’t help your argument by calling everyone who doesn’t agree with you an idiot, it makes you look like a spoiled-brat 12-year old jock-sniffer
Then dont come one here and say idiotic things and I wont call people idiots. And it isnt just for not agreeing, its for saying idiotic things like chipper should retire or fire Freddi. Those ppl are IDIOTS!!! And know nothing of the team or the sport.
Chipper Jones Must Stay
October 3rd, 2011
10:52 am
Rafy
October 2nd, 2011
4:12 pm
Its time for Chipper and the Braves to move on! We need a third baseman that can play everyday!
His selfishness is killing the team. With the millions Wren is paying to him, they can get a quality good player and healthy! But Chipper, thanks for some wonderful years!
Selfish???????????? Wow you get to join the group of idiots. You ppl dont know anything about chipper and have obviously never heard his thoughts on anythings. Chipper is a class act guy. Hew plays bc he loves the sport not for the money. But you wouldnt know that because youre too busy not watching the braves, and then when they dont win you make yourself feel better by pissing and moaning on this blog.