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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
274 comments Add your comment
Johnny T
February 2nd, 2012
10:46 am
FOG is a great name for you….you appear to be in one. Chipper leads by EXAMPLE. He took as many cortizone shots last year as he medically could to be in the lineup. And if Prado gets back to form, we will be fine at 3rd when Chipper’s body won’t let him play. I will take 110 games from Chipper for 9 mil … when Fielder just got paid well over 20 mil/yr. Chipper and McCann are still the most professional and feared hitters in the Braves lineup with men in scoring position.
David O'Brien
February 2nd, 2012
10:50 am
Here’s the complete list of Braves non-roster spring training: left-handed pitchers Yohan Flande, Sean Gilmartin and Dusty Hughes; right-handed pitchers Peter Moylan, Jason Rice, Adam Russell and Zeke Spruill; catchers Christian Bethancourt, J.C. Boscan, Evan Gattis, Matt Kennelly and Jose Yepez; infielders Ernesto Mejia, Andrelton Simmons, Drew Sutton, Joe Terdoslavich and Josh Wilson; and outfielders Todd Cunningham, Luis Durango, Stefan Gartrell and Jordan Parraz.
Bobo is Not the Problem
February 2nd, 2012
11:01 am
“Chipper says 2012 might not be his last season.”
Lord I hope so. Low class redneck, calling the fans names. Get out of here and take your 120 mediocre games a year with you, and this franchise can finally start to move ahead.
the billman
February 2nd, 2012
12:38 pm
If Chipper can still cover third and play 125 games, I’d rather have his not-quite-what-it-used-to-be bat in the line-up than many younger bats I’ve seen lately. Chipper swinging on instinct is preferable to some idiot flailing away at everything outside the strike zone. The jury is out on his return in 2013. A ding here or there is tolerable, but with another extended injury absence he would do himself and he team well to call it a career.
BravesFanSince80's
February 2nd, 2012
12:46 pm
What is up with all the redneck bashing on here? ATL is like the corner hub of southern rednecks and MANY of us have no problem being referred to as that anymore given as how, in most cases, it separates us from something we never wanted to be in the first place. Chipper a redneck? I bet he’d say he was and probably proud of it:)
David O'Brien
February 2nd, 2012
1:11 pm
Chipper a redneck? I bet he’d say he was and probably proud of it:)
Yep.
John Adcox
February 2nd, 2012
1:15 pm
I don’t understand. Seriously. I don’t. Where are these negative comments coming from? Seriously, Where?
Yes, Chipper is aging. Yes, he’s been injured. Can someone please point to all the third basemen who have been more durable over the last few years? And who have put up better numbers? Not a long list.
Now then. How many of them are available? Never mind the price. How many are available AT ALL?
If even close to healthy, Chipper is looking like a bargain to me, yes, in 2013, especially if someone gets a late-season call up to spend some time in Chipper’s shadow.
How many will provide the leadership and mentoring for younger players? To be frank, who’s going to sell as many tickets?
We’re all going to miss Chipper soon enough. And badly. Let’s not rush that, okay?
John
Who would love to have seen Hank Aaron or Dale Murphy bat just one last time.
BravesFanSince80's
February 2nd, 2012
1:40 pm
@JohnAdcox: Amen
Brave New World
February 2nd, 2012
2:52 pm
Chipper (Larry The Future Hall of Famer) and Larry The Cable Guy are both very wealthy rednecks.
John Donovan
February 2nd, 2012
3:29 pm
Chipper, we are going back in for four season tickets this year after a year off. It finally was clear to us: when you hang it up, this team will not be the same. We have some great young players, but just listen to the stands when you come up to bat, when your name is announced. All those people believe in you, love watching you play, love you! You are one of the very few who has not gone after all the money you could. You have juggled your money so we could make the team better. Chipper, everyone KNOWS that! The Braves are YOUR team. To a Southerner, loyalty is the most important thing. You have shown the Braves loyalty. In return, we fans will always be loyal to you. Please keep playing!!!
This Needed To Be Said
February 2nd, 2012
3:45 pm
I loved Hank Aaron and still do. But…. I don’t want to see him suit up next year and pay him…
# 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
# annual performance bonuses: $0.75M each for 135, 140 games
Sorry Larry. Time to say goodbye.
This Needed To Be Said
February 2nd, 2012
3:47 pm
In the NFL, most teams don’t give $10-13 million dollar gold watches to guys based on their MVP seasons from when they were in their prime. Salary caps and common business sense dictates that.
chopp'nunhappy
February 2nd, 2012
4:19 pm
Joe Lemire of si.com, pre season power rankings for 2012 for MLB:
#10 Atlanta Braves
Notable additions: IF Jack Wilson
Notable subtractions: SP Derek Lowe, SS Alex Gonzalez
“The Braves’ most significant off season move was a salary dump, moving Lowe to the Indians for a low-level minor league reliever and $5 million of payroll relief. But it opened a rotation spot for Atlanta’s bevy of pitching prospects. Atlanta could use another dependable bat after scoring just 641 runs last year (10th in the NL) and could, sometime down the road, trade a young arm to fill that need. For now they hope for a bounce back from Jason Heyward and a strong debut from rookie shortstop Tyler Pastornicky”
Very telling when your major notable addition is Jack Wilson. Whew! I’m so relieved that Liberty “Spare No Expense” Media owns the Braves. Mentally challenged ownership and GM who gave Chipper that ridiculous contract extension, that without it, the Braves could have a quality, young stud 3B who could give you 140 or so games a season. Instead, the Braves will have a 3B by committee again in 2012.
Robert
February 2nd, 2012
4:21 pm
“By the way, what leads you to believe that baseball isn’t his passion?”
The fact that he tok a family day off for a nonemergent situation is a clear indicator that baseball is his hobby, not his passion.
Chipper Jones would rather hit third and make $14 million a year than hit sixth, make half as much, and have his team win something of consequence
David O'Brien
February 2nd, 2012
4:36 pm
The fact that he tok a family day off for a nonemergent situation is a clear indicator that baseball is his hobby, not his passion. — Robert
Or it could mean that baseball is not his life at age 39. That if one of his young sons is scared about having to undergo a difficult surgical procedure, Chipper decided after talking to — and getting the blessing of — teammates that it’d be OK to miss one game and be there with his kid.
If that indicates to you that baseball is his hobby and not his passion, so be it. But just so you know, he could’ve hung it up after the torn ACL in 2010, and said that his knee just wasn’t responding after surgery and that he could no longer play. Then he’d have collected his entire $28 million for the 2011-2012 seasons, a good chunk of it covered by insurance.
Seattle Braves
February 2nd, 2012
5:09 pm
Well Said DOB
I would take Chipper now over any other option.
@DOB
Any truth to the specualtion of Pastornicky not being the starter, if he faulters in Spring training? If so, What is the Back up plan?
John Adcox
February 2nd, 2012
5:24 pm
This Needed To Be Said, where/how are you planning to replace Chipper’s production?
Bobby's chauffeur
February 2nd, 2012
6:18 pm
Chipper is entitled to his money. Both parties agreed upon it. That is why they call it a contract. The guy has put the team first many times adjusting his contract to help payroll. He has all the money he will ever need. He will step aside when he no longer will help the team win. These guys have super ego’s. Money is not as important as respect from the fans, they won’t play if they can’t contibute. We have a great team on paper. If everyone lives up to thier expectations, it may just be a good year for our Braves
BravesFanSince80's
February 2nd, 2012
6:26 pm
I get labeled as being too negative on here a lot…that said, anyone who claims to be a fan of the Atlanta Braves and is ungrateful for a player like Chipper is no real fan, you’re just a sports whiner, and you chose the Braves to whine about…
Brian
February 2nd, 2012
7:52 pm
any moron that comes on here and bashes CHIPPER JONES, is not a Braves fan.. He is holding no one hostage. He is not milking this team, period!!! Did any of you read the article??? 2nd in the league in fielding… SECOND!! Third most productive third baseman offensively last year… Third!!! That is the top 3 in the league… at 40 years old!!! Go ask some of the retired players what they think of Chip.. Warrior, Winner, True Professional… All the things he has done for and continues to do for this franchise and you True Losers have the nerve to come on here and bash him… Sad, sad sad… Go root for some other team.. You never were a Braves or CHIPPER JONES fan…
Disco Stew
February 2nd, 2012
10:58 pm
Interesting and perhaps telling line from the Nats GM “Rizzo noted that six of last year’s playoff teams had at least two starters with 200 innings pitched, and Jackson’s presence will help correct the “innings shortage” Rizzo said the Nationals suffered last year.”
How many Braves starters have pitcher 200 innings in the past three years? In any given year have they had at least two starters pitch 200 or more innings?
It would seem for the sake of the pen and the post season ATL needs to get a rotation which has some guys who can throw 200 innings. This will be tough will rookies and a top of the rotation that has some injury issues.
Hopefully Beachy, Hanson and one of JJ or Hudson can approach or exceed 200 IP.
danny hutchens
February 3rd, 2012
12:19 am
i watch and follow the braves for several reasons, chipper is the main one! he is and always willbe the face of the braves in my opinion. he should play as long as he wants too. he had a great year last year and will have another this year and all of you doubters will be eating your words. no one has done more than he tto be able to go out on his own terms, and as far as i’m concerned he could play another five. keep going chipper, there’s a hell of a lot more people wanting you to continue than the one half of one per cent that wants you to retire.
Hank Williams Jr.
February 3rd, 2012
9:53 am
Chipper, who do you think you are… Julio Franco or somebody? Call it quits already!!! You should have retired like 3 years ago!!!!!
Fed Up Fan
February 3rd, 2012
10:44 am
Chipper will stay, as long as there’s pay. Don’t believe any of the B.S. about how he wants to help the team. Anyone, with baseball sense, knows that he’s more of a burden than a benefit at this point in his career. His desire for money is the only reason he keeps going, and the stupidity in the Braves front office enables him to do so.
Old Timer
February 3rd, 2012
10:49 am
I watched Willie Mays stumble around the outfield, long after he should have left the game. It was a sad site to behold. I hate to think of Chipper looking like that, but I’m afraid he will. Some just don’t know when to call it a career.
Gmony Rocks
February 3rd, 2012
10:50 am
Careful there Larry..your running the Risk of looking like Smolz at the end of his run…hanging on till it looks Embarrassing.
Bobo is Not the Problem
February 3rd, 2012
11:15 am
Chipper ole’ing a ball right through his legs late in the last game of the season in 2000, on October 1, 2000, against the Rockies, to blow a Braves lead and lead to the Braves losing home field advantage for the playoffs, which led to them getting swept for the first time in the postseason during the incredible run, could be viewed as the beginning of the demise for this franchise. The Braves were coming off their fifth WS in 8 seasons (excluding ‘94) after 1999.
Braves led 5-3 in the 9th with two on and two out. Very easy groundball to 3rd…and Chipper lets it go right through his legs for the 25th error of the season. A total lack of effort or concentration, take your pick.
That error opened the floodgates for a 2-out, 7-run inning as the Rockies blasted the Braves, 10-5, and sent them on the road to St. Louis, instead of opening at home, which was a very deflating way to end the season and begin the playoffs.
That 7-run inning was followed by a 6-run first inning for the Cardinals in Game 1. Over two consecutive innings, the Braves gave up 13 runs. They have never returned to the World Series.
Oh, did I mention that Chipper also made an error in that Cardinals’ first inning that helped their 6-spot?
To that point, the Braves, despite having won only 1 WS, had been very competitive in postseason, with a winning postseason record (by a decent margin). Since then, their postseason performance has been awful.
Through 1999, the Braves of the 90s were in the postseason 8 times. Only 1 time did they lose in the first round, in 1993, before the wild card era. Beginning in 1995, they won the NLDS every single time through 1999. Five years in a row. Ask the modern Phillies; that is quite an achievement.
Since 1999, they have won exactly one NLDS, losing six. 5-1 before the Chipper error, 1-6 after it.
No, that error did not take the franchise down. However, I do think it was a major contributor to the postseason failure of 2000, and that failure was a contributor to our lack of success since then. We really didn’t fail much in the playoffs before 2000. We only won one WS, but given the crapshoot that is the postseason, we did very well. It’s not easy to make it to 5 out of 8 WS.
Since then, in an era mostly with Chipper as the face of the franchise (absent Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz for some of those years), we have been terrible in the postseason. Well below average.
Chipper, face of the Braves, fearless leader…except when it comes to fielding his position.
Ole.
BatterUp
February 3rd, 2012
11:30 am
should have been his last season 10 seasons ago
Robert
February 3rd, 2012
11:42 am
“Or it could mean that baseball is not his life at age 39. That if one of his young sons is scared about having to undergo a difficult surgical procedure, Chipper decided after talking to — and getting the blessing of — teammates that it’d be OK to miss one game and be there with his kid.”
DOB, when you are being paid to play the game in the big leagues, then during the season, baseball better well be your life.
If it were a life-threatening situation, it’s a different story. It wasnt.
As for the fact that his teammates gave him their blessing – Chipper needed to decide to stay with the team, period, no matter even if his teammates gave him their blessing to be away
As for the fact that the team gave him their blessing – when they did so, it appeared that the Braves would have a playoff spot in hand by the date in question. If that had happened, that day would probably have been a rest day for Chipper anyway. So they okayed it. Between when they did so and the actual day, the team’s situation changed drastically. The organization could not go back on their word. All they could do was hope that Chipper made the right decision. He didnt.
And as for Chipper playing after the knee surgery, when he couldve been paid a good chunk of his salary even if he hadnt – He is chasing personal milestone numbers. I betcha Chipper would be happier with his 500th dinger than with a second ring
Robert
February 3rd, 2012
12:56 pm
“Chipper, face of the Braves, fearless leader”
See there’s the thing – Remember when Chipper Jones was all over Jason Heyward when JHey was a little slow to come back from his aches and pains? Ole Larry was real vocal about how Heyward had to get back in there. But then later in the season, when it’s crunch time and the team is struggling mightily to hold on to a playoff spot and his kid has an elective medical procedure planned, Chipper is outta there.
Chipper wants them to do as he says. Cuz what he says he doesnt mean to apply to him having to do it
Disgusted
February 3rd, 2012
1:28 pm
“I get labeled as being too negative on here a lot…that said, anyone who claims to be a fan of the Atlanta Braves and is ungrateful for a player like Chipper is no real fan, you’re just a sports whiner, and you chose the Braves to whine about…”
I could understand the bashing if he were not producing at all, but he gave us a solid year last yr, playing in what, 126 games. He is still amoung the upper tier of third baseman both at bat and in the field even now.
There are so many other things to be negative about, most notably the ownership and its refusal to put up the $$$$$ to make it the team what it was. And the TV contract is not going to help things.
If we ever get another Chipper or Andruw player developed thru the system, they will prolly walk once its their time to get paid. Can;t blame them.
Your previous post said it about right. Only I am more bitter toward ownsership than most here. It looks like we are stuck with the shirts at LM for a long long time. And I do not want to understand it.
What is this going to be like in 2020? Maybe the Pittsburgh Pirates will have a bigger roll than us by then, who knows. I want LM gone in the worst way, but it ain’t happening.
Fats O Kelly
February 3rd, 2012
10:00 pm
Chipper is going to show all of his critics where they can stick their negativity this year. The man is on a mission to kick some serious booty this year. I see 30 HR and over 100 RBI’s and a playoff
Be redneck proud Jones,but then again he is one of us anyway. Kick booty Jones……..
Fed Up Fan
February 4th, 2012
10:19 am
Maybe Braves fans should start an Occupy Liberty Media movement.
Michael G.
February 4th, 2012
2:09 pm
The Braves organization can’t operate under a budget, overpay players past their prime, and field a team capable of winning a world series. What part of that don’t you understand, Dave? This is nothing more than a throwaway season coming up until the organization can get out from under KK, Lowe, Chipper, and Hudson contracts freeing up much needed money. They would also do a great service to themselves try trading McCann rather than give him a long-term contract if which he won’t be able to play catcher everyday 4 years from now.
foultip
February 4th, 2012
5:35 pm
Hope Chipper has a great year. Even if he can’t field to his right or left and sometimes when it’s hit straight to him, he still looks great on the slow rollers.
ab initio
February 5th, 2012
10:26 am
“You are still one of the most durable 3rd basemen in baseball and one of the most productive.”
Thanks for the laugh.
This season and beyond: Chipper Jones, noted Mets killer, is far from done | theSPORTSfeast
February 5th, 2012
2:02 pm
[...] fun, I’m going to keep going,” he said before an informal hitting session at Turner Field, as reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution‘s Dave O’Brien. “I sit here with three weeks to go before spring training and I’m not ready to say this is [...]
BBart
February 6th, 2012
3:43 pm
Chipper can still hit –
But – He is – flat out – the worst defensive 3rd baseman in baseball. I wish I had a dollar for every ground ball that rolled past him in the last 2 years.
He would make a great matidore…
OLE!
BravesFanSince80's
February 6th, 2012
3:56 pm
@Robert, I shoulda got back on here a lot sooner to let you know just how far wrong you are, speaking as a parent, if one of my sons were having a “procedure” of pretty much any kind, you can bet your A S S I’d be there. Chipper not playing to be there for his son in a scary situation for the little guy, life threatening or no, is WAY more important than your job. That’s what the game is to a major leaguer, a job, an awesome one I’ll grant you, but it’s there job. If you wouldn’t take off from work to be there for your kid in a time when they’re going through something pretty scary like that, I’ll say this with totol certainty, you’re a lousy father. I’d think less of Chipper if he HADN’T went to be with his son and instead played a freaking game!
BravesFanSince80's
February 6th, 2012
3:58 pm
@BBart, check out Detroit’s 3B for this coming year if you think he’s so bad…
Odelay
February 6th, 2012
7:15 pm
Bingo, on the DET 3b comment. Chipper has very little range at this point, sure, but he still played more innings than all but 6 or 7 3B last year and did it with good hands. He made the second fewest errors than ANYONE at 3B despite playing such a comparatively high total of innings there. I’ve noticed every single Chipper comment is either based off his actual performance and numbers, or dips wildly into sensationalized hyperbole. There’s never anything in between. Never hurts to look things up before you go off on a rant about them.
Larry30
February 6th, 2012
9:13 pm
All the histrionics about people who dare to criticize chipper jones. These guys convinced me in ‘94 that baseball is a business. I can be a baseball fan and a braves fan and still think chipper is overpaid and a mediocre 3rd baseman. I think this will be his last year. That awful slump he had at the end of ‘09 continued right into the first 2 1/2 months of 2010 (thank goodness for Troy Glaus or there is no way the braves take bobby to the playoffs that year). His season was cut short by the knee injury and he was forced to train in the off season like he had not trained in years. (remember what Brian Jordan said about chipper’s training regimen?) After coming to spring training in much improved condition he had a very good season last year. I’m fairly certain that his off season conditioning this year consisted mostly of climbing in and out of deer stands and stepping into holes in the woods. I don’t think you’re going to see numbers like he put up last year.
Bob the Blogger
February 6th, 2012
9:58 pm
I hope Chipper can keep his batting average up enough to retire with a .300 average. Mantle retired with a .298 and always regretted it. If Chipper goes 100 for 450 (.222) this year and retires, he’ll have his .300 average. Personally, I think he will do better than that. However, if he has two bad years, it could be in jepardy.
Bob the Blogger
February 6th, 2012
10:01 pm
I just checked, and his lifetime OBP is .402. It looks like that one won’t stand up for another year.
BravesFanSince80's
February 6th, 2012
10:06 pm
@Larry30, Chipper plays a solid 3B for a 40 yr old and he’s being paid now for his prime years when he deferred money to the back end of his contract so that the team had more room on payroll to go after a post-season birth, his contract is has been one of the best multi-year deals EVER. Period. Your “opinion” as you call it, is S H I T…
BravesFanSince80's
February 6th, 2012
10:42 pm
one more thing Larry30, what real Braves fan gives a rat’s A S S what Brian Jordan says about anything?…
Dub366
February 7th, 2012
5:18 am
set your old a__ down it time to do like you been doing all these yrs QUIT
Lefty
February 7th, 2012
11:13 am
DOB, you have a lot of idiots posting on here. First of all, regardless of how much or how little Chipper hits (and he still hits more than most 3B’s in the game) he still draws fans. With that link to the past and his still productive plate appearances, Chipper more than earns his money.
Also, all the people who want Chipper to retire have yet to put forth a plan whereby the Braves will actually be a better team without him. David Wright is hurt more than Chipper and he isn’t coming to Atlanta anyway. Prado can’t come in on a ground ball and he certainly can’t hit 25 bombs (let alone the 45 that Chipper put up in ‘99). Have you ever seen Michael Young butcher the position? Watch what happens in Detroit this year? Youkilis & A-Rod are hurt all the time? Hey, maybe you think Nick Punto is the answer. Friggin’ Geniuses!
George Hartselle
February 7th, 2012
11:30 am
Big time baseball fan and 25 year 8th grade middle school teacher says “Thanks for the enjoyment of watching your career and giving me the opportunity to tell my kids about loyalty vs. the love for money. There are those who would say, ‘with the money he’s making it’s easy to be loyal’, however i say look at how few players stay with their “home” team when the big money is waved in front of them.” Good luck Chipper and someday I hope you enjoy your retirement.
George Hartselle
Don
February 7th, 2012
12:10 pm
Do most of you think that the Braves are in the American League where Chipper is a DH.
All you seem to consider and the points you make are about his hitting – that it is still adequate -even if it is not nearly as good as it once was. But even relating to his hitting, there are a couple of points/questions. (1) Is it still good enough to justify that kind of salary? (2) Is it still good enough for a Third Place hitter in the batting order – where he is apparently going to hit? (3) Does his htting justify that kind of salary when he is playing only part time.
BUT THIS STILL MISSES THE MOST SIGNIFICANT POINT — Don’t you realize that he has to play defese for half of the game???? His contribution at this point cannot be judged just on his hitting and his defense be ignored. Granted, on bills hit directly at him or almost directly at him; his fielding (for the most part) is not bad. And his range is great – - THAT IS EXCEPT FOR COVERAGE TO HIS RIGHT OR TO HIS LEFT.. He has not had good range at third – at least for several years. To make the problem even worse, he plays shallow part of the time in unnecessry situations – which cuts down his range even more.
BravesFanSince80's
February 7th, 2012
1:21 pm
since when does a 3B have to have great range, good hands and a strong arm are pretty much the ONLY prerequisites and he still has both. ever wonder why great defensive 3B are so rare? probably because the best defensive players DON’T PLAY THERE!!!!!! idiot…moron…jackass…
Odelay
February 7th, 2012
8:00 pm
@DON,
1) Yes, he’s still worth his salary. Here’s why: His offense put him in the top-10 of mlb 3b last season, which puts him in the company of guys making $12-30 million. He made $14 mill. Many of the guys that put up similar numbers did not play the elite defense you seem to think every other team has at the hot corner. The Braves would have had a difficult time replacing his production for $14 mill or less. So, yes, his range is far from ideal. On a perfect team, everyone plays elite defense, but that’s not how things actually work out. What strong defender was available at $14 mill that would have put up top-10 numbers? Fact is, Chipper was on the low side of what a productive starter at 3B makes. Complaining about his salary is just silly.
2) Fredi was willing to move Chipper out of the 3-hole last season, something Bobby never would have done. In fact, only about 58% of his AB’s came while hitting 3rd. So, maybe you didn’t watch a whole lot of games last season, I don’t know. But there’s no reason to think he’s cemented there, or that it’s the end of the world.
3) He didn’t play part time. 512 AB’s is not part time. I’m not sure where you get your info, if you do actually seek out info before typing. If you’ll read my above post, you’ll see that he played in more innings than all but 7 3B. Out of 30 teams, that says a lot. The guy’s 40, he’s still producing, and he’s one of the greatest Braves that ever lived. So ease up on Hoss.
Odelay
February 7th, 2012
8:00 pm
NOTE: in #1, the salary-range I mentioned was intentional. The guy making $30 mill was A-Rod. I did this to prove a point. As a future HOFer, Chipper has definitely had a career that could’ve landed him a HUGE paycheck. He didn’t, though. He stayed with his team. In fact, he told the team to re-write his contract so that he made LESS and the team could afford to be more competitive. I’ll tell you one thing, if he had played his entire career in, say MIlwaukee, NY, Boston, or any other great baseball town, there’s no way in the world we’d have so many clueless “fans” taking up so much time writing uninformed nonsense. As a die-hard, lifelong Braves fan and resident of GA, it’s embarrassing, actually. Just take a deep breath and simply enjoy the games for a change. This is baseball and Chipper’s given us one heckuva career. Yes, his range is a big problem, but there isn’t a single team in baseball that’s perfect. This is a sport where the game’s elite hitters fail two-thirds of the time. Expecting perfection is foolish. The fact is, we’re fortunate to have watched a tremendous career. For once, just try to show just a little class and ‘chop Hoss to the end of it.
BravesFanSince80's
February 7th, 2012
10:23 pm
Odelay, AMEN
alex
February 8th, 2012
3:03 pm
@braves fan…relax and call lobo over for a beer, then again you might be a mentally challenged lobo, Chipper WAS great, he is NO longer.We want a winner, the rest of you can settle for flipping burgers. The past is just that, Don’t look back,the future is NOT with chipper at 3rd….
David O'Brien
February 8th, 2012
3:15 pm
The past is just that, Don’t look back,the future is NOT with chipper at 3rd…. — alex
No, but this year and possibly 2013 are.
alex
February 8th, 2012
3:28 pm
@dob…THE VOICE OF DOOM,anyway he’ll get hurt and this conversation will be moot,ta ta
Odelay
February 8th, 2012
8:54 pm
DOB,
The trolls are getting more and more scrooge-like every day. I swear, if you gave these people a Bentley, they’d complain that the tires were dirty.
NO MORE WREN
February 8th, 2012
10:37 pm
What a joke! Chipper needs the game more than it needs him now. Sad to see him not walk away before it turns ugly. At some point the front office has to put the brakes on this clown and give him the Dale Murphy treatment if needed.
NO MORE WREN
February 8th, 2012
10:39 pm
He is HOF first ballot but lets be honest… he is not the player he used to be and we could use the money Braves are paying him for younger healthy talent. Just saying.
BravesFanSince80's
February 8th, 2012
10:59 pm
the Dale Murphy treatment? most of us are ashamed of how that played out and wish the Murph had played it out in ATL douche bag!
Odelay
February 8th, 2012
11:21 pm
Ah, yes, the mystical “younger, healthy talent”. Poof! Out of nowhere the ATL Braves have somehow snagged a young, offensive force at a below market rate!
Now that’s the kind of vague, ambiguous game plan that wins championships! Why didn’t Wren think of that?
NO MORE WREN
February 8th, 2012
11:59 pm
BravesFanSince80’s – You misunderstood the Murphy comment. Braves let a local legend like Murphy leave the team to play the youth (I think that worked out for Atlanta). No one wanted to see Murphy go but it was better for THE TEAM to move ahead without him. Same thing goes for Chipper. The Braves let Bobby Cox bog us down and now their loyalty to Chipper is doing the same. If he has another ho hum season with injuries we are crazy for bringing him back in 2013.
All heroes have to walk away at some point. It is time for Chipper to take that walk.
BravesFanSince80's
February 9th, 2012
8:04 am
nope, obviously you have a different viewpoint where loyatly is concerned. Dale Murphy SHOULD have been allowed to play HOWEVER many games he chose to in a Braves uniform. Not how many YOU thought he should, and the same goes for Chipper. I can make a pretty good argument that if we had Murphy in LF in ‘91 we might just have won the series, if for no other reason than lousy ass Lonnie Smith wouldn’t have been out there to make his ridiculous base-running blunder that pretty much cost us the greatest WS ever played! Oh but I guess veteran journeyman Lonnie Smith qualified as “youth” to you…
Odelay
February 9th, 2012
10:34 am
Huge difference here, NOMOREWREN. You’re very conveniently overlooking the fact that Murph was no longer very productive, whereas just last season there were only 7 or 8 third-basemen that put up better overall numbers than Chipper.
Murph’s last season full season with Braves (’89, he was traded during the ‘90 season): .228/.306/.361 with 20 HRS.. Murph was just 33.
Chipper’s numbers last season: .275/.344/.470. Only 6 3B topped him in any of those categories. He also hit 18 HRS. Oh, yea and he did that while was 39. Just for fun, here’s what Chipper did in HIS age 33 season, the age Murphy was the year before he was traded: .296/.412/.556 with 21 HRS.
Not much of a comparison. It’s honestly impossible to draw a realistic comparison between the two that supports your argument. Murphy, as great as he was, was no where near the player that Chipper is. I’ll always love Murph, but there was a reason that he was traded when he was. Using the same logic, there’s a reason Chipper’s still on the team. The numbers are staring you in the face.
Odelay
February 9th, 2012
10:42 am
I’ll definitely grant you that his range is a problem. However, the team has a good defensive replacement for him late in the games in Jack Wilson, which mitigates that effect. You have to consider who realistically would be replacing Chipper if he left. None of the realistic/affordable options, even with Chipper’s salary added to the mix would be big enough of an upgrade to continue to rant about this. It just isn’t worth your time. What exactly are you trying to accomplish? The team is set. There’s nothing you can do about it and whining on a blog about a legend isn’t going to make your baseball-watching experience any better. Just be gracious enough to send the old man out with a bang. He won’t be around much longer and then you can find a brand new guy to anonymously rant about.
Odelay
February 9th, 2012
10:49 am
So, if you have problems with his range, that’s fine, but stick to reality. His glove-work and offense are not an issue that warrants extended discussion. Ok, I’m done. I’ve said my piece. Spend your time from now on in whatever way makes you happy. But if you’re going to rant, there are plenty of places right at your fingertips that allow to look up all sorts of actual stats first. Might be useful to you next time around. Peace, everybody. I’m out.
9 days, 20 hrs until pitchers and catchers report!
David O'Brien
February 9th, 2012
12:07 pm
Odelay: Well said at 10:34 a.m. Had similar thoughts after reading that guy’s comment yesterday comparing Chipper and Murph.
alex
February 10th, 2012
7:35 am
odelay and dob with similar “thoughts”….
The “legend” needs to become one and retire
Fire FW
Robert
February 10th, 2012
11:36 am
“Chipper not playing to be there for his son in a scary situation for the little guy, life threatening or no, is WAY more important than your job. That’s what the game is to a major leaguer, a job”
DOB, you were asking for evidence that baseball is not Chipper Jones’ passion.
I believe one of your bloggers gave it to you
Robert
February 10th, 2012
12:09 pm
“I shoulda got back on here a lot sooner to let you know just how far wrong you are, speaking as a parent, if one of my sons were having a “procedure” of pretty much any kind, you can bet your A S S I’d be there”
YOU can do that – after all, they can pull Joey off french fries and let HIM flip the burgers if you miss a day
PROFESSIONALS cant do that – Or lemme guess – you’d be ok if your mother needed heart surgery but doc decided to skip it and go with his boy to the dentist? Or if your house was on fire and the firemen said we cant do it today, Johnny had to get a shot and it was scary.
BravesFanSince80's
February 11th, 2012
8:12 am
Robert, get real, an athlete is not the same as a dr or any other EMERGENCY worker of any kind, that is a retarded comparison
Suzy
June 2nd, 2012
4:13 pm
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