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Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,017 comments Add your comment
cabravesfan
March 22nd, 2012
6:27 pm
Hi Tom
Tom O'Hawke
March 22nd, 2012
6:27 pm
I’m glad Chipper let everyone know this is his final year, once he made that decision.
It gives all of Chipper’s fans a chance to savor every game he appears in this year. Hopefully, that will be many.
Thanks, Chipper Jones.
Tom O'Hawke
March 22nd, 2012
6:27 pm
Hi, LAdy!
2011champs
March 22nd, 2012
6:28 pm
That is right, and I bet I have forgotten more about the sport than you will ever know. Chipper Jones has always been a very good player, but “great” is reserved for the truly great players, like Mays, Musial, Aaron, Spahn, Gibson, Brock, Clemente, Rose, Bench, Robinson(Brooks,Frank,&Jackie). Those are “Great” players.Chipper falls short.
Tom O'Hawke
March 22nd, 2012
6:30 pm
That is right, and I bet I have forgotten more about the sport… — 2011champs
I agree!!!
Venice Jim
March 22nd, 2012
6:31 pm
I’s say “Hi,” Tom, but at this point that might be considered pading…
Venice Jim
March 22nd, 2012
6:31 pm
“Padding”
Venice Jim
March 22nd, 2012
6:32 pm
“I’d”
Venice Jim
March 22nd, 2012
6:32 pm
Never mind, might as well stick to padding…
Tom O'Hawke
March 22nd, 2012
6:34 pm
Still, he manages to make 2 more posts out of an almost “hi”.
Hello, buddy.
VaBravesFan
March 22nd, 2012
6:34 pm
IMO his numbers and career pretty much indicate he’s been a great player. He’s a top 5 3rd baseman of all time, One of the best switch hitters of all time.
Tom O'Hawke
March 22nd, 2012
6:34 pm
Make that 4!
2011champs
March 22nd, 2012
6:40 pm
If you take off the hat and blinders and look objectively, Chipper Jones has been very good, but never great. He has pretty stats, but he has never been a leader, just a constantly arrogant presence in the clubhouse, and as I said earlier, he is one of the most arrogant players I have ever met. He will be in the HOF, and I guess that is all that matters to you blinded by the light fans. Pretty stats do not make a player great.
Kat
March 22nd, 2012
6:41 pm
I may have missed it through the 8 pages but is the press conference video online anywhere?
VaBravesFan
March 22nd, 2012
6:43 pm
Chipper was one of the best players in baseball for a 8 year period between 1996 and 2003, before the injuries happened, and still he played at a very high level after. He received MVP consideration in 12 of his 17 season’s. 15 consecutive season’s with 20+ Home Runs, More Walks than Strikeouts, 21st all time in Walks, Won a batting title at 36 years old.
2011champs
March 22nd, 2012
6:43 pm
I just hope he does not pull a Bobby Cox and go to each city and expect some hollow tribute, but I figure he will.
Venice Jim
March 22nd, 2012
6:44 pm
Kat – here is part of it, at least:
http://www.680thefan.com/pages/pages.php?page=551
Tom O'Hawke
March 22nd, 2012
6:45 pm
Kat, try this:
http://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-braves/2012/3/22/2895078/atlanta-braves-chipper-jones-retirement-press-conference-video-spring-training
ChattTownBrian (CTB)
March 22nd, 2012
6:47 pm
Yeah I’m sure CJ announced it now to get pampered all year by all the different cities. Wanna be negative then come up with something better than what a 4th grader could come up with.
Venice Jim
March 22nd, 2012
6:47 pm
I just hope he does not pull a Bobby Cox and go to each city
No, he won’t be making any road trips…
Kat
March 22nd, 2012
6:48 pm
Thanks VJ and Tom!
2011champs
March 22nd, 2012
6:48 pm
As I said earlier, he won his batting title sitting on the bench with a trumped up injury, while a truly injured Albert Pujols was knocking the cover off the ball with numbness in his hands. Chipper knew he could not be caught if he sat and had no at bats. Call it winning the title if you like, but I never will. He should have played and made it interesting, but he sat.
And with that I am out of here. Selah
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
March 22nd, 2012
6:49 pm
V. Jim Which player will be the new face of the #Braves now that Chipper is leaving? Chipper votes for catcher Brian McCann. “He’s a great kid, he’s a great player and he’s the kind of guy you want to build a ballclub around,” Jones said.
Heck yeah!…
Venice Jim
March 22nd, 2012
6:50 pm
So sorry he hurt your poor little feelings…
cabravesfan
March 22nd, 2012
6:53 pm
sigh…It’s always great that some people feel they are a better judge of talent than those that have been intimately involved in the game…
Soph
March 22nd, 2012
6:55 pm
I’m being lazy and haven’t been through the comments but is there anywhere online we can listen to the presser?
Soph
March 22nd, 2012
6:56 pm
Nevermind, found it! The things you can do when you’re un-lazy.
Venice Jim
March 22nd, 2012
6:56 pm
Here is a clip from the Springsteen show in Atlanta the other evening:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH3X6MhqW4k
Judy Rowe
March 22nd, 2012
6:58 pm
Thank you Chipper for some of the best baseball I’ve ever seen. You will definitely be missed! Love you Laaaaaarrrrrrryyyyyyyyy!!!!!
Soph
March 22nd, 2012
7:00 pm
Aw, love the teammate handshakes & hugs afterwards. ♥
noleee
March 22nd, 2012
7:00 pm
Rose greater? he has a lower BA,OBP and S%, not even close. he just stayed healthy enough to hang around forever and hit 1st or 2nd and racked up enough at bats to break the career hit record. does not make him greater than many others
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
March 22nd, 2012
7:00 pm
Soph The things you can do when you’re un-lazy.
It’s incredible…You’d think we’d try it more often…
George
March 22nd, 2012
7:01 pm
Please let the blog know your thoughts on the following, I think it would be a great honor for a great player and team leader.
*******************************************
George
March 22nd, 2012
1:39 pm
It would be nice if the BRAVES appointed CHIPPER Captain of BRAVES year and have him take lineup card out every game. Not many teams have Captains anymore [ know the Yankees do] but it sure weould be a nice honor for CHIPPER, he deserves it.
Gil In Mechanicsville
March 22nd, 2012
7:01 pm
There are a lot of folks who did not get enough hugs from their mom. Really, bitterness can eat at your soul until there is nothing left to do but type away at your keyboard in the hope that your shallow existence can somehow be justified by running down players, organizations, other bloggers etc in the hopes someone will agree with your misguided rants.
Now, on a more positive note, my wife has consented to attend a Washington Nationals game with me when the Braves come to DC so she will have to opportunity to see Chipper play in person one last time. Yea!!!!
noleee
March 22nd, 2012
7:03 pm
good news that, Gil enjoy…and get us a win that day
Billy
March 22nd, 2012
7:05 pm
http://www.wsbtv.com/s/sports/atlanta-braves/
Billy
March 22nd, 2012
7:06 pm
Click on the Chipper retirement video
George
March 22nd, 2012
7:06 pm
Venice Jim
March 22nd, 2012
6:47 pm
I just hope he does not pull a Bobby Cox and go to each city
No, he won’t be making any road trips…
************************************************
CHIPPER will play no road games this year?
noleee
March 22nd, 2012
7:07 pm
guy got his feelings hurt by Chipper, but if he acted anything like he does here-and he almost assuredly did- he might be lucky that the only think Chippa hurt was his feelings. I can just see him acting the know-it-all with a player
Venice Jim
March 22nd, 2012
7:10 pm
George – joking!
George
March 22nd, 2012
7:20 pm
I would really need to look at this kid JASON BORNEE very closely before I would spend any money on him. To be honest I never heard of him. FRANK WREN check him out well befor you make a move.
George
March 22nd, 2012
7:21 pm
VJ good
cabravesfan
March 22nd, 2012
7:21 pm
There is no such person anywhere on the Braves with the name Jason Bornee
Tom O'Hawke
March 22nd, 2012
7:21 pm
George, who the hell is Jason Bornee?
Soph
March 22nd, 2012
7:27 pm
Bornee, eh? Add a few more eee’s to his name and he can join the club.
George
March 22nd, 2012
7:28 pm
Tom 7:21
I wish I knew , his name was mentioned by a blogger earlyer today as far as spending money saved when CHIPPER is gone.
cabravesfan
March 22nd, 2012
7:29 pm
George-
That person was talking about Michael Bourn and called him the wrong name…
George
March 22nd, 2012
7:32 pm
Oh ok, thanks cab
Disgusted
March 22nd, 2012
7:37 pm
Larry Wayne Jones is one of the things I still like about this once proud and entertaining franchise.
Wonder if those Met fans are going to give him a standing O and the Larry Larry chant.
Chipper handled those Muts fans with class & humor.
I will miss Chipper for sure, but its his time and he is one pure Brave who spent his total minor and major league career here.
True Braves fans have to appreciate that. VA Braves fan summed his career up best and that makes him HOF.
I don’t get why some just have to find fault with Chipper. I don’t want to compare him to Mays, Aaron, Musial, etc., Who compares to them, almost nobody.
I want to compare him with his peers. And he was one of the greats of his era and did not do the junk that others did.
Disgusted
March 22nd, 2012
7:42 pm
Don’t automaticly assume that the money that comes off the books once the Braves do not have to pay Lowe and Chipper any more means they will go out and be big players.
Not with this ownership. And the re-sign of Bourn is hard to predict.
Could payroll be going down? Don’t know, too early to tell. You just do not know with the corporate shirts.
Tom O'Hawke
March 22nd, 2012
7:43 pm
That person was talking about Michael Bourn and called him the wrong name…
Really, cabravesfan? That’s a heluva miss. That’s like swinging at a pitch thrown to the on-deck circle.
IVAN ...
March 22nd, 2012
7:46 pm
Good job Chipper,great career etc. …
Just hope this farewell season doesn’t become a distraction to the rest of the team.
I don’t think Chipper will let that happen.
The time has come and he knows better than anyone else…
cabravesfan
March 22nd, 2012
7:47 pm
Yes, Tom…really. It was someone making a “Chipper is a terrible player” comment so I wouldn’t give it too much credit…
Blob Horner
March 22nd, 2012
7:47 pm
No player is ever perfect for 19 years,and, as a result, they leave fans having expected more than might be reasonable. The most revered Braves players were the ones who came and went during their prime, not having stayed around a bit too long, exposing too many of their foibles and weaknesses. Matthews and Mantle tailed off due to hard living, Aaron picked up the civil rights mantle and offended many, Glavine left to make a point, Justice and Torre wore out their welcome chasing skirts, Andrew turned into a tub of Gooh. Horner was an ass, cancer. We really love the guys who came in, caught lightning in a bottle, then got out while the getting was good. TP, Crime Dog, Maddox, Smoltz, Felipe, Bream. The ones that truly deserve adoration however, are the ones that stick around through thick and thin, good and bad. I can think of three such Atlanta Braves players; Murph, Neikro, and now Chipper, with Chipper being the only one to go the distance. We weren’t even sad to see Murph go, and he’s a once in a lifetime player, humanitarian. I suppose once the next line of Essaskys, Pressleys, Oberkfels and the like finish their turns, then we’ll all develop a new perspective on the level of play we had the last 19 years at third base.
BFChris27
March 22nd, 2012
7:49 pm
Not surprised that it’s happening, just the timing of the announcement.
Braves’ Chipper Jones To Retire After 2012
March 22nd, 2012
7:51 pm
[...] The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the former National League MVP will hold a news conference later Thursday. [...]
cabravesfan
March 22nd, 2012
7:53 pm
Not surprised that it’s happening, just the timing of the announcement.
Over the course of the season, announcing now that this is Chipper’s last year will probably serve to be less of a distraction than it could have been if he had to deal with media types in every city asking him if this will be is last season…or asking his team mates what they think…this way, everybody knows the answer already
Trey
March 22nd, 2012
7:55 pm
It’s said that Chipper Jones the last World Series Brave to still be playing with him is finally calling it quits. I bet Paul Lentz is jumping for joy.
Trey
March 22nd, 2012
7:55 pm
sad*
Moylan Prado
March 22nd, 2012
7:56 pm
Chipper vs Mariano, Game 7 bottom of the ninth, Chipper wins it with a home run. Mark it down.
Rick James
March 22nd, 2012
7:58 pm
@Disgusted
March 22nd, 2012
7:42 pm
Don’t automaticly assume that the money that comes off the books once the Braves do not have to pay Lowe and Chipper any more means they will go out and be big players.
Not with this ownership. And the re-sign of Bourn is hard to predict.
Could payroll be going down? Don’t know, too early to tell. You just do not know with the corporate shirts.
——————————————————————————————————————————–
Very true..And we have to keep in mind that Bourn is represented by Scott Boras.
BravesfaninAugusta
March 22nd, 2012
7:59 pm
I’ll never forget his HUGE hits against the Mets during those years we battled them for the NL East division title….. we’ll miss him.
noleee
March 22nd, 2012
7:59 pm
I agree, Bourn is unlikely to be re-signed and the payroll might very well go down
Gulf Shores Dawg
March 22nd, 2012
8:02 pm
Nothing better than being in Athens on Saturday for a big Dawgs’ win & in Atlanta on Sunday for a big Braves win, Chipper, we love you man!
Bat Masterson
March 22nd, 2012
8:07 pm
That’s a heluva miss. That’s like swinging at a pitch thrown to the on-deck circle.
Will the Francoeur bashing ever stop.
Dick Enhand
March 22nd, 2012
8:07 pm
Your the best Chipper!
Bat Masterson
March 22nd, 2012
8:12 pm
Thanks for the links to the retirement press conference. There are not many athletes I’m willing to listen to for fifteen minutes, Chipper is one though, so I did, all of it.
Plate Appearance
March 22nd, 2012
8:12 pm
Thanks Chipper for your great career with the Braves!
Disgusted
March 22nd, 2012
8:14 pm
@Blob Horner—
Yea, I always thought that is was strange that Niekro was let go the way he was. I was not in ATL at the time but Niekro was not bad in ‘83 (had a great 82), and as it turned, had two good yrs left with 16 W seasons back to back with the Yankees in 84 and 85.
And he became a 300 game winner as a Yankee–Fie.
What did he do to Turner to PO him at the time? Or did he PO Turner?
Was Horner really that much of an azz??? That was just before I moved to ATL, I do remember seeing a Braves/Cards game in 1988, (my first live Braves game here) when I first got here and Braves fans Booed Horner pretty heartily. There must have been something going on while he was here.
BFChris27
March 22nd, 2012
8:18 pm
cabravesfan
That makes sense. Wasn’t thinking like that.
cabravesfan
March 22nd, 2012
8:19 pm
BFChris27-
I confess, I didn’t think of it until your comment
bout time
March 22nd, 2012
8:19 pm
He’s held the Braves hostage the past three years. Maybe he can play 50 games this year.
BFChris27
March 22nd, 2012
8:22 pm
I have terrific news.
Our lawn business is currently thriving
Ken Stallings
March 22nd, 2012
8:23 pm
I have to conclude these clown who keep positng that Chipper was “very good,” but never “great,” are either totally ignorant of basekball, or seeking cheap attention!
When a sport has existed for about 150 years with statistics measured carefully for well over 120 years, any player who measures in the top ten in most all categories for a position is GREAT — not “very good,” but flat out great!
Chipper Jones is the third best position player in the entire history of the Braves franchise:
1. Henry Aaron
2. Eddie Matthews
3. Chipper Jones
Nearly every other franchise in baseball would be unable to name a player better than the top two I listed. Chipper lives in immortal company!
Tom
March 22nd, 2012
8:23 pm
how would it effect his decisio if hypothetically chippers on the dl on the last day of the season?
Tom O'Hawke
March 22nd, 2012
8:24 pm
cabravesfan
That makes sense. Wasn’t thinking like that. — BFChris27
She’s good like that, Chris, up to wine-o’clock, anyway.
cabravesfan
March 22nd, 2012
8:25 pm
how would it effect his decisio if hypothetically chippers on the dl on the last day of the season?
Don’t think it would effect his decision even a little. He would not have made this announcement if he did not feel 100% about it.
Kat
March 22nd, 2012
8:32 pm
“MLB Network @MLBNetwork Watch #MLBTonight for complete coverage on Chipper Jones retirement announcement and an Al Leiter interview with David Wright @Mets”
Soph
March 22nd, 2012
8:33 pm
Boredom.
Soph
March 22nd, 2012
8:33 pm
cab – what’s the plan for Braves games this season? Going to any?
cabravesfan
March 22nd, 2012
8:34 pm
Soph-
You can Draw Something for me…
cabravesfan
March 22nd, 2012
8:34 pm
Soph-
We will probably go to San Diego for a game (which will be hard because I think they are all mid week) and hopefully a Dodger game as well…not totally sure yet
phil
March 22nd, 2012
8:35 pm
I had so hoped we would see him reach 3,000 hits or 500 homeruns. I know he needs to move on, but it would’ve been a great thing. I hate that the time to go is near.
May he stay healthy this year and post some really great numbers for an old man. It won’t be easy to let him go, but each at bat this year will have real meaning, at least for me.
I’m 44. This clinches that i will be at least 60 something before I ever see a Brave reach 3,000 hits or win 300 games actually wearing our uniform. I had so hoped he might get there with the hits.
Play hard, play well and stay healthy, Mr. Jones. Some of us DO realize what we’ve got.
cabravesfan
March 22nd, 2012
8:35 pm
I’d also like to go to San Francisco, but that might have to wait…
DS1
March 22nd, 2012
8:36 pm
Have a great walk year, Chipper! Thanks for all the memories!
jlmdra
March 22nd, 2012
8:36 pm
We could have won only one championship without him.
phil
March 22nd, 2012
8:38 pm
Chipper played 2 full years at old Fulton County Stadium….
He IS old. Man i hate to see him go.
phil
March 22nd, 2012
8:39 pm
jlmdra
March 22nd, 2012
8:36 pm
We could have won only one championship without him.
*****
Idiot.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
March 22nd, 2012
8:39 pm
Soph Boredom.
Word.
cabravesfan
March 22nd, 2012
8:40 pm
DRAW SOMETHING
phil
March 22nd, 2012
8:41 pm
I vowed not to go to another game until FG is fired…
Looks like a road trip to see him play a final time. And so be it.
Fire FG now and shorten my trip!!
DS1
March 22nd, 2012
8:41 pm
I hear that the O’s are looking to move Reynolds. I know he is a huge K guy, with a low batting average. But he does take a lot of walks and hits a boat load of homers.
While this goes against everything I believe (that we need OBP guys), I still am intrigued by a big bruiser like Reynolds. Probably never happen though.
phil
March 22nd, 2012
8:42 pm
bout time
March 22nd, 2012
8:19 pm
He’s held the Braves hostage the past three years. Maybe he can play 50 games this year.
******
100 percent doof…
DS1
March 22nd, 2012
8:44 pm
phil
You might have let your pride get in the way of some good memories. I don’t think anybody would hold it against you if you went to a game or two.
While I am still on the fence with Fredi, the issue is I have NO control over who manages the team. So, while I may disagree with some of the managers work (heck, I did not support BC 100% of the time), I will not let that get in the way of my game enjoyment.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
March 22nd, 2012
8:44 pm
cabravesfan—
I’m goin’, I’m goin’…
Actually, I need to draw something on an actual card, but I might be too sleepy…
phil
March 22nd, 2012
8:48 pm
I said i wouldn’t go and i won’t, though i hate it knowing this.
Danga
March 22nd, 2012
8:49 pm
A career .304/.402/.533 hitter, Jones is almost certain to retire as just the seventh player in baseball history with a .300/.400/.500+ batting line (min. 10,000 PA). Ty Cobb, Stan Musial, Mel Ott, Babe Ruth, Frank Thomas, and Ted Williams are the others.
Pretty impressive company there. From the fangraphs article.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/chipper-jones-to-retire-after-2012/
DS1
March 22nd, 2012
8:51 pm
phil
Pride cometh before the fall………………
Hooters waitress
March 22nd, 2012
8:54 pm
Awwwwwwww……So sad to see this.
cabravesfan
March 22nd, 2012
8:58 pm
sigh…