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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
273 comments Add your comment
Legend of Len Barker
March 24th, 2012
2:24 pm
Fredi’s not being completely honest about how long Chipper was out last year. He did come back in 17 days, but he immediately re-aggravated the knee in his first game back and didn’t return to the starting lineup for two more weeks. Plus, he missed nearly nearly weeks before that because of the bum knee.
Gonzalez, Wrens, and especially Jones need to face facts. Chipper can’t even make it through spring training without injuring his *other* knee. And the knee was far from his only problem last year. Thanks to Chipper’s giddiness with the media, we know about every ache and pain he had.
abby normal
March 24th, 2012
2:37 pm
This is just the begining. When (if) Jones comes back he may play eight or ten games before something else goes wrong. He should do himself and the Braves a favor and retire now. It’s just sad to see a once great player hang on too long. Remember Willie Mays at the end?
Steve
March 24th, 2012
2:37 pm
Hinske and Diaz are not the answer for six weeks.
nashvillewill
March 24th, 2012
2:39 pm
Prado’s a 2B playing LF and now shifting to 3B. Since he is not going to play 2B leaving him in LF is best option. Acquire a 3B top prospect or play Turdy there is best option. Braves do not look like a contender this year so go with prospects. Also, Chipper deserves respect and admiration and it is time for him to retire. He just cannot stay healthy any more. And his $$ could be used to shore up LF, 3B, or SS where Braves are weak.
RoyU
March 24th, 2012
2:39 pm
Write off 2012 for the Braves. They will just play “Chipper” ball for another year with him ‘in & out” of the lineup!!!! I’ve always said that I hate to see a great ballplayer go out in less than a blaze of glory. I have changed my mind in Chipper’s case. If he were truly a “Brave”, HE WOULD RETIRE _RIGHT NOW!!!! This guy only thinks of himself!!!
The Bravenator
March 24th, 2012
2:43 pm
This season was already in the toilet for more reasons than an aging Chipper. This simply takes a very shaky situation and makes it a great deal worse. Left field just became a power void, three-way platoon of futility. If Uggla and Heyward treat us to next = last and a few other dings befall the Braves, then The Mets have a chance to avoid the East cellar. Optimism hardly rules the day, especially with FG managing this crew.
The Bravenator
March 24th, 2012
2:43 pm
This season was already in the toilet for more reasons than an aging Chipper. This simply takes a very shaky situation and makes it a great deal worse. Left field just became a power void, three-way platoon of futility. If Uggla and Heyward treat us to next = last and a few other dings befall the Braves, then The Mets have a chance to avoid the East cellar. Optimism hardly rules the day, especially with FG managing this crew.
Bravesfan54
March 24th, 2012
2:45 pm
I get the feeling that those who say pay the going rate (18-20m for 6-8 years) for Mac are the same folks who will say silly shid about sending him down if he’s hitting “a buck something” in mid-May, and will call him selfish for not retiring with 2 years left on his contract.
Steve
March 24th, 2012
2:46 pm
Oh wow! Chipper’s hurt? Surprise, surprise! PLEASE make your retirement effective today! PLEASE!
RoyU
March 24th, 2012
2:52 pm
What the rest of the Brave’s players really think is something we will never know because of their respect for “Chipper”. You can bet that it’s a downer on the whole team!!! On the other hand, Wren and the rest of management have the responsibility to put their emotions aside and do the right thing for the team and the fans. But they don’t have the guts to do it!!!!
Bravesfan54
March 24th, 2012
2:53 pm
Despite my negative comments about the “Chipper should retire” crowd, I did believe his last contract was foolish – one would think that the “last year” at 14m was probably understood tacitly by both sides as an “honorarium”. So we should let CJ enjoy that honorarium and fade gracefully from the field, knowing that neither he nor the team will let him embarrass himself. (Let me be clear: while he is clearly fading, he is nowhere near embarrassing himself or the team, and will not play until he’s ready. Retirement this year is not out of the question if he can’t get back to where he knows he needs to be. One suspects he isn’t anywhere near ball-playing condition yet.
P Rose
March 24th, 2012
2:57 pm
First Chipper said he will retire at the end of the season. Then he said he may not retire at the end of the season. Then he said he may not last the whole season. Then he said he will play the whole the season (he would never quit on his teammates). Then he said he will retire at the end of the season after all. Now they say Chipper will have surgery on his knee and miss at least the first week of the season.
Every day Chipper is in the news. It gets really, really old. Baseball is a team sport, but you wouldn’t know that to read the AJC sports page.
Next year the team will finally be able to move on. It’s time.
Amber
March 24th, 2012
3:06 pm
You can’t print what I really want to say.
Tampa Gator
March 24th, 2012
3:09 pm
Chipper…..thanks for being….along with Eddie Matthews…..a great Braves third baseman. But I think it is time to let a younger, healthier player man the position from now on. Maybe just announce that game one will be your last….and let the fans send you out the right way. Otherwise, I think it is going to be a long, frustrating seasson for you…..and us fans.
Samantha
March 24th, 2012
3:10 pm
Why not Lady friend Amber?
Mister Frisky
March 24th, 2012
3:18 pm
This team and organization is a joke.Like I’ve said for months the idea that 40 year old who maybe was going to play 100 games is your 3 hitter says it all.LAST PLACE.
Larry
March 24th, 2012
3:18 pm
Please, for crying out loud, just retire already!
Tampa Gator
March 24th, 2012
3:19 pm
Boy…..just be glad the Braves do not play in the AL. They might not win a game all year in that league based on how they have played them this spring. Also…without Hudson as the #1 man….the Braves starting rotation suddenly looks very, very weak. Again….why is Medlen in the bullpen???? He just gets people out. All these rookies only get people out for one or two innings….and then….blast off time.
Samantha
March 24th, 2012
3:21 pm
Hello Mr Frisky How are you my friend?
Mister Frisky
March 24th, 2012
3:21 pm
Meanwhile back at the ranch,Braves putting up some awesome offensive numbers again against Toronto.
Mister Frisky
March 24th, 2012
3:22 pm
Hi Samantha,Hope you are feeling better.Very sorry about what happened.
Samantha
March 24th, 2012
3:28 pm
I am feeling better Mr Frisky. Be better if out of this bed Maybe tomorrow, The DA is trying to give that jerk 10 yrs for attempted murder.
Paddy
March 24th, 2012
3:28 pm
big slow…..so tell me, you would not fullfil your last year on the contract that earned you 15 mil? What a Maroon!!
Ted M
March 24th, 2012
3:34 pm
Crap Delgado got hammered bad.
old man
March 24th, 2012
3:34 pm
Isn’t his contract insured against season-ending injury? Do the Braves get insurance money if Chipper cannot go at all this year? And use it to pay whoever they get in trade for LF?
Mister Frisky
March 24th, 2012
3:35 pm
Rest up Samantha,Hope they throw the book at the creep.Nap time,see you soon.
Rufio
March 24th, 2012
3:43 pm
Chipper was hurt one hour before the press conference to announce his retirement after this upcoming season………..I have to believe the Baseball Gods were laying down a very strong hint.
I love how cavalier The Frank and Freddi show are stating he wii be back by the home opener. How about saying …….we will have to see how extensive the damage is after we speak to Chippers surgeon. I am sorry a forty year old ballplayer whose offseason training consist of walking to/from a deer stand is not going spring back like 28 year old in his prime.
Chipper, I hope your surgery goes well Monday. If not, you may have to have the retirement party earlier than expected for Braves sake and more importantly your healthy sake. I swear Chipper is morphing into Bobby Cox. He is going to have that limping swagger for sure.
Felix
March 24th, 2012
3:47 pm
3B is a question mark, so is SS, LF, RF and starting pitching; the team can’t hit…but no we don’t have any holes!
gaknight
March 24th, 2012
3:53 pm
Not withstanding the atrocious last of language skills among these fine critics, this is, and always has be about “ka-ching”, the money. No matter what Chipper does this season, he collects $14 million. This is not about having $$ available to purchase players because there is NO salary cap in MLB. This is about Liberty Media and all who control the pocketbook. They could care less about putting a quality product on the field. It’s nothing more than greed!
Ted M
March 24th, 2012
3:54 pm
The Braves only got 3 hits today…off average pitchers.
bustersonly
March 24th, 2012
3:58 pm
No problem gang, we still have Hinskie and Constanza.
Ralph
March 24th, 2012
4:00 pm
I believe SI over rated this team, don’t think they will be able to beat out the Muts for last place’
Joey
March 24th, 2012
4:03 pm
“I am glad Frank Wren was thinking ahead when he signed OF help during the offseason. Oops, I forgot, he signed no one.”
***************************************
dap01, I read somewhere in the AJC that Chipper lobbied Wren to not make changes to the team during the off season.
So blame Chipper for 1) convincing Wren to not make changes, and 2) using up $14M, with 2 bad knees, obliques, hammys, etc, that could have been used to bring in a top-flight outfielder, or even two really good players.
Ralph
March 24th, 2012
4:04 pm
Heyward should not get an automatic spot on this roster, if he doesn’t pick it up he should start the season at Gwinette and Durango should be the right fielder.
Gray Mule
March 24th, 2012
4:04 pm
Want to know how the Braves regular season will be?
Take a close look at pre season and you can see.
Last place in the east, here we come.
renegade#1
March 24th, 2012
4:10 pm
chip while they got you on the operating table and sewing on your knee get them to put a stitch or two on your johnson we dont want any more parts falling off your old ass.Besides with as many kids as you have it seems like the only part that works.
Joey
March 24th, 2012
4:11 pm
The Braves lost almost $1M last season, gaknight. For our Fed Govt, that’s probably one minute of interest to China, but in the real world, it’s serious money.
If that’s peanut change for you, why don’t you help the Braves out with a few million, then Wren can go get some help. Hey, don’t be GREEDY!
Thanks in advance, nitwit.
Ralph
March 24th, 2012
4:11 pm
I have lost whatever respect I had for Chipper, he is taking this team down the tube.
Bravesbobblehead
March 24th, 2012
4:13 pm
Prado to third, get an proven left-fielder and Chipper off the bench as a DL and backup for Prado.
bobby c
March 24th, 2012
4:16 pm
I saw give Maggs a shot and sign him to a minor league deal and use him in LF and for OF depth. that is Maggs as in Maggilo Ordonez or Joey Gatheright, Jeremy Reed, Pedro Feliz, Reggie Willist also can be sign for cheap and could help.
Ralph
March 24th, 2012
4:18 pm
We absolutely must have Medlen in the rotation, Delgado and Teheran are not ready yet.
DetroitBraves
March 24th, 2012
4:20 pm
Magglio, as much as we appreciate him around here, hasn’t had a glove for years and now no longer has much bat either. Empty average is about all you can hope for from him in a corner outfield spot. The Braves would be better off just playing Hinske/Diaz. Plus Magglio has had about as many physical ailments as Chipper in his career.
panamajack
March 24th, 2012
4:21 pm
We are looking for a replacement left fielder but we should be looking for a right fielder.
G
March 24th, 2012
4:23 pm
And so the mediocrity begins… Of course Frank Wren doesn’t see any urgency. He is fen with an mediocre roster
Samantha
March 24th, 2012
4:23 pm
Are you the Ralph that is in Panama?
panamajack
March 24th, 2012
4:26 pm
We have two outfielders who have earned a spot on this team but they won’t make it, they couldn’t have done much more. We put up with J-Hey”s .200 average all last season and it looks like the same old same o this year. Wren and Fredi need to go.
Steve
March 24th, 2012
4:27 pm
Does anyone know why the Braves cquired Greg Paiml from the White Sox?
Steve
March 24th, 2012
4:28 pm
acquired
Ralph
March 24th, 2012
4:28 pm
Samantha
Thats me.
Scott
March 24th, 2012
4:28 pm
Why doesn’t he just go ahead and retire now. He’s old and had a lot of good years in Atlanta.
Give someone else a chance to play.
Ken Stallings
March 24th, 2012
4:29 pm
Can we all hope this will be the end of his knee issues so he can have a quality final season?
The baseball gods aren’t often kind to players in this situation. Unfortunately, it the norm to see great players go out in a way they would prefer to avoid.
Samantha
March 24th, 2012
4:30 pm
How are you Ralph buddy?
Ralph
March 24th, 2012
4:31 pm
Scott
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Ralph
March 24th, 2012
4:32 pm
Ken Stallings
He still has one more bad knee to go.
Chipper Jones to DL: What This Means as Atlanta Braves Open Season | :: Sparxxrx LLC ::
March 24th, 2012
4:36 pm
[...] fans just got some news that is not all that pleasing–Chipper Jones will have arthroscopic surgery on Monday and miss the start of the regular [...]
Ralph
March 24th, 2012
4:36 pm
Samantha
March 24th, 2012
4:30 pm
Hot as hell down here.
Tenaciousd
March 24th, 2012
4:42 pm
100 losses. We have to buy him out and start a new era…now. This season is gonna be ugly either way.
Samantha
March 24th, 2012
4:42 pm
Sorry to hear that. Maybe cool off soon. Have you heard what happened to me?
Tonto
March 24th, 2012
4:49 pm
When is Chipper going to quit stealing money? Retire this year and let’s move on.
Gimpah & McError
March 24th, 2012
5:02 pm
G I M P E R ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Gimper decided to retire after 2012 when the injury occurred. However, he’s trying to save face and act like that was the plan all along.. Typical Braves good housekeeping clubhouse edition.
Billy
March 24th, 2012
5:08 pm
The great Diaz misjudged a fly ball today that end up a triple..just what we need in LF…another no glove, no hit excuse for a ball player. Great job Wren.
Bob
March 24th, 2012
5:20 pm
And playing at third base number 10 Cipper Jones…
Michael G.
March 24th, 2012
5:25 pm
Since Chipper will be stealing those $14 dollars this year, do you think he’d be willing to work the next 8 years as batting coach for free? It really sucks that he is allowed to collect checks and not actually do anything to earn them.
Steve
March 24th, 2012
5:28 pm
Wren’s If plan isn’t looking too good about now. If no one gets hurt, ect.
Bill M.
March 24th, 2012
5:29 pm
I respect Chipper for what he has done. He knew that it was a possibilty that he wouldn’t play many games this season. He was in it for one last big pay check. This organization is going down quickly. A new owner please. Take down Squirt, Fruti and the Wren’s nest. Get a new bunch in there. It’s time to trade Bourn, McCann, Diaz and any other dead wood. I’m sick of this bunch. I have supported this team since moving to Atlanta. It’s time for a big change. Go baby Braves.
Mister Frisky
March 24th, 2012
5:29 pm
Time to package that stiff Heyward and a couple of these overated young arms for some proven professional lumber.Maybe there is a GM as lame as ours that sees some value there.
Steve
March 24th, 2012
5:31 pm
I doubt that there is a GM as lame as Fumbling Frank.
Steve
March 24th, 2012
5:33 pm
What do you think teams will demand in a trade now? The excuse for no offseason activity was that the cost was too high. It just got higher.
soaked in sarcasm
March 24th, 2012
5:34 pm
It’s a good thing they didn’t sign an outfielder this offseason. That was really, really smart.
But remember everybody, payroll is NOT going to be lower this year. Please, please believe that.
JAFO
March 24th, 2012
5:37 pm
Ken Stallings- fantastic post yesterday. Beautifully written and a superb summary. I’m not sure how many here got to see it but it’s worth seeing again.
MF- good to see you. You always bring the A game. Funny stuff.
VinceVanGo
March 24th, 2012
5:38 pm
Fredi G. may not be a good manager(Jury’s out), and Frank Wren may not be a great GM, but I feel like his hands are tied by Liberty Media. They don’t care what the Braves real team value is because they don’t intend to sell anytime soon. And with competent lawyers at their disposal Liberty can inflate the value of the Braves for tax purposes, which is the only reason they acquired and continue to keep the Braves. If MLB really cared about all of the franchises they would not permit Companies that are known to be buying a team for tax purposes only to purchase and stalemate a team. There should be protection from such Companies buying into MLB.
Samantha
March 24th, 2012
5:40 pm
Hi Jafo and welcome back Mr Frisky
JAFO
March 24th, 2012
5:40 pm
That’s not to supposed to funny but is given the sad state we are in.
Ted
March 24th, 2012
5:40 pm
Chipper is killing us with his salary versus his production. Great guy but stayed too long and has not earned his paycheck.
Felix
March 24th, 2012
5:41 pm
Thanks Dave for the daily injury report. Maybe you should just start hanging out at the hospital.
Mister Frisky
March 24th, 2012
5:43 pm
JAFO,Thanks for the props much respect to you amigo.Hi Samantha.
JAFO
March 24th, 2012
5:44 pm
Hi Samantha. Glad to hear you’re on the road to recovery.
Mister Frisky
March 24th, 2012
5:48 pm
Saddest fact of all.25% of payroll tied up in Lowe and Chipper.How many wins will that 24 million yield?
Samantha
March 24th, 2012
5:49 pm
Long way to go Jafo but shooting for May 1, back to work.
RoyU
March 24th, 2012
5:52 pm
According to Fredi, Chipper is not in shape for opening day even without this current need for surgery. After the surgery, rehab will be necessary and Chipper should have to also get into the shape that spring training should have done for him. What is going to be most important in the Braves opening home game. Chipper @ 3rd or fielding a team that “IS IN SHAPE”. Is 2012 going to be a 7 month memorial to Chipper or an honest effort of Chipper and management to give the fans and the rest of the team the support that is their responsibility?
alanfalcon
March 24th, 2012
6:36 pm
Nothing like starting the season with a slump, pitching, hitting and who knows what else, anyone seen Frank, if so ask him how he feels now.
Rozeman13
March 24th, 2012
6:51 pm
Braves are doing the same thing as the Falcons, Waiting till a few days before the season starts,then sign the cheap leftovers who get cut everywhere!
BIOMASS
March 24th, 2012
6:55 pm
Darn, Chipper is going to be getting knee replacements at 50! That is just awful.
BehindEnemyLines
March 24th, 2012
6:56 pm
In other shocking news, water is wet.
If Larry “Brittle” Jones sneezes one good time from the pollen it’ll probably be a season ending injury.
gaknight
March 24th, 2012
7:07 pm
Joey/Nitwit:
The Braves didn’t lose $$ last year. They made $20 M according the the NAABWA and NBS sports. It’s all about the tax write-offs anyway.
2013 - we want new material!
March 24th, 2012
7:10 pm
Next year is going to be the first year in a while where we don’t have large albatross of a contract around our neck where the player’s production isn’t anywhere close to being worth the dollars being paid (i.e. Jones, Lowe, Kawakami, McLouth). I wonder if the brass will continue with the same spin and lies to “explain” why they aren’t signing free agents or if they’ll come up with some new crap. I kind of get tired of the same old thing, so some new crap would be nice (even if it’s still crap).
Rozeman13
March 24th, 2012
7:16 pm
Hey 2013, u are right we will be in great shape next year. The team will never be worth more,so it will be time for Liberty to maximize their profit by selling the team
2013 - we want new material!
March 24th, 2012
7:22 pm
I would love that Rozeman. We can only hope.
Way too late
March 24th, 2012
7:29 pm
Chipper should have retired 5 years ago. He has been hobbling this team by keeping young talent from coming in and developing. At the very least, he should have retired when Cox did.
Oh well, Chip. See you at Hooters.
dave
March 24th, 2012
7:30 pm
This greedy old bag should have retired a couple of years ago. he stays hurt more than he plays. just collects a paycheck sitting on the bench
sports
March 24th, 2012
7:31 pm
why don’t the braves dump this dead weight knothead. It’s quite obvious he keeps hanging around for the money. What is this time, a hangnail? This knothead couldn’t make a highschool team.
Mister Frisky
March 24th, 2012
7:34 pm
Braves should bring back Conrad.That dude can pick it.
Art F. Dodger
March 24th, 2012
7:47 pm
Achy Breaky Jones!!!!!!!!!!!
Rozeman13
March 24th, 2012
7:47 pm
Hey sports they will dump Bourne first, No matter what, they will sell tickets late in the season. The reason peopel will show up to say Goodby to the Chipper.
Steve
March 24th, 2012
7:52 pm
The Frank and Fredi watch in on.
Steve
March 24th, 2012
7:52 pm
is
Bama Mike
March 24th, 2012
7:59 pm
Ever wonder whenever teams go shopping for General Managers Wren’s name never comes up on the short or long list. We were the only team interested in the fired Fredi. Boy that is a dose of reality
KK
March 24th, 2012
8:00 pm
Yeah, in much better shape phyiscally;JJ knee problem still,Chipper knee problem(again), Hudson,back problem, Vizcaino elbow, McCann winkitis, Hanson concussion
DawgDad
March 24th, 2012
8:07 pm
Let’s be charitable and assume the Braves payroll is $100 million in 2012. A full 10% goes to someone who will never hit the field for the Braves. Chipper figures to be 3/4 of a player at best, so 1/4 of the games 1/4 of your payroll goes to players who won’t play. Then, Hudson is out at least for April, so for 1/6 of the season 19% of the payroll goes to players who won’t play, plus any time Chipper misses it goes up to 32% of the payroll for players not playing. This doesn’t even count KK and others. Then consider another 13% is tied up in ONE player, Dan Uggla.
It’s time for a house-cleaning, starting on the TOP floor.
KK
March 24th, 2012
8:12 pm
Headlines in AJC March 24, 2013, “Chipper injures knee, out for season. Contemplating $20M
comeback for 2014 season.”