Chipper ‘just old’ — but no longer oldest Brave
SAN FRANCISCO -- Chipper Jones and his surgically repaired knees were out of the Braves lineup Saturday at San Francisco, the second game he missed through the first six on a 10-game trip that began in Washington.
“Just old,” said Jones, 40, as he suited up for the 1:05 p.m. game, the third in a four-game series against the Giants.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez often texts his 40-year-old third baseman in the morning to see how he’s feeling, but he didn’t need to Saturday. They had discussed it at the ballpark after Friday night’s 5-2 loss.
“He was walking around a little gingerly last night,” Gonzalez said. “He’s a little beat up. Hopefully he comes in [Sunday] and feels good… Maybe it’s just the coldness, and playing, and the trip and the whole thing.”
When a reporter asked Jones if the chilly weather in San Francisco contributed to more soreness than usual, Jones said, “No, just old.”
Jones was 10-for-32 (.313) with two doubles, three homers and five RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak before going 0-for-4 on Friday.
Batista: Older than Chipper
Here’s something we didn’t think we’d say this season: Chipper Jones is no longer the Braves’ oldest player.
Pitcher Miguel Batista, 41, was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett after the Braves placed starting pitcher Ben Sheets on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder inflammation.
Batista got the call at his Gwinnett County apartment at about 1 a.m. Saturday and was on a plane out of Atlanta seven hours later. He arrived at AT&T Park at 10:45 a.m. Pacific Time and was dressed in his new uniform 10 minutes later.
The Braves are Batista’s 11th major-league team in 18 seasons. He was 1-3 with a 4.82 ERA in 30 games (five starts) for the Mets this season before being released and signing a minor league deal with the Braves on July 27.
“I wanted to play for Atlanta back in the day, back in maybe 2000,” said Batista. “I always wanted to come here because they had what I never had — they had offense. When I was with the Diamondbacks I was left with a no-decision many times. I always thought, if I could be on that [Braves] team I could win 20 games.”
Batista pitched for the 2001 Arizona team that beat the Braves in the NL Championship Series and beat the Yankees in the World Series.
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43 comments Add your comment
Genesis
August 25th, 2012
6:11 pm
Genesis 19
Trey
August 25th, 2012
6:12 pm
Batista, hopefully you can do well here.
Biff Pocoroba
August 25th, 2012
6:13 pm
Hopefully Wren can bring in Clemens next so we can win the men’s senior softball league if we don’t get the wild card
J-MAN
August 25th, 2012
6:22 pm
No Cory Gerrin???
JHarber
August 25th, 2012
6:35 pm
Too many idiots in charge of THE BRAVES.
LakeDawg
August 25th, 2012
6:38 pm
Can you say SWEEP?
BravesfaninWis
August 25th, 2012
6:41 pm
Looks like they are doing their best to blow another game. The optimism is long gone as these guys have clearly choked again.
eddie57
August 25th, 2012
6:43 pm
Bases loaded and Fredi the idiot brings up Hinske so the Giants can bring in a leftie. Maybe he just wanted to burn Hinske without risking a double play.
JoeBravesFan
August 25th, 2012
6:58 pm
Part of me kinda hopes they tank, so MAYBE Fredi will get fired. Hinske in left over Reed Johnson, Prado @ SS instead of 2nd…some of these moves he makes are just retarded. Uggla needs to go…the Dodgers are throwing away money, so maybe they’ll take him and give us some prospects! Prado should be @ 2nd, Johnson or Constanza in LF and David Ross @ catcher. Send Fredi, Uggla and McCann packing and free up some salary.
I wonder why
August 25th, 2012
7:09 pm
BravesfaninWis
August 25th, 2012
6:41 pm
“Looks like they are doing their best to blow another game. The optimism is long gone as these guys have clearly choked again.”
BRAVESnotFANinWIS……AT HIS ABSOLUTE NEGATIVE BEST.
6-3 Braves with Kimbrel on the way. But I am sure that is the absolute most negative thing that could ever happen to those horrible blowing it again Braves.
Ken Stallings
August 25th, 2012
7:30 pm
Explains why Sheets’ control was not as good. Strangely, this is good news. Shoulder inflammation is likely just the byproduct of being out so long, not having spring training, and then going hard out of the gate. Hopefully, a bit of rest gets him back where he was.
Stands to reason that the game the Braves play well against the Giants is the one that was on network TV, so I did not get to see it on DirecTV’s MLB Extra Innings! Oh well, hope you folks got to enjoy seeing it!
Braves need to come out equally strong tomorrow and split the series.
BravesfaninWis
August 25th, 2012
7:30 pm
I hate it when the Braves win. I have nothing negative to say and I just hate that. I hate it more than I hate saying anything positive about the Braves because negative thoughts are the only thing that makes me feel good during the day. Postive thoughts just make me more more miserable than I can tell you. I just hate it when Kimbrel gets to pitch because that means the Braves are going to win and I cannot give up on the Braves for the twenty five thousenth time. And I just love giving up on the Braves. I wake up in the morning and wait all day to give up on the Braves again. I look forward to giving up on the Braves once again on Sunday. But I have to wait all night and all day to do it again. I just hate that thought.
Ken Stallings
August 25th, 2012
7:31 pm
hate it when the Braves win. I have nothing negative to say and I just hate that. I hate it more than I hate saying anything positive about the Braves because negative thoughts are the only thing that makes me feel good during the day. Postive thoughts just make me more more miserable than I can tell you. I just hate it when Kimbrel gets to pitch because that means the Braves are going to win and I cannot give up on the Braves for the twenty five thousenth time. And I just love giving up on the Braves. I wake up in the morning and wait all day to give up on the Braves again. I look forward to giving up on the Braves once again on Sunday. But I have to wait all night and all day to do it again. I just hate that thought.
JoeBravesFan
August 25th, 2012
7:32 pm
I hate it when the Braves win. I have nothing negative to say and I just hate that. I hate it more than I hate saying anything positive about the Braves because negative thoughts are the only thing that makes me feel good during the day. Postive thoughts just make me more more miserable than I can tell you. I just hate it when Kimbrel gets to pitch because that means the Braves are going to win and I cannot give up on the Braves for the twenty five thousenth time. And I just love giving up on the Braves. I wake up in the morning and wait all day to give up on the Braves again. I look forward to giving up on the Braves once again on Sunday. But I have to wait all night and all day to do it again. I just hate that thought
chas
August 25th, 2012
7:36 pm
I GUESS IM JUST TOO DUMB TO THINK GOOD BASE BALL. IVE ALLWAYS THOUGHT A MANAGER WAS SUPPOSED TO PLAY HIS BEST PLAYERS. MAYBE FREDI THINKS A 213 AVERAGE IS BETTER THAN A 254
RunninWithTheDawgs
August 25th, 2012
7:42 pm
If we’re going to go with an older pitcher why don’t we try to sign Roger Clemons?
lee maye
August 25th, 2012
7:48 pm
Gearin could have been brought up. If an injury occurs, then you don’t have to stay in the minors for any period. Another bad decision by Wren and Fredi. They keep hoping as always that these old guys will be the answer, while the Giants and others employ younger ones. Next up by Wren: Lyle Overbay to be recalled on Saturday Sept 1.
Max Sizemore
August 25th, 2012
7:53 pm
Biff, that’s funny.
longtimefan
August 25th, 2012
8:15 pm
I just looked outside, and guess what?-the sky isn’t falling.
longtimefan
August 25th, 2012
8:24 pm
Hey JoeFan and WisFan-the Braves won. Kinda disappoints you I’m sure. Maybe you can point out all the bad moves Fredi made today so that the final score wasn’t 15-0. Honestly, do you ever get tired of the pessimism? The Braves lead the WC, have one of the best records in baseball, balanced team, pitching well-isn’t that enough for you? Do you always expect perfection? I’ll let in on a secret-You will be disappointed in life, it’s not perfect.
Ken Stallings
August 25th, 2012
8:27 pm
Can the AJC staff get control of their own blogs? People posting under other people’s names is easy enough to determine and then IP ban the person doing it.
Ralph
August 25th, 2012
9:05 pm
“I always wanted to come here because they had what I never had — they had offense.
Fooled you!
Ralph
August 25th, 2012
9:09 pm
I can only hope they brought up this bum strictly for mop up duty, i.e., when they are trailing 10-0 or when they are winning 20-0.
Amber Girl
August 25th, 2012
9:10 pm
Mr Ralph That is FunnyLOL
longtimefan
August 25th, 2012
9:15 pm
Biff @6:13-That’s funny, seriously.
Bro
August 25th, 2012
11:07 pm
Sorry Gerrin made some good pitche. If he had just waited until he was 40+ he would have gotten called up. As much as I hate to say it the braves management has s— for brains.
Bob the Blogger
August 25th, 2012
11:22 pm
Cory Gearrin is 26 years old with a 1.34 ERA at Gwinnett and an ERA of 0.79 with the Braves. Batista is 41 years old with a 3.38 ERA at Gwinnett and an ERA of 4.82 in the majors this year. Both are right handed. So we brought up Batista. The only thing I can figure is that the Braves wanted a long reliever and Batista might fill that need better.
Humbug
August 25th, 2012
11:26 pm
The Braves win inspite of Fredi, not because of him. So many of his decisions just can’t be understood by anyone who has a knowledge of baseball or managing a group of people..
Give the players credit when they win. Fredi does not contribute anything. He was my choice to replace Bobby but boy was I wrong.
Stuart
August 26th, 2012
12:25 am
Ok dammit. Who told Fredi about the double switch? Just something else he can screw up.
Robert ( chi-town)
August 26th, 2012
9:25 am
Looks like the Dodgers are all in! We can’t even get a left fielder from the Twins over through waivers, but the Dodgers somehow get Adrian Gonzalez? Wow I guess having owners with deep pockets helps!
Semper Fi Braves fan
August 26th, 2012
10:02 am
Truth is, a dominate pitcher and chippers numbers are slowly creeping down. Look over the last few series. Teams best pitcher = Chipper not playing.
Tonight its the Freak
Last week it was Strasburg
D from Charleston, SC
August 26th, 2012
10:09 am
ATTN BRAVES Fans: Will Dan Uggla and Brian McCann cost Atlanta a shot at postseason glory? Newest blog at http://bravesbanter.com/. Update on the Starting Pitcher rotation battle… Who is the odd man out as of today, and would Kris Medlen be the Game 1 starter of a playoff series?? Old favs like how to score Hank Aaron seats for UNDER $50 and eat&drink for FREE at Turner! All at http://bravesbanter.com/…. Don’t Stop the Chop!!!
Fats
August 26th, 2012
11:25 am
Chipper needs to remind Mr.Obrien ,”They don’t call me Bones Jones for nutin’”
alanfalcon
August 26th, 2012
1:05 pm
Why would the Braves make this move, What the hel’ are they thinking and When do they think this will make them a champioship team.
smooth
August 26th, 2012
1:06 pm
This goes out to BravesfaninWis, YOU SUCK!
Paul In Richmond.
August 26th, 2012
1:13 pm
Well the 40 year old Braves have this in common- they only play every couple of days!
Pete
August 26th, 2012
1:30 pm
Cory Gearrin was sent to AAA on August 17. I believe the MLB rules prohibit a player from being recalled for the first 10 days after he has been sent out.
OTP
August 26th, 2012
1:32 pm
Why doesn’t Wren just re-sign Hank Aaron, while he’s at it? Cheap deal, I guess.
Fats Johnson
August 26th, 2012
2:21 pm
Good pt OTP
Hank Aaron would have played through his bone aches…………….:)
Pay Bones his money now
Lobosolo
August 26th, 2012
3:14 pm
Crybabies in full force, with the team they love to hate in the top tier of the majors… humbug, I guess it that stellar career as a manager you won the series more than a couple of times, huh? Do you nimrods ever, EVER think about the crappallapa you DRIBBLE (verb this time, J-CRY)? I guess we should be thankful we’re around the top five instead of the top ten… you whine-babies would be even more insufferable… I’ll keep asking y’all questions, though I know none of you has the fortitude to answer (just like you lack the fortitude to watch an exciting pennant race)… What do your wives and children really think of having husbands/daddies that cry so much? How do you think they look at you? Do you cry about everything else like you cry about baseball? Do you berate your workmates when they aren’t as perfect as you? Will anyone talk to you at home or work? Is your ability to blubber and yack foolishly some twisted source of pride for you? Do you encourage your kids (when you’re not wimpering in the armchair, of course) to go to school and cry, stomp their feet, or call the teacher an idiot when they can’t get their way? I’m just curious…. Never heard such a bunch of crysters in my life and seriously would like to know what y’all get out of it…
Fats Johnson
August 27th, 2012
12:47 am
Bones is the crybaby……………..not the paying Braves fans
BravesfanAtl
August 27th, 2012
8:11 am
The money spent on these old part timers could have been used for some really good every day players and maybe we would be in first place again. But no, lets hold on to Chipper and his once a week playing time and add a bunch of old, over the hill killers too.
Packer Ed
August 27th, 2012
8:13 am
Hey folks, we will of course miss Chipper but lets not forget Juan will be a stud.