Struggling Chipper: ‘A moral victory for me is a walk’
As this look the other night would suggest, Chipper Jones could use a rest. But it's a bad time to ask. (AP photo)
The Braves are playing their best stretch of baseball in more than three years. Chipper Jones, the player who usually helps get them there, is playing his worst.
If you’re Jones, the season has been a mixed blessing. He spoke two weeks ago about how much he enjoyed being part of a playoff race again. But two weeks ago, he wasn’t in a stretch of one hit in nine games. Two weeks ago, he wasn’t so clearly on pace to put up some of his least productive offensive numbers since his rookie season — this despite actually leading the team in games played — and openly speaking about how physically and mentally worn down he felt.
“I can sit here and tell you all of the things I’ve done wrong this whole year [mechanically], and the list is long and boring,” Jones said Tuesday. “But the bottom line is, you get a pitch to hit pretty much every at-bat, and if you don’t do your damage with that one pitch, you just do your best to hang on the rest of the at-bat. We are trained to not miss those mistakes. Right now, and for about the last month, I’ve done as good a job as I can to miss every mistake that they make. Right now, a moral victory for me is a walk.”
When reminded that he has been drawing his share of walks, Jones: “I know. That’s kept me sane. But I’m tired, I’m beat up and my mechanics are not good — and all of those things have contributed to this slump.”
These are not words you want to hear in a pennant race. Jones is the team’s best player — when he’s on. He suspects he would benefit from a day off here and there, but he knows that isn’t feasible. Injuries have thinned the bench. Sitting out would send the wrong message to teammates and fans. It wouldn’t thrill the manager. Also, there’s a pennant race going on.
“The last couple of years, when we were out of it, you wouldn’t have trouble asking [for a day off],” he said. “But right now, you definitely don’t want to ask for one. And it could be the one game that determines whether or not we go to the playoffs.”
But he’s running on fumes. He went 0-for-4 with a walk in Tuesday’s game against San Diego. He’s 1-for-28 in the past nine games. He’s hitting .261 since June. His season average of .281 hardly looks like a death knell. But it’s a significant drop from the .324, .337 and .364 averages his past three seasons, and his career average of .310. He has hit lower only twice — .248 in an injury-plagued 2004 and .265 in his rookie season (1995). He’s also pacing for a career-low 20 home runs. Extra-base hits and slugging percentage — also way down.
What’s of greater concern, the drop in power or average? “The average,” he said. “I’ve never considered myself a power hitter. I consider myself a tough out.”
He has spoken to his father for advice. He worked in the cage again Tuesday with Terry Pendleton. He’s trying to get his hands back into his swing. He has been playing through ailments, notably a wrist injury, and has managed to stay off the disabled list. But in a strange way, he thinks that has worked against him.
“I was thinking the other day, ‘How come whenever I come off the disabled list, I get hot?’” he said. “I think it’s because I feel fresh.”
But a day off? Cox said roster injuries have prevented that.
Then Cox added: “You sign on, you play.”
Jones: “Bobby’s of the old-school belief that if you’re healthy, it’s your job to play. I tend to agree with him 99, 98 percent of the time. When you’re in your 20s and early 30s, yeah, you should play. But as you get older, the grind of this lifestyle after 20 years of doing it, does take its toll.”
He’ll get his rest in October. Until then, he’ll hope for more than the moral victory of a walk.
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164 comments Add your comment
Bat Masterson
August 25th, 2009
7:47 pm
Are you at the game Jeff?
Jeff Schultz
August 25th, 2009
7:48 pm
Yep.
Bat Masterson
August 25th, 2009
7:48 pm
oh yeah… first
Bat Masterson
August 25th, 2009
7:49 pm
There is an echo in here….. hellooooooooo
Bat Masterson
August 25th, 2009
7:51 pm
How’s the atmosphere, winning any hearts and minds?
Herschel Talker
August 25th, 2009
7:56 pm
Stick a fork in Chipper. He is done.
Schultzie – the Braves must sweep this series. They need to win 2 of 3 the rest of the year, and since they aren’t beating the Phillies or Marlins 2 of every 3 of the rest of their meetings, they have to bank extra wins against chumps like the Padres. A sweep is mandatory.
Bat Masterson
August 25th, 2009
8:06 pm
You’re right HT, unless of course, they don’t and they do..
Jeff Schultz
August 25th, 2009
8:07 pm
Atmosphere — uh, not quite here for a Tuesday night game against the Padres.
Herschel — I agree they need to AVERAGE a 2-out-of-3 series the rest of the year to makes the playoffs. And yes, sweeping a series would make that easier because you know that there’s no way they win EVERY series the rest of the season. See — I know math.
The_Superhoo
August 25th, 2009
8:16 pm
Sure would be nice if we were a little deeper on the bench and could sit Hoss for a game or two. I think he’s right, could really help an oldtimer like him out.
Herschel Talker
August 25th, 2009
8:22 pm
Schultzie – I notice that ever since Terence was fired, I agree more and more with you and Bradley. I sense a correlation.
Bat Masterson
August 25th, 2009
8:37 pm
After your blog on fan apathy and with your following, I just thought, well… you know….
Angus
August 25th, 2009
9:05 pm
A walk would indeed be a victory tonight.
A night off, and this is what they do?
Arghhhhhhh!
Sonny Clusters
August 25th, 2009
9:08 pm
Jeff, we was wondering if you have any pet names for the players like that sportswriter that calls Chipper, “Hoss”? We heard he calls Moylan “Sweetcakes” but that come from somebody no longer on the team. We was reading where Chipper might need some more time off and we was thinking we work that second shift 52 weeks a year and dont get time off like an off-season where we was able to hunt and fish and make things out of deerskin. What we want to know is if a sore wrist is what is making Chipper miss all those balls at third base or is it more to do with the new glove? And we was wondering if that wrist is the other one that is making his thows go wild? We was never sure since he has a right groin and a left groin and a right wrist and a left wrist. Does he have right and left obliques and is one more tired than the other? We was just wondering.
Jeff Schultz
August 25th, 2009
9:34 pm
Sonny, I always forget if it’s the left groin and right oblique, or right groin and left oblique.
Jeff Schultz
August 25th, 2009
9:35 pm
Angus — no kidding, he’s 0-for-3 .. He leads off the ninth.
Angus
August 25th, 2009
9:38 pm
OK – we’ve still got 3 outs.
Angus
August 25th, 2009
9:39 pm
Nice pitch!
Angus
August 25th, 2009
9:39 pm
Boog read your post “he’d be happy to take a walk”
Angus
August 25th, 2009
9:40 pm
Another nice one – 3-2
Angus
August 25th, 2009
9:42 pm
Damm – 2 outs left
Bryan G.
August 25th, 2009
9:42 pm
I really hope to hear more from Sonny Clusters. Jeff….we was wonderin if Sonny could get his own column?
Angus
August 25th, 2009
9:44 pm
One on (too bad he’s slow as molasses – check that, AAA Gorecki running)
Angus
August 25th, 2009
9:45 pm
Hit n run with GA?
(Yes, I’m having a conversation w/ myself)
Angus
August 25th, 2009
9:46 pm
Safe? You sure about that?
Angus
August 25th, 2009
9:47 pm
Alright GA – slider in the dirt – don’t swing at it.
Angus
August 25th, 2009
9:48 pm
He took the fastball away – fooled me.
Angus
August 25th, 2009
9:49 pm
Crapola.
Angus
August 25th, 2009
9:50 pm
LaRoche!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Angus
August 25th, 2009
9:52 pm
Di-az Di-az Di-az
(c’mon, say it with me)
Di-az, Di-az, Di-az
Angus
August 25th, 2009
9:52 pm
Oh, well – free baseball.
Herschel Talker
August 25th, 2009
9:56 pm
Schultzie – Cox is a moron. Why was Garrett not lifted for a pinch runner? Gorecki was already committed to the game, so put in a pitcher to run for Garrett and have Gorecki replace him. Stupid fool is Cox!
Sonny Clusters
August 25th, 2009
10:07 pm
We was always fond of extra innings. First, we was well conditioned and wouldn’t get tired like the other team, and second, we was full of hitters. Everybody on the team could hit. If we got into extra innnings we made the other team pay. We was always wanting to win. We liked to put that other team away. Stinky Wintes had killer instink. Not everybody on the team did, though. We knew if Stinky come up we was going to win.
Bryan G.
August 25th, 2009
10:09 pm
God bless Sonny Clusters.
Reid Adair
August 25th, 2009
10:27 pm
Chipper should be careful in a slump like this at his age. Frank Wren will be looking to put him out to pasture.
nola braves fan
August 25th, 2009
10:29 pm
Jeff – when talking to Chipper does he seem that “unhappy” to you? All his quotes this year come off as a tired, grumpy old ball player. I appreciate him being honest, but in a way, if your the leader, talk like it. “i am going to be fine. I will get hot and help my team” etc…
By the way, Soriano looked nasty huh?
Smitty
August 25th, 2009
10:34 pm
The braves may yet win this game but heres what drives me crazy about Cox’s inability to play one game for a win instead of 162 games. I believe he puts more pressure on his players, though they love him for it, by waiting for the “big” hit from whomever. In the 8th, bases loaded, 1 out, let Infante squeeze in the tying run. He might not , but as it was, waiting for the game winner, Infante and Prado went out. Successful on that though , then let Kelly Johnson run for Anderson at first and maybe he scores the winning run behind the tying run and the game is over in the 9th. Damn!
Burgess
August 25th, 2009
10:36 pm
Way to hustle Garrett……….the game would be over by now if anybody but Anderson was on 1st in the 9th.
Sonny Clusters
August 25th, 2009
10:42 pm
Jeff, we was noticing that picture of Chipper grimacing and we was wondering if that was because of a thumb, wrist, toe, ankle, heel, oblique, groin, or hamstring? We was pretty sure we got em all but never can tell. Do you remember what was hurting when that photo was made? We was typing away awhile ago and getting ready to post and that post just disappeared. We was not sure why. Anyway, we was wanting to tell Jeff that Dairy Queen is featuring the Girl Scout Cookie Blizzard this month and we was planning on going over to Dunwoody to try one. Jeff, we can go over there together if you want to and carry some of your stuff.
Bat Masterson
August 25th, 2009
10:50 pm
You know smitty KJ had all ready been in the game
double ewe tee eff
August 25th, 2009
10:58 pm
Burgess nailed it. Nothing like tiring out our already depleted line-up in the first of 9+ straight games.
Oh, and they LOST TO THE PADRES!!!!
BnB
August 25th, 2009
11:04 pm
It has seemed to me that the team does pretty well when Chipper sits recently. Perception or reality? Man, do we play up (down) to the competition or what? Grrrrr..
Angus
August 25th, 2009
11:05 pm
Batters 1-4: 1 for 20.
There’s no reason to look anywhere else.
me
August 25th, 2009
11:07 pm
More great pitching tonight….Ugh the offense when they don’t click. I agree BnB
Steve Brown
August 25th, 2009
11:22 pm
The five years prior to 2003 (MLB steroid, etc. testing) Jones averaged 159 games a year. Since 2003 he has averaged around 120. Very suspicious but no one in this town has ever written about it or has the guts to do so. He is a great hitter who has become a whiner. His hip, his flexor, his wrist, he’s tired. He needs to shut up, suck it up or go hunting.
BnB
August 25th, 2009
11:32 pm
And yet we just signed him to a big three year deal. The guy is a HOFer but has been falling apart for years and it shouldn’t get any better. Was it a PR move? I’m not really so sure that Chipper is a club house leader. He seems to individualistic ala Ted Williams or something. OTOH, he just had a monster year in 2008….
pete nose
August 25th, 2009
11:34 pm
chipper jones is done.and so are the braves.Anybody would have scored from first excelp anderson. why did booby cox not pinch run for anderson?.you can’t win games by loadind the bases late in the game twice with only 1 out and not score.pitiful hiting performance great picthing wasted.
Matt
August 25th, 2009
11:36 pm
It’s tough to recover from all those “age-related” injuries when you don’t have the juice to help you recover.
trob
August 25th, 2009
11:47 pm
braves, if your reading this why dont yall suck it up, show some life, and hustle every now and then. instead of sitting on the bench looking like you dont give a flip cause all of us die hard fans are tired of it. loaf, how the hell are you not gonna score tonight, that was a joke. then you cant even redeem yourself in the 11th? all you do is strikeout. then the top of the lineup going 1 for 20 against one of the worst teams in the NL. dont yall realize that jair only gave up 1 runs and the only reason your still in the playoff hunt is bc of your pitching staff. offense pleaseeeee step it up and put some life in the dugout not just for 2 out of 3 games but every damn game. (after the rain delay against the philles yall looked miserable in the dugout, like you didnt wanna play the game). back your pitching up and make the playoffs bc alot of us still are watching every pitch of every game and to see JJ only give up one run and the offense not to a nything is just ridiculous.
rico carty
August 25th, 2009
11:52 pm
Brutal loss tonight. Just brutal. I don’t know how JJ didn’t snap at the lack of support. How many games has our outfield defense cost us? I know he’s hitting .220 or something, but Andruw Jones, where are you?
John
August 26th, 2009
12:00 am
What happened in tonight’s Tool Race, Jeff? I heard it was a riot!
Sid Bream
August 26th, 2009
12:03 am
BRAVES LOSE!!! BRAVES LOSE!!!
Jeff Schultz
August 26th, 2009
12:06 am
Herschel – how about a pinch fielder. Did you see Garret dog it in left tonight? Awful.
Nola – he’s just frustrated. And he’s always been the type to say what he feels – actually much like Smoltz in that way.
Sonny: “Jeff, we was noticing that picture of Chipper grimacing and we was wondering if that was because of a thumb, wrist, toe, ankle, heel, oblique, groin, or hamstring?” … The answer is yes.
John – The Drill did a face plant.
John
August 26th, 2009
12:07 am
Thanks for the quick response! Just a face plant, eh? That seems to happen every night these days.
pete nose
August 26th, 2009
12:17 am
playoffs—playoffs now i know what jim mora sr ment when he said playoffs who said playoffs.
bob
August 26th, 2009
12:22 am
If a team reflects its “leadership,” the Braves don’t have a prayer. Chipper’s counting the days till hunting season, when the oblique won’t matter.
Boy, ya gotta feel for that pitching staff. Would this year’s team have a much better record with Smoltz, Glavine and Maddux in the prime?
Legend of Len Barker
August 26th, 2009
12:23 am
I want to believe that Chipper’s giving it his all.
But offensively, he’s quit playing smart. It seems as if most of the time, he goes up there hacking. Regardless of how often he’s seen the pitcher, what the Bravos have done against the pitcher, and the location of the pitch, he’s swinging at the first pitch.
He’s been an injury liability for the past 2-3 seasons. Whenever he tweaks something – and that’s seemingly once every two weeks – he’s out just enough to be on the bench, but not on the disabled list. I’m beginning to detest that little wince of his.
Defensively, he’s getting worse. Poor Escobar has to cover three positions if a fly ball is hit in that area. Anderson has no range (and isn’t about to dive), Chipper sometimes runs out there (there was one pop fly that he didn’t even turn his head), plus his own.
It’s time the Braves found a third baseman. If his name is Martin Prado, it’s time the Braves found a second baseman.
gobravos
August 26th, 2009
12:34 am
This offense is pathetic. When are they gonna spend for a bat again. Are we really waiting around for two minor leaguers, Freeman and Heyward, that have yet to show they can hit at the big league level. You know, my high school teachers had a saying for assuming… This is ridiculous and beyond stupidity. Why is Kelly Johnson on this team? Were it not for BMac on Sunday Kelly would of lost us another game. Why is Greg Norton on this team? What is the point of good pitching if you can’t score runs? I’m tired of watching a team with a lineup full of dumb rednecks. Even my grandmother can tell these guys can’t play. Maybe someday this pitching staff will get some run support. Really, 2-1 to the Padres. Excuse me, I may vomit. If you wanna follow a playoff contender, then there’s a real good one playing in Denver. You know what, I’ve wasted my time saying this much. Braves lose 2-1 to the Padres… enough said, but hey, at least all these guys can look forward to hunting and fishing in the off-season. What a joke.
Coach (2010 or Bust)
August 26th, 2009
12:35 am
Tough, tough loss. No doubt about it.
However, it’s not Chipper’s fault. He should probably be on the DL but the dude is taking it on the chin for his team right now due to all the injuries.
So I’ll say it once again, this is a very mediocre baseball team being carried by some great pitching. But the game differential in wins (66) and quality starts (76) pretty much sums it up. They have underachieved on a massive scale.
Not enough power early on, a mediocre defense, injuries and no running game to speak has left us right where we are…..just out of reach of the playoffs.
Mitch C
August 26th, 2009
12:44 am
Jeff, I watched the game on TV tonight. In my opinion, it was one of our worst losses of the season. The Braves definitely should have won that game. Look at all the baserunners they left in the late innings. Pathetic! One hit, and they win the game. If we lose the wild card by one game, this is one we will remember. We must take the next two from the Padres.
As for Chipper, he’s 37. Bottom line, he’s probably not going to be as productive as in recent years. Hopefully, he can still get his hits to drive in runs. It’s hard to count on him as being the “big guy” that he was when he in his late 20s and early 30s.
I’m still hopeful about this team, but we must play better than we did tonight, if we want to make the playoffs.
Mitch
Wayn-o
August 26th, 2009
12:53 am
These are the times when you find out how good of a manager is. When you have injuries and guys are in slumps. sorry but its cox responsibility to put the best players in the right places to win. REGARDLESS of payroll, name or status. If Chip isn’t cutting it for the last MONTH then give him a day off before an off day. or drop him to the 4 or 5 hole, put escobar & mccann before or between him. Don’t waste roster spots for bums like Norton. who don’t (can’t) play defense, pinch run or even hit. Don’t let lowe give up 9 straight hits. Don’t wait for Kelly or Bennett to get hurt to not use them. Don’t wait for for Wren to trade away Francoeur & demote Schafer to not play them. do I need to keep going?
jackets77
August 26th, 2009
1:26 am
Jeff…has anyone from the AJC or any other media outlet asked Bobby Cox in the last month or so why he keeps putting Norton in as a Pinch Hitter in crucial situations game after game after game….his avg is around .145 or so! the BEST possible outcome is a walk…just wondering if anyone has questioned Cox on this
Dr. Hurst
August 26th, 2009
3:37 am
Jeff, I am a fan of Bobby Cox, but I am at a loss as to why he continues to keep Norton. When Brooks Conrad was up from AAA he was knocking the COVER off the ball. Why would the organization not keep someone who seems to be THRILLED to be up… who seemed to be playing his BUTT off, instead of a guy who is batting just over 100 against lefties… and 145 overall??? When Norton comes to bat, I GROWN… why are we WASTING reasonable opportunities with a guy who, assuming he was a hitter at some point, has LOST IT…?
DamYankee
August 26th, 2009
5:00 am
Yeah, Jeff, I saw Anderson dogging it in left. He barely broke into a trot, kind of set the tone for the game. JJ didn’t look too happy about it either. To top it off, he was dogging it on the basepath in the 9th, rounding second it looked like he was walking. The game should have been over in the 9th. If his back is so tender, why not pinch run for him there, use a pitcher? After years of being a Cox fan I’m beginning to agree with the Bobby bashers, sometimes he doesn’t have a clue.
37YearBravesFan
August 26th, 2009
6:28 am
It’s just really frustrating to watch.
Former fan
August 26th, 2009
6:36 am
A slump? Like Francour, send him to the Mets. At the Braves, we don’t wait for anyone!!!
BravesAreDone
August 26th, 2009
6:48 am
Can someone explain to me why the HOTTEST hitter on the team is batting in the number eight hole?????????? What’s up with that Bobby?
MiltonDawg
August 26th, 2009
7:18 am
another pathetic attempt at offense last night
MiltonDawg
August 26th, 2009
7:21 am
agreed with earlier poster…what in the world is NORTON STILL ON THE TEAM???!!!! Braves cannot hit in the clutch–so many wasted opportunities last night!!
Ward
August 26th, 2009
7:29 am
Stick a fork in the playoff dream…the reality was Anderson still on the bases when we needed the run…which directly relates to the season-long issue about manager’s impact.
Rufus
August 26th, 2009
7:40 am
If the Braves had a winning line-up, why does Bobby have to change it with putting a guy in left field who can’t run and now can’t hit, putting in a man who is hurting, when he had someone from the bench who could cover more ground.
Bobby, is playing guys who are not only hurt, but don’t contribute anything positive to team or game.
Bobby, is losing games by being hard headed. They should put half of these players on the disable list, and bring up, players who can get to a simple fly ball, Bobby leave a winning line-up along.
Bench Chipper, he is hurting the Brave, put in, his favor boy on third Kelly Johnson, he can do just as bad as Chipper.
What is the purpose of putting in a pitcher, to pitch-hit for a pitcher?
It’s sad to see a bunch of broken down players go through the motion. Bobby maybe from the old-school in believing that if you’re healthy, it’s your job to play. and no one would disagreed, but how can Bobby say that Chipper, and Anderson are healthly,
so for Pete sake Bobby wake up, and smell the coffee.
greg
August 26th, 2009
7:47 am
Colorado will win a least 92 games which means that the braves will have to close out the season with 26 wins and only 11 loses….not going to happen…so let Chipper rest….it’s over….
SimpleDawg
August 26th, 2009
7:50 am
Chipper is a perfect illustration of how much steroids benefited all of those aging superstars who continued to put up All-star stats after age 37-38, and even up to age 40 and beyond.
The steroids didn’t make Barry bonds see the ball better, or Mark McGwire, Palmeiro, Sosa, Clemmens, etc., etc.,etc. better players, but the steroids allowed them to continue to compete at a high level much longer than physically possible without them.
bravesfanforever
August 26th, 2009
8:03 am
Look Chipper, you are hitting terribly against right handers. Well, terrible for you anyway. So why not use a lighter bat? Get more bat speed. You’ve lost power and you seem to be getting a bit frustrated at not making contact. Why not use a lighter bat???
bravesfanforever
August 26th, 2009
8:05 am
THIS TEAM NEEDS CHIPPER TO HIT .320 OR IT AIN’T MAKIN’ THE PLAYOFFS!!! WAKE UP CHIPPER! USE A LIGHTER BAT! EVEN 1 OZ WOULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE!
Angus
August 26th, 2009
8:06 am
It seems you’re all looking for someone to blame for last night.
If so, I say look no further than you’re 1-4 hitters. 1 for 20 overall, 0 for 5 w/RISP.
The bottom of the 8th was the killer – bases loaded, 1 out, with Infante and Prado coming up, and ….nothing.
bob
August 26th, 2009
8:08 am
Chipper is hurting the team, and so is Anderson in left field( he can’t move). Put Kelly Johnson back in left field, Infante at third now that Prado is back, and Keep Chipper, and Anderson on the bench to pinch hit.
Also send Norton back down and bring Conrad back up.
jfreak13713
August 26th, 2009
8:17 am
We lost last night game because Anderson isn’t well enough to run the bases and that’s just not going to get it! I don’t care if you had to put a pitcher in left feild pinch running for Anderson was the right move and once again COX made the wrong move and the Braves lose! Now 5.5 back in the wild card and playoff chances are getting dim…. By the way I’m not being critical of Anderson here I’m critical of a manager who time and time again gets out managed by lesser opponets!!
Chipper should be at least moved down in the line up until he starts to hit again. He is killing the Braves in the third hole right now. I wouldn’t bench him if for no other reason than he is CHIPPER, but he will hit again just in a slump when we can ill afford it?? Come on Chipper Atlanta needs you now!!!!!
jfreak13713
August 26th, 2009
8:29 am
you know what I’m tired of reading about REDNECKS on these blogs! If you don’t like it in the South then by all means pack your bags and get the hell out of here! This is America last time I looked and people are FREE to live however they want and just because they don’t drive import cars and live in some overpriced Condo doesn’t mean they are stupid or UNAMERICAN. Get over it. Those REDNECKS are Americans and most SERVE their country in one degree or another unlike most of you who sit around monday morning quarter backing about a sport you couldn’t play if your daughter was pitching to you underhanded!!
carolina fan
August 26th, 2009
8:31 am
It probably is over. The stars just are not aligning for the Braves. When you see two incredible walk-off wins for Colorado against two decent clubs and then Atlanta goes down in order against the Padres you really need to look at 2010 right now. The Rockies are in and might even catch LA. In 2010 a full healthy season from McLouth, getting a power (25+ HRs) corner outfielder this off-season (LF or RF) and get some pinch-hitting off the bench and the Braves should be real competitors. Go rest Chipper.
Sonny Clumps
August 26th, 2009
8:31 am
Ya, when Chipper and I was kids me and Chipper always played ball and he was such a good hitter then he was occassionally hurt. That was before I gained 200 lbs.
Sonny Clumps
August 26th, 2009
8:33 am
Chipper and I always went hunting as kids and would eat big Angus burgers.
Trey
August 26th, 2009
8:38 am
Carolina fan, although we may not make it just keep your head up and be as positive as you can be.
Trey
August 26th, 2009
8:40 am
jfreak13713, I am from the south and I am proud to serve my country, so thank you for defending the south.
santa3247
August 26th, 2009
8:42 am
Hi, I’m Seong-Ho, Yoon living Jinhae city southkorea until now. Long time no see.
Chipper the great is now under slump? Because he needs more rest more than before I think. And Chipper have to reduce the weight training, the problem of age was made by Babylon.
Hey! Same age as santa, do you remember last year’s consecutive hit without HR? you have to train again about the bat’s secret, as Hank Aaron said
“You have to swing with not by muscles but by bat’s movement with soft grip and shortest usage of power”
Do you remember?
May the force of Messiah be with you
P.S: I’m waiting the WinePress Judgment of Absolom until now. And continously I am disposing devil tribes over the World until now by the force of Messiah and Spell.
And you have to know that, for 20 months my house’s international phone call billing sheet was requesting Minus Money. ^*^
I didn’t make a international phone call from 2007 to now Never. I received only three fraud international phone call. ^*^
Kashi
August 26th, 2009
8:46 am
Where is Matt Holliday?
Jeff Schultz
August 26th, 2009
8:47 am
Jackets77 – The answer right now is simple: there’s nobody else available because of injuries.
Dr.Hurst – I don’t know why Conrad’s not up. That’s a good question. But I’d imagine Norton’s lifeline is pretty short right now.
Mike Lum fan
August 26th, 2009
8:51 am
Jeff:
Why the heck was Diaz (8 for his last 9) BUNTING in the bottom of the 9th???
Dale Murphy Fan
August 26th, 2009
8:53 am
It is a shame that Chipper is not performing as he has in the past. The Team is good, and they desperately need some consistency from Mr. Switch which he has not produced relative to his history. Food for thought… Was it a mistake to re-sign Chipper? Probably not, but if he continues this slump…then what? BTW – His fielding continues to get worse and perhaps they should move him to first base???
Kashi
August 26th, 2009
8:59 am
Swith hitter behind CHIPPER, $20M a year – Texiera and Big MaCain behind him and we are in playoff right now, do you think it is worthy?
Steve Brown
August 26th, 2009
9:00 am
Jeff, no comment by you on my earlier statistical study of games played pre-juice testing and post-juice testing (2003) is no surprise. It must just be coincidence and not worthy of discussion.
Repeat
August 26th, 2009
9:03 am
Would this year’s team have a much better record with Smoltz, Glavine and Maddux in the prime?
Dawg Fan in Grayson
August 26th, 2009
9:08 am
Enter your comments here
Sonny Clumps
August 26th, 2009
9:10 am
When I was yunger Babe Ruth and me would always hang out after ball games having eating contests and of course he always wun. He did teach me two things, how to hit and how to put on weight. Because of Babe Ruth’s skills I learnt I taught Chipper what he knows with the bat and that is how I gained weight and when you see Chipper getting fatter you can say, when Chipper and Sonny Clumps was hanging out Sonny got Chipper fat.
Sonny Clumps
August 26th, 2009
9:11 am
Chipper and me was always playing baseball.
Dawg Fan in Grayson
August 26th, 2009
9:15 am
To Repeat: With this offense? Probably not
I am very concerned about Chipper. It’s not that he is not getting hits it’s that I have never him stike out so much. He is not even putting the ball in play on many of his at bats. Then to hear he is tired and beat up makes you wonder about the age factor.
Winning 2 out of 3 every series is nice, but where the Braves are in the standings (games back and number of teams in front of them) they will not make into the playoffs if they don’t reel off a 7 or 8 game winning streak. They have the pitching to accomplish the feat, but not the offense. The offense just does not show up at least one time in a series.
atlbravesfan44
August 26th, 2009
9:16 am
He’ll get his rest in October, huh? I take it you’ve given up on the Braves playoff chances. Time for you to start writing about the Falcons and Jackets then.
DIAMOND DAWG
August 26th, 2009
9:16 am
The Braves lack the “it” factor! End of story, end of season. Thanks for playing. Just can’t get the big hit or make big play when have too. Same story new year. This team needs a shot of fire put in em once again. Starting with that Chipper guy!
ben
August 26th, 2009
9:18 am
You can’t beat many teams when the first 3 hitters go 0-16. Not even the last place team SD. Maybe Chipper needs to get some more hitting tips from his dad.
Sonny Clusters
August 26th, 2009
9:19 am
We was listening to the game and it seems like they was playing Bobby Ball last night and when they do that they aren’t gonna score a run without a homerun. Lots of free swinging and groundouts and strikeouts come about when the pitcher don’t groove one for the 3-run homer. We was thinking maybe they was a better team when they was able to do some fundamentals like we did for Coach.
atlbravesfan44
August 26th, 2009
9:19 am
Why should Norton’s lifeline be short now? Rosters expand in a week. It would be stupid to cut him loose at this point when we could have done so a month ago, two months ago, hell even April would have been fine by me.