Chipper Jones gets hit in return and takes a swing at critics
Chipper Jones had a single in first spring game since his knee injury last August. (AP photo)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Seventeen years ago this spring, Chipper Jones turned to avoid a tag at first base in an otherwise meaningless exhibition and his knee buckled. He heard a pop. Then he heard a doctor say, “torn ACL.” At 21 years old, he wondered if his career was toast.
“Honestly, I was a lot more scared the first time this happened,” he said Sunday. “I didn’t know anything about the injury. I didn’t know if I could be the same player that I was before.”
Jones’ second attempt to come back from a reconstructed knee began in earnest Sunday. He played in a game for the first time since suffering a torn ACL last August. In an exhibition against the New York Mets, he went one for three (strikeout, single, flyout) as a designated hitter and even broke up a would-be double play at second base — with a cautious and “measured” slide.
“Once the season starts it will be, ‘Go after him.’ Right there, it was, ‘Don’t blow out [the knee in] the first game,’” he said, smiling.
Baby steps. Unlike when Jones was injured as a rookie, he is confident he can pull this off. It’s others who wonder.
When an athlete pushing 39 has reconstructive knee surgery, the tendency is to speak about them in past tense. Or worse. Some cynics not only question Jones physically, they wonder if money is his primary motivation. This accusation generally comes from the short-sighted, ignorant and disturbed segment of the populace that vents on sports talk radio and posts comments on blogs, all behind the comfort of anonymity.
When I asked Jones about the accusation, he laughed.
Then he swung away.
“If they think I’m doing this for the money, they obviously haven’t seen my bank account,” he said. “I’ve never played this game for money. Nor will I. My mind doesn’t work that way. I play this game because I love my teammates and they wanted me to come back.
“I still feel like I have something to offer, and the cynical fan can really kiss my ass. I really don’t care. There’s a bunch of true fans and the people who actually want to take the time to get to know me know who I am. The guy who sits in his mom’s basement and types on his mom’s computer, I couldn’t really care less about.”
Everybody else gets a big hug.
Jones has made over $141 million in his career, including $127 million in the last 10 years alone. To blow through that much cash would require dropping paychecks into a food processor or possibly just being your average former heavyweight champion.
Doing it for the money?
There are a lot of reasons to be cynical about pro sports today. Chipper Jones isn’t one of them.
In mid-June last year, when he was still hitting .230, retirement was imminent. His mother even cracked that he should sacrifice a chicken. But over the next several weeks, his timing returned, his legs felt stronger. In his last 19 games before suffering the injury, he hit .349 (22 for 63) with three homers, five doubles, nine walks and 12 RBIs.
“I just felt locked in,” he said. “Unfortunately it took a few months for that to happen, but better late than never. Then the injury hits and I’m in a new frame of mind. If the injury would’ve happened a month and a half earlier, I probably would’ve retired. Timing is everything.”
The closeness of last year’s Braves team also played a role in his decision to return. “If this was a team like we had four or five years ago, things might be different,” he said. “We all like hanging out together. That’s unusual in this day and age.”
The knee has flared up periodically in the spring. But so far there has been nothing that ice and a day off couldn’t cure.
“I just have to get to the point where I’m not Andre Dawson and have to drain it every day when I get to the park,” he said.
If the knee holds up, he believes playing 140 games is realistic. The real test comes when he plays in the field and is required to plant and pivot for a throw.
“It just feels good to be playing again,” he said.
And that’s not about money.
By Jeff Schultz
♦
Previous posts from Braves’ camp
– Braves camp: Chipper’s return, Uggla’s debut, Cox’s spring ejection
– Braves hoping to recreate chemistry from 2010 season
– So what does Freddie Freeman (3 doubles) do for an encore?
– Digi-Blog goes to Braves’ spring training at Disney (they charge, I don’t)
♦
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304 comments Add your comment
Dawg4life
February 28th, 2011
8:26 am
Chipper is done…. has been for 2 seasons now. He is the Braves’ version of Keith Brooking. So we are going to have to sit through another season of him playing in 30 games and sitting out the rest with a bent back pinky nail? No thanks. Take your spot on the bench as the hitting coach buddy. And you can kiss my a$$, Oh wait, I would hate for you to sprain your oblique….
Reggie
February 28th, 2011
8:29 am
“short-sighted, ignorant and disturbed segment of the populace that vents on sports talk radio and posts comments on blogs, all behind the comfort of anonymity”
Thanks for calling it like it is. Have a great year, Chipper.
redeye
February 28th, 2011
8:42 am
Chipper, I hope you have a great year and wish you all the best. GO BRAVES!!
dean
February 28th, 2011
8:44 am
Quote: “The guy who sits in his mom’s basement and types on his mom’s computer, I couldn’t really care less about.”
That pretty much sums it up.
Good luck this season.
guest
February 28th, 2011
8:46 am
JSS
February 28th, 2011
7:45 am
@ Guest…
The only person who “might” be comparable with Jones might be Freddie Lindstrom… But even Lindstrom put up multiple (4) 400+ chance seasons and 1-500+ chance season…
Sorry, Chipper Jones has the least chances of any Hall of Fame candidate defensively at Third Base… That switch hitting batting prowless will be his road to Copperstown…
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I wasn’t arguing his HOF worthiness (although I do believe he will get in). I was disputing the point that HOF 3rd basemen (or for that matter good defensive 3rd basemen) don’t have seasons with 20 or more errors. Errors are not the end all stat for determining a players defensive worth.
Hooters Waitress
February 28th, 2011
8:47 am
Chipper, honey, it ain’t your knee I’m worried about.
Rain or Shine
February 28th, 2011
8:55 am
For a few years now, the most exercise I got was drying off after a shower. Yesterday, I got in shape; did some pushups and walked a half hour or so. Today, I cannot move as I am sore where my muscles used to be. Playing 140 games + year after year is a damned big deal. Do it Bwoy!!! Kick Bootay this year.
PMC
February 28th, 2011
9:04 am
I like Chipper, but why make comments like… “I don’t play this game for money.”
Um. Dude, YES YOU DO! You’re a professional. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s fun, it’s a game and you get paid extremely well for it. No need to apologize for it.
We need him to play and play well this year. The guy is one of the best Braves ever. His defense is not what it once was but when he’s on he can freaking rake, and the play he tore up his knee on was spectacular.
We need Chipper to play and play well, but you wouldn’t play the game for free at this level and no one should expect you to.
Marilyn
February 28th, 2011
9:05 am
Chipper, I am a true friend and honest being, but cannot understand why the people will voice their opinions of you when it sounds like their schooling is second grade and they still stay behind the coal heater when company comes. I think I would not show my ignorance to the world unless I could say something positive about someone. You are very special to God and your many friends. We can’t hardly wait until April 8th. Thanks again for being you!
PMC
February 28th, 2011
9:08 am
I think the fact that they added some help for him in the lineup should help. I really hope everything holds together for him this year. I’m not worried about home runs, I’m hoping that he can hit well over .300 and be up with a lot of guys on base.
papadawg
February 28th, 2011
9:10 am
Chipper you can kiss mine too, you’re the one who goes down with a injury every year and you’re the one who has gotten older and lost quickness at third so don’t pull a Vick on the fans.
cooper3271
February 28th, 2011
9:11 am
We all hope that Chipper has a great year , but in reality he was too slow last year and coming off knee surgery want help him get back to playing speed. The braves are showing class in letting Chipper try but I hope that one of the braves young fast infielders will play most of the year at 3rd.
I don’t think a lot of the bloggers on here really know what it takes to be able to play an infield position at the major league level and I can tell you now that Chipper doesn’t have the speed to play at 3rd any longer. He may be able to be a designating hitter in the American League but because you need healthy knee’s to be able to swing with power I doubt he could get an American League team to sign him for more than 500K or 1 Million. I hope he will accept reality and before any hard feeling’s are generated between him and the braves he will discuss staying with the braves as a coach or hitting instructor or whatever they can decide that will use his vast knowledge of baseball.
JSS
February 28th, 2011
9:15 am
guest
February 28th, 2011
8:46 am
“Errors are not the end all stat for determining a players defensive worth.”
If you’re getting that many errors in that few chances… You’re a less than adequate… He is just a fair third basemen… Go and really look at Chipper’s numbers, he gets less chances than any of the historical benchmarks of Hall of Famers at the position. I mean it is not even close (75-100 less chances) per season in comparison… The other handled many more chances therefore I can see why they had 20+ errors. Chipper on the other hand, while not a butcher or a monster, he was just mysteriously erratic…
Dave
February 28th, 2011
9:19 am
Chipper has had a bad two years that was before tearing his ACL. Odds say a player coming off an ACL injury won’t do better his first year back than he did the last two years. If you are 39 years old those odds go down even more in you having a great year. Just as many fans couldn’t admit it was time for Glavine and Smoltz to hang it up these fans and Chipper will repeat that mistake again. I guess some will wait for strike three to admit that and there will be some who will even want a strike four as well. Sorry I am 61 years old sooner or later you have to look at the odds his having a Chipper year are very slim. Chipper has been injury prone even before this injury and every year he becomes even more so..
Pierson Brave
February 28th, 2011
9:19 am
For those of you who may have forgotten. Chipper is a Florida Native, through and through. He loves the Gators not the Bulldogs. You Georgians (some of you) seem to think that he is a Georgia boy who can’t be ridiculed by a Florida citizen.
Jim Pierce
February 28th, 2011
9:21 am
I absolutely hate the thought of the Braves starting a game without Chipper in the lineup. For you folks that think Chipper isn’t a threat at the plate, try asking opposing pitchers what they think with 2 men on and C. Jones standing at the plate lol
RaleighDawg
February 28th, 2011
9:21 am
“If they think I’m doing this for the money, they obviously haven’t seen my bank account,” he said. “I’ve never played this game for money. Nor will I. My mind doesn’t work that way.”
What do you say then Chipper – how about dropping $12M from this year’s contract so we can pick up another bat ?
Geez….does this even Chipper believe the stuff that comes out of his own mouth ?
Cincinnati
February 28th, 2011
9:24 am
Chipper Jones and first aid in 2011
Don
February 28th, 2011
9:27 am
Writers and fans keep talking about the question – can Chipper “come back” from the injury.
“COME BACK” to WHAT — The implication is that he was in the prime of his career – and can he come back to it.
But he had not had a really good offensive season in two years and his defensive range was already poor and he was able to play only part time at best. Even if he “comes all the way back” to where he was before the injury, the Braves still do not have a really productive player. And aside from the injury, he is going to be another year older on the downhill age slide. And the pressure is going to be to play him no matter what. And regardless of production, he is probably going to continue to take up a significat part of the salary budget for the next two years. Talk of retirement is probably just that “talk” – he will probably not walk away from these millions no matter what – few players would – and that is not to be critical – the Braves gave him the contract and the money is his. None of this takes anything away from how great a hitter he was in the past – far greater than he received credit for being – hitting great against the best pitchers, and in close games, and in late innings of close games and in game determining situations.
Don
February 28th, 2011
9:33 am
Pressure is going to be on the Manager to play Chipper no matter what – if he is productive at all — The team administration will not want to look even more foolish for having given Chipper the big bucks long contract – if they have a 14 million per year player sitting on the bench for two years.
papadawg
February 28th, 2011
9:38 am
I was a big Chipper fan in his prime but we all go past our prime and he is way past his. It’s time to judge him with our heads and not our hearts.
Lance H.
February 28th, 2011
9:40 am
I was in college in Macon, GA when Chipper came through A-ball there. Thirsty Thursdays and Chipper hitting bombs onto the RR tracks in right. I’ve always been a huge Braves fan, memories beggining with Willie Montanez and Jeff Burroughs, and when I moved to Atlanta in 2000 I was fortunate enough to attend about 30 home games a year until about 2006. My wife and two you boys are huge Chipper fans too. Now we reside in Houston and I make sure I’m there for the Braves 3 games each year, as I was for game 2 last year. I thought it might be the last for #10 but I’m really pumped that it wasn’t. And pumped for Chipper too because I think this team could be something special.
Others who were the “heart and soul” of this franchise have left and worn other uniforms – some with a thumb to the nose or a pat to the wallet while doing so. Chipper could have got more money from another team, actually Chipper could have got more money from the Braves. But he didn’t and he stayed. I know it’s a two way street but Chipper did his part. As long as Chipper wants to play, I’ll be there supporting him. In this day and age, my kids will probably never have a “Chipper” – an athlete that spends an entire, lengthy, dominate career with their favorite team.
And for the nay-sayers, leave it at home. I think there are a whole lot more of US that won’t take kindly to hearing it at the park. Just saying.
DDog10
February 28th, 2011
9:40 am
Chiper, I’m 57 year old and I still love the game. But I realized a long time ago I could not still play. I’ll be glad when you realize this too because you are done. Your bat has slowed down to much to hit major league pitching. You have to start you switch to early and hope you swinging at a strike. Be real, you are only out there for the money now.
jfreak13713
February 28th, 2011
9:40 am
Good for you Chipper! I’ve been critical of Chipper at times only because I expect so much of him but that isn’t his fault. He has meant an awful lot to this team over the years and deserves to play as long as he desires! I don’t know that I would bat him third but he should have a place on this team. A hall of fame player deserves our respect.
timthebrave
February 28th, 2011
9:42 am
I hope CHipper has a big year. If we are going to go anywhere(especially in the playoffs) we will need him to produce. I don’t care about the hr but he needs to get some rbi’s. Go Braves
travelqueen
February 28th, 2011
9:44 am
I won’t say anything at all. Some of those comment are right and some are wrong. He was only pay for money and he just don’t want to say anything to disrespect him but he already knew that everyone was going to be upset or angry. Speaking of how much he get does really make some of us mad, as for me I am kind don’t like for Sport people get in people wallet make us pay too much for see them for only 2 hours. I can’t do anything, the only question is stop going to the game and let them be the way worry with nothing in their pocket
Tucker
February 28th, 2011
9:47 am
Chipper is a completely deserved favorite in uniform. Let’s leave it at that.
reason
February 28th, 2011
9:49 am
Chipper, choose your words carefully, if the fans when to hell, there would be no one to watch you play, while making the millions of dollars you make every year, even if you only play a few games and for the rest of the season you’re hurt. So, don’t get on your high horse with the fans even with those that don’t like you. You’re always out when it counts, and most likely you won’t play very long this years.
Billmelater
February 28th, 2011
9:51 am
Love Chipper..but lets wait and see how the season turns out before the hanging.
Sitting In My Mom's Basement
February 28th, 2011
9:53 am
In my underwear looking at your wife’s picture on the Hooters Calendar.
Andy in Blairsville
February 28th, 2011
9:55 am
I’m thinking Hooters
Just Sayin'
February 28th, 2011
9:55 am
Chipper is trailer trash as is his Hooters trophy wife.
Just Sayin'
February 28th, 2011
9:56 am
Chippy Wippy will have a major hang nail that will keep him out of the lineup for at least a month. Bank on it.
reason
February 28th, 2011
9:58 am
It’s not a point of liking of disliking the man, is that Chipper is not dependable, he not there when the team needs him the most. I hope he hits 50 homers and plays the whole year long, without pulling something or breaking somethng else.
Shaun
February 28th, 2011
9:58 am
Seems to me the criticism of Chipper comes from those who don’t understand that on-base percentage is a lot more telling of a hitter’s value than batting average, don’t understand that on-base percentage is basically out-avoidance percentage and don’t understand that on-base percentage and not batting average is the fundamental measure of success versus failure of a hitter.
Call this arrogance, but the criticism of Chipper comes from unenlightened fans or from ignorant fans.
papadawg
February 28th, 2011
10:01 am
You know it’s kinda dumb to make a comment that he’s in it for the money. I own a business for, yep that’s right, the Money so stop with the money comments. The Braves took a chance and signed him and they owe him for what they signed him for. At least we got more out of him than we did from Hampton
guest
February 28th, 2011
10:03 am
JSS
February 28th, 2011
9:15 am
guest
February 28th, 2011
8:46 am
“Errors are not the end all stat for determining a players defensive worth.”
If you’re getting that many errors in that few chances… You’re a less than adequate… He is just a fair third basemen… Go and really look at Chipper’s numbers, he gets less chances than any of the historical benchmarks of Hall of Famers at the position. I mean it is not even close (75-100 less chances) per season in comparison… The other handled many more chances therefore I can see why they had 20+ errors. Chipper on the other hand, while not a butcher or a monster, he was just mysteriously erratic…
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
My friend, we are not disagreeing. I simply was trying to point out that the original poster’s comment about making 20 errors in a season does not necessarily make a bad defensive 3rd baseman. That’s all. Not saying he’s great . . . not saying he’s bad . . . just disagreeing with the original comment that made it sound like his 20 errors makes him the worst 3rd baseman to ever play the game.
Timbo
February 28th, 2011
10:04 am
I don’t know.. I’m a fan of Chipper’s and have always supported him, but those comments is what one would expect from a 20 something not a professional pushing 40. It doesn’t come off very well IMO. As far as him not playing for money, give me a break. Even if he was genuine in this regard, the fact is 15 million dollars a year has a profound affect on the Braves payroll and the Braves are not getting the production that one would expect from a 15 million dollar player. Whether he likes it or not, it does affect the team and it has taken away from other areas of need. His words may come back to haunt him if he can’t stay healthy or if he can’t hit anymore. I wish him well, but he doesn’t help himself with inflammatory comments. Also, there are a lot of hard working, educated people who are struggling in this economy. He shouldn’t make references to his bank account being so large. It shows how out of touch he is with the fanbase. Again, I am a fan but I’m not going to pretend that I believe this is the best way to represent himself or the Atlanta Braves.
Ouch. . .My Oblique!!!
February 28th, 2011
10:05 am
His knee will probably be fine this season. He will, however, miss 30 to 40 games because of a pulled oblique. What critics criticize is that CJ’s salary is such a large portion of the budget for what he delivers at this point. It keeps the Braves from acquiring servicable free agents who can help the team win.
BG
February 28th, 2011
10:07 am
Chipper needs to hang it up!
Gatorman
February 28th, 2011
10:07 am
Way to go Mr. Cool!! Since you have never showed up for the playoffs by leading your team, we fans should not criticize you. Do you really think you’re going to the hall of fame?? There is nothing in your history to make you a candidate.
Shaun
February 28th, 2011
10:14 am
If you don’t think Chipper is valuable and don’t think he is a top-of-the-order hitter (top 3 spots), you simply don’t understand that outs are a key part of baseball.
JSS
February 28th, 2011
10:16 am
You folks act like Chipper at 38 is the same as Hank Aaron at 38 as a hitter. Sorry to tell you this, but he is not… Not for power, maybe for average, and not for run production!
Even defensively, the Old Bad Henry could be shifted to 1st base and had over 1,000 chances in the field… Chipper’s insistence that he MUST play third base and he MUST bat third are just crazy…
Shaun
February 28th, 2011
10:21 am
JSS, so you recommend batting someone who makes outs more often batting higher in the order and costing the Braves outs more frequently? You want your best on-base guys coming up most often. This is why Chipper should bat in one of the top three spots in the order. Otherwise, someone who makes outs more often than Chipper is going to bat more often than Chipper, therefore costing the team more outs. So, again, if you want the team to kill more rallies than they otherwise would, support batting guys like Chipper and Heyward lower than 3rd in the order.
DC from Conyers
February 28th, 2011
10:22 am
Chipper is one heck of a ball player. Automatic HOF. I for one is very glad we have him. He may be more valuble this year, than in years past. He has to step up and be the leader he is. He will be a Great asset to Freddie. I really like what he said in the paper. He is right about his fans, and he should not give a durn what people think, because is right. He will go down in history as one of the Greatest switch hitters in mordern era. Ya’ll just keep dishing on him we true fans will keep pulling for him and the Braves. Good luck to the Team go get them guys.
Shaun
February 28th, 2011
10:25 am
Apparently some of you need an education. On-base percentage is the same as out-avoidance percentage. Your team gets three outs, that’s it, so you want to prolong your team making outs. The higher a hitter is in the order, the more he’s going to come to the plate. So if you put guys who make outs more often than others at the top of the order, you are costing the team more outs.
Only those who don’t care about how often a player or the Braves make outs think Chipper is not extremely valuable at the plate and think the Braves should bat him lower than third. Simply put, you either are uninformed, ignorant or careless.
One For The Chipper
February 28th, 2011
10:27 am
That’s the Chipper we want to hear from!Instead of telling those Whiffers to Kiss your as..Why don’t I help You Kick Their As….Go Getem Man!
True Fact
February 28th, 2011
10:31 am
Chipper has been telling the fans to kiss his fanny for years now. Hearing him say it out loud is actually kind of a relief. His “restructuring” is way overblown. His contracts have been FAT. He runs his mouth and it never means jack. Oh, I’mma retire if I stink it up. Oops, never thought I’d really stink it up. What I meant was I’mma albatross this team with my broken, OUT OF SHAPE, deer-hunting, creeky limbs for the next few years.
Just one more in a long, long line of pro athletes who stick their heads in the sand once the hair begins to gray. And he will be broken and ineffective this year. And rather than kiss your behind, Chipper, I will laugh. And I know you read these blogs; another sign of your megahumungogiantantic ego.
Not about the money… haven’t seen your bank account… what a punk you are. The Braves will be better when you’re outta here.
Shaun
February 28th, 2011
10:33 am
I would hope Chipper understands the nature of fandom. Fans aren’t professionals. Many of them don’t understand the value of players like a front office would, for instance. Only the most intellectually curious fans truly “get it” and view the game moderately close to how a front office views the game. When the front office or the intelligent fans start to criticize, that’s when Chipper should take offense.
Leon A. Daniels
February 28th, 2011
10:37 am
Everyone has the right to an opinion and those of you that takes this thing personally, by cheep shotting those that don’t agree with you should suffer a torn ACL. You act like these professional athletes are your family members. Get a life. You don’t have a clue why Chipper continues to play. I do know that he hasn’t played much in the last five and his production continues to drop. How many of you would keep your job if you missed this much work and your production droppe? Stop idolyzing these guys. My 11y/o son wants to know why Mr. Jones wants someone to kiss that part of his boby. What was decent about that? Our values are in the gutter.
Retired First Sergeant
Leon A. Daniels