Chipper Jones on loss in his finale: ‘Ultimately I’m to blame’
Chipper Jones never imagined an error in his final game would cost his team a playoff game. (AP photo)
Bunting hanging from the rafters. Red tomahawks. An actual sellout for a postseason game (but then, it’s new again).
Ted Turner. Jimmy Carter. Bobby Cox (except in the stands, not in cleats).
Also, there was Chipper Jones. He was a 23-year-old rookie in 1995 when the Braves won the World Series. He was a 40-year-old, 19-year veteran when he was making his way from his home to Turner Field Friday for a playoff game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Perfect weather. Perfect backdrop. Perfect emotions.
“I told my dad, ‘This is why I know I’m ready to go. I’m not even nervous,” Jones said earlier Friday.
It wasn’t the perfect ending. No walk-off homer. No catching the final out. No fairly tale.
More like Stephen King.
Of all the endings Larry “Chipper” Jones envisioned for the final game of his career . . .
“This wasn’t one of them,” he said, completing a question.
A broken bat single in the ninth in five at-bats (at least he wasn’t the final out of the game). Three runners stranded on base. Worst of all, a throwing error on a potential double-play ball that opened the door to a three-run Cardinals’ fourth, signaling the beginning of a Braves’ meltdown.
The Braves lost their one-and-done wild card “round” to the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-3.
That didn’t take long. Thanks for coming.
Afterward, there were debates about one of the worst calls in baseball history: heretofore to be known as, “The Shallow Left Field Fly Rule,” which helped damper a potential Atlanta rally in the eighth. There was the questionable safety squeeze bunt by Andrelton Simmons in the fourth, in which he was called out for running inside the baseline (smothering another inning). There were two other errors that led to unearned runs.
But Jones, looking back on the final game of his career, wouldn’t hear any of it.
“There are a lot of guys in [the clubhouse] laying blame,” he said. “But I kept my mouth shut because ultimately I’m to blame. That ball was tailor-made for a double play.”
It was Jones’ first postseason game since 2005. He didn’t play in the 2010 divisional series because of a torn knee ligament. He decided against retirement because he felt he could still play, wanted one more chance to win another World Series and, “I don’t want the fans’ final image of me to be one of me hurt on the field.”
Nor did he want this image.
In the second inning, he struck out. In the third, he grounded to second. In the sixth, he popped to second.
In the seventh, with a chance to amend for all previous wrongs — two men in scoring position, two outs, a Jones-esque moment if there ever was one — he hit a meek first-pitch groundout to second.
But the biggest pratfall came in the field. In the fourth inning, with the Braves leading 2-0, the Cardinals’ Matt Holliday hit a potential double play ball to third. Jones fielded it but threw it over Dan Uggla’s head at second and into right field. Allen Craig followed with a run-scoring double.
“I made a good pick[up], got a two-seam grip and it sailed on me,” he said.
By the time the inning ended, St. Louis had scored three runs (two unearned). Four of the Cardinals’ six runs were unearned.
Did left field umpire Sam Holbrook botch the infield fly call, preventing the Braves from having the bases loaded? Clearly. But Jones wasn’t going there.
“Ultimately when we look back at this loss, we need to look in the mirror,” he said. That [infield fly] call is in kind of a gray area. I’m not willing to say that call caught us the ball game. Three errors cost us the ball game, mine being the biggest.
“It just seems that play turned everything around, and that’s what I’m most disappointed in,” he said. “Walking out of my last game, I certainly didn’t want to go [1 for 5] and make a play that losses a season. But that’s something I’ll have to deal with in the days to come.”
It doesn’t change his career or his path to the Hall of Fame. It doesn’t change all of the games the Braves won because of him. But it wasn’t the final scene he imagined.
By Jeff Schultz
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228 comments Add your comment
Gritsfalcon
October 5th, 2012
11:25 pm
@Eric Thomas glad everybody is okay!!!!
CamiloAtlanta
October 5th, 2012
11:28 pm
Well, at least the Braves are consistent in their collapses. I had hope, but in
the end the Cards were the better team. Now let’s spend Chipper’s pay on
some decent bats.
Gumby
October 5th, 2012
11:28 pm
Well they can’t say Braves fans aren’t passionate anymore and I don’t blame them. I wou;dn’t have done it (I don’t think) but I don’t blame them. This ranks up there with the 1992 WS call against Ron Gant when he was thrown off the bag and called out. Instant replay on all calls in MLB now with a ump in the booth. Of course if the protest had been allowed it would have ruined MLBs schedule which is sooooo much more important than getting a call right.
Texas Pete
October 5th, 2012
11:28 pm
The call was terrible. I was at the game and the reaction was spontaneous in every section of the stadium from top to bottom.We all saw how wrong it was. Then the stadium announcer said: “Please refrain from impeding the game by throwing objects on to the field. Continued obstruction will cause the game to be forfeited. Please let the players decide the game.” I wish Holbrooke had gotten that message. A Little League umpire could have gotten that call right. The umps took the game away from the players. If you make a wrong call is it impossible to reverse it? I’m all for using instant replay during playoff games. Bases loaded with one out in 8th … that’s a rally waiting to happen.
Arrecho
October 5th, 2012
11:29 pm
Chipper error
Simmons not being able to tie the game with a fly ball with 1 out (wtf Freddie, safety squeeze?)
Uggla’s error
Simmons error
Can’t hit at all
That’s ur ball game… Same old braves
Answer this
October 5th, 2012
11:31 pm
@eric thomas
Glad your children are ok
with regards to Chippers last bat…..you did not miss anything trust me.
Fredo
October 5th, 2012
11:36 pm
they played 1 more game than the worst teams in baseball, that counts for something right? Between going out like this and not even going? Not much of a difference ……. at least last year you saw the collapse coming 10 miles away. The Braves forgetting simple fielding drills? You couldn’t see that coming (the runners left in scoring position being a difference in the game? The men left on base? yeah, you could see that coming 10 miles … that stat already sucked coming into this game and they weren’t going to all of a sudden start scoring a lot of runs per game, it was going to kill them eventually and the baseball gods made sure it was their very first game).
Basically I’d just rather forget this game ever existed. I’m going to MIB myself into thinking the Cards were the 90+ win team who won the wild card without having to play some weird play in game.
Najeh Davenpoop
October 5th, 2012
11:36 pm
Even the best of hitters can have an 0 for 4 game at any time (part of the reason why a 1 game playoff is a stupid idea) but I think it’s fair to expect your #1 ranked defensive team not to make three errors. And let’s be honest, Chipper’s error was the most costly of all of them. Without that error, there’s a good chance Medlen gets out of that inning unscathed and still holding a lead.
eric thomas
October 5th, 2012
11:37 pm
Thanks Gritsfalcon. Yeah we all needed showers but we were all ok. Not everyone was. On our way out we saw a lady with a busted head being transported to first aide. So these idiots saying no one was hurt are dead wrong. People were hurt by the actions of others at that game.
Najeh Davenpoop
October 5th, 2012
11:38 pm
And I have no problem with fans throwing sh-t on the field. After years of being clowned by the national media for being indifferent and not caring, we finally have some hard evidence to show that we do care, and we’d care a lot more often if we had teams in this city who didn’t choke in the playoffs. With that said, don’t throw things if your arm is too weak to get the object you are throwing onto the field.
Lars
October 5th, 2012
11:39 pm
Braves blow it as usual, was there ever any doubt how the game would turn out? Finaly the Braves can boot Mccant and Dan “couldnt hit the ball off a Tee” Uggla to another team or to Burger King. And take the sorry excuse for a coachy with em!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mace224
October 5th, 2012
11:40 pm
They still left garbage on the field. The umps were still there.
Mister Frisky
October 5th, 2012
11:41 pm
These losers have found every way imaginable way to loose in the post season for 20 years.
SR
October 5th, 2012
11:42 pm
Same ol, same ol, inventing new and embarassing ways to win each and every year since 1995. What a brand, what a disgrace, what a predictable result. Seriously.
Najeh Davenpoop
October 5th, 2012
11:42 pm
“Finaly the Braves can boot Mccant and Dan “couldnt hit the ball off a Tee” Uggla to another team or to Burger King.”
I am with you 100% on Uggla. Below average fielder, below average hitter. Just because a guy looks like Popeye doesn’t mean he is a good baseball player. Should have kept Infante. Ship his ass out, play Pastornicky at 2B and use the money to keep Bourn and McCann.
SR
October 5th, 2012
11:43 pm
Same ol, same ol, inventing new and embarassing ways to LOSE each and every year since 1995. What a brand, what a disgrace, what a predictable result. Seriously. I was hoping anyway.
Dr. Phil
October 5th, 2012
11:44 pm
I was at the game, and I thought there were at least two bad calls. I couldn’t figure out why Simmons was out at first when the ball bounced off of his helmet. I haven’t seen that replay. The dropped pop up was a worse call than the Seattle touchdown. It was the worst call I have seen in 50 years of attending ML Baseball games. The beer bottles were spontaneous. I don’t throw beer bottles, and I don’t agree with it, but it was no worse than the call itself. The Braves were in a position to win the game at that point.
kreedham
October 5th, 2012
11:44 pm
MLB would be wise to take the ump out of the rest of this years playoffs and also never ump another Atlanta home game!
Caseyatthebat
October 5th, 2012
11:45 pm
Something is wrong with the psyche of this organization. Something’s missing. They remind me of the little kid sitting at the table in front of a bowl of candy. Mommy said not to take any so he keeps running his finger around the rim of the bowl. Suddenly little brother comes in and sees the candy and grabs a handfull and pops them into his mouth. There will be repercussions for him……….but, HE GOT THE CANDY! The Braves aren’t willing to TAKE what’s in front of them. The whole mindset of the team, the sports writers, et. al. In this town is happiness running their finger around the rim of the bowl.
Mister Frisky
October 5th, 2012
11:46 pm
Hey Schultzie,I know you liked the stand pat team.But once again the failure of the offense is to blame for another October flameout.They add ONE REAL HITTER this off season,they win the east and Wash is in this turd of a play in game.You get what you pay for in life.
Bronkelliott
October 5th, 2012
11:46 pm
Have to admit I am glad to see Chipper retire. Enough already. The future of the Braves can be bright with some nice young pitchers and some good bats. I for one am glad to see the Bobby Cox & chipper era end for the Braves. Every year it is the same heartbreak just different excuses. Either out managed or out played. Chipper was awful tonight. The Cardinals didn’t fold the Braves did. Yes it was a bad call but let’s face it Chipper had nothing in the tank for the last month of the season. Loved him as a player but feel it is time to move on. Don’t lose heart Braves revenge will be yours in the future. I am done with baseball for the year. Tired of Cardinals, Yankees and Rangers. Hope someone else wins it all.
afan
October 5th, 2012
11:47 pm
Fans were not just mad at umps call but 17 years of frustration from this team and organization.
This was not a play-off, BS to Bud and MLB for a stupid one game called play off. BLM don’t give a damn for nothing but money..to hell with the little fans as long as you buy the tickets. Even Braves don’t care same BS every year.
Wren needs to go! Stop the Bobby Cox God stuff..we need new blood. We were only one game better than the Royals.
Answer this
October 5th, 2012
11:48 pm
Lol @Najeh
“Don’t throw things if your arm is to weak and can’t get it to the field” hahahahahha. Thanks for making me feel better!
@ eric thomas …….sounds like that lady should have ducked! Or perhaps she was hit in the head by a Cardinal fan who was throwing bottles just to chime in? Or perhaps she slipped and fell trying to get out the way of a bottle or perhaps she had to much to drink and hit her head or perhaps she should have just ducked!
Mister Frisky
October 5th, 2012
11:50 pm
Agree,Thank God the 7 month Chipper farewell tour has ended.Time to let our young power pitchers into rotation,and most importantly go get some WOOD Wren.
Answer this
October 5th, 2012
11:51 pm
This was not a one game play off
this was for MOB to have a one game pay off…..about the money and the product just went bad tonight with that horsespit call.
StLD
October 5th, 2012
11:52 pm
Enough with the complaints about ‘the call’. It will be completely forgotten by Sunday. Even assuming it was a bad call, all it did was cost the braves an opportunity…with a .230 hitter coming up. Give me a break. They lost that game with some of the worst defense that’s ever been played in the post-season. And laying eggs with runners on base. And then the worst fans in baseball earn their stripes again – stay home for the entire regular season, then embarrass yourselves in the one game you show up for. Pathetic.
Dawg4life
October 5th, 2012
11:52 pm
The season should not have ended like this. Got to give the Cards credit for taking advantage of yet another error-filled playoff game. But the season should not have ended like this. This was a painful excuse for a way to introduce the playoffs. There is no redemption, there is no next time, there is no way to make this comedy of errors correct.
I’m upset that the team played poorly (once again) on the big stage. But I am probaly more unhappy that there is no way this team can redeem itself.
I hope Bud Selig is happy with these results. They’re pretty crappy to me.
Answer this
October 5th, 2012
11:52 pm
MOB should be MLB
Hillbilly D
October 5th, 2012
11:54 pm
Ultimately when we look back at this loss, we need to look in the mirror,” he said. That [infield fly] call is in kind of a gray area. I’m not willing to say that call caught us the ball game. Three errors cost us the ball game, mine being the biggest.
Shouldn’t that say “cost us the ball game”, JS?
Answer this
October 5th, 2012
11:56 pm
@StLD
Question for you, if the Braves were lucky enough to win 2 -1, would you have complained about the time out call going from strikeout to two run homer. That takes alot of guts to answer with truth!
Hillbilly D
October 5th, 2012
11:56 pm
I was at the game, and I thought there were at least two bad calls. I couldn’t figure out why Simmons was out at first when the ball bounced off of his helmet. I haven’t seen that replay.
The umps got that one right. Simmons was clearly running in the grass and not in the box. That’s interference.
JSS
October 5th, 2012
11:57 pm
Liberty Media will use the excuse of the lawsuits that will cost them big to stand pat, you knuckleheads cut off your noses to spite your face!!! Ha ha, unintended irony hits again!!!
boots
October 5th, 2012
11:58 pm
I am left with a very bad taste for MLB. The umpire crew was the WORST in the history of baseball. They decided the game, and no one in their right mind thinks this was justice. The ESPN poll shows about 88% of the nation voting it was a bad call. Their state-by-state breakdown even shows the state of MO voting it was a bad call. Honestly, you left thinking it was a crooked crew and that the Braves got screwed. I could care less what happens in baseball for the next few years. I’m done.
afan
October 5th, 2012
11:59 pm
Balt O’s beat Texas and go to play NNY..happy for O’s
Answer this
October 5th, 2012
11:59 pm
If they want to sign someone…they will. Reaching a little on that one….
SR
October 6th, 2012
12:01 am
Isn’t this the 9th straight playoff (sort of) game they’ve lost AT HOME!!!! Really, who else does that?
Exactly. This organization needs to cleanse itself for it is cursed as surely as the other cursed teams are.
Ax
October 6th, 2012
12:01 am
I’m a life long Cardinals fan. While I’m happy they won, I understand why Braves fans are upset, I would be too over a botched call. I watched the Cards lose the 85 World Series that way. Altlanta fans now have the St. Louis version of Don Denkinger.
Don’t be too hard on Chipper, nobody is perfect and we all make mistakes once in a while, even great ball players like Chipper.
afan
October 6th, 2012
12:03 am
Hadn’t won a playoff game since 2001
Answer this
October 6th, 2012
12:03 am
@Ax
Thanks for giving some good perspective from a Cards fan. All these Judy do goods maybe will take a clue now.
afan
October 6th, 2012
12:04 am
Hope Braves sign FA David Wright
afan
October 6th, 2012
12:06 am
Ax, I respect the Cards and their organization very highly more than Braves. They make the moves the need and Braves don’t.
Answer this
October 6th, 2012
12:07 am
Got a third baseman don’t need Wright…..IMO, he would just make it worse for Fransisco to get on the field..and he has proved he needs to play more.
You Never Know
October 6th, 2012
12:09 am
The thing about baseball is you never know. You can have the matchups you want, the hitters in just the right order and every other detail worked out to the last detail. And then, you never know. Loss is rough. It sucks, no getting around it. But that’s baseball…and that’s life. The script doesn’t really matter in the end. In the words of the late great Skip Carey, when asked the umpteenth time about who was going to win whatever game was about to be player, “Don’t know. That’s why they play the games.”
Losing hurts. Losing in life hurts. Without that, however, we’d never know how good it feels to win. And how as good as it feels to win, hopefully, there’s still another sunrise to see.
Answer this
October 6th, 2012
12:11 am
Its all good Braves fans.
Wait until next year….I don’t, wont, can’t quit…I am a fan….good or bad times….I will see you guys at the Winter Meetings….
I am gone! Alright
Alright
Allright
Cardsgal
October 6th, 2012
12:12 am
I’m a Cardinals fan, and frankly, I’ve never really been a fan of Chipper’s. But I really admire the way he’s handled himself this evening after a really brutal final night at the ballpark. Classy.
moboman
October 6th, 2012
12:16 am
Defense blew the game, but that call has to be reversed right then and there, for the integrity of the game. Let the Brave lose the game if that is what happens, but dont let the umps decide the outcome with a horrible call.
Nokahomas Wigwam
October 6th, 2012
12:17 am
Just an absolute gut-wrenching way to end this way as so many postseasons have been since ‘96. I can’t believe it’s over. Thank you Chipper for all the years of entertainment. Also, to you fans who littered the field: THANK YOU FOR FINALLY SHOWING SOME PASSION. Dan Uggla, I’d say try to reinvent yourself in the winter but I think your too dumb/stubborn to do so. You would be dominant in my softball league so give it some thought. Keep your chins up everyone, the future is bright for this team….
Pete
October 6th, 2012
12:19 am
I don’t think the call was that terrible. Kozma is clearly under the ball. Had he put a glove on the ball then dropped it on purpose to double up the Braves’ runners, people would have been screaming for the infield fly rule. The Cardinals could be equally mad that even though Lohse was into his motion the umpire called time and strike three was negated. The next pitch resulted in a two run homer for the Braves. Bottom line, the umps did not cost the Braves this game. Poor fielding and terrible clutch hitting did.
chris
October 6th, 2012
12:19 am
Fredi Gonzales calls for a Safety Squeeze with two on, one out and the Pitcher on Deck? He she be fired for that move alone.
moboman
October 6th, 2012
12:20 am
And those of us watching on TV saw repeated pitches by Medlin that were strikes and not called. No mention of that. One batter had a 3-2 count and the foxtrac showed that every single pitch was entirely in the strike box. Homeplate umpire missed his share as well.