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
GreatATLGuy
October 6th, 2012
8:29 am
@Larry, you are a cliche’ (look it up)
Big Al
October 6th, 2012
8:32 am
LMAO!!!! The Braves are just the Braves, but Bobby Cox is the greatest manager ever. Casey Stengel would roll over in his grave laughing.
Carroll
October 6th, 2012
8:52 am
Another bad call that nobody is talking about…the guy who hit the ball to Uggla where he made the bad throw and opened the door to 3 unearned runs…that guy was CLEARLY struck out on the pitch before he hit that grounder. Balls and strikes were shaky all day. Still no excuse for the way the Braves played. What happens to them in October that they lose their freaking minds and forget how to play? It happens every stinkin time.
evil empire
October 6th, 2012
8:54 am
some gotta win, some gotta lose….goodtime charlie’s got the blues…
pete
October 6th, 2012
9:01 am
Enter your comments here
kreedham
October 6th, 2012
9:15 am
Well if Prado’s moving to 3rd we’ve got to get an outfielder and 2 if we don’t keep Bourn.
What might have been-I think we would have caught Wash if Beachy hadn’t gone down.
Joe Torre overturned protest because you can overturn a judgment call. He should have said, the protest is denied but it was the wrong call!
Buzzer
October 6th, 2012
9:16 am
The fan reactions, and this game in general is all appropo:
16 years of futility & counting.
I don’t blame the fans. That was a long time in coming.
The game…..same ole same ole.
We are cursed.
Jimmy
October 6th, 2012
9:16 am
Braves have been choking for 20 years. Thank goodness Cleveland choked more than we did in 1996. That being said, I am sick and tired of watching sports where the refs/umps/officials have too much control. Until baseball goes to instant replay and a computerized strike zone, it’s goodbye baseball until then. I’d left pro basketball long time ago with the crooked refs and the hip hop…pro football is next as the real refs have showed they aren’t that much better. Thank goodness for golf where 99.99% of the time the effort of the athlete translates to the ultimate result! .
stl
October 6th, 2012
9:20 am
stung by the cards again
Shouldn't have done all that acid in the 70's
October 6th, 2012
9:23 am
I for one am delighted with the fans reaction. Screw all you policitally correct wimps saying you are ashamed. for ONCE Atlanta showed it’s anger instead of sitting quietly on our colective hands awaiting the pool boy to bring us more refills for our mint julips. That being said…….In the final analysis the Braves suck. I only surfed in once or twice because I bloody well KNEW what would happen. Is that predjudice? You are wrong. I wasn’t prejudging anything. IT’s called post-judice which means you KNOW what’s going to happen and ain’t juding squat. That call was ridiculous but it didn’t cause the loss. Lousy fielding, wimpy batting, stupid play, the EXTREMELY USUAL suspects that have haunted this post-season franchise from 1991 ad infinitum. I hope and pray that the gushy 680 The Fan folks will finally spit out the teet and admit they are a truly lost cause. “NUF SED.
Buzzer
October 6th, 2012
9:23 am
we stung ourselves meat
JSS
October 6th, 2012
9:25 am
“There’s got to be a morning after!”
Ha ha ha ha!!! Cluster’s Vindication Tour Day 2!!!
Bill Stanfill
October 6th, 2012
9:38 am
Saw on ESPN that the “infield” fly was estimated to have landed 278 feet from home plate. Under no sensible application of the rule is that an infield fly. Terrible, terrible call.
fans hurt us big time
October 6th, 2012
9:46 am
while i was not happy about the calls and the errors and the way chipper played….. we had our chances.
i am thinking that had the fans not tossed trash we would have been in a situation with 2 men on. 2 outs. momentum on our side. adrenalin coursing threw the braves. and a wild HITTABLE pitcher facing our batters.
the trash tossing helped the cardinals because they removed their wild pitcherr AND it gave their close plenty of time to warm up properly.
the trash tossing hurt big time.
only a matter of time
October 6th, 2012
9:57 am
everyone assumes the Braves would have won if the call wasn’t made. let’s assume they did win. you’d be looking at a drubbing at the hands of a much more potent and hungry Nationals team. Braves suck in the post season point blank. this is just another sad chapter. only difference is this time you can blame the umps instead of Lonnie Smith or Mark Wohlers for hanging a curve. get over it. chipper, who never had a big post season anyway, peace out and good luck in retirement. holler at you in 5 years when you get inducted and now atlanta can have someone in the hall so Braves fans can quit crying about that.
The Bear
October 6th, 2012
9:59 am
Unreal, so because of a comment from someone in new york and because the way things went,that makes the fans actions last night ok? Unreal Like I said,we are not entitled winners on the field or even to get to the postseason.The Braves could have lost 100+ plus. Of course,you could npw say,well that would have gotten rid any of the previous metioned. Remember,without of any of these players past or present,we would have never gotten to the post season in the first place.
I dont know why this happens(post season failures), but at least they got this far. Choking is possible, i dont know. But I value them even trying. I remember 1988-1990 and Im sure some others here do too. Again,I dont understand the rule enough to comment but its time maybe for the umpires to be held accountable and not allowed to be judge and jury on the field. Teams should automatically be allowed to asked for instant replay if needed.
Chris Sanchez
October 6th, 2012
10:01 am
Jones calls it like he sees it even in his last game…the ATL will miss him on the field. Now, how about we figure out how to win in the postseason?
Supermanshirt
October 6th, 2012
10:13 am
Sam Holbrook is probably on the take. Dan Uggla should have caught the throw from Chipper. He might be on the take too. If I want to watch a fake baseball game outcome that was rigged, I might as well watch WWE!
Logical Dad
October 6th, 2012
10:15 am
I am REALLY enjoying these umpire apologists on ESPN trying say it was the correct call. At least Jim Joyce had the courage to admit he blew the call at first that cost Galarraga his perfect game 2+ years ago. This arrogant no-talent Holbrook insists he was correct. In his fantasy world, waiting 5.4 seconds after contact (and .6 second before the ball landed in the outfield) constitutes “immediate.” He was wrong and the Turner Field fans were right. Simply no question about it. Holbrook’s blown call did not cost the Braves the game, though. They lost fair and square.
Ted M
October 6th, 2012
10:16 am
Instant replay wasn’t needed to over turn that bad call. Six umps could not have all seen that as an infield fly rule play.
Technically speaking could the umps have over turned that call? Jeff anyone!
B. Thenet
October 6th, 2012
10:17 am
A fitting ending for his career. He was a fantastic regular season player, a raging mediocrity when it really counted.
Ted M
October 6th, 2012
10:18 am
Uggla could not have caught Chippers throw his momentum was taking towards the bag and away from the ball.
JSS
October 6th, 2012
10:19 am
“Rigged?” Ha ha, dudes played defensive baseball like strippers at the Clermont trying to remember their younger days… They lost, the phantom call in the 8th was just twisting your heart for overkill!
soullrenaissance
October 6th, 2012
10:25 am
Well Chip My Bones, Chipper choked again. He will go down as perennial meltdown king. And he did not win the World Series for us in 95[, he just went along for the ride.
Dr. Phil
October 6th, 2012
10:25 am
I have thought about this experience overnight, trying to grasp what happened. There was confusion on the field for several minutes while Fredi argued. I could not imagine what he was arguing as I saw the white ball hit the green outfield grass. Then the out went up on the board. The amazing thing was how quickly the air was filled with aluminum cans from all directions, many spewing beer like sky rockets. They came from all directions and the umpires and players gathered around the pitcher’s mound, out of range of the angry projectiles. The crowd began chanting “bullsh-t” to the point the entire stadium began to pulse. The game was within reach to that point, and the umps stole it, and everyone knew it. It was not bad sportsmanship or soccer hooliganism. It was pure rebellion, directed at the umpires and not the St. Louis players. I have never seen anything like it in 50 years of attending Major League Baseball and hope I never do again.
follow the money
October 6th, 2012
10:31 am
HORRIBLE CALL! Quite possibly the worst that I have ever seen considering that an outfield ump (one that doesn’t exist in the reg season) called an infield fly. It should not be in his jurisdiction. He shouldn’t be there. If MLB feels that a 4 ump crew is not sufficient, then how can we make it through 162 games fairly? Next you will see the left field ump calling a player out on a pickoff to first because he has a better angle.
Can someone tell me when a protest has ever accomplished anything?
The fans were right. MLB was wrong with this one. The fans get gouged at every turn (tickets, drinks, hotdogs, and on and on) so I think it is fair for them to expect a top notch product. Instead, they get little league umpiring, a stupid one-game play in to the playoff and then are chastised for their behavior. Give me a break! IMO, the fans should be entitled to a class action lawsuit. If GM sells a knowingly defective product, they are liable. MLB is more defective than ever and only getting worse.
Thank God for golf! I think it is the only sport remaining where an “impartial” referee making a judgement call doesn’t skew the results. It is one man and his ability put to the test.
Metfan Lou
October 6th, 2012
10:36 am
First of all the Braves got a gift in Ross’ two run homer. He called time so late the pitch was on its way and he struck out. he got an extra pitch and boom two runs up. Second when the fans threw garbage on the field and they refuse to stop after the warning the baseball should have been stopped and the game awarded to the visiting. team. This is perfectly legal and within the rules. Even when the infield fly rule was called it did not end the inning. Yes a bad call but a lot of games have bas calls. You play through them. Third for the past two weeks Chipper because of all the hoopla surrounding his farwell was in an awful slump and should have been on the bench to come in to be a pinch hitter if needed. He would have been rested and refreshed. He never should have been at third. Prado should have been there. I could go on but except for their outstanding pitching the Braves have a lot of holes and this was a predictable outcome.
Supermanshirt
October 6th, 2012
10:40 am
I tip my hat to the skipper for keeping his cool and not getting tossed. The only possible help he could provide, he did with an official protest. Getting tossed from the game would’ve only hurt our chances. Bobby Cox would have been tossed. Great job Fredi.
Uggla couldve caught the ball. He might not have gotten an out, but he could’ve caught the ball. I was surprised the error was charged to Chipper.
ULVER
October 6th, 2012
10:51 am
Like this matters…
soxman
October 6th, 2012
10:51 am
Same ol’ Braves- turn the calendar to October and….CHOOOOOOOOOOKE!! Freddy really DID learn everything from Bobby!
Bill Payer
October 6th, 2012
10:59 am
Maybe it’s time the Braves changed their nickname to something else. (”Post season chokers” springs to mind, but that’s really not helpful). Perhaps the “native American” mascot is bringing bad karma? What Indian themed team has won anything recently, Cleveland Indians, Washington Redskins, Kansas City chiefs, only Chicago Blackhawks a couple years ago? And at least Blackhawks is a tribal name. Ladies and gentlemen, your Atlanta Sparrows! Titmouses! Hummingbirds! Vultures! Carrion Eaters! Road Kill! Traffic Jams! Panhandlers! Buellers!
Dirty Dawg
October 6th, 2012
11:03 am
Don’t know if anybody has made this observation, but clearly Chipper took something off his throw to second…something that resulted in a rainbow throw and the beginning of the end. My question is why? Haven’t watched any replays to confirm but my guess is that he – Chipper – turned and saw that Uggla wasn’t yet at the bag and had to adjust his throw which did what it did to his timing. Don’t know what’ll be possible, but I think it’s time to figure out how to cut Uggla loose. Chaulk it up to ‘it seemed like a good idea at the time.’…and move on. Prado’s best position, both offensively and defensively, is second base. Make a place for him and get some reliable power at third and left.
JimmyG
October 6th, 2012
11:05 am
Are the Braves going to have a circle on the field from now on to mark the worlds record for the infield fly rule. It would serve to remind the arrogant umpires and MLB to figure out how to get the calls right. It might also help to have a sign up to explain what “immediately” means.
David
October 6th, 2012
11:06 am
Why is nobody talking about Chipper jogging to first base on the LAST OUT of the Braves season, and what could’ve been the last out of his career?? To me that sums up the Braves during Chipper’s time. Lack of heart, lack of passion. That’s why they always choke in the playoffs.
StlCardsFan4Life
October 6th, 2012
11:06 am
I’ve been reading the posts on the AJC website. The umpires didn’t lose the game for the Braves. The upper-dect rowdies lost the game for the Braves, whether Atlanta fans like it or not. However, one thing that the unruly fans did do was inspire the team, unfortunately it was the wrong one. Anyone who saw the looks on the Cardinals faces in the dugout while debris rained down on Atlanta fans who were unfortunate enough to be seated in the lower sections from the morons above them (whose accuracy was not very good I might add) told the viewer that the party was over turn out the lights. Not only did it signal that the fans gave up on the Braves (e.g. ‘here we go again’), but it incited the Cardinals to say, in effect, if they (the upper ‘deckers’ fans) think this is over so let’s give them their wish. Didn’t anyone ever use the phrase in Atlanta ‘Let a sleeping dog lie.’ Guess not. Thanks upper-deck hooligans (don’t forget your English Soccer League team scarfs next season), you sealed the deal, the umps didn’t; the Braves players didn’t; the manager didn’t; but you sure did.
Dirty Dawg
October 6th, 2012
11:06 am
Hey bill payer…Thrashers is available. Has the added value of describing how we played yesterday…as in ‘thrashing around’.
flagger
October 6th, 2012
11:09 am
Thanks Chipper for 19 years of entertainment…Best wishes in whatever you decide to pursue in the future.
BRObiwan Kenobi
October 6th, 2012
11:14 am
Life long fan of the birds on the bat. I’m tired of the “way to be classy” BS from everyone. ATL fans protested the only effective way a fan can outside of normal booing. Nobody was killed and nothing was destroyed.We did the same thing in 1998 when the same ump tossed McGwire against…Atlanta. This country was built on people witnessing something unjust and taking action. And while I’m truly grateful for the win and excited about October, the fact remains that we shouldn’t have been there. The Braves took care of business in the reg season to get there, we didn’t. That’s gotta be tough. One game is no way to decide playoff fate. Bud Selig is trying to replecate something that naturally occured on the 2011 season’s final night, but the fact it happened naturally is what made it great.
Jayne
October 6th, 2012
11:43 am
I feel like I lost one of my best friends.
Jayne
October 6th, 2012
11:50 am
We’ve got some cheap pitching now…can’t Cox & friends buy some hitters?
You have got to be able to score. We have never been able to score runs under Cox & Sherholtz.
Maybe U boys need to retire.
The think tank @ the TED has run dry.
Pitching and defense DON”T win.
Its insane to keep doing things the same way.
How many more wait till next year
October 6th, 2012
11:51 am
I love Chipper and thank him for 19 years…but he was not into the game. looked like he was in another world just going through the motion. Ump even gave him the last call for respect. (he didn’t even run to 1st )
Braves never fail to let the fans down at playoff time_- 17 years of frustration not just umps call was cause for fan reaction.
Braves need to make some changes in front office and clean the BC ghost out of clubhouse and let Fredi be Fredi and stop the good ole boy crap.
Wren needs to go, Mac, Uggla and the slow fat guys on bench also.
On Fredi..I wish he was gone because he tries to be BC..and BC looking over his shoulder. This needs to stop. If not Fredi needs to go.
I’ve been a fan since 66 and its still the same BS.
How many more wait till next year
October 6th, 2012
11:56 am
Braves have not won a play-off game since 2001..lol
Put That in your pipe and smoke it Mr. Wren.
OC Brave
October 6th, 2012
12:01 pm
Tough loss. No point dwelling on it. There is a lot to focus on this off-season. Bourn and McCann need to be signed to new deals. This team really can’t address left field until they ink Bourn and McCann. A few pitchers need to be examined. Do you bring back Hanson? Do they cut all ties with Jurrjens?
How many more wait till next year
October 6th, 2012
12:14 pm
Bourn will be gone, Braves will not pay his agents value on him $$$. McCann has a 13 million option which he is not worth, period. Hanson is a joke trade him. Jurrjens is already gone free agent.
How many more wait till next year
October 6th, 2012
12:17 pm
Trade Uggla and put Prado back on 2B. Sign David Wright free agent for 3B.
NCDawg
October 6th, 2012
12:27 pm
Sour grapes or not, the Braves got screwed… just like 1991.
Bravesfan63
October 6th, 2012
12:28 pm
CAC,
Are you saying that the only way fans can protest is by throwing trash on the field? Chipper Jones demonstrated class. It is too bad hundreds of fans chose to act like savages.
Milo
October 6th, 2012
12:39 pm
Uggla is the great big hole. We are payin and he can’t hit. Now we have aging/injury prone catcher, no centerfielder,no 3rd base, and a .200 hitter at 2nd.
These issues gotta b fixed. Hanson could be lived with if we had some f……. runs.
Harpie
October 6th, 2012
12:46 pm
Dirty Dawg – that was hilarious the way you blamed Uggla for Chipper’s error, you prick
Dirty Dawg
October 6th, 2012
12:52 pm
Hey harpie…interesting that your name-calling wasn’t blocked…and too bad I don’t know where to find you…SFB.