Chipper Jones on his non-announcement: ‘In good time’
Chipper cheeses it up with Matt Ryan before the game. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Chipper Jones met the media after the Braves beat Tampa Bay on Wednesday, and the man who prides himself on making statements of substance was apologetic about his inability to provide more clarity about the state of his retirement. “The only thing that’s frustrating,” he said, “is that y’all are asking questions I’m not ready to answer.”
Then this: “Everybody knows I’ve been contemplating this for a long time, but I’m not ready to commit. And, pardon my French, but I’ll wait until I’m damn good and ready to answer questions.”
Negotiations with the Braves remain ongoing, though it’s unclear about exactly what. Said Jones: “I hold the cards. That’s what any player wants — to go out on his own terms. I’d like to be given the courtesy to talk out things with the organization, and when I get those answers I’ll be able to answer your questions.”
Why the holdup? “We’re on this,” Jones said. “We’re trying to do this as expeditiously as possible. The last thing I want is to be a distraction. [His teammates] have to understand I’m in a little bit of a pickle here. But, in good time.”
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79 comments Add your comment
chip1960
June 17th, 2010
10:01 am
I have no inside info and am not connected to the Braves front office in any way, but, a guy who has spent his whole career here and been a huge part of the success here is not going to meet with Wren and Bobby behind closed doors to hold them hostage over $$. I believe that when it all shakes out what we’ll learn is that Chipper used the respect he’s earned in this org. and the fact he’s owed this 28 mil. to help broker a deal or deals to get what we need in here to make this year finish in a storybook and historic fashion. This is not like Smoltz and Glavine exits. They were not on the 25 man roster when they left. Chipper wants to win in the worst way and this season will have his imprint on it to be sure and all Braves fans will be proud and smiling when its all over. Can’t wait to see this all play out. We have a 1st place team now with lots of home games coming up and JJ soon to be back in the rotation. Put a slugger in this lineup and stay healthy and I think we have an excellent opportunity to win it all. Thoughts??
fieldofdreams
June 17th, 2010
10:10 am
Knowing Chipper he’s probably thinking of freeing up his salary so the Braves can re-sign Troy Glaus. Compare his loyalty to that of Albert Haynesworth, who in April of this year took a $21 million bonus from the Redskins with no intention of ever playing for them again.
Scott
June 17th, 2010
10:14 am
Remember people, it’s not like Chipper was the one who “broke” the story about the meeting with Cox/Wren. He didn’t call a press conference and say “Ok folks, I had a meeting, but it’s none of your business about the details. But please, continue to hound me with questions!!”
And once the story was out, of course he was going to be asked questions. He’s just not ready to answer.
This is what happens when the rush to break a story “creates” the story.
TommyJack
June 17th, 2010
10:21 am
1. I doubt Chipper wants the aggravation and travel required of a manager.
2. Maybe he’s delaying announcement to avoid stepping on Bobby’s retiring toes.
3. More likely, he’s negotiating with the braves for part of that 28 mil.
Been a great Brave. First ballot HOF. Props be upon him.
Halberstram
June 17th, 2010
10:29 am
Chipper has earned the right to take as long as he wants. I’d even be wary if he announced something today if it would stick. There’s still a lot of time left before the season ends.
CanHewitt
June 17th, 2010
10:34 am
CPA, you don’t even know what he actually did.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=2245396
He took less money to stay with Braves longer and gave the team some payroll flexibility.
Don
June 17th, 2010
10:47 am
No question – Pitching always has been and still is the name of the game. But having Pitching good enough to win the Division and having Pitching good enough to overcome Bobby Cox’s team management is an entirely different questions. How many games do you think that his blunders and some of his absurd actions have already cost the Braves this season?
Johnny3Steps
June 17th, 2010
11:46 am
“Bones” Jones can still help us win a play off spot this year. I want to see Chipper hit his 500th homerun within 2 years, so bring in the fences like we did for Hank Aaron…….
DMP
June 17th, 2010
12:00 pm
Wow, Don. You went out of your way to insult Bobby with that one. Why don’t you go ahead and inform us about all of Bobby’s blunders this year that have cost the team all of these victories. I’ll wait to hear your wisdom.
And to those of you chastising Chipper for being a distraction, you need to come back to the real world. Chipper had a confidential, closed door meeting with Wren and Cox and has declined to make any comments regarding that meeting. Whatever is going on, he is trying to be as discreet about it as possible. He can’t help it that there are too many starving reporters out there who are trying to make a living by printing non-stories.
As for my take on the situation, I fully believe that Chipper is negotiating out of his contract so that the Braves can spend at least most of the $28m they owe him. I mean, he could be like Mike Hampton and sit on the bench as the highest paid player on the team. He could also pull a Smoltz and leave the team that has given him everything in order to get an extra $3m that he doesn’t need.
turkeycaller
June 17th, 2010
12:01 pm
Retire now Larry. Do it now. Hotdog.
Mitchell
June 17th, 2010
1:32 pm
… after the Braves beat Tampa Bay
That was my favorite part of the whole piece. I pretty much stopped reading after that.
Mitchell
June 17th, 2010
1:49 pm
Wow, like him or not (and I can’t understand why anybody who calls themselves a Braves fan wouldn’t… I mean, what kind of an @$$hole are you? The bad kind?), but you gotta give him credit for throwing out an “expeditiously” at the interviewer. The guy’s sure has a gift for gab and I suppose being old and injury prone.
I KID!
YoungerThan ThatNow
June 17th, 2010
1:57 pm
There are many, many reasons to give Chipper the respect and courtesy that he deserves here, but mainly the reason “should” be because it’s the right thing to do. If for no other reason… even though there are MANY reasons… because he has been in a Braves uniform his entire career and obviously wants to retire with that blessed tomahawk across his chest.
I’ve never met Chipper, but I have met his dad and had a fairly lengthy conversation with him when he was hitting coach at Stetson, and I’ll just tell you that if I were in his position I would talk your ears off about “my son” (meaning Chipper). But do you want to know what he wanted to talk about? He wanted to talk about MY son, who was hitting in the cage at that moment… and his words were not only encouraging to MY son but helped him become a better hitter… and my son was a member of Stetson’s opposing team that weekend. I have and always thought that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and in this case I know that it doesn’t.
I said that only to say that… yes, he’s made more money this year already than most of us will in a lifetime… and yes, he may have an ego that is more than yours or mine… and yes, his reputation has suffered at times during his professional career. But overall, he’s done a hell of a lot more for this organization than any other player this side of Henry Aaron has, and he’s earned and deserves the courtesy that he has asked for here.
To mention his name in the same sentence with “steroids” or Barry Bonds is ridiculous and he DID NOT bring all of this attention on himself… in fact he tried to do it without anyone else knowing. Some big mouth writer who couldn’t wait to break the story betrayed his trust, and the trust of the Braves organization.
Chipper… if you retire today I will be sad, but happy that I had the priviledge of seeing you play many, many times. If you decide to play ten more years, then you have earned the right and honor of ending it on your terms. Either way… THANK YOU!!
BUBBA GUMP
June 17th, 2010
1:58 pm
I agree with Johnny 3 Steps……………………..Bring those stinkin’ fences in a little so Bones Jones can reach 500 homeruns! lol
jmor
June 17th, 2010
2:44 pm
Chipper is only going to retire if the Braves agree to pau him some portion of his guaranteed $28million to walk away from the remainder of the contract…The Braves are being offered a deal by Chipper, that he will walk from the remaining contract for a “buy-out” of some amount, probably $10million or so. This is purely a negotiation for money, and as Chipper says, he “holds the cards” meaning the guaranteed contractt.
Braves Fan Since "80
June 17th, 2010
3:40 pm
Negotiating terms of his release…… wow I guess he will become special assistant to Hank Aaron. Chipper should leave the money and run and the braves should have class enough to pay him what was restructured away and then go get a real 3rd baseman…….. Chipper has been great but another day another error
Brett Farve
June 17th, 2010
6:34 pm
Chipper, I wholly agree with your announcement and the way you’ve handled this issue that you raised yourself. Sincerely, Brett Farve.
turkeycaller
June 18th, 2010
7:18 am
Larry Jones is a most consistent, reliable individual. He remains a self centered,attention needing softie. This is and continues to be Larry Jones. Willing to ride the coattails of his lesser paid and more professional teammates while he tells everyone how great he is and tells reporters what his teammates did wrong. The players are going to get enough of this junk before much longer and then the real feelings of the players will surface. Jones needs to accept the fact he is no star only an albatross around the Braves neck and be grateful they have put up with his whining ass so far. Either that or do the right thing and get out of the way. The rest of the teams seems to want to play so pretty good baseball This is not Larry Jones team. it is the Atlanta Braves.
BUBBA GUMP
June 18th, 2010
11:06 am
I wanna see “Bones” Jones hit his 500th HOMERUN………………..So bring in da fences!!
IN THE WORDS OF
June 18th, 2010
11:27 am
IN THE WORDS OF
June 18th, 2010
11:27 am
;0
brandon
June 18th, 2010
9:35 pm
Wow, I just realized Chipper’s OBP is higher than is Slugging Percentage. I never imagined a stat-line like that with Chipper or any other 3-hole hitter.
Lee
June 20th, 2010
10:28 am
Bones Jones ain’t ready for no “stinkin rockin chair”
acid-tongue
June 20th, 2010
10:55 pm
@turkeycaller – you certainly seem to be in the minority. Sorry that you’re so unhappy. Why don’t you crawl back into your swamp and leave the Braves fans alone.
gail
June 21st, 2010
11:59 pm
Chipper may do best if his other half can’t be heard through-out Target.
These few weeks ahead would be nice to let him tell the rest of us. She needs to keep a lid on it. Hey I heard what fathers day card he’s getting. What time he came home. Who’s not invited. Not the first time I’ve heard detail. Chip I wish you well. She can’t stand you getting attention and giving autographs either.
No wonder this guy is having problems.
She’s
Phil
June 22nd, 2010
7:55 am
“I don’t think Chipper wants to play for another manager. Someone else may not keep putting his name on the lineup card with the stats he has now. ”
This is the probably the best analogy I have read yet. And it’s true, what other manager besides that clown Cox would keep a .200 hitter in the 3 hole, even if it is Chipper.
Chipper has been a great Braves player for many years, but so was Dale Murphy, Phil Neikro and others. There comes a point when they simply aren’t producing to the level that they need to.
The next manager certainly won’t keep Chipper in the 3 hole, maybe not even in the starting lineup. Only a clown like Cox continues to do so.
Chipper may retire after this year because his safety blanket(Cox) will be gone.
The Atlanta Braves: America’s Team Again | 7th Inning Stache, a Baseball Blog
June 22nd, 2010
10:40 am
[...] has too much pride to hang on for one too many years. That talk has continued into this year with Chipper admitting last week that there was some basis and truth to the rumor that this could be his final year as [...]
reason
June 22nd, 2010
11:04 am
Chipper, has got to stand on his word, is it either or , pick one, the best would be next year to get on his horse and fade into the sunset.
BUBBA
June 26th, 2010
12:36 pm
I still say Chipper “Bones” Jones is not ready for no “stinkin rockin chair” ala Possum Jones