The most familiar words in Atlanta sports: Chipper’s hurt!
Chipper Jones after Saturday's victory. He had a hustle double that day. (AP photo)
In his career, Chipper Jones has 1,518 RBIs. He has also undergone (loose estimate) 1,518 MRIs.
He had another Sunday, and it revealed a small meniscus tear in his right knee. That’s not to be confused with his left knee, which was surgically rebuilt last August. (The same left knee was likewise surgically rebuilt in 1994.)
Once again, we at the ol’ AJC got to trot out the most familiar words in the local sporting vernacular: “Chipper’s hurt.” And we Braves-watchers fell into our usual Chipper’s-Hurt calculations: Out for how long? Who plays third? Who bats third? What does this do to the Braves?
On the scale of Chipper Injuries, a meniscus tear isn’t up there with a torn ACL or even a tweaked oblique. (He’s had a slew of those.) If it responds to an injection, he said Sunday, he’ll be back fairly soon. If not, he’ll have arthroscopic surgery and maybe miss two weeks.
He knows because he the same thing once before — in 1996. And that, too, is part of being Chipper Jones: Whatever the ailment, there’s a chance he has had it before.
He’s 39, and there will soon come a day when he stops playing baseball and can wave goodbye to the MRI machine. When you think about it, it’s remarkable that, given all the infirmities, he has gone on as long as he has at such a high level.
He’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer as is, which says much for the man. And our response to any “Chipper’s Hurt” bulletin isn’t just a hysterical thing. He’s almost 40, and he’s still the everyday Brave who matters most.
By Mark Bradley
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208 comments Add your comment
GovClintonTyree
May 16th, 2011
12:05 pm
Huh?
Huh? Chipper has addressed steroids. He said he did try them early in his career – very briefly – and they made him gassy, and that he hasn’t used them since.
Nice try at discrediting a great athlete, though.
PMC
May 16th, 2011
12:05 pm
Yeah but he’s nearly 40. He’s trying his best and he’s still one of the best players on the team.
This is just further indication that they need to trade a pitcher for a bonafied outfielder so that when he’s injured they have some depth. IT wouldn’t hurt to find another 3rd baseman who is a good minor leaguer either.
PMC
May 16th, 2011
12:06 pm
What happens if Prado gets hurt again???? We lose 2 players.
Jim Bob
May 16th, 2011
12:08 pm
Oh no we might lose our egotistical $14 mil #3 hitter who’s on pace for 15 HR’s if he played all year, has limited range defensively, and no leadership skills.
DE Braves Fan
May 16th, 2011
12:08 pm
Anthony
DE Braves Fan,
This isnt Chippers last year on the contract…
Did you consider that?
No but lets look at that too then since you insist. Add on another 450 ABs. Chipper would have to amass 178 hits in 758 ABs. That is a .235 avg. Chipper’s career low is .248 so again not likely. As well I think he is probably done after this year.
1eyedJack
May 16th, 2011
12:11 pm
“He’s 39, and there will soon come a day when he stops playing baseball and can wave goodbye to the MRI machine.”
And says hello to a host of the other torture devices modern medicine has devised.
Dawg '88
May 16th, 2011
12:11 pm
elviskl….you must be talking about Derek Jeter…otherwise you don’t have a ding dong clue what you’re talking about…One of the top 3 all time switch hitters is overrated?….Yeah right!
slaw dawg
May 16th, 2011
12:12 pm
Santana’s comments are the most exciting moment in baseball this year.
Anthony
May 16th, 2011
12:13 pm
Chipper’s steroid use was under doctors orders.
I would bet he had a scrip every year of his career because of all the injuries sustained. MRI 1500 times? I wouldnt doubt that he’s had the needle at least that much.
jrock
May 16th, 2011
12:14 pm
Hope it is just for a few weeks. He’s the only player my 4 year old knows. Maybe I can find him a Prado jersey. I assume we would bring up another outfielder and move Prado to 3rd. Tonight I guess it’s Hinskie/McLouth/Mather in the outfield (unless Heyward’s back). Conrad played good defense at 3rd yesterday, but you never know how long that will last.
Anthony
May 16th, 2011
12:15 pm
DEBraves,
If he was capable of that many ab’s I would bet you $100 that his BA would be lower than .215
South ga boy in the atl
May 16th, 2011
12:16 pm
It’s sad that Wren panicked and gave chipper money he would never earn and waaaaay overpaid Lowe simply because he was scared of some of the Braves fan base. Nobody would put so many eggs in one basket when you have limited eggs and baskets. I don’t even think he would make those deals today. Hopefully he’s learned. The Braves have the best farm in baseball and those are the guys we will win with either now in the near future, not Chipper. What could we have done last yr with Prado at 3rd and 28 million dollars worth of left and right field right handed power hitters with Heyward in center field. We probably could have won a championship but Noooo, we have a GM and some in the fan base who are scared to death that Chipper would only make 160 million in his career instead of the 200 million he needs to feed his family. Never mind long suffering Braves fans.
DE Braves Fan
May 16th, 2011
12:16 pm
Anthony
Chipper’s steroid use was under doctors orders.
I would bet he had a scrip every year of his career because of all the injuries sustained. MRI 1500 times? I wouldnt doubt that he’s had the needle at least that much.
Did you really not catch Mark’s sarcasm about the MRI joke?
Anthony
May 16th, 2011
12:19 pm
Dude,
Im glad you are such a staunch supporter of a 39 year old who gets paid 14 million but lay off.
Of course I realized it was a joke, you couldnt realize that I used it for my own device.
Go smoke a cig or gaze at your favorite Chipper baseball card. Take a break man.
Dawg '88
May 16th, 2011
12:20 pm
Jim Bob….Explain this:
Chipper leads the team in RBIs. He has the highest OBP. He walks more than he Ks. He has played very well defensively this year. As far as leadership…his teammates all voice what a great leader he is. No he doesn’t do it outwardly in front of the cameras. That would be egotistical. Many young players credit him for helping them make a smooth transition to the majors and helps them with their preparation. He also hit early at Turner Field this year…before he was required to show up. Other than Prado he did the most off season work to get ready. BTW….ever had a torn ACL or MCL…try rehabbing that by being anything but dedicated. That shows leadership in itself.
Next time come with some facts before ripping a Hall of Fame player!!
Otherwise, just shut your yap!
Everytime you post…it leaves no doubt about the level of your ignorance.
Chipper Jones Injury Watch
May 16th, 2011
12:24 pm
[...] Jones Injury WatchBy Jason – May 16, 2011 Most Braves fans are used to this by now, but Chipper Jones is hurt again. This time it’s a torn meniscus in his right knee (his left [...]
DE Braves Fan
May 16th, 2011
12:26 pm
Anthony
DEBraves,
If he was capable of that many ab’s I would bet you $100 that his BA would be lower than .215.
And I would take that bet. Here I will give you a range. 400-750 ABs for the rest of his career if he plays next year. The thing I am getting at is it is going to take a lot of struggling for Chipper to finish as a .299 career hitter. For him to fall below .300 in 400 ABs, he has to collect 71 hits(.178 avg). In 750 ABs he has to collect 176 hits(again a .235 avg. I would bet before Chipper’s avg falls below .300 he would retire.
Anthony
May 16th, 2011
12:27 pm
Chipper is the team leader. He has great skills motivating young players and he would be a great asset as a coach.
We had a batting coach spot open this year and oh how I hoped that Chipper wouldve made that choice.
Oh well, now we have 2 weeks of missing our “RBI Leader” and hopefully thats it for this years injuries. We have woefully put to many resources in one place. If the baseball gods have mercy on us maybe we wont have to call up a AA player to fill a gap during the POST Season.
LOL.
Dawg '88
May 16th, 2011
12:28 pm
Those of you slamming Chipper just means that you aren’t and never were really Braves fans. You wouldn’t know squat about baseball or this team is if you’re life depended on it.
You talk abaout Chipper sucking up $14 million…what about the rest of the offense besides Prado and McCann. They are all not earning their money. What do we do about them? Quit questioning the most decorated and accomplished Braves ever. Otherwise, you’re lack of common sense will shine through.
urban redneck
May 16th, 2011
12:28 pm
he is still the most feared hitter in this lineup and one of the most feared hitters in the league. this team cannot reach the playoffs without him.
i don’t love him either, but those are the facts.
South ga boy in the atl
May 16th, 2011
12:29 pm
Oh I see DE BRAVES FAN, you want to compare Chipper’s health when he was in his 20’s to when he is 39 and 40. How dumb is that !!!! The best comparison to how many games he might play this yr is how many he played last yr (95). I think I was being generous with 115. And what is he doing ? He’ll hit .275 with 15-18 HR and about 65 RBI. Yea I guess that deserves 14 million. Bernie Madolf thinks you handle money crazy DE BRAVES FAN
Bill in VA
May 16th, 2011
12:30 pm
Ted M @11:17 am, I second that! Call up Jordan Schafer & give him a chance to produce. THEN decide!
Old Dawg @ 11:23, Get a hobby! I’m older than you.
Anthony
May 16th, 2011
12:30 pm
DE,
I take that bet.
If Chipper pulls a Dale Murphy and somehow amasses even 500 more AB I will be around to collect.
I will be on the Atlanta Braves mb with the handle “DEloses$100″. It wont be hard to find me.
Douglas
May 16th, 2011
12:32 pm
Chipper was given an intentional pass twice the other night with runners in scoring position to get to McCann. Do all of you Chipper haters think you know more baseball than the Phillies manager. If he was pathetic now, then why did not they pitch to him. If you have runners in scoring position, especially on third with last than 2 outs, I cannot think of another Brave I would rather have at the plate. He has been in every conceivable situation, is not afraid to hit with 2 strikes, generally makes contact, and has a high on base percentage. I don’t understand why there are so many Chipper haters. You will see when he’s gone. You usually don’t realize how good something is until it’s gone.
Tallcarl
May 16th, 2011
12:32 pm
Anthony, you are the same one that betraded Jilious Cesar and stabed him in the back.
DE Braves Fan
May 16th, 2011
12:33 pm
Thank you Dawgs ‘88. At least someone in here has some logic. You people are funny too. Chipper is not just being paid for his production. He is being paid for his leadership. He is to the Braves what Derek Jeter is to the Yankees. Jeter’s production last year dropped TREMENDOUSLY. Guess what he just recently signed a 3-year $51M deal(4th year is an option).
Tallcarl
May 16th, 2011
12:33 pm
Sorry betrayed
No Woody for Me
May 16th, 2011
12:34 pm
Old Dawg – Maybe you should stop complaining. RBI is not the only acronym pluralized in this way.
The military refers to MREs and I am pretty sure that does not stand for Meal Ready to Eats
Or what about suffering from multiple snafus. I don’t think that means Situation Normal All F’d Ups
So, probably time to put your RBIs concern to rest
Richard Dawson
May 16th, 2011
12:35 pm
Classless redneck thug. Telling the fans to “Kiss my a**”. Get a real 3B please.
Richard Dawson
May 16th, 2011
12:36 pm
Dawg ‘88, people like you make these boards pitiful. If someone disagrees with you, they are not Braves fans and don’t know anything about baseball.
Look in the mirror. You are the fool. Thanks for trying to stifle the conversation, insecure loser.
Pat's Rockett
May 16th, 2011
12:36 pm
I would like to see Chipper play out his career here and then take over as manager. He shows a lot more leadership and fire than Fredi does. All Fredi does is sit there with his arms crossed and has this look on his face like ” huh, what happened” ? Then he waits until it is too late to do something about a game changing situation.
DE Braves Fan
May 16th, 2011
12:36 pm
@South ga boy in atl:
I think it is too much of a stretch give even his RECENT history that he wont play 115 games. Let’s go since he is 35(since that is considered past prime). Chipper has played in 134, 128, 143, and 95 games. Chipper even said he could have played in all the games this year leading up to yesterday if he needed too. I would say history is more on my side than yours.
CT Braves Fan
May 16th, 2011
12:36 pm
Hey, love the stat about career .300 BA, .400 OBP, .500 SLG, etc…and Chipper is in elite company…but you left off Manny Ramirez, who also meets those criteria. And for what it’s worth, Mel Ott would also qualify if not for falling 12 doubles short (finished his career with 488 2Bs but meets all the other criteria.)
Regardless, great stat, Chipper is a HOFer, no doubt.
Pariah Jerry
May 16th, 2011
12:36 pm
“Call up Jordan Schafer”
Didn’t realize Jordan’s mom was still posting here. Why is it his name keeps coming up? Hasn’t he been given a chance and shown he can’t play at the top level?
Anthony
May 16th, 2011
12:37 pm
Dawg,
“You talk abaout Chipper sucking up $14 million…what about the rest of the offense besides Prado and McCann. They are all not earning their money. What do we do about them?”
Paying a 39 year old who cant possibly hit .300 play 120 games or hit 20 home runs is not my idea of fixing a teams offensive woes. Chipper believed the same thing when he stated that he would not be that player that would hinder his team with a bloated salary on a player not producing.
I guess he should of thought about what he was saying before he made that promise to Atlanta.
.264 in 2009 .265 in 2010 ??? in 2011. for 14 million a year?
I put all of this on the same geniuses that overpayed for Nate McOut and overpayed for an aging Japanese ace…
Lets put Hank Aaron back in a uniform, I hear he was a great player in his day.
journalist jimmy smith
May 16th, 2011
12:37 pm
be glad it was not a toe. toes are not to be trifled with.
Biff Pocaroba
May 16th, 2011
12:39 pm
Mark Bradley…….. back handed compliment
last I looked #10 was leading us in RBI’s, no class from some fans… wonder why he stayed in the ATL all the years, better money offers would have come, restructured his contract repeatedly to help with payroll… he and Jeter are the last of the one team superstars…
dont like him fine, go root for the Mets or Phillies
Richard Dawson
May 16th, 2011
12:39 pm
Chipper is such a great leader, he told the AJC in late February that the fans could “kiss my a**”.
Now THAT’S true leadership.
If you are a classless redneck thug.
South ga boy in the atl
May 16th, 2011
12:40 pm
Dash 98, I’ve been a Braves fan long before you were in short pants, I’m sure. I saw the Hammer hit number 713 on a Saturday night in the next to last game of the 73 season. You guys just don’t seem to get that WE ARE ON AN ALLOWANCE FROM LIBERTY MEDIA !!!! I like Chipper and I appreciate what he HAS done for the Braves and he has been well paid for his talent. And if he were making 3-4 million then his pay wouldn’t be a problem, but we are at least one impact player (right handed power hitting outfielder) from being an elite team and THERE IS NO MORE MONEY TO GET ONE. DO YOU CHIPPER DEFENDERS GET THAT !!! Our best hitters are leftys and we are vulnerable to elite left handed pitching that we will see in the playoffs. But Wren has NO MONEY AND IT’S BECAUSE CHIPPER AND LOWE TAKE 35% OF THE ALLOWANCE. ITS NOT PERSONAL. ITS MATH !!!
DE Braves Fan
May 16th, 2011
12:41 pm
Pariah Jerry
“Call up Jordan Schafer”
Didn’t realize Jordan’s mom was still posting here. Why is it his name keeps coming up? Hasn’t he been given a chance and shown he can’t play at the top level?
I am glad playing 45 games with a broken wrist shows you can not play at the highest level. I quite possibly have a broke wrist now and can tell you it is in fun. I can barely pick up my laptop.
Mikey
May 16th, 2011
12:42 pm
I just don’t get this visceral disdain re: Chipper Jones. He leads the team in rbi’s (tied w/Prado, leads the team in OBP, leads the team in walks, tied for second in hits and bats third in a lineup that most pitchers don’t want to see with a RISP. Oh yea, he has a .973 FPCT.
DE Braves Fan
May 16th, 2011
12:44 pm
Richard Dawson
Chipper is such a great leader, he told the AJC in late February that the fans could “kiss my a**”.
Now THAT’S true leadership.
If you are a classless redneck thug.
I do believe he is saying that to fans like Anthony and you. You know guys who are bashing someone who has done more than enough to help this team.
slaw dawg
May 16th, 2011
12:45 pm
When Chipper retires, I hope he donates his chaw to science.
Time
May 16th, 2011
12:48 pm
Leave it to the Bradley blog to bring out all the classy Atlanta “fans”. You got some who think they guy just wants to get hurt and get paid. Others pontificating on substance issues. Others whining that the first ballot HOFer is somehow overrated.
I swear, if these fools posting on this blog spent as much time going to games as they do figuring out new and stupid ways to hate local players, maybe Atlanta wouldn’t be a laughing stock in the sports world. You people are a embarrassment to this city. Go back north and bitch about the Mets or wherever you came from.
Let's Go Bravos!
May 16th, 2011
12:49 pm
Yes, Chipper may be getting hurt a lot more since he’s getting older, but you can’t argue the production that he can still generate. He can still hit, knows the strike zone better than anyone and can take walks with the best of them, gets intentionally walked if a runner is on 2nd, and he’s been fielding very well this year. At 39 it’s remarkable that he’s still this good. I just hope he keeps himself healthy enough to be in the postseason, because we will need him badly!
South ga boy in the atl
May 16th, 2011
12:50 pm
DE BRAVES FAN. you just don’t get it dude. Your actually comparing Jeter and the Yankees to Chipper and the Braves. WE DON’T HAVE YANKEE UNLIMITED MONEY !!! can you read !! We have limited money. Chipper has some value to the team but he’s not worth 17 or 18% of the total team salary. Dude you must work for the government (military not included) because you think money grows on trees and you aren’t very bright. Lol. You just don’t get it !
Coach Cheesedip
May 16th, 2011
12:53 pm
Steroids and injuries go hand in hand! Not so sure Chipper is a Hall of Famer..Ask Bonds and the other boys!
LuisG
May 16th, 2011
12:57 pm
Whenever Chipper decides to “ride into the sunset”, I’m sure I won’t remember him by those “familiar words”. I’m confident I will remember him by these words: “Chipper comes through, again!”
TheAntiMe
May 16th, 2011
12:57 pm
Chipper the frequent DL tripper is such a body-part ripper that he should be equipped with a zipper.
DE Braves Fan
May 16th, 2011
12:58 pm
@South ga boy in the atl actual no I do not but guess what You are pretty dumb if you do not think Chipper is as important to Atlanta(the team not the city cause many of you fans are unbelievable) as Jeter is to NY. Yankee fans have even said that. I would say a guy with Chipper type of leadership grooming players to play up here, helping hitter when they are struggling, etc is worth what he is paid.