He’s about to turn 40, but Chipper Jones is still a mighty man
The knee needed draining, but the power? It's remaining. (AP photo by John Bazemore)
It is not my intent to write about Chipper Jones every day of calendar 2012, but let’s face it: The guy IS amazing.
Hurts his knee in spring training before he can announce his impending retirement, has arthroscopic surgery, recuperates blurry-fast and is ready to go in the season’s fifth game, hits a home run in his first game back.
Plays two games in Houston (the Braves’ first two wins of calendar 2012), sees his knee swell on the plane home, gets 45 cc’s of gunk drained during Friday’s home opener, then returns Sunday and hits a home run in his first home game of his final season (another win).
The Braves so far: 2-4 when Chipper doesn’t play, 3-0 when he does.
Even in his final go-round, he remains a major presence in the field, in the clubhouse, even in the dugout. You’ll recall that the Braves had men on second and third with one out in the eighth inning of Friday’s tie game. Dan Uggla was up, Matt Diaz on deck. The Brewers might have walked Uggla to pitch to Diaz — or, more likely, a left-handed pinch-hitter against Francisco Rodriguez. Except that the Braves had used Eric Hinske, their best lefty pinch-hitter, which meant they were down to Juan Francisco. Except that the Brewers didn’t know that.
What did Fredi Gonzalez do? Had Chipper — who’d just had the knee drained an hour earlier and wasn’t going to budge from the bench — grab a bat in the dugout. Maybe the Brewers would have pitched to Uggla anyway, but the notion of having Chipper walk to the plate with the bases loaded had to register. K-Rod worked to Uggla and broke his bat but, owing to the scooted-in infield, saw the game-winning hit dribble through. (And people say Fredi is a terrible strategist.)
Say what you will about Chipper — and by this late date everyone has said absolutely everything, pro and con — but the guy is still and has always been a big-time ballplayer. Yes, with better knees he’d have been even better longer, but even with bad wheels he has been great. Eight days shy of his 40th birthday, he’s still pretty great.
By Mark Bradley
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162 comments Add your comment
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
April 16th, 2012
3:10 pm
I though we R hear 2 talk Braves and that shelfish Chiper?
Smitty
April 16th, 2012
3:12 pm
Just call me a woos but I like the lite beers better. heavy lager beers fill me up to fast
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
April 16th, 2012
3:14 pm
Stop with the beet tlak.
Smitty
April 16th, 2012
3:14 pm
Dang it loosing….You are right…let’s talk about why Chipper should be in lineup vs you want him to retire now. I am in the want him in the line up camp.
Smitty
April 16th, 2012
3:16 pm
Loosing…..who do you pull for when you do pull for somebody
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
April 16th, 2012
3:22 pm
I am a life log Braves fan who sees the need 4 some thigs 2 change that incluse getting rid of the loosing managar and getting Chipper 2 retire.
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
April 16th, 2012
3:26 pm
I warned U all last year that hiring a managar with a loosing record was a misteak. So far I have been rite. They crashed and bunned last year and R strugling this year.
Smitty
April 16th, 2012
3:27 pm
Well…it is never going to be like it was under Ted because we are owned by a corporation now that only looks at the bottom line. I am not willing to give up on Gonzales yet, this is just his second year. and I don’t know of a manager that is available that would be any better. crap look what Boston has got themselves into with Valentine.
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
April 16th, 2012
3:30 pm
This is not a Boston blog. This is about the Braves. So U R sayin that it dont mater who the Braves have as managar they will have a loosing record 2? The Braves were still owed by a coropation when Bobby was managar. U never see them colaspe B.
Just up the Street
April 16th, 2012
3:30 pm
I thought you said the season was over when they went 0-3.
Just up the Street
April 16th, 2012
3:36 pm
ASG = Idiots; I Hate the Hawks.
Smitty
April 16th, 2012
3:37 pm
I was not blogging about Boston, I was just using that as an example of be careful what you ask for, it could be worst.
reckingball
April 16th, 2012
3:37 pm
Why are people even talking with Joe Tess Fishhouse?
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
April 16th, 2012
3:37 pm
The season was over when they didnt frie the loosing managar.
Smitty
April 16th, 2012
3:38 pm
And by the way they did not and do not have a losing record. Fact period
Smitty
April 16th, 2012
3:39 pm
Ok. Loosing you are the general manager. who do you hire?
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
April 16th, 2012
3:40 pm
Oh they will U just wait an see. Mark my words the Braves will have a loosing season and not make the palyoffs.
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
April 16th, 2012
3:41 pm
Dale Murphy hes a grate man and a beter christan.
Jesus was officially the first zombie
April 16th, 2012
3:42 pm
Epic
Smitty
April 16th, 2012
3:43 pm
Dale is good man but he is not a Christian….he is a Mormon. You need to do a little homework on your religions. And we will not have a losing record this year. That is ridiculous.
Smitty
April 16th, 2012
3:45 pm
Dale is a Mormon.
Smitty
April 16th, 2012
3:46 pm
You need to study up some on your religions
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
April 16th, 2012
3:48 pm
Dale is not a moron!
Smitty
April 16th, 2012
3:49 pm
And Dale has never managed any professional ball….any level
Smitty
April 16th, 2012
3:50 pm
Dale is a Mormon not a moron.
Smitty
April 16th, 2012
3:53 pm
Mormons are not Christains
Smitty
April 16th, 2012
3:54 pm
I meant Christians
Smitty
April 16th, 2012
3:54 pm
Loosing….who is your next manager
Enemas for Easter
April 16th, 2012
3:55 pm
Slow down Smitty
Smitty
April 16th, 2012
3:56 pm
Loosing wants to fire our manager but does not know who would be our new manager
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
April 16th, 2012
3:56 pm
I done told U Dale Murphy and so what he is a mormon so is R next president. I no he go 2 church all the time so that make him a grate person.
Smitty
April 16th, 2012
3:58 pm
OK let’s stay away from the religion issue. I know sensitive issue. Before you know it we will bring politicians into the discussion
Smitty
April 16th, 2012
4:02 pm
But Dale has zero experience managing anything. Would that not be important?
Smitty
April 16th, 2012
4:04 pm
If going to church makes you a great man, then going to the ball park makes me a great ball player. right?
Smitty
April 16th, 2012
4:05 pm
Give us your next choice for manager. Besides dale
Smitty
April 16th, 2012
4:07 pm
What’s a matter Loosing? can’t think of another manager? well I guess we should keep who we have
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
April 16th, 2012
4:20 pm
Dales my man deal wit it.
Burnt Weenie Sandwich
April 16th, 2012
4:21 pm
He wants Dale.
YoungerThan ThatNow
April 16th, 2012
4:26 pm
MB… great article on the greatest Atlanta Braves player (the player who’s accomplished the most in an Atlanta Braves uni). Whoever wants to argue about Chipper and his salary, his injuries, his imperfections or whatever… have at it. Just remember, a REAL Braves fan… and there’s several Bozo’s on this blog who DO NOT qualify… is going to miss #10 after this year! I know that I will. He’s done it all, and he’s been a joy to watch over the years, and I’m proud that he started and will finish it all in a Braves uni! Thanks Chipper and thanks Mark Bradley for recognizing him again.
Now, I’ll be the first to admit that Fredi had a problem managing the bullpen last season. But, he had tied hands on so many occasions (many close, tied and one run games) and consider this, in his past managerial experience he has never had the luxury of having the big 3 waiting in the pen… and it was too easy to call on them. He’s made other mistakes, but I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt at least for this season… IMO, he’s still on a learning curve.
And all you folks doing all the bee-otching and complaining about this season… GIVE IT A FRICKIN’ REST! The Braves are on a 5 game winning streak and swept the Brewers, a very good team who won their division last year. And like I posted the other night… everybody the Braves play is a Major League team. I realize some are better than others, and the talent is weak on some teams, but they wouldn’t be in the bigs if there wasn’t talent and potential there. Two young pitchers just gave you two great quality outings, and things are looking up in every facet of the Braves game.
Thanks again, MB, and GO BRAVES!!
Smitty
April 16th, 2012
4:26 pm
If he was a manager, it would be easy to deal with. But he is not.
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
April 16th, 2012
4:27 pm
And Fredi is not a managar either.
Frank Wren
April 16th, 2012
4:28 pm
I really like Chad Durbin. He produces a lot of home runs. Fans like home runs.
I am really good at evaluating talent.
I think I’ll give Durbin a big raise.
Smitty
April 16th, 2012
4:32 pm
Loosing….I think you need to do a double check. Fredi is managing a pro ball team now.
Mark Bradley
April 16th, 2012
4:33 pm
Just for the record, Fredi Gonzalez is Catholic.
Just for the record, so am I.
Smitty
April 16th, 2012
4:33 pm
Where did we find Durbin anyway?
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
April 16th, 2012
4:36 pm
He has a job as a managar. That does not make him a managar. Hes horible at it.
Enemas for Easter
April 16th, 2012
4:38 pm
Mark Bradley
April 16th, 2012
4:33 pm
Just for the record, Fredi Gonzalez is Catholic.
Just for the record, so am I.
********************************************************************************************************
And Jesus was a Jew……………Glad we got that out of the way.
Smitty
April 16th, 2012
4:40 pm
Loosing. I just disagree. You have your opinion and others have theirs. Let talk more about great job chipper has done for the Braves
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
April 16th, 2012
4:43 pm
Lets tlak bout how Chipper is bein shelfish and not steping a way form the game. He is hurting the team.
Smitty
April 16th, 2012
4:45 pm
loosing….do you have anything positive to say about anyone…anywhere or is that just not possible