Results tagged ‘ Chipper Jones ’

Still The Man

Chipper Jones has been a Brave for a very long time.  He is approaching 40.  His knees are starting to resemble the Bionic Man.  He is beloved by Braves fans.  He is STILL the man.

Over the series with the Brewers, Chipper Jones showed why he is STILL the man and why Braves fans love him so much.  He had his knee drained of fluid after it was too swollen to play on and then he promptly returned and hit long balls over and over again to ruin the Brewers chances of winning.  The fans know he plays with pain a lot of days.  The fans know he could have quit a few years ago.  The fans know he could have signed with another team at so many points in his career.  The fans know that when he steps to the plate or mans the hot corner, he is going to give it everything he’s got.  Chipper Jones is STILL the man.

Over the many years I have watched the Braves, almost 40 now, I have seen great players come and go.  There was Hank Aaron, Dale Murphy, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, John Smoltz and many others.  I was a fan when Chipper took his first swing as a Brave and I am watching now as he takes some of his last.  Through all the years he has been with the team, he has shown nothing but heart.  And talent.  He plays at 110% even when his body isn’t there.  He is a certain Hall of Famer when his career is done.  But his legacy of being loyal to his team and to his fans is something that will live on well past baseball records and homerun highlights.

In this day and age of business before baseball, Chipper has shown something that very few now do.  Loyalty.  From the players and from the teams.  If a player can get more money, he’s out the door.  If a team can shed salary space or get another player they want more, he’s out the door.  The fans for the most part never figure into the equation.  There are a few exceptions.  Derek Jeter, Todd Helton and of course the man Chipper Jones.  These players are unique in today’s baseball world and that makes them all the more special.

Chipper Jones is STILL the man.  He has a .417 batting average in 3 games and 12 at bats at almost 40 years of age on knees that are on their last go round.  He is special in a world of talent.  He is special in the hearts of millions of fans.  Chipper Jones is STILL the man and he always will be.

Braves Worries

Chipper1.jpgThe Braves started 2011 on a hot streak.  They looked like they were going to be the team to beat.  Now, they find themselves just 1.5 games ahead of the Mets who are in last place in the NL East.  

The Braves have had a lot of close games.  Those 1 run losses that have plagued both the team and their fans for years now.  The almost wins.  The team has had a lot less run production, outside of the 10 they put on the Dodgers, than what would have been expected with their great lineup.  
The pitching has been serviceable.  But the bullpen has gotten very worn down.  Moylan on the DL, Venters on rest.  Calling up Cory Gearrin from AAA to rest the bullpen even more.  Using Martinez three days in a row.  It’s been very taking on the pen for the Braves so far this season.
The team has had some great wins, but it is the losses that stick out most.  The extra inning loss, the 1 run losses.  They have a 9 and 12 record on the season and are 4-6 over their last 10 games.  A long road trip out West has also taken its toll.  
Chipper Jones is experiencing a sharp pain in his right knee, not the surgically repaired left knee.  A pain he admits he has had for the past 10 days or so.  A pain that may keep him out of the Saturday game versus the Giants and Tim Lincecum.  Chipper has been an offensive catalyst for the Braves and they would miss him greatly if he has to miss any time.  Continuing to play on a hurt knee though is just asking for an even longer stretch of lost time if he should injure it even more.
The Braves face off with the Giants on Saturday afternoon with the Tim vs Tim show on the mound.  Lincecum versus Hudson.  Lincecum is throwing hot and has a 1.67 coming into today’s game.  Hudson has performed well, but has struggled in the early innings of his starts.  If the Braves are without Chipper today, runs may be at a real premium and a shaky first few innings from Hudson could prove detrimental.
After last night’s win versus the Giants, the Braves need to continue that in today’s game.  That, however, may be easier said than done.

Braves Feeling Chipper

Chipper1.jpgThe Atlanta Braves are feeling quite chipper these days.  Both happy and also happy for the Chipper.  The Braves beat their arch rival Phillies and Cliff Lee on Friday night at home and Chipper Jones got his 2500th career hit.

The Braves played well versus the Phillies and Cliff Lee.  In fact, they played so well that Lee exited the game in the 4th inning giving up 6 runs.  Lee had been struggling, for him anyway, with a lot of 3-2 counts and getting his pitch count a lot higher up than usual.  The Braves came roaring back thanks to an outstanding hit and muffed play near the outfield wall.  Lee left the game shortly thereafter.

The Braves went on to win the game but not before Larry “Chipper” Jones got his 2500th career hit in front of an enthusiastic home crowd in Atlanta that included former Braves skipper Bobby Cox.  It was quite a night at the Ted for the Braves and their fans and most are looking forward to even more.

Chipper is three doubles shy of 500, three RBIs shy of 1,500 and 30 extra-base hits shy of 1,000. Only 33 players in history have accumulated 1,000 extra-base hits, and only 34 players have scored at least 1,500 runs (Jones has 1,507) and collected at least 1,500 RBIs.  Chipper became the 93rd player in history with 2,500 hits, and the ninth switch-hitter to reach the milestone.

The Braves have two more games this weekend with the Phillies facing Roy Oswalt Saturday and the struggling Cole Hamels on Sunday.  Chipper may yet add even more to his career numbers stats over the weekend and if the Braves win the next two, the team and fans will have a lot to feel chipper about indeed.

Ready For Opening Day

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The Braves seem ready for Opening Day tomorrow.  After last night with the come from behind 10th inning walk off homer, they have made sure I am ready as well.  
The team is looking so balanced to start the season.  A mixture of veterans and rookies.  A mixture of power and precision.  Most everyone healthy and ready to go.  The start of the 2011 season is upon us and the Braves look prepared to meet it.
If you take a look at the Spring Training stats, you will see that many of the team had some really outstanding Spring numbers.  Chipper is playing more like he’s 28 than 38.  He still carries close to a .400 batting average headed into the regular season.  Players like Gonzalez, Prado and newcomer Freeman have all had outstanding springs at the plate.
The pitching also looks great to start the season. Lowe, Hudson, Hanson, Beachy have all looked great.  Venters is throwing outstanding and the rest of the pen looked very good last night versus the Twins.  Most of the preseason talk has centered on the Phillies rotation, but the Braves rotation is nothing to sleep on.
The Braves will open the season on Thursday afternoon versus the Nationals.  Derek Lowe will go for the Braves and the Nationals will throw Livan Hernandez.  It will be a great opener to see a team that the Braves will play many times during the season and in the same division.  
The time is almost here and the Braves are ready for Opening Day – are you??

Braves News and Notes – 3/14/11

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With 17 days left until Opening Day, there is a lot of Braves news and notes in the pipeline.  The first is that the team has trimmed down the spring training roster by 14 players.  Four were optioned and 10 were re-assigned.

Right-handed pitcher Erik Cordier and left-handed pitchers Lee Hyde and Jose Ortegano were optioned to Gwinnett (AAA).  Right-handed pitcher Randall Delgado was optioned to Mississippi (AA).

The 10 players who were re-assigned to minor league camp include right-handed pitchers Michael Broadway, Jay Sborz, Julio Teheran and Arodys Vizcaino, left-handed pitcher Brett Oberholtzer, catchers Christian Bethancourt, Braeden Schlehuber and Jesus Sucre, infielder Tyler Pastornicky and outfielder Mycal Jones.  The Braves now have 46 active players remaining in its Major League camp.

Minor league manager Luis Salazar has undergone multiple surgeries on both Wednesday and Thursday last week for the injuries he suffered after being hit with a ball fouled into the dugout by catcher Brian McCann.  Word has it that he has not suffered brain damage as was once feared.  He looks to have an extended recovery period and will most likely not be ready to manage when the season starts.

Chipper Jones continues to look good in spring training moving between playing third base and DH and getting rest as well.  He has performed well in the field and at the plate.  Chipper had 2 hits, 2 runs and an RBI in Sunday’s game vs the Astros.

Derek Lowe continues to impress in spring training throwing scoreless inning after scoreless inning.  The sinker is working really well and he looks to be in fine shape come opening day.

The 5th rotation spot continues to be up for grabs as Brandon Beachy and Mike Minor go back and forth on having good outings and bad ones.  This decision is sure to be a difficult one for Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez.

Wilkin Ramirez continues to make his case to become the 4th outfielder for the Braves during the regular season.  Ramirez went 2 for 4 with a homer and three RBIs against Houston’s split squad.  He has made a good impression in spring training, displaying power and speed while batting .421 (8-for-19) with a triple, home run, five RBIs and three stolen bases.  

There are 17 days until Opening Day and the Braves are doing very well in spring training.  Let’s hope it continues once the regular season begins. 

Braves and Chipper Both On Right Track

3563951694_68a9717657.jpgThe Braves looked to be on the right track with yesterday’s 6-4 win over the Mets in spring training that flirted with a no-no for 5 innings.  Derek Lowe looked on the right track with an outstanding outing.   Chipper Jones also looked to be on the right track as well with a key homer in the game and suffering no knee pain at all.

For five innings, the Braves looked to be working on a spring training gem of a game.   Derek Lowe held the Mets hitless over three scoreless innings and also delivered a third-inning leadoff double that helped put him in position to score on a Joe Mather groundout.  Lowe, Scott Proctor and Cory Gearrin held the Mets hitless through the first five innings.  The no-no did not last, but the excellent outing for Lowe and the two other pitchers looked really good for the Braves.

Chipper, who was playing in just his 6th game since returning from knee repair surgery, smashed a 2 out homer into the Braves bullpen beyond the left field wall.  Jones was playing without pain and looked as if he felt great at the plate and on the field.  This is the kind of thing the Braves had hoped to see this spring training and Jones showed that his knee surely looks sound after the repair.

At this point in time, the Braves are on top of the spring training standings for the National League teams with a 6-2 record so far.  Of course, last year, they came out of a scorching spring training only to perform at a lower level to start the regular season.  Still, there are many great things to be taken from spring training games like this.  Lowe looked great.  Chipper played great.  The Braves beat the Mets.  All in all, a great day for the Braves.

Not Losing Hope

The news that Chipper Jones torn ACL would sideline him for the rest of the season made me sad, but not for the team’s ability to win without Chipper.  It made me sad because Chipper has always been my favorite player.  I have a Chipper jersey.  To me he is baseball.  His contribution to the Braves is legend.  Without him on the field, baseball loses something special, something great.  Chipper embodies all the wonderful things about baseball – hard work, winning attitude, mentoring the young, team leader, playing through in great moments and huge defeats.

The Braves can continue to win just as they have been even with Chipper out.  He has been out of many, many games this season with several nagging injuries.  It was for these reasons he had considered retirement.  The Braves have plenty of depth now that covering Chipper’s spot both on the field and at the plate is not an issue for them.  They have the players to continue their run towards the post season.  There is no reason for Braves fans to lose hope.

Where the Braves suffer is that Chipper provides stability, leadership, he is the Braves.  My hope is that he will continue to be in the clubhouse and in the dugout.  The Braves need that.  Especially the younger ones.  I remember the night Jason Heyward debuted and hit his first homer.  Chipper was not playing that game.  He was however in the dugout.  He was the first player to the top of the steps to greet Heyward.  He had a smile on his face that looked like a 10 year old boy who had seen his first big league homer.  He was happier for Heyward than anyone.  A big bear hug between the two capped off the moment.  This is what Chipper Jones is to the Braves.  He is that undefinable force that powers the engine.  He can do that from the clubhouse, from the dugout, but he has to continue to do it.

I will miss seeing him on the field more than these words can convey.  I am not sure if this will be the end of his career.  There are contract years left and lots of money left to be paid or worked out for retirement to happen.  I’m also not sure that someone like Larry “Chipper” Jones wants to leave the game this way.  My guess is no.  In the meantime, I know he will be in the clubhouse, in the dugout, and his heart in each and every pitch with the team he has devoted his career to and my heart will be right there with him.

Deborah Horton Writing

Into The Sunset

Word is coming out this morning that Larry “Chipper” Jones will retire from the Atlanta Braves at the end of this season.  For 17 years, he has been the face of the Braves.   Their leader.  Their captain.  At the end of this season, word has it that he will turn over those reigns to someone else.
Jones is 38 this year.  His average is at .228 this season down from .264 in 2009 and .364 in 2008.  He has battled nagging injury after nagging injury and has been on the bench for the Braves last few games.  Time has come calling and Chipper’s answer is that he will walk away at the end of the season.  For longtime fans like myself, it is a bittersweet moment.  It’s the kind of thing where you want your favorite to continue on forever.  The kind of thing where you can’t imagine not seeing him on the field at a game.  The kind of thing where the Braves jersey you own has his name and number on it.  But, it’s also the kind of thing where you don’t want to tune in one day to see his ultimate decline played out on national television.  The kind of thing where you don’t want some reporter trying to make a name prints a story about him being asleep on the job or how he should have gotten out long ago.  Bittersweet indeed.
I have seen Chipper play many a game.  I’ve seen him do things great and mighty.  I’ve watched him lead and win accolades and championships.  But in all my years of watching him, the thing I remember most is when Jason Heyward hit a homer in his first major league at bat, Chipper was waiting there at the dugout, smiling like a 10 year old boy, as happy for Heyward as if it had been he who had hit the homer.  Pure unadulterated baseball joy was all over his face.  In that moment, Chipper Jones was summed up for me.  Leader, inspirer, cheerleader, mentor, all time lover of the game.  When opening day 2011 rolls around and Chipper is not there at 3rd base there will be that twinge of sadness, but also there will be the joy at the many years of memories he has left me with….that he has left all of us, fans, with.
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