We'll Miss You Chipper Jones

It's been a long and wonderful road Larry Wayne, and we'll be sorry to see you go.

The news announced via the Atlanta Braves Twitter account Thursday morning made us a little sad even though we've seen it coming since at least 2010: Chipper Jones is retiring following this season. He held an emotional press conference later on in the day, which every single one of his teammates attended.

The future Hall of Fame third baseman, who has spent his entire career with the Braves, has nothing to be ashamed of. Besides maybe that fling with the Hooters waitress. We all make mistakes. Otherwise, he owns a career .304 batting average with 454 home runs, the 1999 National League MVP Award, two Silver Sluggers, seven All-Star selections, and a World Series ring from 1995. He earned the NL batting title in 2008, a year in which he also owned the highest on-base percentage in baseball at .470. Not bad.

However, injuries have piled up over the past eight years, as the soon-to-be 40-year-old hasn't missed fewer than 25 games in a season since 2004. In fact, he was contemplating retirement in 2009 when he said, "If I back up this year with the same kind of year next year, I don’t want to play the game. The game is not fun to me when I’m not playing up to my standards."

Also, he expressed interest in wanting to experience being a full-time dad before it's too late. The man has priorities.

Anyway, don't be too upset Braves fans. I'm sure as one of the best switch-hitting third baseman of all time, he will be offered a position with the team after he hangs it up so you'll see his adorable face at the ballpark likely until he kicks the bucket. He'll be like the Tommy Lasorda of Atlanta... or the Don Zimmer of Atlanta. You get the drift.

/single tear

[Atlanta Braves]

Fear Not Braves Fans, Chipper Jones to Return in 2012

In case you were in panic mode that Chipper Jones might change his mind about finishing out the three-year, $42 million contract extension he signed back in 2009, you can calm the hell down.

The long-time Atlanta Braves third baseman reiterated his intention to stick it out through the 2012 season Wednesday night after his team polished off their epic collapse to lose the National League Wild Card bid.

Upon a more-than-disappointing 2010 season in which he hinted at retirement while limited to just 95 games due to injury, the 39-year-old Jones bounced back in 2011. Although he was hurt more this year, he was named to the NL All-Star team for the seventh time in his 18-year career and finished the season batting .275 with 18 homers and 70 RBI over 126 games.

Jones, set to make $13 million next season with a $7 million team option for 2013, had these words of wisdom to close out the 2011 season:

Welcome Back, Chipper Jones (False Alarm)

Chipper Jones is the kinda guy where you either love him or hate him. Since we more than love him, his coming off the disabled list is excellent news. You're just going to have to bear with us through this short welcome back post.

The Atlanta Braves third baseman returned from his 15-day trip after convincing (and perhaps lying to) the Braves organization, saying that he no longer feels that nagging "discomfort" in his right knee that more or less comes with pushing 40.

Happy Trails, Chipper Jones :(

It's not often that we throw a sad face into the title of a post, but upon hearing the news on Chipper Jones, we're super bummed out. Almost inconsolable... we definitely need a hug.

After injuring his knee on a sweet play at third base Tuesday night in the sixth inning of the Atlanta Braves' 4-2 win over the Houston Astros, Jones is out for the season.

Get Well Soon, Chipper Jones

Oh Larry Wayne, it seems like every couple of months we're writing one of these posts asking you to please get well soon so we can watch you rock the Atlanta Braves hot corner.

Chipper Jones isn’t quite sure how badly he hurt his left knee Tuesday night while making a sweet play in the sixth inning of his team's 4-2 win over the Houston Astros. He explained the sensation post-game:

Whew!

Oh, Chipper! You answered Sooze's plea!

This evening, Chipper Jones held an impromptu press conference by his locker by saying: Somehow the cork got taken out. Well, I'm putting it back in right now.

Tee hee.

Say It Ain't So, Larry Wayne Jones

Chipper Jones may be keeping quiet about a possible early retirement, but we can all see it coming.

Yesterday, the former man of my dreams (yes, replaced by Man Muscles) met with Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox, general manager Frank Wren and team president John Schuerholz to discuss his future with the club.

At 38 years old, the third baseman has struggled on and off with random injuries and has made it apparent that he's pretty frustrated with the way he's played since winning the 2008 National League batting title with a .364 average.

Jones, who is under contract through 2012, is owed $28 million over the next two seasons, which would buy a pretty sweet fishing boat.

Get Well Soon Chipper!

We are incredibly bummed to announce that Chipper Jones will be missing out on the upcoming three-game series in San Francisco against the Giants. One small way to show how much we love him is to include in this post a ridiculously large photo of him rocking the eff out after his two-run ding-dong Wednesday night at Turner Field.

The old school Atltana Braves third baseman left Thursday night's 2-0 win over the Chicago Cubs in the third inning after straining his right oblique muscle. Jones said that he started to feel a little discomfort during pre-game batting practice, but decided to tough it out like the tough guy he is.

Get well soon Larry!

[USA Today] | [Talking Chop] | [7th Inning Stache]

McGwire’s Rebirth, Cox’s Farewell

After what I sincerely hope is Mark McGwire’s last formal apology for using performance enhancing drugs during his playing career, the new St. Louis Cardinals hitting coach was ready to get down to business in Jupiter, Florida.

McGwire spent some time in the batting cage with hitters this afternoon before answering reporters’ tired questions regarding his past. Though he knows his mistakes may never be forgotten, he made a point to say that he hopes the issues subside soon.

Speaking of old folks and Spring Training, Bobby Cox is staring down the beginning of the end.

Continue reading this story at SportsUntapped.

Say It Ain't So, Chipper Jones

After winning the 2008 National League batting title, Chipper Jones has shaved 100 points off his batting average, which has him contemplating retirement. Kinda sad.

The 37-year-old Atlanta Braves hot corner hit a career-best .364 last year, marking his third straight season batting over .320. This year however, Chipper's numbers have plummeted to .269 since June 9th, where his average peaked at .335. So is it just poor mechanics or another nagging injury ruining his groove?

Jones winced in obvious pain after striking out as a pinch-hitter Wednesday night against the New York Mets, aggravating his strained left groin muscle. He is considered day-to-day at this point.

The career .308 hitter signed a three-year, $42-million contract extension back in March that will run through 2012, but he says he might just hang up his cleats if he can’t find his sweet swing again.

If I back up this year with the same kind of year next year, I don’t want to play the game.The game is not fun to me when I’m not playing up to my standards.

He's right though. Everyone knows it's not fun to suck at something. Besides, maybe it's time he finally settles down and lives happily ever after with me.

[Braves] | [MLB Rumors] | [Sabernomics]

Chipper Better Be Your Starting Hot Corner

Anyone who knows anything about me knows that I've been head-over-heels for Chipper Jones' sweet swing since I was 12 years old. ...That sentence may have dated me a bit since I was introduced to his bat his rookie season on TBS while he was called up to replace Rafael Belliard for one or two games at short, the year the Braves lost the World Series while I furiously waved my Homer Hanky.

Not only is the 36-year-old third baseman hands-down the best switch-hitter since Eddie Murray and Mickey Mantle, (I said it) but his defense continues to shine after 17 years in the game. Last season he put out a .958 fielding percentage over 115 games.

Continue reading this story at Fantasy Pros 911.

Brought to You by the Letter W

It's been a little while since Tom Glavine enjoyed a victory in an Atlanta Braves uniform.

The 42-year-old veteran lefty pitched 5.2 solid innings to earn his first win for Atlanta in six years with an 8-6 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night. He surrendered 4 earned runs on four hits, fanning four and walking two.

Meanwhile, Chipper Jones (3 more!) Yunel Escobar and Kelly Johnson teed off on Brett Myers, each hitting solo shots while Brian McCann drove in three runs of support for Glavine, who hadn’t won a game with the Braves since beating who else, but the Phils on Sept. 19, 2002, just before his five-year hiatus in New York City.

[Talking Chop]

We Want to Pump You Up

This post is meant for nothing other to get you super fired up for baseball. Pitchers and Catchers reported to their camps this week, which means Spring is finally here. Even though it's -4 degrees where this girl is at, things are heating up in the Grapefruit and Cactus leagues.

So, just stare at this picture of Chipper Jones for a while, and imagine how awesome you'd have to be to smash a bat into slivers with one sweet swing.


Are you pumped?


How about now?

Yeah, us too. Okay, one more.



[Spring Training '08] | [Spring Training Online] | [Spring Training Mag]

Fun With Polls: NL Batting Title

Last week, we wondered who you thought would become the American League Batting Champion.

45% of you voted in Ichiro Suzuki's favor while 34% claim Magglio Ordonez has what it takes to remain the best hitter in the league.

Jorge Posada stole 14% of your hearts and Chone Figgins tallied 5% while Placido Polanco and his strange head got 0 votes. That's a big fat Zero for Polanco.

So, we'll see in a few days who was right, who was wrong and who scores the AL Batting Title.

Onto the National League, where my favorite sweet swingin' switch-hitter, Chipper Jones leads the way with a .341 batting average. There are six whole games left in the Atlanta Braves' season for Chipper to dominate, which I hope he does. I don't see how he won't win this, considering how badass he is and everything.

But Mr. Jones has some competition, and his name is Mr. Holliday. Matt is hitting .337 on the year with six games left in the Colorado Rockies' season. After smoking 11 homers in 12 games leading into the weekend, he went 0-for-5 Friday night and was sidelined with a left oblique strain -- something that could kill his chances for the title if he can't bounce back in time.

Sadly, this isn't a beauty pageant. Chase Utley, who is a few degrees hotter than Death Valley, is batting .335 with six games remaining in the Philadelphia Phillies' season. Utley had a short hiatus due to a pesky broken right hand in late July -- a break that didn't stop the lefty from going 2-for-4 in the game which it occurred. Tough. As. Nails.

With six games left in both of their seasons, Hanley Ramirez (.333) and Edgar Renteria (.332) round out the poll much like Polanco and Figgins did the AL inquiry. They're both awesome, but may or may not be awesome enough to figure in the race.

• 
  Chipper Jones ATL
• 
  Matt Holliday COL
• 
  Chase Utley PHI
• 
  Hanley Ramirez FLA
• 
  Edgar Renteria ATL

view results

Cox Throws Record-Breaking Fit

Congratulations to Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox for becoming the most-ejected manager in the history of the game Tuesday night.

After controlling himself for over 7 long weeks and 43 games, Cox surpassed John "Little Napoleon" McGraw's record of 131 ejections.

Between the fifth and sixth innings, Cox broke the golden rule of baseball: arguing balls and strikes. After Chipper Jones was caught looking at a ball with men on second and third and the Braves trailing 3-0, plate umpire Ted Barrett wrung him up and Cox flipped out.

Of course, he was only making sure Jones wasn't tossed after he flung his bat toward the Braves dugout, threw his helmet about 80 feet and dropped a few f-bombs.


"It's absolutely no factor. It's nothing," Cox said. "It just means I've been around a long time, that's all."

As many ejections go, it lit a fire under Atlanta's rear. They scored four runs in the sixth and bounced back after closer Bob Wickman took a huge crap on the hill in the top of the ninth.

The game-winning hit? Yeah, it was all Chipper.

[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]

Squeeze Play: Braves @ Marlins

National League
Right-handed ace Tim Hudson, owner of the lowest ERA in the majors at 0.62, will take the hill for the Atlanta Braves (13-7) when they face lefty Scott Olsen and the Florida Marlins (9-11) at 7:05pm ET tonight.

Hudson looks to stay absolutely perfect in his career against the Marlins, and help the Braves to a series win on Tuesday night. In four starts this season, he has allowed only two runs over 29 innings with an opponent batting average of .165.

Hudson is 3-0 with a 2.19 ERA in four starts at Dolphin Stadium while Olsen is 1-3 with a 11.02 ERA in five games against the Braves, allowing at least five runs in three of his four starts.

Watch out for the Braves' awesome third baseman Chipper Jones! He nailed a two-run homer off Olsen in their last meeting, and is 3-for-6 with a double, triple, home run and eight RBIs against him lifetime.

After losing the series opener, Atlanta beat the Marlins 11-6 on Tuesday. Jeff Francoeur went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and is 8-for-14 with eight RBIs in his last three games. Florida's right fielder Cody Ross doubled, homered and drove in five in the loss. He's 7-for-16 with two homers and eight RBIs in his last five games.
American League
The Los Angeles Angels (10-10) will look to move above .500 when they put righty ace John Lackey on the mound to host rookie right-hander Edwin Jackson and the Tampa Bay Devil  Rays (9-11) at 10:05pm ET tonight.

The Angels have won only once in eight road games, but are 9-3 at Angel Stadium with a collective .304 average for 10 homers and 63 runs.

The D'Rays have won just five of their last 29 games in Anaheim, and have not won a series there since taking two of three games in May of 1999.

Vladimir Guerrero, leading the majors with a .403 batting average, is 9-for-18 with two homers and six RBIs during this seven-game homestand.

Carl Crawford had been hitless in 11 at-bats before going 4-for-4 with a grand slam on Tuesday to aid Tampa Bay in a 6-4 victory over the New York Yankees, completing the two-game sweep.
[MLB]

Who Doesn't Love Chipper Jones?

Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones sprained his left ankle during his first at-bat on Monday against the St. Louis Cardinals and was taken out of the game.

Jones took an awkward step out of the box on a grounder to first and jogged a few steps before turning around and limping to the dugout. Jones, who has been troubled by foot problems in the past, is day to day.

The switch-hitter is 4-for-18 this spring, batting .222 with one double and two RBI. Last season, he batted .324 with 26 home runs and 86 RBI in 110 games and is a career .304 hitter over 13 seasons with Atlanta, the only club on his sweet swing's resume.

Update: Chipper returned to the lineup on Tuesday and went 2-4. His injury doesn't seem serious, but we'll keep you posted. I don't know about you, but if I sprained my ankle, I wouldn't be playing baseball. Chipper Jones is so tough.

[The Sports Network]