Chipper Jones’ ACL Tear May End His Career
Posted on 13. Aug, 2010 at 9:04 am by 3D in Atlanta Braves
ATLANTA (AP)—Chipper Jones may have played his last game in the major leagues after tearing up his left knee while fielding a ground ball.
The Atlanta Braves said Thursday that the 38-year-old third baseman tore his anterior cruciate ligament and will need surgery. The estimated recovery time is six months, short enough to be ready for the next opening day—if Jones decides to return in 2011.
He had already said he would consider retirement after a season that’s now ended sooner than expected.
And so likely ends the career of the 3rd baseman who has the best SportsCenter-enunciated name of all time. But let’s cut to the chase: what is Chipper’s legacy and is he going into the Hall of Fame?
Chipper was fortunate enough to play with the greatest pitching staff in recent memory for many years. Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz carried the team to all those division titles, but there is something to be said for the presence Chipper had in the middle of a usually mediocre National League lineup. He was always the guy other teams pitched around yet always put up great numbers.  Chipper was ’versatile’ on defense seeing significant time both in the infield and outfield, but anyone who watched his career very close knows he was just in the lineup to hit.Â
His HOF status? Chipper is in a tough spot. He has auto-in numbers if he comes from a different era, but he falls in line with guys like Thome, Helton, Bagwell, etc…I don’t recall his name being attached to ‘roids, of course a plus, but everyone who can say that is still guilty by association.  Check his career stats to make your own decision…  Â
My gut tells me Chipper will get in the HOF within his first couple years on the ballot on the strength of his numbers as a switch hitter, he was the cog in the middle of the lineup on a perrenial playoff team, his name was virtually protected from the steroid scandal, and he played a long, successful career with one team. But if I had a vote I would have to evaluate his legacy a few years post-retirement. I couldn’t vote him in now.
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61 Responses to “Chipper Jones’ ACL Tear May End His Career”
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13. Aug, 2010
Chipper Jones ACL Injury Is Chipper Jones a Hall of Famer | The ……
I found your entry interesting do I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog
…
Mick
13. Aug, 2010
Second best switch-hitter of all time behind Mantle. The guy is a lifetime .300 hitter in the steriod era when guys got paid to drop dick, he was spraying the ball all over the field. The guy was a doubles machine.
Enough said, auto-first ballot HoF…
Stake
13. Aug, 2010
+1 Mick
Larry is auto HOF, possibly 1st ballot.
D: Evaluate his legacy a few years post-retirement? What, like what he does after he retires, how he conducts himself?
Meerkat
13. Aug, 2010
Who is this ‘Chipper’ guy?
I know this guy named Larry Jones who is a 3B/LF guy for the Braves. He can hit with the best of them, but was an average fielder, and does not have 3,000 hits nor 500 HRs.
If Larry gets into HOF with 1st ballot, it will be because sportswriters are giving the shaft to guys like Bonds, Clemens & McGwire.
Eddie Murray is in the HOF with his 504 HRs & 3,255 hits, but he needed 21 seasons to get those (he also has 3 Gold Gloves). Obviously, Larry’s annual injuries prevented him from reaching HOF numbers.
I say leave the guy standing at the HOF front door holding his hat. It would be an insult for the guys who reach HOF numbers to let in a guy who didn’t.
Mick
13. Aug, 2010
-2 Meerkat
If you’re argument would be that he’s not a first ballot guy then I can see an argument there. A brutal one seeing as how the guy hit .300 for a career, but an argument none the less.
I assume with your logic you don’t think Sandberg or Tony Perez should be in the hall either…
stake
13. Aug, 2010
Ya, I doubt he’ll be 1st ballot, but he’ll get in sooner rather then later. Playing his whole career in the minors(NL) doesn’t help, but playing for only one team will help. He also has an MVP, Murray doesn’t; and he’s 30th all-time in OPS, while Murray is 219th. And when it counted(playoffs), Larry put up better numbers than Murray did. Should Andy Van Slyke be in if Chip isn’t?
Meerkat
13. Aug, 2010
Ryne Sandberg had like 9 Gold Gloves to go along with his offensive numbers. Meaning, he was the undisputed best 2B guy of his time.
Tony Perez is a bit of a head scratcher as to why he is in HOF … though it did take him 13 years to get in.
If Larry gets in, I hope it takes 13 years.
3D
13. Aug, 2010
Don’t be gullible, fellas. Meerkat despises the Braves and their infinite division titles the last 2 decades…
stake
13. Aug, 2010
Laaaary…Laaaary….Laaaary
Meerkat
13. Aug, 2010
Who do you put in the HOF first:
Larry Jones or Edgar Martinez?
… if they even belong?
Check out 2010 HOF voting
Larry Walker will be getting a whole lotta 2011 votes.
Meerkat
13. Aug, 2010
And Jeff Bagwell in 2011 as well.
Rafael Palmeiro is eligible in 2011 … but you know he won’t get in on the 1st or 2nd.
Basically, the roid guys are gonna screw up the whole voting process.
bbryan
13. Aug, 2010
He’s 145th on the career list for batting average, hardly a reason to be a sure fire HOF’er.
He had 3 very good years and about 5 above average years.
He was a fine ball player, but not a HOF’er.
bbryan
13. Aug, 2010
Who do you put in the HOF first:
Larry Jones or Edgar Martinez?
It’s an absolute atrocity that Edgar is not in the hall of fame. One of the best
right handedhitters of our time.Meerkat
13. Aug, 2010
Larry Jones or Edgar Martinez
Look at the numbers bbryan … you can’t put Edgar in and keep Larry out … especially when Larry actually played defense.
UGH … I actually defended Larry there … gotta take a hot shower with a brillo pad now.
bbryan
13. Aug, 2010
Edgar put together 7 very good years. He has a rank of 20 on Bill Jame’s Black Ink ranking compared to a 4 for Chipper. Chipper was descent for a longer time, but Edgar was the man for many more years.
Plus Edgar has a BA of .313, which means he should have been unanimous on the first ballot, right Mick?
Mick
13. Aug, 2010
“to go along with his offensive numbers.” .285 BA, .344 OBP, .452 SLG, 282 HR, and 1000 RBI are AWESOME HoF offensive numbers. The guy was an average hitter, at BEST. He could run and plenty of steals, congrats!
But his offense was NOT the reason he’s in the Hall….
And, “his time” was about the weakest time period in baseball history… The 1980s and early 90s were brutal transition years…
Mick
13. Aug, 2010
Chipper hit .300 as a switch hitter 966 extra base hits, 1491 RBI, 1505 Runs, 147 SB, .941 OPS
Martinez hit .312, 838 extra base hits, 1261 RBI, 1219 Runs, 49 SB, .933 OPS
The only reason that Martinez had a higher batting average is because he played in 206 LESS games than Jones… Other than that, Jones trumps your boy Martinez.
bbryan
13. Aug, 2010
The only reason that Martinez had a higher batting average is because he played in 206 LESS games than Jones
You’ve said some ingnorant shit before, but this takes the cake.
3d
13. Aug, 2010
Eh, Edgars last 3 years were 277 294 and 263. 206 fewer games actually probably means a lot to his career avg.
3d
13. Aug, 2010
And Edgar has fewer XBH, worse BB/K ratio, fewer RBIs, OPS, played in a better lineup and park much of his career than Chipper.
I don’t get the Edgar for the hall debate. He was a great pure hitter, but for a DH his stats don’t really cut it when you talk HOF.
Anyway, I still have both of them out.
Mick
13. Aug, 2010
You obviously cannot comprehend that 982 extra plate appearances are 982 more opportunities to fail.
And Chipper actually played respectable defensively until his last 3 years when his fielding percentage dropped like a rock which tends to happens as you get older. Chipper didn’t take his happy fat ass back to the dugout as sit on his ass the whole game like Martinez….
Mick
13. Aug, 2010
Martinez has a snowball’s chance in hell of being a HoF.
The guy could hit, but he was pretty much useless. Couldn’t run. Couldn’t throw. Couldn’t field.
Not many 2-tool players making it into the HoF with his weak RBI and HR totals….
Meerkat
13. Aug, 2010
The 1980s and early 90s were brutal transition years
Yeah, guys were beat up daily playing on Astro Turf, small ball teams like the Running Redbirds & Royals were the show, dudes weren’t juicing yet, defense was important, guys like Ozzie Smith were studs because of the runs they saved.
Keep bringin it Mick!
Mick
13. Aug, 2010
Transition from the teams of the late 60s and 70s that absolutely crushed baseballs. Granted, lots of guys were eating speed like they were Skittles. None the less, the 80s had a ton of average hitters and pitches. No shit defense would be highlighed during a stretch of time that hitting and pitching was brutal…
Keep bringing that weak 1980s smack Phillie fan. Figures that a guy who supports the sports franchise with the most losses ever would like the 1980s…. Bet you’d argue that parachute pants were great because they were so comfy too?
bbryan
13. Aug, 2010
D – you are assuming that means he plays 2 more years to make up those ABs when the reason he lost them in the first place was injuries. He played till he was 41, 3-years past where Chipper is currently at. So yeah if Edgar played until he was 43 his BA would probably dip below Chippers.
And while most people don’t like the DH rule, it’s a been bonified position now for 40 years. He’s one of the best ever at it, and he put together 7 very good to great seasons. Giving Chipper credit for being average, but playing for longer is lame. Give me a guy that truly affects the game for a period of time.
stake
13. Aug, 2010
Edgar was the man, and a possible HOF, but at the end of the day, he was nothing more than glorified city league softball player who could hit major league pitching. The Hall is overrated anyways, something that claims to honor the greats of the past, but doesn’t included the best hitter to ever play the game is a joke. Its no different than fans voting on all-stars nowadays. Every vote is subjective, some more then others. With people like Jim Gray and Joe Buck having votes, whats the point?
3D
13. Aug, 2010
I don’t consider the DH a position, in fact it’s just a spot in the batting order. A position means you play in the field. A spot in the order means you’re a hitter so Edgar should be taken for his ability to hit. His inability to play defense at all shouldn’t be an argument FOR his HOF induction. And his HOF induction shouldn’t be based on the technicality of whether DH is a position, spot in the order, etc…
Personally I think the he’s the best DH argument is fairly weak – and not totally directed at you. It’s an argument I’ve heard by lots of guys who love Edgar when I lived up north.
3D
13. Aug, 2010
Stake please don’t call Pete Rose the greatest hitter ever. I wanna puke…
SKI
13. Aug, 2010
All I know is that Edgar’s circle in Griffey is fucking huge, while Chippers is just a little bit smaller. Boom argument over.
Mick
13. Aug, 2010
DH = Glorified Home Run Derby Contestant
stake
13. Aug, 2010
Is the DH is a position? I’ve never heard of anyone “playing” DH. Guess who’s idea it was in 1906 to have a DH, Meerkat? Connie Mac, Philly manager. TAS.
Mick
13. Aug, 2010
On a side note, isn’t this a much better series of posts without someone dropping the “fag” or “moron” smack?
Meerkat
13. Aug, 2010
And while most people don’t like the DH rule, it’s been a bona fide position now for 40 years
@bbryan – So is the punter position in the NFL, is Ray Guy in the HOF? Nope. Just means some positions weigh more than others. Like LF/3B over DH.
@Mick – Astro Turf changed the game, small ball was king in the 80s because of speed and big dudes took a pounding in the field and running bases, of course numbers would drop. Juicing up to recover was certainly an easy transition in the 90s.
Example: Scott Rolen on the Vet turf took a beating daily diving/running, Gary Carter in Montreal, Jack Clark at Busch, etc
Oh yeah, most of the astro-turf parks were bigger as well.
If you didn’t mention the Phillies, I wouldn’t have to remind you of the 4-game bitch slap my club gave your gayrox last month.
stake
13. Aug, 2010
D- PETE ROSE = GREATEST HITTER EVER.
-Most hits ever, 4265, 67 more than 2nd and 485 more than 3rd.
-Oh, he was switch-hitter. If Cobb was the best, why couldn’t he do it from the other side?
Hope you have a huge bucket….
PETE ROSE = GREATEST HITTER EVER
3D
13. Aug, 2010
Edgar’s Griffey circle is like Bonds and Larry Walker. HUGE.
3D
13. Aug, 2010
Why stop there? Since he played in the most games ever, HE’S THE GREATEST PLAYER EVER.
3D
13. Aug, 2010
Scratch that, GREATEST PERSON EVER.
Mick
13. Aug, 2010
Nobody doubted that the 80s were pathetic and shitty due to piss poor hitting and pitching. Thanks for reinforcing my argument that the 80s were worthless.
Dude, nobody juiced to recover. Do you really believe that jive? Do you still believe in Stanta and the Easter bunny too?
Bottom line: guys juiced to hit jacks, get paid, and get blow jobs from groupies…
Barry Bonds
13. Aug, 2010
GREATEST HOME RUN HITTER EVER
Meerkat
13. Aug, 2010
Dude, nobody juiced to recover. Do you really believe that jive? Do you still believe in Stanta and the Easter bunny too?
Explain to me why pitchers juiced? Like Andy and Roger?
Why Mark McGwire could still hit even though he had back issues?
@Stake – does your arm hurt for reaching for that Connie Mack DH tidbit? And I’m still standing.
To sum up so far … Edgar out, Larry borderline, DH is a spot in the lineup, Pete Rose is the greatest person ever, Mick doesn’t appreciate small ball
stake
13. Aug, 2010
Why stop puking?
He’s a dick and bet on his own team, therefore he’s a shitty hitter. Tiger is bad at golf too because he loves to bang.
I love nothing more than to take stock in something from the 1920′s that I’ve maybe only seen a garbage 10sec black and white clip giving me a solid contextual representation of the given era.
El Rey
13. Aug, 2010
Chipper did roids.
His power numbers from 99-02 prove this.
End of thread.
3d
13. Aug, 2010
You truly are The King…
stake
13. Aug, 2010
Although I think the Carolla could lead a few laps at Indy, it may be time to upgrade the Carolla, D—-Man could I use an Arby’s run right now. Go here if you do upgrade.
http://tedwilliamshead.com/2010/08/12/buy-car-eat-dinner-pete-rose/
@Kat- The arm does hurt, all though its from smacking the sack around and beating up the beat.
goodplaye
13. Aug, 2010
wow obviously i just got home from work and see 43 comments, had to get in on this. haven’t read the article of any of the comments but here’s my take.
Chipper is a first ballot HOF’er. who cares if he took roids unless nobody from this era gets in at all. dude takes extreme dips and that alone should get him in. people say he doesn’t wanna end his career like that, did you see the play he did that on, fucking sick nasty jeter jump throw.
oh yeah also i’m headin to the east coast tonight for the next 10 days so i’ll see if i can bring some east coast flavor to the blog. i heard the Yankees are big over there so maybe i can come up with something.
Mick
13. Aug, 2010
Name a guy who didn’t use roids between 99-02 that had 30+ jacks/year
stake
13. Aug, 2010
Nothing good is on the East coast, Scar, you should know this.
stake
13. Aug, 2010
@Mick- Brady Anderson
Mick
13. Aug, 2010
That guy was a perfect case of someone doing winny and d-ball… Kept him small, but strong enough to rake.
MIck
13. Aug, 2010
*d-bol
Sorry, thought faster than I typed…
stake
13. Aug, 2010
Bone?