Chipper Might Retire After Next Season

[Dreamscape]

If next season fails as much as this year has for the old third baseman, he might hang it up, according to this article (http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/chipper-may-retire-if-136041.html) from DOB.

“I’m certainly not going to stick around for a big contract if I’m not having fun and not producing,” said Jones, hitting nearly 100 points lower than his .364 in 2008. “I’m not saying I’m retiring at the end of this year or the end of next year, but if I become an average player, I’m not sticking around.

“I’m not going to hamstring the ballclub with the money I’m making, and I’m not going to be happy being a mediocre player.”

Okay, as much as one can hate on Chipper for this year, that's a great approach to things. I think his AVG will probably rebound next year, but I can't see him hitting more than 20 or so homers. His power is really tapering off. A Yahoo Sports article looked at his isolated power and in a non-steroid era, when people hit 35, their power starts to dissipate. We are seeing that with Chipper.

“The day I become mediocre on a regular basis, I’m probably going to ride off into the sunset,” he said. “Because I don’t have fun playing the game at the level I’m playing at now.”

The Braves may want to search everywhere for a young third baseman this off season.

[The Rap]

I agree with both him and you. I don't want to watch him play this way for the next two years so he can cripple us with that salary and I am proud of him for mentioning that. I was just thinking the other day that he is the main reason I think that we didn't make a better run at the wild card.

[warefreak]

I've been telling everybody we need to look at Brandon Wood from the Angels. The kid has as much power as anybody in the minors and reminds me of how Ryan Howard sat in the minors so long because of the logjam in the Phillies 1b position. Wood is out of options and everybody is saying the Angels are going to resign Figgins... so Wood could be gotten cheap this offseason.

I'm really, really hoping we can get a player like him.

[Dreamscape]

My thing is...if the Angels haven't traded him yet, what makes you think he would be out there for cheap?

[KB 34]

Time for the Braves to think seriously about replacing Chipper I guess. The good is that when Chipper retires he frees up a ton of money which makes finding someone to play 3B a lot easier. I hope he sticks to his word and retires when it's time. The way Glavine had to retire was just brutal. He was worth way more than a million in payroll flexibility for a long time.

[Freddy_Ballgame]

Although you wouldn't know it by some of my digs at Chipper, I'm still a fan. He's been a legit switch-hitter and that's rare. I'd like to see him ease over to first base and see if he can return to form. It's not that first is an easier position, just one that usually doesn't involve as much diving or throwing. He's still athletic enough to be a good first base man. Regarding his bat, he has enough talent to rebound in the average department and anything over 20 homers would be great. I kind of believe this season Chipper saw most of last year's great luck do a 180. Next year he'll be back and so will his average. He never really was a power guy, he just had a few better seasons power-wise.

[Lauren T.]

I'm sure you all know how I feel about this development. :D You also know how much I trust DOB's journalism :thumbsdown:, so I'll believe it when I see it.

[JanShan12]

I really respect him for putting the team first. So many players are fine with just barely hanging on their final years, but for Chipper, mediocre play is unacceptable. That will do nothing but make his life better and things easier on the Braves. It will be a sad day when Chipper Jones retires, but it seems like he will be doing it on his terms and he is letting the Braves know now so they can have someone waiting in the wings.

[Middle Man]

Nah, he's not retiring any time soon. His numbers will bounce back next year. I think he needs a challenge to get himself going. In 2008 he was determined to win a batting title. I think he had a bit of a letdown in 2009. I remember several of us on here saying that he didn't quite seem to be himself back at the beginning of the season, even befoe his numbers became so putrid.

I'd also point out that he's still near the top in OBP, only a few points behind Diaz, and that his BABIP is nearly 100 points below last year (he's been pretty unlucky.) He'll be back.

We should always be looking to develop new talent at all positions of course, but hopefully the Braves won't feel the need to go out and spend money on a free agent or something - unless they plan to move to Chipper to first (something they should probably should have done a few years ago - oh well.) When he does retire, we shouldn't have any trouble finding a replacement if necessary due to all the money coming off the books.

[luvdembravos]

There are 42,000,000 reasons why Chipper won't hang it up before 2012.

[Lauren T.]

There are 42,000,000 reasons why Chipper won't hang it up before 2012.
Baseball-reference.com has Chipper's career earnings at $117,552,133 -- and I'm assuming that is baseball salary only and not his endorsement deals. How much does a man really need?? Like Matt Diaz says, "[they] all make enough money."

[BigWorm]

Chipper needs to back slowly away from these comments and not mention that again. We know he's frustrated right now. But there's no way in hell an American man should turn down a guaranteed contract for that amount of money. Besides, he's never going to break out of it if he doesn't show some confidence. Whether he deserves the money or not is not his problem, he didn't write the terms. Take your money Chipper, I won't hate on you.

[luvdembravos]

How much does a man really need??


Apparently, some need a lot. A few years ago, Latrell Spreewell was insulted when offered a meager $21M contract from the Minnesota Timberwolves. His words: I got my family to feed

[quick]

I think Chipper can be fine for the rest of his contract IF he is treated like a catcher and gets every 3d or 4th day off, all year long, with about 120 games started his max. Let Omar play the rest of the time at 3d. Chipper always talks about having a goal to play 145 games, etc. Forget it. 120 max, regardless of what Chipper thinks he can do.

I was not keen on resigning him to this big extension, as I thought he might fade. I told my daughter as much this pre-season. That said, I would love to see him retire here (it's the romantic in me), but he's looking pretty old. But, we've signed him and the only way he goes anywhere is if Boston or NYY are looking for an expensive switch-hittting DH....might as well platoon him so he can be productive.

[HaRdCoReBrAvEsFaN]

it's nice to hear chipper say these things, but we all know 2013 will be the last yr he's a Brave not 2010...

[Lauren T.]

I wonder if he'll ever not be a Brave. You know they'll try to recruit him to be a coach / manager of some sort.

[luvdembravos]

More stuff on Chipper and retirement:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4482011


Best part of the article is that Cox hasn't ruled out hanging it up after this season.

[Wahoo]

I found a nice little snipped from mlbtraderumors.com alluding this atricle, and I found the comment to be quite astute.

It's been a rough year for Chipper Jones offensively (by his standards), and he's apparently not pleased with himself. Chipper says that if his 2010 production looks like this season's, he may hang it up (http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/09/chipper-jones-talks-retirement.html) before his current contract is up. When an .823 OPS is a down year that has you considering retirement, I think that's a sign you've had a pretty great career.

Contrast that with the former Wonder Prince, Francouer, who I imagine is likely ready to throw himself a parade after posting that .832 OPS since moving to New York.

An .823 is not a great year by any imagination, but it's not awful either, and it does speak volumes for the productivity Chipper has shown over the course of his career when that number is so grossly below his normal standards.

[Freddy_Ballgame]

After hearing some of "Team-Guy" Chipper's talk today, I wouldn't rule out a trade down the road. It's just about to become "It's just business" in the ATL.