Odd Feeling Not Having Chipper in Braves Opening Day Lineup

Opening Day across the major leagues today just won’t seem as special for this Atlanta Braves fan as it has for the last 15 seasons. Because for the first time since 1996 and for only the second time in his career Chipper Jones will not be in the Braves Opening Day lineup.

Chipper will start the season on the DL

The aging slugger is beginning the season on the disabled list after having arthroscopic surgery on his knee. Good news though is that he’s expected to be ready by the Braves home opener against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, April 13.

I guess Chipper not being in the lineup for today’s game doesn’t really bother me all that much for personal reasons, because the game is on at noon while I’ll be at work. My being at work also doesn’t bother me that much because I wouldn’t get to see the game anyway as it’s not on TV here in Arkansas. I probably won’t see a Braves game this season until their second series of the year next week in Houston when they play the Astros and that’s only because the Astros are a “local” team and likely to have a game or two on Fox Sports Southwest.

Today when the Braves take the field against the New York Mets the Braves will be in great hands with Martin Prado slotted in at third base. Prado is going to be the Braves primary left fielder this season, but is probably better acclimated to third base. While Prado is filling in for the injured Jones the Braves will platoon veterans Matt Diaz and Eric Hinske in left field. I really hate to say this, because Jones has been a long favorite of mine (hence the entire reason for this blog), but the Braves probably won’t be hindered too much with Prado at third and Diaz/Hinske sharing left.

Last time Chipper Jones wasn’t in the starting lineup for the Braves was his second season in the big leagues in 1996. Mike Mordecai, a longtime MLB backup, filled in at third for Jones that day.

Here was the complete Opening Day lineup from 1996:

1. Marquis Grissom - SS

2. Jeff Blauser - SS

3. David Justice - RF

4. Fred McGriff – 1B

5. Ryan Klesko - LF

6. Javy Lopez - C

7. Mark Lemke – 2B

8. Mike Mordecai – 3B

9. Greg Maddux - P  

There isn’t a single player from that Opening Day lineup still active in the Major Leagues.

Mike Mordecai filled in for Chipper in 1996 lineup.

That day Mike Mordecai went 0-for-4 in a 10-8 win over the San Francisco Giants at Atlanta’s Fulton County Stadium, the last Opening Day at the stadium before the Braves moved to Turner Field in 1997. Mordecai would play 12 seasons in the big leagues, all as a bench player, for the Braves, Montreal Expos and Florida Marlins. His last game came in the 2005 season with the Marlins at age 38. For his career Mordecai hit .244 with 24 home runs and 132 RBI.

While Chipper Jones should be a surefire first ballot hall of famer that day and his 1996 Opening Day replacement will mostly be forgotten in time there is one thing Mordecai has over Jones (that just doesn’t seem right) … one more World Series ring. Jones and Mordecai both won rings with the Braves in 1995 (Jones’ rookie season), but Mordecai would win a second World Series ring as a member of the surprising Florida Marlins 2003 team that upset the New York Yankees.

The most unfortunate thing about Jones not being able to go on Opening Day today is knowing that this was going to be his final Opening Day. There’s always a Holiday-like feeling to Opening Day and today that feeling just really isn’t there.