Chipper Knocks Out Phillies with Ninth Career Walkoff Blast

Old number 10 never ceases to amaze Braves fans. Exactly four months to the day that Chipper Jones hit a game-winning walkoff homer against the Philadelphia Phillies to win 15-13 on May 2^nd he had a little more walkoff magic.

Braves starting pitcher Paul Maholm got roughed up early by the Phillies lineup and exited the game in the third inning down 7-1. However, the Braves started a comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning that culminated with Chipper blasting a fastball from Phillies All Star closer Jonathan Papelbon into the seats at Turner Field for a dramatic 8-7 win.

Jones’ game-winning blast was a much-needed boost for the Braves who have now won only five of their last 15 games and are trying to remain clinging on to one of the two National League wild card spots. The last couple of weeks the Braves have looked eerily similar to the hot team last year that saw a 9.5 game wild card lead blown during the final month of the season to a hard-charging St. Louis Cardinals squad that would go on to win the World Series.

With one month to play in this season, the final month of Chipper Jones’ career, the Braves hold a 3.5 game lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates for the crucial second wild card spot.

Hopefully Chipper’s late inning heroics will get the Braves back on the right track and send them to the playoffs. The Braves will likely have to settle for a wild card position, because the Washington Nationals have a 6.5 game lead in the National League East Division with the final month left to play.

The homer, which was Jones’ 14^th of the season, was the ninth walkoff home run hit during his illustrious and future hall of fame career. 

You can see Chipper’s dinger right HERE

Chipper Embarks on Final All Star Game as Baseball's Future Harper, Trout Debut

Tomorrow night’s Major League Baseball All Star Game will truly feature a changing of the guard moment when phenom rookies Mike Trout (20 years old) of the Los Angeles Angels and Bryce Harper (19 years old) of the Washington Nationals take the field in the first All Star Game as Atlanta Braves future hall of fame third baseman Chipper Jones takes his All Star bow in his eighth appearance.

Phenoms Bryce Harper, left, and Mike Trout to make All Star debuts

I’ve  thoroughly enjoyed watching Chipper Jones career ever since his rookie season in 1995 (the very first year I became a baseball fanatic) and I hope to do the same with both Trout and Harper, both who appear to be the real deal. Though, tonight’s All Star Game kind of has that out with the old, in with the new feel to it and I can’t wait to watch Harper (who I’ve only seen play once) and Mike Trout (who I haven’t seen play yet) in action there’s no doubt that for me tonight is about Chipper Jones (of course because that is who this blog is dedicated too).

Chipper's last All Star Game workout

When I went to St. Louis in May to say my in person farewell to my baseball hero I thought I might shed a tear upon seeing Jones play up close for the last time, but I didn’t. My emotions may not be kept that in check later this evening when he takes to the baseline with his fellow National League All Stars for player introductions at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. Oh I can picture his ovation now from the fans as he tips his cap. Despite the NL being the visitor, it wouldn’t surprise me if Chipper got an even bigger ovation than the Royals own Billy Butler.

While being at the All Star Game with his children and getting that ovation from the fans would be a great moment I just hope that National League manager Tony La Russa finds a way to put Jones into the ballgame. Chipper has to at least take one final All Star at-bat in his final appearance. I know that it might be hard though to find the playing time for Jones as the National League squad as an incredible four third baseman with San Francisco Giants Pablo Sandoval starting at the hot corner and New York Met and St. Louis Cardinal David Freese on the bench with Jones. Wright is having the best season among all third baseman in the NL and deserves to play. Freese is likely a favorite of La Russa’s as he was the World Series MVP on the La Russa managed Cardinals last year, which might get him playing time over Jones.

If La Russa can’t find a way to get Chipper into the game than it truly will be a crime perpetrated against baseball fans everywhere. 

I’ll be watching tonight’s All Star Game with great anticipation of Chipper stepping out onto the field at Kauffman Stadium, which by the way is the only field in baseball that Jones has never played at in his career. Maybe he’ll have a truly magical moment like Baltimore Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr. did in his final All Star game back in 2001 when he hit a home run and won the game’s MVP award? Either way I’m sure it’ll be a moment that neither Chipper nor myself will ever forget.

Chipper Headed to 15-Day DL

When Chipper is down, so are the Braves.

Chipper Jones’ left leg contusion is severe enough that the Atlanta Braves had to place him on the 15-day disabled list tonight after their 7-4 loss to the Washington Nationals at Turner Field in Atlanta. The move is retroactive to Wednesday when Jones pinch hit in a game against the Cincinnati Reds, drawing a walk. That pinch hit appearance was Chipper’s first game action since suffering the injury at Tropicana Field against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 18 in interleague action.

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez has said that the player called up to take Jones’ spot on the roster will be a catcher, likely Triple-A Gwinnett catcher J.C. Boscan. The Braves are in need of a second catcher right now after backup catcher David Ross (the best backup catcher in the bigs, in my opinion) strained his right groin in the Braves loss tonight (May 25). On top of that Braves starting catcher Brian McCann has missed almost the entire week with the flu, which he was forced to finish the game tonight for Ross while still having.

According to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution: “Jones said the nasty bruise was taking much longer to heal than he originally expected. While Jones has been able to take batting practice, he said he could only run at 25-30 percent of full speed due to soreness in the area ranging from his foot to mid-calf from the bruising.”   

The worst part of all of this is that Jones did pinch hit in Wednesday’s game, meaning that the retroactive date for him to come off of the DL. Had he not made that short appearance, the retroactive date would’ve been May 18, meaning that Chipper could’ve potentially returned sooner to the Braves lineup.

The Braves have proven desperate to have Jones in the lineup this season. With Jones in the lineup the Braves have been the best team in the National League East Division, but with him out of the lineup they have looked like cellar dwellers. This fact alone seems to make Chipper the single most important player in baseball this season to a particular team.

In shortened time this season Chipper is batting .307 with five home runs and 24 RBI. When healthy and in the lineup Jones has put up All Star type numbers, so for the Braves (who are sinking fast) sake they better hope he returns as soon as possible and keeps up his hot pace.

Chipper Drives Home Winning Run in Final Dodgers Stadium At-Bat

In what will likely be his final bat ever at Dodger Stadium (barring both the Braves and Dodgers making the playoffs) on Wednesday night (April 25), Chipper Jones drove in the go ahead and what would prove to be the game-winning run (shortstop Jack Wilson) on a RBI single off of Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Javy Guerra.

To see Chipper’s game-winning hit click: HERE

The game-winning single for Jones capped off a series, in which he played in two of the team’s three games and hit 2-for-7 with a home run and two RBI.

Jones is now hitting .278 on the season with three home runs and 10 RBI.

The Braves are now 12-7 after the win over the Dodgers in which they took the series 2-1. Despite being one of the hottest teams in baseball right now, if not the hottest, the Braves still trail the young and surprising Washington Nationals in the National League East Division by 2.5 games. However, the Braves biggest threats to win the division are the Philadelphia Phillies, who are three games behind them in the standings, and the Miami Marlins, who are four games behind them in the standings.

Jonny Venters got the win for the Braves in relief, but starting pitcher Brandon Beachy had another great game. Despite giving up two earned runs, Beachy’s ERA in the first month of the season is 1.05. His ERA was a Major League Baseball best 0.39 coming into tonight’s game.

In non-Chipper Jones and non-Atlanta Braves related news, New York Yankees future hall of famer Derek Jeter is off to a white hot start this season hitting .416, with 30 hits in the Yanks first 16 games of the season. As great as Derek Jeter has been in his career he's never won a batting title ... could we be seeing him win one at age 39? Wrapping things back around to Chipper Jones, the Braves slugger knows a thing or two about winning batting titles after the age of 35. Jones won his batting title in 2008 when he hit .364 at the age of 36.