Chipper Jones
Chipper Jones
Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones, Jr.is an American former Major League Baseballthird baseman who spent his entire 19-year MLB career playing for the Atlanta Braves, and all 23 years as a professional baseball player in the Atlanta organization. Initially a shortstop, he was the Braves' primary starting third baseman for nearly all of the period from 1995–2012. In 2002 and 2003, Jones played left field before returning to third base in 2004. Standing 6' 4") tall and weighing 210 poundsduring his...
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth24 April 1972
CityDefland, FL
We're going to go as far as our pitching staff takes us. It's been that way around here for years. If we pitch well, we're going to win a lot of games.
The last thing I want to do is hurt the club's chances of winning. I'm used to playing the game a certain way and at a certain level. When I can no longer do that, I'll quit.
I thought it was awesome. I never played winter ball, never got to play in a Caribbean Series. The Mexican fans brought a lot of excitement to the game.
We had our bags packed, ready to go back to Atlanta. And all of a sudden, the rug is pulled out from under you. It's unfortunate. You go out there, lay it on the line for six hours, and 18 innings. To go home for the winter on a game like that is a bad feeling.
Any win is important nowadays. Obviously, Philly has been playing well and their score was posted on the scoreboard before we started. They lost and we knew we had a golden opportunity to gain a game. We went out and did it. So it's two more off the magic number, whatever it is. It's probably 100. But nonetheless, it's another day in the books and we gained a game.
Both teams had significant players out of the lineup. But anytime you've got the first three guys in your lineup out and win two out of three, with a chance to have won the third one, it's pretty darn good. We'll take it.
If I were to look at it objectively, I'd probably favor other teams as well. But there's something about this clubhouse and this uniform. We walk out on the field and expect to win. I know other teams walk out on the field and they're hoping to win. And there's a big difference. We expect to win. It's not going to be any different this year. If we don't win this division, everyone in this clubhouse will be shocked.
The first professional uniform I put on 16 years ago was a Braves uniform, and I wanted to try to make sure its my last. I want to retire as a Brave, but more importantly, I knew this was something that could help continue the winning tradition we've built and our quest to bring our fans another world championship.
We better get it turned around quick. We need to pitch better and hit better. About the only thing we're doing is playing defense.
It never feels good, but I've had a couple of heartbreakers where I could have won the game, but instead ended the season, ... You learn from that.
While I am flattered about the speculation of being enticed out of retirement, I'm happy with life as a bad golfer!
I know guys that are going to struggle. I know guys that don't play and 'bean' up. To me, that's becoming pretty reliant on something. It's going to have an effect. I don't think there's any doubt.
We're still knocking the rust off. I was glad just to come out after five innings.
There are a lot of egos in the clubhouse. For us to be successful, we have to put those egos aside and become good teammates and play the game the way we grew up playing it, pull for each other and genuinely be happy for each other.