May 21, 2012 | Make Homepage
Login | Sign Up

Atlanta Braves

Home / MLB / Atlanta Braves / MLB / Atlanta Braves / Atlanta Braves’ Chipper Jones Announces That 2012 Will Be His Grand Finale

Atlanta Braves’ Chipper Jones Announces That 2012 Will Be His Grand Finale

Published: 22nd Mar 12 9:11 pm
Tweet
Chad
Chad
2 Rants

The Atlanta Braves learned that Chipper Jones will be retiring after the upcoming 2012 MLB season. This will be 19th season with the Braves at the MLB level in Atlanta.

Chipper will end a career that will eventually see him enshrined in the Hall of Fame. He is one of the best hitters of his time. He has definitely been one of the best third baseman over the past 18 years.

He will retire as one of the best offensive players in Atlanta Braves’ history. Here is a glance as the career he has had with the Braves:

G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB Pos Awards
2387 10166 8597 1561 2615 526 38 454 1561 149 46 1455 1358 .304 .402 .533 .935 141 4579 238 17 3 94 171
G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB Pos Awards
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 3/22/2012.

Chipper announced his plans to retire around family and friends early on Thursday. He had given indication that he wasn’t sure if he could finish this season due to his achy knees. The announcement today puts an end to all speculation and whether he will try to reach 500 HRs or 3000 Hits. Here is a bit of what he said, which you can read here:

“This gives me the opportunity to appease myself and the Braves organization,” Jones said. “I can walk away on my own terms. Hopefully I can come out and have another productive year and ride off into the sunset.”

I just think the realization that I’ve fulfilled everything,” Jones said of his decision. “There is nothing left for me to do. I’m content with my decision.”

For Braves’ fans and the pure fans of the game, watching Chipper Jones has been a real treat. There are few that are as good and natural of a hitter as he has been consistently his entire career. He is a career .304 hitter. He has worked with many of the younger Braves’ players for the past few seasons. He helped advise Jason Heyward last season as he was stuck in a sophomore slump. His knowledge of hitting has made him an invaluable presence in the Braves’ dugout. He gave a glimpse as to what he may do after the season in the interview today too:

“I love the art of hitting,” Jones said. “It’s one of my passions. Managing is not one of my passions. I want to go off in the batting cage with my guys and work at the game of baseball.”

The Braves now have a year to replace their Hall of Fame third baseman. They don’t have to make a sudden move, but they have to consider what could be their options moving forward.

For the task at hand, the Braves had a chance to send Bobby Cox off with a bang. Bobby did not have the right personnel to make a huge push. The personnel surrounding Chipper Jones in his final season with the Braves is deeper and better overall than what Bobby had two seasons ago. Hopefully, the Braves will put it together and send him off with one other ring to add to his one ring from 1995.

Buy Atlanta Braves Tickets | Buy Atlanta Braves Apparel
Connect with Rant Sports

Recent www.RANTSPORTS.COM Videos

Dwyane Wade has lower leg injuries Dwyane Wade has lower leg injuries
Jonathan Vilma Sues Commissioner Roder Goodell Jonathan Vilma Sues Commissioner Roder Goodell
LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles’ RB Gets Paid LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles’ RB Gets Paid
Kerry Wood: Chicago Cubs’ Pitcher K’s Final Batter Kerry Wood: Chicago Cubs’ Pitcher K’s Final Batter
Get more Traffic

2 Rants to “Atlanta Braves’ Chipper Jones Announces That...”

    Check out what others are saying about this post...

    1. A First Ballot Hall Of Famer – ESPN — Santo for Hall says:
      March 23, 2012 at 12:02 am

      [...] Chipper Jones to Retire After 2012 SeasonYahoo! SportsNew Haven Register -SB Nation -Rant Sportsall 564 news [...]

      Reply
    2. Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds Trade Promising Youngsters : Atlanta Braves says:
      April 1, 2012 at 5:01 pm

      [...] Francisco will make the Braves’ opening day roster and fill in for injured third-baseman, Chipper Jones, until he comes off the disabled list. Francisco will then go to the bench and be the primary [...]

      Reply

    Leave a Rant

    Agree? Disagree? Have a different opinion? Let us know what you think...
    and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!