2011 Atlanta Braves Player Review: Chipper Jones
by TonyAlmeyda on Nov 9, 2011 10:30 AM EST
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Chipper Jones succinctly stated after tearing his ACL in 2010 that he would play again in 2011, but many Braves fans were understandably worried about how his scarred-up knees would hold up at 39 years old. However, not only did he play in 126 games, he put together one of the more productive seasons of anyone on the team.
One can safely assume Chipper's days of 30 HR/100 RBI are behind him, but he was still the productive hitter everyone knows him to be. He had the highest slugging percentage on the team (.470) and was third among all third basemen with a 3.02 WPA, also the highest of all Braves hitters. His .345 wOBA was seventh among third basemen.
For all of Chipper's knee troubles, he was quite durable. He started all but 12 of his 126 games despite a meniscus tear in his right knee. He tried playing through it, but was ultimately placed on the DL July 9 in order to undergo arthroscopic surgery; despite this, he was awarded his seventh All-Star selection. He returned July 25, missing 12 games. Four of his first five games following the DL he entered as a pinch-hitter. Pinch-hitting wasn't Chipper's strong suit during the season, going hitless in 10 at-bats. However, in his 49 games post-break, he hit .303 with an .895 OPS while hitting 10 of his 18 home runs.
When the offense began struggling, Fredi Gonzalez juggled the lineup, moving Chipper as high as second to as low as sixth in the lineup. Results were mixed, but Chipper succeeded the most out of the fifth spot in the order, a place he hadn't hit since 2005: in 12 games there, he hit .404 with three home runs and a 1.102 OPS.
Despite Chipper's success at the plate, his defense, specifically his range, suffered as a result of his ailing knees. He could still make the tough plays on slow ground balls, but his Range Factor at third base was his lowest since 2001 and his defensive WAR was -0.3, and let's not even discuss losing a ball "in the lights".
2011 was a year of milestones for Chipper. Without a doubt a Hall-of-Famer, he added to his Cooperstown resume with some pretty impressive achievements:
- April 8: his 2,500th hit; he currently has 2,615 hits, 75th all-time and sixth among active players.
- April 13: his 1,500th RBI; he currently has 1,561 RBI, 40th all-time and third among active players.
- April 26: his 500th double; he currently has 526 doubles, 36th all-time and fourth among active players.
- April 27: his 1,512th RBI, passing Mickey Mantle for second all-time among switch-hitters; Eddie Murray is first with 1,917 RBI.
- August 12: his 1,000th extra-base hit; he currently has 1,018 extra-base hits, 28th all-time and third among active players.
- August 31: his 450th home run; he currently has 454 home runs, 33rd all-time and third among active players.
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First ballot HOFer...
Has accumulated an Entire Winning Season worth of WAR (think about that for a sec) over his career. A career slash line of .304/.402/.533/.935 as a switch hitter. What kind of option does he have for 2013?
I hope he gets as many PAs as he can in 2012, but realistically its going to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 400-500 PAs. Martin will probably have to pickup those extra 200 PAs at 3B, which means we’ll need a good 4th OF option who can effectively pickup about 300-400 PAs in 2012.
(Just as an aside to TGP…Chipper Jones > Mike Schmidt. Take your “philandering redneck” jokes from 1997 and shove ’em)
"Reach down in there...TURN THAT DAMN THING UP!" - Coach Paul Johnson
He has $13mil option for 2013 based on games played. I kinda hope he doesn’t make it, as while Chipper deserves to go out on his own terms, $13mil is a huge contract.
just so everyone is aware that contract vests if he plays 127 games in 2013.. for those of you unfamiliar with vest, it would mean its no longer an option Chipper gets paid in 2013 (unless he retires)
"No. Lonely people mixing with one another? Breeding? Creating an even lonelier generation? You're not even allowing natural selection do its work. Pssh. You're like the guy who invented the seat belt."
Dwight Schrute
The vesting option
is actually set at 123 games in 2012 (not 2013), or an average of 127 games in 2011-12. The average won’t come into play, though, b/c he played 126 this year. So it’s all about if he reaches 123 games played in 2012.
< 123 games: team option for $7M
123-127 games: guaranteed for $9M
128-132 games: guaranteed for $10M
133-137 games: guaranteed for $11M
138-139 games: guaranteed for $12M
140+ games: guaranteed for $13M
(info from Cot’s)
"Yeah, and I have an enchanted jock strap." -- Karl Karlson
I now twitter as @junkstats and blog about made-up stats and general baseball stuff at JunkStats.
by Jacob Peterson on Nov 9, 2011 12:10 PM EST up reply actions
I think it's unlikely the option vests at the full $13M
He’d have to play 140 games, something he’s done only once since 2004 (and that was just barely, 143 games). It’s much more likely that he gets $10M (128 games) or $11M (133 games).
And besides, a few extra million is probably worth it for Chipper’s clubhouse presence and hitting advice, right? Not to mention that we fans get to appreciate him for one more year.
"Yeah, and I have an enchanted jock strap." -- Karl Karlson
I now twitter as @junkstats and blog about made-up stats and general baseball stuff at JunkStats.
by Jacob Peterson on Nov 9, 2011 12:06 PM EST up reply actions
Hoping the CJ > MS was a joke
I hate the phillies just like most of the rest here do, but lets not be stupid please. Jones is a great great player, but even he isn’t in Mike Schmidt’s territory. If not for a “down” season in 1978 (5.8) , Schmidt would have had 11 consecutive years of 7+ WAR. Chipper has 7+ war in four seasons total. There’s no rational argument whatsoever that CJ > MS.
Agreed
Well, except for the rational argument that Chipper plays for a better team. >:)
Most people use statistics the way a drunk would use a lamppost—for support, and not for illumination.
www.duwanis.com
Forgive me...
I stirred myself into a frenzy thinking back to any set of comments about Chipper on TGP.
"Reach down in there...TURN THAT DAMN THING UP!" - Coach Paul Johnson
I don't hate the Phillies.
I hate their arrogant, condescending, poophead fans.
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti
Well said.
If we can land [Stephen Drew], I will give FW a bj.
~justincredubil02
by king of games on Nov 9, 2011 5:08 PM EST up reply actions
in fairness they are not of such a variety and the Braves do in fact have their own poophead fans, although the percentage of poopheadery (its a word look it up) seems to be slightly different to say the least.
"No. Lonely people mixing with one another? Breeding? Creating an even lonelier generation? You're not even allowing natural selection do its work. Pssh. You're like the guy who invented the seat belt."
Dwight Schrute
I dunno...
I think a LOT of those kind of Braves fans jumped off the bandwagon when the streak ended. I’d venture to guess that many of them are now among the aforementioned Phucker fans.
Of course, once we win another one, they’ll likely come running back.
by Tomahawk45 on Nov 9, 2011 8:38 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I actually don't care for the Phillies
they’re trying to be the Yankees of the NL. The fact that their fans are generally (I have met exceptions) obnoxious is just gravy.
Most people use statistics the way a drunk would use a lamppost—for support, and not for illumination.
www.duwanis.com
I’m sure that the Phillies have good fans, still, they do seem to have a disproportionately large number of “bad” fans.
The defining moment for me was when they won the WS, right after the game they’re interviewing Cole Hamels on the field, he starts off the interview by congratulating the Rays on a great season. The Philly crowd audibly boos their own player for showing sportsmanship after they just won the WS.
Q: If not us, who? If not now, when? A: The Batman. And "when you least expect it."
:-)
Opening TC this morning and that smiling face greeting up front, made me smile :-)
It will be one sad day for me when I no longer see a Braves uniform on Chipper Jones.
It’s been so much fun watching him play for us all these years.
Like when we knew it was Bobby’s last year, I don’t even want to think about it – the last game next year will be emotional for me.
I hope 2012 will be a year we all can celebrate and #10 going out with a fantastic year.
"Lord, help me remember that there is nothing that will happen today that You and I can't handle."
I agree.
Chipper is one of those players who was consistently great for half my lifetime. I don’t know Braves without Chipper Jones. But, doesn’t he have an option for 2013? Just sayin, next year might not be his last.
He is only my third favorite Brave though. Maddux, Smoltz, then Chipper. I remember having an existential crisis when Mad Dog left. He was the greatest pitcher I’d ever seen.
Braves.
Falcons.
Gamecocks.
He will die in a Braves uniform for me...
I have no doubt he will return in a coach capacity as soon as he wants to. I be he spends a year in the booth and then comes down an performs hitting/bench/third base coach duties… We cannot be the Braves without him.
Don’t worry about older women until you turn 22. It’s called the Saltalamacchia.
by bwellnjonesco on May 19, 2011 4:13 PM PDT
by Klemson Krash on Nov 9, 2011 4:24 PM EST up reply actions
He got a ring in his first year...
Come on Braves, let’s give his fantastic career bookending titles!
by Tomahawk45 on Nov 9, 2011 11:28 AM EST via mobile reply actions 1 recs
Rec'd
I couldn’t help it. I feel a powerful karmic surge coming for next season knowing that his first year with the Braves was accompanied by a WS ring…his last season has to come with another!
I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game. It will take our people out-of-doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger physical stoicism. Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set. Repair these losses, and be a blessing to us. ~Walt Whitman
Not to pop your bubble
but I’m pretty sure people felt the same thing in ’10, and again in ’11.
Most people use statistics the way a drunk would use a lamppost—for support, and not for illumination.
www.duwanis.com
You are forgiven...
Cuz my bubble ain’t popped! ‘10 wasn’t his last year, and neither was ‘11. If the Braves win it all in ’12, I’m pretty sure that Chipper will choose to go out on top and retire, whether or not his option in ’13 vests.
I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game. It will take our people out-of-doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger physical stoicism. Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set. Repair these losses, and be a blessing to us. ~Walt Whitman
He would've retired after '10 or '11 if we'd gone all the way
I’d all but guarantee it. He’s trying to get one more ring, not milk his career for cash.
Most people use statistics the way a drunk would use a lamppost—for support, and not for illumination.
www.duwanis.com
Unless Chipper just sucks this year, or hurts his knee again,
I don’t think he retires. There’s a good chance his option for 2013 will vest—he just needs to play 123 games next year—and if he’s playing reasonably well, I don’t see why he won’t continue. Depending on games played next year, that option could be for as much as $13M, though $10-11M is more likely.
I know he has to have a decline at some point, but he hasn’t dropped off at all the past 3 years (lower OBP last year, but his SLG went up to compensate). If he can come close to that next year, I think he plays in 2013, too. I know I’m not eager for him to leave, so I really hope he is able to keep playing.
"Yeah, and I have an enchanted jock strap." -- Karl Karlson
I now twitter as @junkstats and blog about made-up stats and general baseball stuff at JunkStats.
^^
As long as Chipper’s producing, I want him to stay. I don’t understand all the people acting like Chipper’s contract is a financial albatross. He’s worth it.
Most people use statistics the way a drunk would use a lamppost—for support, and not for illumination.
www.duwanis.com
Wrote this in a different thread
But Chipper made a lot less money than he could have to remain a Brave his whole career. I’m not going to kill the guy for making some extra money now. Add up how much we paid him his whole career vs the numbers he put up and we have nothing to complain about.
If we can land [Stephen Drew], I will give FW a bj.
~justincredubil02
by king of games on Nov 9, 2011 12:25 PM EST up reply actions
he is still outproducing his contract, so valuewise he isn’t even hurt us even at his advanced age, he is truly impressive.
I agree with you compltely though, even if he was producing below the level of his contract, he’s earned the right to get paid.
"No. Lonely people mixing with one another? Breeding? Creating an even lonelier generation? You're not even allowing natural selection do its work. Pssh. You're like the guy who invented the seat belt."
Dwight Schrute
A whole bunch of "these" for this particular thread.
And if Chipper is still playing productive baseball, no way he retires. I have a feeling he’ll come back in 2013 for that 10-11 million. Given the hometown discount he has given the Braves over his career, he is worth every penny of that option and then some.
I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game. It will take our people out-of-doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger physical stoicism. Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set. Repair these losses, and be a blessing to us. ~Walt Whitman
I confused...
when I read other sites when he are playing their team, and there are all these comments about “Chipper is washed up” and “why doesn’t he retire”, etc. I’m assuming these people don’t pay any attention to how well he’s actually playing?
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti
Chipper = Braves
I can remember seeing Chipper for the first time. He hit a grounder, tried to beat it out, and got hurt, was out for the season if I remember correctly. I remember all the hype surrounding him and thinking “that was less than impressive”, he has since made up for that and then some. Having seen good players for the Braves come and go, I feel so lucky to have had Chipper for his entire career as a Brave. He is the Braves, and has had one hell of a career. I would love for him to go out on a high note next year, and take the Braves all the way. I know it will be a sad day when he does retire, but hopefully he makes it on the coaching staff somewhere, he as way too much knowledge to pass on to these young players to be away from the dugout. Of course when I watch him, I will still call him “Larry” and make Hooters references, but it’s all in good fun!
"I Farted" - Me, everday
I think Chipper's retirement depends on one thing....
2012 WORLD SERIES RING
If the Braves win it all next year I’m about 99% confident that he retires. There is not a single individual, including Bobby Cox, who deserves a ring more than this guy. He re-structured his contracts to help the team, he has played LF to help the team, and he has been the face of this franchise for nearly two decades. I don’t see how he walks away without another ring. He will play at least 127 games next year, and he will once again be the difference maker. How many 40 yr olds are in the league who can still command respect from opposing pitchers? The guy is a competitor unlike any other. HE NAMED HIS KID AFTER SHEA STADIUM!! That says it all.
I hope he gets one more ring this year and hangs it up. But, if he doesn’t, I hope to see number 10 at third-base in 2013. In my opinion, the best hitting third-baseman to ever play the game.
by CaliforniaBrave on Nov 9, 2011 12:17 PM EST reply actions
Great post.
Don’t forget the CJ one-handed grab and throw to 1st that everyone else now just tries to imitate :-)
We need to come up with a nickname for that.
.
"Lord, help me remember that there is nothing that will happen today that You and I can't handle."
Hmmmmm, I think that would be a good FanPost – on my way to make one.
"Lord, help me remember that there is nothing that will happen today that You and I can't handle."
You know, I’ve been trying to come up with something for a couple years now, and nothing seems to do it justice. Interested to see what people come up with.
If we can land [Stephen Drew], I will give FW a bj.
~justincredubil02
by king of games on Nov 9, 2011 12:44 PM EST up reply actions
"SCOOP AND POOP"
In other words, he scoops up the ball and throws to first. After the “scoop” the hitters chances of being safe are shit, hence the “poop.”
by CaliforniaBrave on Nov 9, 2011 12:51 PM EST up reply actions
I’m a bit late (life gets in the way of my interneting sometimes)… but it’s up now.
Click HERE to see thread: “IT needs a nickname…”
.
"Lord, help me remember that there is nothing that will happen today that You and I can't handle."
Thanks.
What about the “scoop and poop??”
by CaliforniaBrave on Nov 9, 2011 12:44 PM EST up reply actions
For me personally
I never thought I’d like another Braves player more than I liked Dale Murphy, he was pretty much the only reason I watched the Braves play when I was a kid in the 80s. But then along came this kid named Chipper and changed my mind.
Lead off walks usually lead to runs, unless they don't. -Joe Simpson
If you don't like the way the Atlanta Braves are playing, then you don't like baseball. -Chuck Tanner
ENJOY this everyone.
Tribute to Chipper – love his comments at the end.
"Lord, help me remember that there is nothing that will happen today that You and I can't handle."
I keep looking for clips of him in that game in Washington when he hit 3 dingers in a row.
Braves.
Falcons.
Gamecocks.
I adored this
thank you. I contend that the play he made in Houston last year where he blew out his ACL the 2nd time is the greatest defensive play of this career.
[My dad's] at work making $32 an hour.
by ChopMaster on Jun 29, 2011 2:52 PM PDT
by Jareth Cutestory on Nov 12, 2011 7:37 PM EST up reply actions
He hit really well this year
But he wasn’t able to escape the free-swinging that took over the rest of the team. Lowest BB% of his career, and he swung at more pitches out of the strike zone than he has in 10 years, while swinging at a higher % overall of pitches seen that he perhaps ever had. And according to pitch f/x, he saw a much lower than average number of pitches actually in the strike zone.
Dear God I hope this improves next season.
My buddy and I just decided that the braves would be set if we could get Matt Kemp, Jose Reyes, and Albert Pujols.
by willlinn on May 17, 2011 2:13 PM EDT
I really like seeing him bat 2nd those few times this year. He still is an excellent situational hitter.
- ChillyMutt
He didn’t seem to like it though. He’s old school and RBIs are still important to him.
If we can land [Stephen Drew], I will give FW a bj.
~justincredubil02
by king of games on Nov 9, 2011 2:33 PM EST up reply actions
Of course you basically get as many RBI chances batting 2nd as you do 3rd.
Q: If not us, who? If not now, when? A: The Batman. And "when you least expect it."
Tell that to him.
If we can land [Stephen Drew], I will give FW a bj.
~justincredubil02
by king of games on Nov 9, 2011 3:46 PM EST up reply actions
I'm a Johnny-come-lately to the new statistics...
But I like seeing runs come across the plate even more than I like seeing above average batting averages on balls batted into play.
/snark
I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game. It will take our people out-of-doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger physical stoicism. Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set. Repair these losses, and be a blessing to us. ~Walt Whitman
Everybody loves seeing runs come across the plate more than anything else
it’s just a question of proper attribution.
Most people use statistics the way a drunk would use a lamppost—for support, and not for illumination.
www.duwanis.com
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti
The Chipper Apologist on here are hilarious. Get off his musty jock and get some fresh air to clear your heads.
"Son, why is my cocktail all over my penis?" -Skip Caray, trying to teach Chip how to drive a standard transmission
Depends...
If you look at his last two years, he’s missed his contract value in production by $3.2MM. However, if you look since 2002, when the first WAR dollars valuations were made, he’s been worth +$40.1MM. He was paid $130MM for $170MM in production.
I can’t find exact contract figures for 2000, but let’s pretend he didn’t get a raise in 2001, giving him a $9MM salary for that year (probably very high). Even with that lofty assumption, he put up 41.3 WAR for $26.25MM. I think he’s provided a little bit of surplus value during his tenure as a Brave…probably to the tune of more than $100MM.
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
Based on Cots he has made in the neighborhood of 145-150M (some contract figures at not explicitly stated like his 2000 option and his 09 option. And according to Fangraphs he has been worth 87 WAR. On my calculations he is well above $100M in surplus value.
"No. Lonely people mixing with one another? Breeding? Creating an even lonelier generation? You're not even allowing natural selection do its work. Pssh. You're like the guy who invented the seat belt."
Dwight Schrute
Yep, pretty much…although you must remember that the big salary explosion league-round didn’t really get underway until the mid-00s. For instance 1 WAR = $2.58MM in 2002. That’s not because the stars weren’t getting paid, it was because an average free agent was still making jack instead of the $8-10MM they’re making today.
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
Ya i used an average Dollar amount per WAR of a bit above 3M (which i think is really conservative) and he still exceeds 100M in surplus.
"No. Lonely people mixing with one another? Breeding? Creating an even lonelier generation? You're not even allowing natural selection do its work. Pssh. You're like the guy who invented the seat belt."
Dwight Schrute
A 100 million
would buy a lot of musty jocks eh mayor?
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." Rogers Hornsby
ya damn skippy. And a lot of Mossy Oak apparel for when hes hunting in the off season instead of working out.
"Son, why is my cocktail all over my penis?" -Skip Caray, trying to teach Chip how to drive a standard transmission
lol
Chipper’s been in the MLB since ’93 posting a career line of .304/.402/.533/.935. No need to repost his achievements & the facts about him being worth his contracts. Just see above. No one has a long career of achievement like Jones sitting on the couch eating cheeseburgers. (Hunting is a great way to stay in shape by the way.)
Not sure what your basis for the Chipper hate is, except for the possible troll angle. However it is yours to enjoy if you so wish. Bon appetit.
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." Rogers Hornsby
Not only has Chipper admitted to not working out hard in the off season, but he’s proud of it. The one year he hit it hard in the gym, he ended up getting hurt, so he literally said, “it’s back to the Snickers bars in the off season”.
I love #10 and the Braves, but the majority of his career he’s been an immature punk. Only;y recently, and not coincidentally after his skills have deteriorated, that hes looked upon as this fatherly team leader. And yes, I admit with Glavine, Cox, Smoltz… he never really needed to be that guy until the last couple of seasons, but thats not the point… point is, dude doesnt work out.
And really? Really? Hunting is a great way to stay in shape for a professional athlete? Gonna go ahead and hit you with a “Hold on, playa” for that one.
"Son, why is my cocktail all over my penis?" -Skip Caray, trying to teach Chip how to drive a standard transmission
by MayorofPonce on Nov 10, 2011 5:59 PM EST up reply actions
You should be ashamed of yourself.
My dad taught me how to make meat for sloppy joes and my mom let me turn over hot dogs on the grill.
by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT
by justincredubil02 on Nov 11, 2011 6:44 PM EST up reply actions
My pardons...
$5MM production below salary over the past two years, as opposed to the $3.2MM. -$3.2MM is for the past three years, as 2009 was better than his contract value.
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
Fail...
of the reply sort.
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
Mr. Baseball
When my daughter was just over a year old (in 1995) we were watching the Braves, and when Chipper came up to bat she said “Baseball” clear as day. It was her first word.
Anyone else remember
his monster shot off the Glass in Citi Field earlier this year?
HOLY CRAP!
My dad taught me how to make meat for sloppy joes and my mom let me turn over hot dogs on the grill.
by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT
by justincredubil02 on Nov 9, 2011 9:29 PM EST reply actions
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