Mar 10 2009
Chipper staying at Classic; Braves fans holding their breath
By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com
ATLANTA — Imagine the good people of Braves Nation who awoke Monday morning and saw the headline “Chipper hurt in Classic.”
Think a few hearts skipped a beat?
You better believe it, because Chipper Jones is the single most important player on the Braves’ roster. It’s not only because he won the NL batting title in 2008 by hitting .364. It’s not only because he plays great defense for a guy who’s on the other side of 35 years old.
The Braves are just a different team with No. 10 batting in the third hold and manning the hot corner. Without him for an extended period of time, the Braves just aren’t as good.
Which is why were I part of Atlanta’s management, I’d be taking the news of Chipper’s strained oblique muscle as a sign to hop the first flight to Toronto, sneak into Chipper’s hotel room around midnight, snatch him from his bed and place him on the first flight to Lake Buena Vista.
I’m all for being patriotic. I’m all for Team USA winning the World Baseball Classic. But I’m also of the opinion the top priority for a major-league baseball player in spring training is to get ready for the upcoming season, to try and help his team win the World Series.
Playing against Venezuela and Canada during the second week in March doesn’t advance the Braves’ chances of playing in October. To get there, the Braves must have a healthy Chipper.
Not a Chipper limping through 2009 because of a meaningless international tournament held in March. That’s why the Braves should bring Chipper home now, before more damage is done.
Of course, everybody is saying the right thing. The Braves trust Chipper. Jones believes the injury isn’t serious and expects to play this weekend, when Team USA opens the second round.
Better believe when he takes the field, Braves’ fans everywhere will be holding their breath.
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