Chipper Jones Announces Retirement

On Thursday Atlanta Braves 3rd baseman Chipper Jones announced his retirement effective at the end of the 2012 Major League Baseball season. For Jones this season marks his 19th MLB season and his 23rd in professional baseball.

The Atlanta Braves made Chipper Jones, a high school shortstop, the first overall pick of the 1990 amateur draft.

Jones made his MLB debut on September 11, 1993. He was slated to be the Braves starting left-fielder in 1994 but in late spring training he tore the ACL in his left knee and missed the entire season.

Jones came back strong in 1995 and led all major league rookies in games played (140), games started (123), runs batted in (86), homeruns (23), plate appearances (602), at-bats (524) and runs scored (87). He finished 2nd in the Baseball Writers' Rookie of the Year voting.

The Braves benefited greatly from Jones as they defeated the Cleveland Indians 4-2 to win the World Series in 1995.

Chipper Jones quickly became a dangerous force for any pitcher. He would finish in the top 10 of Most Valuable Player voting 6 times. He won the MVP in 1999 with a .319 batting average, 45 homeruns, 110 RBIs, 41 doubles. Jones even showcased his speed racking up 25 stolen bases.

Jones is a 7-time All-Star selection (1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2008). He is a 2-time Silver Slugger award winner (1999, 2000).

Jones currently sports a .304 career average with 454 homeruns and 1,561 runs batted in. The only switch-hitters in MLB history with more homeruns is Mickie Mantle (536) and Eddie Murray (503). Murray is the only switch-hitter with more runs batted in.

Chipper has the most homeruns in Braves franchise history since the team moved to Atlanta in 1966. The only Braves player with more homeruns in franchise history is Hank Aaron.

Chipper Jones is the only switch-hitter in the history of baseball to sport a career average of .300 with more than 450 homeruns.

Jones won the NL batting title with a .364 average in 2008 at the age of 36. Jones who turns 40 on April 24th has still managed to be a very productive major league player as he's coming off a 2011 season which saw hit hit .275 with 18 homeruns and 70 runs batted in. While far off his career peak numbers still very solid.

Jones is undoubtedly a first ballot Hall of Famer. He will be standing on stage in Cooperstown, New York come the summer of 2017.

Speaking of New York. If there is one team that won't miss seeing Jones it's the New York Mets.

Chipper Jones wreaked havoc on the Mets his entire career. His first MLB homerun in 1995 was a 9th inning tie-breaking homerun which ultimately ended up winning the game for the Braves. It was from that day forward that Met fans grew to develop the "Larry" chant mocking Chipper's given name.

Jones most signature moment against the Mets came in September of 1999. With the Mets trying to overtake the Braves and win the NL East division Chipper hit 4 homeruns in a 3-game sweep of the Mets that eventually sealed his winning of the MVP award that year. The Braves ended up beating the Mets in the NLCS that year before falling to the New York Yankees.

Jones even has a son named Shea after Shea Stadium where the Mets played their home games until moving to Citi Field in 2009. Jones has hit 48 homeruns against the Mets in his career his most against any team.

The Braves open the 2012 season by playing the Mets in New York at Citi Field on April 5th. If Jones stays healthy he will end the season by playing against the Mets in Atlanta. Hopefully a playoff run will follow.

Being born in 1987 and growing up in the 1990s Chipper Jones has always been the Atlanta Braves in my eyes. I don't know an Atlanta Braves team without Chipper Jones. Come spring of 2013 the Atlanta Braves will take the field without Chipper Jones sporting his No. 10 over at 3rd base. That day will be very sad for me.

Carrying On A Tradition

In late 2010 it was announced that Brad Keselowski had been nabbed to take over the famous No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge from Kurt Busch. To understand the history of the No. 2 NASCAR Sprint Cup car you have to go back to the 1990s and Rusty Wallace.

Rusty Wallace in 1990 was the reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion (previously known as the Winston Cup Series) and uncertain of his future past 1990. Wallace was driving for the Blue Max Racing team owned by Raymond Beadle. Wallace and Beadle constantly collided off the track so the fact that Wallace and Beadle were able to put their differences aside and win the Winston Cup Series Championship in 1989 was truly remarkable. Wallace wanted to leave the team after the 1989 season because sponsor Kodiak was leaving to go to the Hendrick Motorsports' No. 25 car.

Wallace was stuck where he was because of his contract which didn't end till after the 1990 season. For the 1990 season Miller Brewing Company's Miller Genuine Draft beer signed on to sponsor Wallace in the No. 27 car. The contract was a personal service contract with Wallace, meaning that it was tied to Wallace and not the Blue Max Racing team.

By June of 1990 it was announced that Wallace would be leaving the Blue Max Racing team. Wallace eventually hooked up with legendary car owner Roger Penske. Penske had become a champion car owner in Indy cars with multiple drivers and had won the Indianapolis 500 multiple times. His most famous driver was Rick Mears.

Wallace and Penske previous had a history in the Winston Cup series as Penske fielded a car for Wallace for 2 races in 1980, the first 2 races of Wallace's Winston Cup career. Wallace finished 2nd and 14th in those 2 races for Penske. Penske had previous fielded a Winston Cup car during the 1970s, most noticeable with driver Bobby Allison. Allison won 4 races driving for Penske. Penske would not field another Winston Cup car till he hooked back up with Wallace in 1991.

Wallace signed to drive with Penske in 1991 and brought his Miller Genuine Draft sponsorship with him and they choose to use the No. 2. The car make was Pontiac which Wallace had driven with the Blue Max Racing team, which ceased operations after the 1990 season. Wallace struggled through much of the 1991 and 1992 seasons winning just 3 races including finishing a disappointing 13th in the final drivers standings of 1992.

In 1993 everything came together for Wallace and Penske as Wallace won a career high 10 races in route to finishing 2nd to Dale Earnhardt in the final drivers points standings by just 80 points. But all wasn't well for Wallace during the season. Wallace suffered 2 violent crashes, one at the season opening Daytona 500 and the other at Talladega. In both crashes Wallace's car got airborne and flipped violently several times. He was officially credited as flying in the final running order at Talladega after his crash left him with an 8th place finish.

After Penske Racing made the switch to field Fords, Wallace was nearly as good in 1994 winning 8 races and finishing 3rd in the final drivers standings. Wallace won twice more in 95 and 5 more times in 1996. In the 4 years from 1993-1996 Wallace won 25 races, had 59 top 5's and 78 top 10's in 123 races. It was in that 4 year stretch that Wallace became known for being the short track king. As of Wallace's retirement after the 2005 season he holds the Sprint Cup record with 34 short track victories.

Wallace drove the No. 2 for Penske Racing from 1991 till his retirement after the 2005 season. In 494 races in the No. 2 car Wallace had 37 wins, 143 top 5's, 244 top 10's and 28 poles.

After Rusty Wallace announced his retirement Kurt Busch, after a long contract battle between Roger Penske and Busch's then current team owner Jack Roush, was tabbed to take over the No. 2 car.

Busch won in just his 5th start of 2006 at Bristol. It was fitting that his first win in the No. 2 car came at Bristol as Wallace made Bristol his most famous track by winning there 9 times including 7 times in the No. 2 car. Wallace won his 1st career race at Bristol in 1986 and his 50th career race at Bristol in 2000.

Busch would drive the No. 2 from 2006 till 2010. Busch won 8 races in the No. 2 car while racking up 37 top 5's, 74 top 10's and 9 poles. Busch's run the No. 2 car was marred by inconsistencies that saw him finish with a best drivers points finish of 4th in 2009 and disappointments of 16th in 2006 and 18th in 2008.

This brings us back to Brad Keselowski. Keselowski got off to a slow start in 2011 but then in the summer time heat Keselowski turned up the heat and rallied off 3 wins and made The Chase finishing the season 5th in the final drivers points standings. One of Keselowski's wins was at the famous Bristol night race in August. For the No. 2 car it was the first time it had visited Victory Lane since Busch won there at 2006.

On Sunday Brad Keselowski visited Victory Lane again at Bristol after leading a race high and career high 232 laps in a dominating win. It was the first time the No. 2 car won back-to-back races at Bristol since Wallace swept the Bristol races in 2000.

Brad Keselowski has picked up the tradition of winning in the No. 2 car and more importantly winning at Bristol. But Keselowski has a his sights on doing something that not even the legendary Rusty Wallace was able to do, and that's take the No. 2 car to a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship victory.

2012 MLB Predictions

Well spring training is underway. The games are 3 weeks old and we've got a better understanding of what certain teams will look like come April. With that being said it's time for my 2012 MLB season predictions. Here goes.

NL EAST
1. *Atlanta Braves
2. *Philadelphia Phillies
3. *Washington Nationals
4. Miami Marlins
5. New York Mets

NL CENTRAL
1. *Cincinnati Reds
2. St. Louis Cardinals
3. Milwaukee Brewers
4. Pittsburgh Pirates
5. Chicago Cubs
6. Houston Astros

NL WEST
1. *Arizona Diamondbacks
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
3. San Francisco Giants
4. Colorado Rockies
5. San Diego Padres

AL EAST
1. *New York Yankees
2. *Tampa Bay Rays
3. Boston Red Sox
4. Toronto Blue Jays
5. Baltimore Orioles

AL CENTRAL
1. *Detroit Tigers
2. Kansas City Royals
3. Cleveland Indians
4. Minnesota Twins
5. Chicago White Sox

AL WEST
1. *Los Angeles Angels
2. *Texas Rangers
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Oakland Athletics

MLB PLAYOFFS
NLWC - Phillies over Nationals
ALWC - Rays over Rangers

NLDS - Braves over Reds
NLDS - Phillies over Diamondbacks
ALDS - Tigers over Rays
ALDS - Angels over Yankees

NLCS - Braves over Phillies
ALCS - Tigers over Angels

WS - Tigers over Braves

MLB AWARDS
NL MVP
Dan Uggla, Braves

NL CY YOUNG
Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers

NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Yonder Alonzo, Padres

NL MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Fredi Gonzalez, Braves

AL MVP
Evan Longoria, Rays

AL CY YOUNG
Jered Weaver, Angels

AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Matt Moore, Rays

AL MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Jim Leyland, Tigers

Well those are my predictions for the 2012 MLB season. Come September we'll revisit this post to see how I did.

I'm Back!

I have been away for a long time! Much too long! Well now I'm back and better than ever! Hope you all enjoy my blog where we'll talk about all kinds of things but mostly sports and life. So I hope you all enjoy reading my blog.

Thank you, Big T

Pre-Spring Training Predictions

Okay folks. That smell is in the air. The smell of spring. The sound of balls popping mitts and bats. Yep. Baseball Spring Training is back again. The games get underway next week. So now is a good time for my preseason predictions for the regular season. These predictions aren't final until after the Spring Training games though. ;)

MLB STANDINGS
NL EAST
1. *Philadelphia Phillies
2. *Atlanta Braves
3. New York Mets
4. Florida Marlins
5. Washington Nationals

NL CENTRAL
1. *Chicago Cubs
2. Cincinnati Reds
3. Milwaukee Brewers
4. St. Louis Cardinals
5. Houston Astros
6. Pittsburgh Pirates

NL WEST
1. *Arizona Diamondbacks
2. San Francisco Giants
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
4. Colorado Rockies
5. San Diego Padres

AL EAST
1. *Boston Red Sox
2. *Tampa Bay Rays
3. New York Yankees
4. Toronto Blue Jays
5. Baltimore Orioles

AL CENTRAL
1. *Minnesota Twins
2. Cleveland Indians
3. Detroit Tigers
4. Chicago White Sox
5. Kansas City Royals

AL WEST
1. *Los Angeles Angeles
2. Texas Rangers
3. Oakland Atheltics
4. Seattle Mariners

MLB PLAYOFFS
NLDS - Braves over Cubs
NLDS - Phillies over Diamondbacks
ALDS - Red Sox over Twins
ALDS - Rays over Angels

NLCS - Phillies over Braves
ALCS - Red Sox over Rays

WS - Red Sox over Phillies

MLB AWARDS
NL MVP
Albert Pujols, Cardinals

NL CY YOUNG
Rich Harden, Cubs

NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Jordan Schafer, Braves

NL MANGER OF THE YEAR
Dusty Baker, Reds

AL MVP
Mark Teixeira, Yankees

AL CY YOUNG
James Shields, Rays

AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Matt LaPorta, Indians

AL MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Ron Washington, Rangers

I know you probably think some of these predictions are off the wall and they may very well be but at least they're different then what you'll find in all the preview magazines and websites. :)

Can the Braves win the NL East in 2009?

Can the Atlanta Braves win the NL East in 2009? I think so. With the right moves the Braves can not only win the NL East in 2009 but also set themselves up to do so in the long term. I know you have heard about all the Jake Peavy to the Braves trade rumors. He would be the most important piece in the Braves efforts to win the NL East in 2009.

Trading for Peavy won't be easy. It will cost some top notch prospects and possibly Yunel Escobar or Kelly Johnson. I doubt the Braves trade Johnson not knowing if Martin Prado is capable of playing 2nd base everyday. The latest rumors have the Braves getting Jake Peavy and Khalil Greene in a deal centered around Yunel Escobar, Tommy Hanson and some other prospects.

Say the Braves trade for Jake Peavy and Khalil Greene for Yunel Escobar, Tommy Hanson, Jordan Schafer, Jeff Locke, Cole Rohrbough and either Brandon Jones or some other mid level prospect.

Jake Peavy imediately gives the Braves a legit ace. A pitcher that strikes fear into an opponent in a short playoff series. Tim Hudson is really, really good but he doesn't strike fear into opponents the way Peavy would because Hudson doesn't strikeout a ton of guys. Yeah every now and then he'll have a 10 or so strikeout game but those are few and far between. The Braves haven't had a pitcher strike fear into an opponent since John Smoltz was in his prime and Peavy would change that.

Peavy will make 11 million in 2009 and that would be cheaper than signing one of the top notch guys on the market. Getting Peavy would allow the Braves to sign an innings eater such as a Jon Garland or Paul Byrd. My vote would be Garland because he is much younger than Byrd.

Garland will probably make around 11 or 12 million in 2009 just because of the lack of quality starting pitchers on the market. Garland is a very underrated pitcher. In 9 ML seasons he has a 106-89 record with a 4.47 ERA. They say pitching in the AL adds half a run to your ERA so basically we are talking about a pitcher with a career ERA right around 4 which is really good. The fact that Garland has made 30 or more starts in 7 straight seasons makes him very attractive. Add in another fact that he just doesn't walk alot of hitters and he would be a solid #3 starter.

Spending 22 million of the Braves' reported 45 million to spend still leaves plenty to spend on the LF and CF positions to solidify the lineup. LF and CF were both huge holes for the team in 2008. The Braves have top prospect Jason Heyward (who won't be traded period) waiting in the wings to fill the LF spot for many years to come but he won't be ready in 2009 so the Braves will have to find someone else.

The Braves would like whoever they get to play LF to be a right handed hitter with the Braves being a left-handed dominate lineup. Milton Bradley has had more than his fair share of run ins with managers but his production on the field doesn't lie. I doubt the Rangers let him go after the year he had but if they do let him walk I say sign him to a 1 year deal to play LF or CF. He is coming off a year in which he batted .321 with 22 homeruns and 77 rbis for the Rangers in 126 games. If he could get along with Bobby Cox he would be a solid addition to the lineup in 2009.

As for the other outfield spot that is really up in the air. The has never been any question about Rocco Baldelli's talent and the Braves nearly traded for him a few years back but with Baldelli's condition that keeps him from playing everyday he would have to be platooned with someone. This is where I say I wouldn't be shocked to see the Braves bring back Mark Kotsay. Kotsay was very productive for the Braves in 2008 before being traded to the Red Sox. In 88 games for the Braves Kotsay hit .289 with 6 homeruns and 37 rbis. I sure a lefty-righty platoon of Baldelli and Kotsay with be very productive for the Braves in 2009.

Now talking about the bench. The Braves need to re-sign Greg Norton. Norton was very solid coming off the bench in 2008 for the Braves. He had the 2nd most pinch hits in the NL in 2008. Omar Infante and Martin Prado were very solid feel ins for various injuries in 2008. Both should be back. Backup catcher is a concern for the Braves. I highly doubt Corky Miller will be back in 2009. I really don't know who the Braves are going to get for their backup catcher position but anybody will be an upgrade over Miller. Gregor Blanco, Josh Anderson and Matt Diaz will be in a battle for the backup outfielder role.

C = Brian McCann
1B = Casey Kotchman
2B = Kelly Johnson
3B = Chipper Jones
SS = Khalil Greene
LF = Milton Bradley
CF = Rocco Baldelli/Mark Kotsay
RF = Jeff Francoeur

I know you're wondering where John Smoltz and Tom Glavine fit in for 2009. We won't find out until January or February if those guys will be able to pitch in 2009. If John Smoltz is able to pitch in 2009 he will have to decide if that will be in the role of starter or closer. If he chooses closer which I believe he might that would make what already looks to be a solid bullpen in 2009 even better. Glavine on the other hand if he is able to pitch would give the Braves another starter and even more depth they didn't have for 2008. Glavine was very good in 2008 before his elbow started messing with him. His 2-3 record and 4.85 ERA could have been alot better. He had 6 starts in 2008 where he pitched at least 6 innings and gave up 2 earned runs or less and got only 1 win to show for it.

Jake Peavy
Jair Jurrjens
Jon Garland
Jorge Campillo
Tom Glavine

That would be the Braves rotation minus Tim Hudson who had Tommy John surgery this past August and could be back as soon as late August next year. If the Braves are in contention getting Hudson back would be like making a major trade. Also Glavine would probably be low on gas by the time Hudson comes back and being able to use Glavine and Hudson to feel that #5 starter role with each getting extra rest between starts would be perfect for the Braves in 2009.

Now on to the bullpen. Rafael Soriano will be ready for spring training and Peter Moylan will be coming back from Tommy John surgery in May. If both pick up where they left off then the Braves would have a protential deadly bullpen and overall completely dominating pitching staff. Mike Gonzalez was very solid coming back this past June from his Tommy John surgery he had in May of 2007. He was 14 for 16 in converting save chances. I believe Manny Acosta and Blaine Boyer are very good relievers who both just got over used in 2008. One of the main keys to the bullpen in 2009 will be the Braves re-signing Will Ohman. Ohman was very solid in 2008.

Jeff Ridgway
Blaine Boyer
Will Ohman
Rafael Soriano
Peter Moylan
Mike Gonzalez
John Smoltz

With all of these moves the Braves can and will win the NL East in 2009.

Updated Braves Outlook

I am updating my Atlanta Braves outlook. After reading alot of people's take on the Braves and doing alot of thinking I think the Braves are capable at contending next year and setting themselves up nicely in the future. I say yeah they can contend for a playoff spot next year but I'm more excited to be looking toward 2010 or 2011. Come 2011 the Braves could be legit World Series contenders.

Here is how I would do it. David O'Brien of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution brings up the idea of protentially trading for the Marlins' Josh Willingham. Willingham is one of 17 arbitration eligible players the Marlins have. They won't be able to keep all of them and with their outfield depth Willingham is expendable. So that makes perfect since to me. Willingham could feel the left-field hole until whenever Jason Heyward is ready. He is a 20-25 homerun a year guy when healthy. Another reason Willingham would be a good fit is because he would be a cheaper player than say Adam Dunn, Pat Burrell or any other possible solution to the LF hole. Also the Braves wouldn't have to give up much to get him.

That would allow the Braves to spend money on starting pitchers. I really believe Derek Lowe is number one on the Braves list to feel the ace role. Then the Braves could sign a second level starter such as Paul Byrd or Jon Garland. Say the Braves sign Lowe and Garland. Also say that they bring Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and maybe Mike Hampton back on low base salaries with lots of incentives. The Braves would have the starting pitching depth they lacked this year when three of their starters went down to season ending injuries. The Braves could go into next season with a rotation with this look to it.

Derek Lowe
Jair Jurrjens
Jon Garland
Tom Glavine
John Smoltz
Mike Hampton
Jorge Campillo

That would also allow them to push James Parr and Charlie Morton back to Triple-A where they could get more seasoning. With those moves the Braves could contend in 2009 but also set themselves up nicely for 2010 and 2011 when the next wave of superstar talent is ready.

How would the Braves fill the center-field hole you ask? Well it wouldn't shock me one bit if Jordan Schafer is the Braves opening day starter in 2009. But hey what do I know. The Braves could do all of this or none of this. The great thing about this sport is trying to guess what a team will do during the off-season.