Chipper Jones should be a slam-dunk first-ballot Hall of Famer, and as such, it's nice to see he's now announcing his retirement effective after the year. It's never great watching a great player in decline, and that appears to be what's happening now. One more year is plenty.
"The right thing would be to retire now,'' said one scout who has seen him struggle to keep up with fastballs this spring.
While that statement is understandable, it is probably not realistic. Jones came to camp expecting to play this season so it's hard to change that mindset based on a month of spring training. I'm with him to give it a shot this year. But if he continues to look as slow with the bat as he has this spring into late April and May, it might not be a bad thought to move up his retirement date (though the $14 million salary for 2012 may complicate that a bit).
No matter, Jones -- who was productive last year with 18 home runs, 70 RBIs and a .275 average despite the usual complement of knee injuries -- should make it to Cooperstown on the first ballot. Though I've heard a couple questions and even some doubt about that, I can't imagine too many folks not voting for the player who is one of two active guys with 400 home runs and more walks than strikeouts (Albert Pujols is the other). Jones' .402 on-base percentage and 454 career home runs show he stands among the greats (and not just against the Mets, who he tortured throughout his career).
According to Baseball-Reference.com, his career WAR total is 35th alltime, and fifth among third basemen, behind Mike Schmidt, Eddie Mathews, Wade Boggs and George Brett. He could pass Brett (though the way he looks now, he might not), though while very useful, WAR's imperfection is shown by Boggs being ahead of Brett, and Jones for that matter. Both Brett and Jones were more impactful players, I believe.
That's just quibbling, though. However you look at it, Jones is an all-time great.
"The right thing would be to retire now,'' said one scout who has seen him struggle to keep up with fastballs this spring.
While that statement is understandable, it is probably not realistic. Jones came to camp expecting to play this season so it's hard to change that mindset based on a month of spring training. I'm with him to give it a shot this year. But if he continues to look as slow with the bat as he has this spring into late April and May, it might not be a bad thought to move up his retirement date (though the $14 million salary for 2012 may complicate that a bit).
No matter, Jones -- who was productive last year with 18 home runs, 70 RBIs and a .275 average despite the usual complement of knee injuries -- should make it to Cooperstown on the first ballot. Though I've heard a couple questions and even some doubt about that, I can't imagine too many folks not voting for the player who is one of two active guys with 400 home runs and more walks than strikeouts (Albert Pujols is the other). Jones' .402 on-base percentage and 454 career home runs show he stands among the greats (and not just against the Mets, who he tortured throughout his career).
According to Baseball-Reference.com, his career WAR total is 35th alltime, and fifth among third basemen, behind Mike Schmidt, Eddie Mathews, Wade Boggs and George Brett. He could pass Brett (though the way he looks now, he might not), though while very useful, WAR's imperfection is shown by Boggs being ahead of Brett, and Jones for that matter. Both Brett and Jones were more impactful players, I believe.
That's just quibbling, though. However you look at it, Jones is an all-time great.
