Big League Chatter

ESPN broadcaster Dave O’Brien raised the question on Wednesday Night Baseball last week and it is one that provokes thought.  Sure, baseball fans immediately recognize Chipper Jones as the all-star third basemen of the Atlanta Braves.  But do they realize that they are watching one of the best switch-hitters who ever lived?

Most would put the great Mickey Mantle at the top of that list and they would get no argument here.  But after The Mick, Chipper is front and center in the discussion.  Hall of Famer Eddie Murray and his 504 career home runs warrant consideration, as does career hit leader Pete Rose.  But since Rose wasn’t a power hitter, this debate will focus on Murray.  Having played 21 seasons and enjoying good health in many of those, much of Murray’s stats can be attributed to his longevity in the game.  Murray’s durability and consistency are no doubt commendable, however there is a clear argument that Jones was the more dangerous hitter.  Case in point, Chipper’s career OPS of .954 dwarfs Murray’s .835.  Jones also owns the edge in 100-run seasons (8 to Murray’s 3) and 100-RBI seasons (9 to Murray’s 6), despite playing six less years thus far.  He has more career walks (1,173) than strikeouts (1,096), while Murray finished with a still impressive 1,333 BB versus 1,516 K.  Chipper also has an M.V.P. to his credit (1999 – .319/45/110) while Murray has none.

Having played no more than 137 games in any season from 2004-2007, Jones has seen injuries diminish his production in recent years.  Prior to ‘04, he compiled eight straight seasons of at least a .295 average, 29 doubles, 21 home runs, 100 RBI, and 90 runs scored.  Much was made about a feud between pitcher John Smoltz and Jones last season, in which Smoltz made comments implying that Chipper should have been playing through a groin injury that caused him to miss a game Smoltz started and lost on June 22.  Chipper responded on the field (mostly) by starting the next 28 games, hitting .384 with 7 doubles, 5 home runs, 24 RBI and 21 runs scored during that span.  After hitting a home run the day after Smoltz’s comments, Chipper shot back, "I’ll play the rest of the games this year and do what I can.  Somebody I know better not miss a start, though."

Chipper has begun 2008 hitting safely in 37 of the Braves’ first 43 games, carrying a robust .410 batting average without a lot of national attention.  While the career .309 hitter is unlikely to become the first player to hit .400 since Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941, he is likely to finish his career as the only switch-hitter with a .300 average and 300 home runs in the history of the game.  And with his career home run total sitting at 397, he will up that ante to 400 soon.  It might take until his induction ceremony in Cooperstown for fans to realize how special a player Larry Wayne Jones, Jr. truly is.