February 1
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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He'll turn 40 in April, had surgery on each knee in the past two years, and has tired of speculation about when he'll retire. But Chipper Jones is not tired of playing baseball. Atlanta's iconic third baseman is preparing for his 19th season with the Braves, and Tuesday he made it clear the 2012 season might not be his last. "As long as I stay healthy and I'm having fun, I'm going to keep going," he said before an informal hitting session at Turner Field. "I sit here with three weeks to go before spring training and I'm not ready to say this is it.""
January 11
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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It's a little less than six weeks from when Braves pitchers and catchers report for spring training on Feb. 19, and I haven't bugged Chipper Jones all offseason. What's up with that? Well let's say that's remedied here in a wide-ranging conversation with the veteran third baseman, who just got back from a hunting trip to New Mexico and plans to start into his usual routine of hitting at Turner Field next week. Candid as ever, Jones shared his thoughts on everything from when he might make a decision on retirement and how the game is more difficult for him now, to the state of the team, how he'll feel if the Braves go into spring training with this roster largely as is and his impressions"
September 30
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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After the Braves' season ended with a five-game skid and no postseason berth, Chipper Jones reiterated his intention of returning for the 2012 season. Jones said the team's September collapse would have no bearing on his decision. "I've committed to playing next year," he said. "I won't commit past that; let's put it that way. [But] I'm looking forward to it. As tough a pill as it is to swallow, for a lot of these young guys it's a learning experience. "We got our butts kicked for the last couple of weeks of the season, and they're going to learn a lot from it and be better ballplayers for it.""
September 27
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Braves third baseman Chipper Jones acknowledged he's been playing with lingering soreness in his right knee, and he tweaked it again in the game on Monday, but Jones said he doesn't plan to let it keep him out of the lineup against the Phillies. "It's bugging me," Jones said. "But you've got to go to the post." When asked if his knee "bit" him as he hit the third base bag running the bases in the sixth inning, he said: "It bit me all night." When he asked if he thought he could play against the Phillies on Tuesday night, Jones said, "probably.""
September 22
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Before we consider tonight's Derek Lowe vs. Javier Vazquez matchup and how every trend imaginable says the Braves have no chance – and therefore probably have a pretty good one – let's look back at last night. Rather, let's look at what got overshadowed last night by Randall Delgado's first big-league win and four perfect relief innings from Cristhian Martinez and Anthony Varvaro to complete a five-hit shutout in something close to a must-win situation for the Braves. What got reduced to a footnote was Freddie Freeman's 20th home run, which made him the first Braves rookie to hit 20 or more homers in a season since some cocky young cat named Larry Jones Jr. did it in 1995."
September 22
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Braves third baseman Chipper Jones left the team and returned to Atlanta on Wednesday to be with his 7-year-old son, Shea, when he underwent sinus surgery. Jones was back in South Florida by Wednesday night and rejoined the Braves in the dugout during the third inning of their series finale against the Marlins. He entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning and played the rest of the way. "When he was 2, he had a gastro problem and they gave him antibiotics, and the antibiotics stripped the lining of his stomach away," Jones said. "He was in the hospital for about two months; it was touch-and-go for awhile. So now he's got this sinus problem and he can't take antibiotics to"
September 9
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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When the Braves struggle to score runs, they just turn Chipper Jones loose on the Mets. Jones, batting second, had a double and a home run as the Braves defeated the Mets 6-5 in the first game of a doubleheader Thursday in front of a sparse crowd at Citi Field. He also drove in two runs in the Braves' 5-1 victory in the nightcap to complete the sweep. The games were postponed after Hurricane Irene swept through the northeast last month. In Game 1, Freddie Freeman and Martin Prado each had three hits for the Braves, who snapped a three-game losing streak after being swept by the Phillies. In Game 2, David Ross drove in two runs with a home run and a single and Dan Uggla added an RBI"
September 6
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Chipper Jones was out of the Braves lineup with flu-like symptoms for Monday's series opener against the Phillies. The third baseman said he didn't feel good during Sunday's game against the Dodgers, and felt worse Monday."
September 5
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist Jeff Schultz
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It would have been easy for the Braves to slip on their rose-colored Annie sunglasses Sunday and proclaim that they're going to shake the baseball world at its foundation, storm Philadelphia and miraculously come back to win the National League East title. The numbers say it's just not going to happen. "Let's face it," catcher David Ross said. "Even if we go in there and sweep them, they've still got like a five-game lead with 20 games left. So I don't think they're in any kind of panic mode." No. But notice the Braves also aren't panicking? In fact, Chipper Jones would tell you they're relishing a three-game series against the Phillies that opens Monday and he hopes the teams meet again"
August 21
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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After hitting three home runs in seven games on this homestand, Braves veteran Chipper Jones found himself back in a familiar spot Saturday night - the third hole. Jones had hit sixth in the four games before that since Brian McCann returned to the lineup from his oblique injury. Jones hadn't hit sixth since 1997 and then, it was only for two games. From the sounds of it, though, he ought not get too comfortable in his old spot. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said Jones was there Saturday because he gave McCann a day of rest after catching six straight games and because the Braves were facing the left-hander Wade Miley. "He's such a pro I don't think that bothers him," Gonzalez said of"
August 20
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Chipper Jones' fifth-inning homer off Tim Lincecum on Thursday accounted for all the of the scoring in a big 1-0 Braves win against the Giants, and it moved Hoss past Vlad and real close to Bags on the career homer list, and not far behind Yaz. It was the 447th homer for Chipper, moving past Vladimir Guerrero into sole possession of 35th on the all-time list. He's two homers behind Jeff Bagwell and five behind the great Carl Yastrzemski. Yes, Atlanta's 39-year-old 3B is in some serious company, and the only other active player (other than Guerrero) with a shot at passing Jones anytime soon is Albert Pujols, currently tied with Andre Dawson for 38th with 438 homers. The other active players"
August 20
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Maybe Derek Lowe is starting to sniff September. The Braves veteran, who seems to lock in come playoff time, started a little early Friday night, and the sensation lasted long enough to get the offense going behind him and the bullpen ready to pick him up in his usual sixth-inning trouble spot. In the midst of a homestand that's starting to feel like the stretch run, Lowe pitched accordingly for five shutout innings in a 4-2 win over the Diamondbacks. He was buoyed by three home runs - from Michael Bourn, Brian McCann and Chipper Jones - and some good relief work from rookie Arodys Vizcaino. Lowe was up to 99 pitches after he hit a batter and walked another to lead off the sixth. Manager"
August 20
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Chipper Jones said he will return to play for the Braves in 2012, ending speculation that the 39-year-old third baseman might retire after this season and walk away with a year left on his contract. "I'm playing next year," he told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday. "I still feel like I can go out there and play a good third base and be a threat, at least, at the plate. I'm having a good defensive year, and the [batting] average is on the rise." Two hours later, he hit a home run for the second night in a row to give him 12 this season. Jones is owed $14 million in 2012 in the final year of a three-year, $42 million contract extension, which also includes a $9 million option for"
August 19
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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After Chipper Jones took The Freak deep for a lead, the Braves' three bullpen horses made sure Mike Minor was rewarded for the finest start of his career. The rookie Minor pitched six wholly impressive innings, and Jones' fifth-inning homer off Tim Linceum lifted the Braves to a 1-0 win against the San Francisco Giants on Thursday night at Turner Field. The Braves got strong starts from pitching prospects Randall Delgado and Minor and won three of four games in the series to push their wild-card lead to six games over the Giants. They finished 6-1 against the Giants this season. "That game goes to Mike Minor and the bullpen," Jones said. "They were awesome. They didn't make any mistakes"
August 17
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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In the midst of his struggles a year ago, Chipper Jones said even he didn't know why manager Bobby Cox was still hitting him in his usual third spot. Here it is a year later, he's feeling good at the plate, he's getting healthy again, and he's batting sixth in the lineup for the first time since 1997. Careful what you "wish" for? "You've got a couple guys in the lineup that are swinging it real good, and you want to keep them up there," said Jones, who returned to the lineup Tuesday after missing a game with a sore left knee. "And I get it. ... We've got to go with what's working." With the return of Brian McCann from the disabled list, manager Fredi Gonzalez wanted to keep both"
August 16
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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After battling a meniscus tear in his right knee for the better part of the past three months, Chipper Jones suffered a scare with his surgically-repaired left knee on Sunday afternoon. Jones jammed his knee hitting the first base bag running out a groundball in the eighth inning on Sunday afternoon against the Cubs. It was the same knee Jones had surgery on for a torn anterior cruciate ligament, forcing him to miss the last two months of the 2010 season. Jones was out of the lineup on Monday night against the Giants, but he believes now it was just a scare. Jones had an MRI Monday afternoon which came back clean. His knee is structurally sound and he hopes to be back in the lineup in a"
August 14
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Cubs general manager Jim Hendry called Braves general manager Frank Wren Saturday to apologize to Chipper Jones and the Braves for the actions of pitcher Carlos Zambrano on Friday night. It was a gesture Jones appreciated but said the issue was "over with." "It was a class move," Jones said. "I appreciate it. There's no hard feelings. Carlos has a tendency to run a little hot and you can tell that he was frustrated. I sort of had an inkling that it was coming." Zambrano was ejected for throwing at Jones after buzzing two pitches inside in the fifth inning, after he'd given up five home runs, incuding a three-run homer to Jones in a 10-4 loss. The ejection is now the least of Zambrano's"
August 6
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Chipper Jones tested out his right quadriceps with a full workout of fielding grounders and hitting Friday and came away feeling good, but the Braves will give him one more day before putting him back in the starting lineup. The decision was good by Jones, who wanted to make sure his quadriceps bounced back well after a rigorous workout. Jones was available to pinch hit Friday night and also play the field if need be on a double-switch. If all goes as planned, Jones will return to the lineup Saturday night against the Mets, take Sunday off, and then be back in the lineup on a regular basis starting Monday in Florida. "What we're all worried about is playing nine innings and the soreness"
August 5
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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For the first four months of the 2011 season, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez meticulously made a point never to give both Chipper Jones and Brian McCann a day off on the same day. He did it only four times in the first 103 games, and three of those were on days Jones was battling an injury. But when McCann went down with a strained oblique last week and Jones suffered a quadriceps strain the night he came back from arthroscopic knee surgery, Gonzalez had no choice but to make out his lineup without his No. 3 and 4 hitters for the past eight games. In that time the Braves have gone 4-4 and dropped two games in the standings to fall a season-high eight games behind the Phillies entering"
August 5
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
A day after seeing improvement in the field during batting practice, Chipper Jones felt good enough to start targeting Friday in New York for his return to the Braves starting lineup. With another day of rest Wednesday and an off day Thursday, Jones was hopeful his sore quadriceps would improve to the point where he'd be comfortable playing defense. "I felt like I could do a little more," Jones said Wednesday morning. "I was a little more active on defense. Running the bases still was a little iffy, but I figured give it today and tomorrow, then Friday would be that much better. Hopefully if it is, and I feel like I'm good enough to get out there and try it.""
August 4
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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A day after seeing improvement in the field during batting practice, Chipper Jones felt good enough to start targeting Friday in New York for his return to the Braves starting lineup. With another day of rest Wednesday and an off day Thursday, Jones was hopeful his sore quadriceps would improve to the point where he'd be comfortable playing defense. "I felt like I could do a little more," Jones said Wednesday morning. "I was a little more active on defense. Running the bases still was a little iffy, but I figured give it today and tomorrow, then Friday would be that much better. Hopefully if it is, and I feel like I'm good enough to get out there and try it.""
August 3
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Chipper Jones took batting practice and fielded groundballs for the second consecutive day Tuesday but his quadriceps still bothers him fielding balls to either side. He's likely to be relegated to pinch hitting through the end of the Nationals series Wednesday. "Overextending for groundballs is still pretty uncomfortable, having to go three or four steps to my left or right," Jones said Tuesday. "Hitting, throwing, fielding groundballs right at me, not a big deal. Every-day stuff, having to play defense and run the bases is still not good." Progress has been slow."
July 31
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Chipper Jones was out of the lineup again Saturday, still battling a strained right quadricep. Jones has been available to pinch-hit but likely won't return to the lineup by the weekend, as Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez had hoped. "He is feeling a little better," Gonzalez said. "I would like to get him on the field and work him out a little bit before we decide [when he can return]. … The thing we worry about is when you get him on the field, he has to react one way or another. You can't really control that. We worry about that a little bit.""
July 29
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Chipper Jones was out of the lineup for the third straight game Thursday night - this time missing his "Bobblehead Night" - since straining his right quadriceps muscle on Monday night. He is likely to miss another day or two. "Conservatively-speaking yes," said Jones, who'd like to return sooner but said he's playing it safe rather than risk it getting worse. "We can ill afford for me to go back on the DL at this point." After he pinch hit for the third straight game Thursday night and continued to feel improvement with treatment, it gave Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez cause to believe Jones might be able to return before the weekend series with the Marlins is out. "We'll keep evaluating"
July 27
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Chipper Jones realizes his body is aging, but talking about injuries that are keeping him out of the lineup is really getting old. Jones said he will likely miss the next several games in the regular lineup after straining his right quad muscle Monday in the series opener against the Pirates. It was his first game back from the disabled list after arthroscopic knee surgery on his right knee. "I feel more frustration than anything," the Braves 39-year-old third baseman said. "I'm tired of talking about things that are keeping me out of ball games." Jones said he was told the injury was a strained muscle that went into spasm. He said following the game there was a six-inch area of his thigh"
July 26
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Chipper Jones, in his first game back from the disabled list, homered to start the eighth inning and assure the Braves avoided a shutout. He then left the game with a strained right quadriceps, which he had hurt two innings earlier when he fielded a slow roller and threw to first base. "We've got to reevaluate it tomorrow," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said of Jones' injury. "He said [before the eighth inning], 'I'm gonna need a runner.' I said, really? He said, 'Yeah, I'm gonna need a runner.' And then [Gonzalez makes popping sound with mouth]. Home run." The 39-year-old third baseman also singled and stole a base in the third inning, going 2-for-4 in his first game after playing parts"
July 26
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Chipper Jones had one more person to convince that he was healthy enough to return to the Braves lineup. So, hours before the Braves hosted the Pirates on Monday, Jones was in the outfield going through several drills for head athletic trainer Jeff Porter. He passed the final test. The Braves activated Jones from the disabled list and he was in the starting lineup after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery July 9th. Outfielder Wilkin Ramirez was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett in the corresponding roster move. Jones completed a two-game rehab assignment over the weekend at Class A Rome. His biggest concern was batting right-handed, which he did three times Sunday with a single, walk and RBI"
July 25
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Chipper Jones didn't want to make a rehabilitation start before he returned from knee surgery. He made two nonetheless. Jones concluded a pair of weekend games at Class-A Rome Sunday. The all-star third baseman declared the assignment a success and himself fit for a return to the Braves lineup Monday. "I'll be waiting on them when they come back," Jones said of his teammates who concluded a road trip in Cincinnati Sunday night. The Braves open a seven-game homestand Monday against Pittsburgh. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said Sunday afternoon he saw no reason why Jones wouldn't be ready to be activated Monday night, but they'll have their trainers evaluate him just to be sure. Jones went"
July 24
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Chipper Jones plays his second rehab game on Sunday for the Rome Braves as he returns from right knee surgery. Jones was eligible to come off the disabled list Sunday. He hoped to be ready Monday (vs. the Pirates). We should have a better idea if he will be ready to be back in the Atlanta lineup after today's game. Jones is batting third and playing third base. Rome is playing Kannapolis, the Chicago White Sox affiliate. Jones came out very early today and fielded more than 75 ground balls in preparation for the game."
July 24
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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After some deliberation, Braves third baseman Chipper Jones began a two-game minor league rehabilitation Saturday night in Single-A Rome after all. That was the original plan for Jones, who hopes to play two games this weekend and be activated from the disabled list Monday for the start of the Pirates series. The Braves will re-evaluate on Monday. Jones went 0-for-2 with a strikeout and a walk on Saturday night as the DH in Rome. He said afterward his surgically-repaired right knee held up well, but "Boy was I rusty" via text message."
July 24
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
First off an update on Chipper Jones….There's been a change in plan and he's going to go on up to Single-A Rome to play in rehabilitation games tonight in a 7 p.m. start and tomorrow (Sunday) in a 2 p.m. start. The Braves plan is for him to DH tonight and then either DH or play third base on Sunday. The idea is to give the surgically-repaired right knee a real test. If all goes well this weekend, he could be ready to come off the disabled list as early as Monday against the Pirates. This has been a back and forth thing the past few days as you know. First Jones was going to Rome to rehab this weekend, then he wasn't. I think what it boils down to is the Braves want him to get a rehab in"
July 22
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Chipper Jones isn't going back to Class-A ball as soon as planned. The Braves' All-Star third baseman was tentatively scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Friday at Class-A Rome, but needs more time to recover from July 9 arthroscopic knee surgery. Jones, 38, took ground balls and batting practice the past few days with the Triple-A Gwinnett team and was set to serve as designated hitter for Rome on Friday and Saturday. That was reassessed after he reported soreness from his workouts. It now seems less likely Jones would be ready to rejoin the Braves on Monday in their series opener against Pittsburgh at Turner Field. That had been the plan, according to Braves manager Fredi"
July 19
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Chipper Jones is going back to Class-A ball. The Braves' 38-year-old third baseman is scheduled to play for Class-A Rome on Friday to begin what will likely be a brief rehab assignment. Jones has progressed rapidly since July 9 arthroscopic surgery for torn meniscus in his right knee. He took some grounders and some live batting practice on Friday at the Braves' Triple-A Gwinnett County ballpark, including some swings against Hall of Famer Phil Niekro. His rehab assignment is set for Rome because the Gwinnett team is not using the designated hitter against Louisville, and the Braves want Jones to DH for at least one or two games. He will DH on Friday and probably Saturday, unless he"
July 17
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Chipper Jones is continuing to progress in his recovery from arthroscopic knee surgery. A week into it on Saturday, he hit off a tee for the second straight day – this time taking 20 swings right-handed as well – and planned to start taking soft toss on Sunday. Jones wants to stay behind when the Braves travel to Colorado Monday and work out and take some batting practice with the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves. He hopes to get in a game or two before the week is out either in Gwinnett or Rome, first as a DH and then in the field. If he passes both those tests he thinks he'll be ready to come off the disabled list when he's eligible Sunday, July 24 in Cincinnati or Monday July 25 against the"
July 16
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Only six days removed from arthroscopic knee surgery, Chipper Jones was out on the field Friday afternoon running light sprints, throwing and fielding some groundballs. Such is life on the two-week recovery track. Jones hopes to return for the Pirates series starting July 25. "That's a lot six days post op, but I want to know what I can do," Jones said Friday. "If it's sore tomorrow we'll back off a little bit tomorrow, then go at it again on Sunday." Jones also took 25 swings left-handed off a tee without any problems. Afterward he said his knee felt sluggish, but it was nothing unexpected."
July 14
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist Jeff Schultz
"
Strange words tumble out of an athlete's mouth after 17 seasons and two major knee surgeries. They say things at 39 that they never imagined themselves saying at 25. "It's amazing how your standards go down as you get older," Chipper Jones said. "It used to be if I didn't come away from the ballpark with two hits, I was ticked. If I didn't produce a run, I was ticked. Now I'm hitting .250, .260. That disappoints me. But when the team has absolutely needed me to get a big hit I've done it. I've been solid. Not great. But solid. That's all I came into this season wanting." Welcome to Chipper Jones' new reality. It's really not all that bad. Fact is, it still has a chance to be pretty"
July 10
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Chipper Jones has played for nearly two months with a torn meniscus in his right knee, but the pain got to the point where he couldn't manage it any longer and the timing was right for surgery. The Braves placed Jones on the disabled list Saturday morning and he underwent arthroscopic surgery on Saturday afternoon in Atlanta performed by Dr. Marvin Royster. Jones is expected to miss two to three weeks. Jones will take advantage of four days over the All-Star break toward his recovery time. Jones will miss Tuesday's All-Star game in Phoenix. He was selected to the National League team for the seventh time in his career, this time by player vote. "I think the timing was perfect for him to"
July 9
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Chipper Jones has played for nearly two months with a torn meniscus in his right knee, but the pain has gotten to the point where he can't manage it any longer. The Braves placed Jones on the disabled list Saturday and recalled infielder Brandon Hicks from Triple-A Gwinnett. Jones will miss the final two games of the series with the Philadelphia Phillies and will be unavailable to play in Tuesday's All-Star game. He was selected to the team for the seventh time, this time by player vote. The Braves have not yet clarified if and when Jones will undergo arthroscopic surgery, but that appears the next logical step for Jones who will use four days of the All-Star break toward his recovery"
July 9
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Chipper Jones acknowledged after Friday night's game against the Phillies that his right knee is not improving and he's considering missing the All-Star break because of it, possibly to undergo arthroscopic surgery. "I'm doing what I can," said Jones, who hasn't felt any improvement after receiving a cortisone shot in his knee on Sunday. "It's not getting any better. It's gradually getting worse. I'm going to have to address it some time." When asked if that time was over the All-Star break, Jones said: "It's possible." Jones was selected by the players to compete in his seventh career All-Star game Tuesday in Phoenix. But to have a four-day break to address the torn meniscus in his right"
July 7
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Martin Prado caught a flight to Charlotte on Wednesday and began a minor-league rehab assignment, with a plan to come off the disabled list July 15 for the Braves' first game after the All-Star break. The standout left fielder has been on the DL for one month recovering from a staph infection in his right calf that required surgery. Prado is scheduled to play five games with Triple-A Gwinnett – two at Charlotte Wednesday and Thursday, then a three-game series against the same team beginning Friday at Gwinnett. He could play for Double-A Mississippi or another affiliate on Monday, or the Braves might decide he's had enough rehab and have him rest a day or two before working out with the"
July 6
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Those speculating that Chipper Jones might opt out of the All-Star game to rest his sore knee or have it repaired via arthroscopic surgery, forget it. The Braves' 39-year-old third baseman is on his seventh and possibly last All-Star team, and will take his family to Phoenix to enjoy all the festivities surrounding and including Tuesday's game. He has no plans to pull out of the game. "My whole family is going – my kids, my parents, my wife," he said. "So I don't want to just go out there and not do anything." Jones was back in the lineup Tuesday against Colorado, after having a cortisone shot Sunday and missing Monday's series opener against the Rockies."
July 5
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Chipper Jones' right knee was sore Monday from his latest cortisone injection, but his wallet wasn't any lighter. Not yet anyway. The Braves third baseman had strong criticism for home-plate umpire Mark Ripperger after Jones was called out on strikes to end Sunday's 5-4 loss against the Baltimore Orioles. He called the umpiring "substandard" and said he didn't care if he got fined for the comments. Since Monday was a holiday, any fine wasn't likely to come until later, after Jones' comments – and perhaps replay of the pitches in question – were reviewed by Major League Baseball officials. "I expect to [hear from MLB]," said Jones, who avoided getting into an on-field shouting match with"
July 4
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Braves left fielder Martin Prado said Sunday he needed a couple more days before he'll be ready to start a minor league rehabilitation assignment in his return from staph infection surgery. Prado said the wound on his right calf still hasn't closed yet. "It's almost closed," he said. The Braves had hoped Prado might be able to head out on assignment as early as Monday, play four games, and be ready to come off the disabled list for the weekend series in Philadelphia before the All-Star break. That looks less likely at this point. Prado needs the wound to heal completely before he can play. He's been taking batting practice since Friday without incident and said it was a matter of getting"
July 4
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Brian McCann is the reigning MVP of the All-Star game; now he'll get to start it. The Braves catcher became an All-Star for the sixth time in six full major league seasons Sunday when the team was announced, but he's now a starter for the first time. McCann won the fan vote at catcher over the Cardinals Yadier Molina by 1,726,052 votes. "To get recognized by the fans to start is definitely a special honor," McCann said. "You always want to shoot to start the game; now I finally have a chance to do that." He'll be joined in Phoenix on July 12 by teammates Jair Jurrjens and Jonny Venters, who will make their first ever All-Star appearances, and Chipper Jones, who was named as a reserve to"
July 3
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Brian McCann is the reigning MVP of the All-Star game; now he'll get to start it. The Braves catcher became an All-Star for the sixth time in six full major league seasons Sunday when the team was announced, but he's now a starter for the first time. McCann won the fan vote at catcher over the Cardinals Yadier Molina by 1,726,052 votes. "It's an honor," McCann said. "I've been five times and been a reserve. Now to get recognized by the fans to start is definitely a special honor….You always want to shoot to start the game; now I finally have a chance to do that." He'll be joined in Phoenix on July 12 by teammates Jair Jurrjens and Jonny Venters, who will make their first ever All-Star"
July 3
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Chipper Jones is hoping another round of cortisone injections will help him continue to stave off arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. Jones said he found out on Friday that he had a low enough dosage in his last injections May 15 that he could go ahead with another dose now. Jones is planning to get a shot after Sunday's game against the Orioles so that he'll have 24 hours before the Braves play against Monday night against the Rockies. He's hoping he won't have to miss a start that way. Cortisone shots typically require 2-3 days to take effect, but Jones only missed one game after his last injection May 15 and was ready to return by May 17 against the Astros. Jones is playing with a"
July 2
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Chipper Jones returned to the lineup Friday night against Baltimore after giving his ailing right knee two days to rest. He said his knee is "still barking" but he's going to continue to try to play through it for now. "I'm going to give it a couple more days, see if the treatment helps, and make a decision after that," Jones said. He has played the last six weeks with a small meniscus tear and was able to avoid surgery with help from two cortisone shots. But the effect of those shots has worn off and he can't get another until some time in August. Jones is trying to avoid surgery, which would cost him 2-3 weeks, especially at a time when the Braves are trying to get their lineup back"