The Atlanta Braves heard some really bad news yesterday when they learned that 3B Chipper Jones will miss the remainder of the season because of a torn ligament in his left knee. Jones hurt the knee fielding a ground ball in Tuesday night’s game against the Houston Astros.
I actually watched the injury when it happened, and it looked ugly on TV. Jones backhanded a ball down the third base line and attempted to make a Derek Jeter-like throw to first.
Jones pulled off the play with perfection but landed awkwardly on his feet. It looked like his leg straightened out and he hyperextended his knee. Jones went down immediately.
Unfortunately for the Braves and their fans, Jones went down and went down for the count. Jones tore his ACL and will require surgery on that knee. At the age of 38, Jones may now be facing the end of his career.
Jones talked about retirement earlier in the season, and you have to wonder if at his age he wants to go through rehab that might take six months. My guess is that Jones will take the offseason to figure things out, see how the rehab is going, and also see what type of team the Braves will field in 2011.
If Jones does indeed retire, he will go down as one of the greatest switch-hitters of all time and will be a sure-fire Hall of Famer. He won the NL MVP award in 1999, and if it hadn’t been for a myriad of injuries, Jones could have ended his career with 3,000 hits and 500 HRs.
Unless the Braves make a move on the waiver wire, look for them to use Brooks Conrad and Omar Infante at third.
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