Chipper: ‘We’ve got five or six studs in the starting lineup’
NORTH PORT, Fla. — Everything appeared to be proper once more when Chipper Jones arrived at Spring Training on Monday. The Hall of Fame third baseman will spend three weeks in Braves camp after which head again to Atlanta to once more put together for his function as a hitting advisor.
Along with being probably the greatest gamers in Braves historical past, Jones has confirmed to be a hitting savant. He seems ahead to the possibility to proceed conveying data whereas working with Atlanta’s gamers earlier than dwelling video games this yr. He missed the 2021 postseason and all of final season due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Here are a few of Jones’ ideas in regards to the upcoming season.
MLB.com: How fulfilling has it been for the Braves to provide you a task like this, the place you might be round your loved ones and the sport?
Jones: I need to preserve my foot within the door, simply in case I need to do extra, however I’ve nonetheless received three little ones on the home. I nonetheless love being a dad and being husband. I might be [with the players] from 2 o’clock till 7 o’clock. If I need to keep for the sport, I can. If I need to go dwelling, put the youngsters to mattress and watch the sport on TV, I can try this. It’s actually the perfect of each worlds for me.
Jones: I had tears in my eyes. I used to be truly searching in Iowa once they received it. I used to be sitting at a desk in entrance of in entrance of the TV, and I received misty[-eyed], man, as a result of, I used to be with these guys from day one among Spring Training and a lot of the dwelling video games and what not. It’s not all the time the group with 100 wins. We received 100 video games six instances once I was right here, and never a kind of years did we win a World Series. [The 2021 team] received scorching on the proper time. They began smelling it in September. Once they began smelling it, you couldn’t beat them.
Jones: Michael Harris is a famous person. There aren’t any ifs, ands or buts about it. I noticed him developing and instantly thought he was a left-handed Ronald Acuña [Jr.]. He’s only a phenomenal child. He works onerous. He’s the sort of man you actually pull for. The core is right here. We’ve received 5 or 6 studs within the beginning lineup. The secret’s holding them wholesome all yr and offering this pitching employees with as a lot offense as we are able to.
MLB.com: You described your self as a “proud papa” when Austin Riley loved his first 30-homer season in 2021. What did you concentrate on him following that yr with one more nice season?
Jones: I believe there’s extra within the tank. I actually do. I do not assume he is he is hit his ceiling but. But the primary factor I like is the consistency. He goes to the submit each single day. He’s on the market at third base, and he’s hitting third in lineup, and he’s regarded upon to knock in 100 [runs] and hit 30 [homers] and rating 100 [runs] and play good protection. He’s carried out that. It’s simply nice to see. Every every now and then, I’ll shoot him a textual content and say, “You made me proud today.”
Jones: It’s going to be tough on the hitters right here in the beginning, however they’ll make the changes. From a pitching standpoint, I believe it helps the pitchers. Get the ball, get again on the mound. It helps you get right into a rhythm. I hope our pitchers really feel that means. I believe it’s factor.
