Chipper Jones likely to return at the end of week - MLB Update
Big strides in recovery bring third-baseman Chipper Jones closer to the season. Once stitches are removed from his injury, he will be all set to resume the regular season.
However, it remains to be seen if he will be brought in the line-up without being sent for rehab games.
Last time Jones escaped the Disabled List, defying what the Atlanta Braves’ manager Fredi Gonzalez ideally will have wanted, as he played the season right away. To stand against a player who has been spearheading the line-up for years was difficult and therefore
the manager had to give him the go.
Though, Jones did not disappoint, a formality which is considered essential was by-passed.
As of now, Jones has put the management into the same dilemma, again. Nearing his outage from DL, Jones is enthusiastic to propel the Braves to heights with a powerful display on the plate. Again, a hurdle to his way is the norm of playing rehab games.
How the manager and Jones are going to converge on a single point this time, has drawn attention of the fans. With manager believing in the importance of practice games and Jones h**l-bent to come back straight away, the drama will invite spotlight for few
days.
For Jones, rehab assignments are a distraction. Trusting his legs, he assures, he will be supplying as many hits as he has been in the past.
Belittling Minor League assignments, what is more important for the club at the moment is clinching Division Championship title, Jones uttered. To arrest the decline which the Braves are experiencing on the table, Jones along with catcher Brian McCann can
play a decisive role.
“I just feel like if I’m healthy enough to go down to play [in the minors], I’m healthy enough to stay here and play,” Jones said. “I’m not trying to help us win a Governor’s Cup [the Triple-A International League trophy]. I’m trying to help us win the National
League East. And obviously the more I can be here, the happier I am. And we’ve fared pretty good with me in the lineup, so that’s my goal.”
It is a last season for Jones before he retires. It is understandable therefore the penchant for playing, Jones has shown every time he gets over an injury.
Irrespective of how long he takes to appear in the season, only player the Braves can look up to during the time of distress is Jones. One will hope to see him in the ballpark soon.
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