BY SCOTT LAUBERChipper Jones knows how it feels to be on top of the NL East -- he played on Atlanta Braves division champion teams from 1995 through 2005 -- and he isn't impressed by the behavior of the Phillies or the Mets.
"We won for 14 consecutive years, and you never, ever, saw any bulletin board material," Jones told The Sporting News. "And now that these two teams are on top of the division, they can't keep their mouths shut. Just go play baseball. It's Cole Hamels now. It was Jimmy Rollins and Carlos Beltran the past couple of springs. These two teams are constantly going at each other verbally. You know, win with class, lose with class. Just keep your mouth shut and go play your game."
To recap, in case you've been out of touch the past few years: The Mets won the NL East in 2006, but Rollins said the Phillies would be the "team to beat" in '07, a boast that came true thanks to a September surge that was aided greatly by an epic Mets choke. Beltran shot back at Rollins before last season, claiming that the Mets, who added Johan Santana in the offseason, were the new "team to beat." But, once again, the Phillies finished strong and the Mets folded. Now, perhaps emboldened by the Phillies' world championship and definitely baited by a couple of New York sports talk radio hosts, Hamels, the World Series MVP, called the Mets "choke artists" only a few days before their new closer and latest free-agent addition, Francisco Rodriguez, said the Mets would again be the "team to beat."
Does Chipper have a point? Should the Phillies and Mets just shut up and play?
8 comments:
phillies have won as many world series in their 2 yr reign as the braves did during their 14 yr run as division champs.
shut it chipper. the 1990-early 2000 braves are the posterchild for underachievers.
Let's not forget how dull and boring the 1990's Braves were. Chipper was right in the middle of the Bland Empire.
Chipper is just bitter that his team has hit the skids the past 3 years.
Note to Chipper: This is what happens when their is a rivalry. Personalities create a rivalry. The Phils and Mets have personalities. The Braves are boring as hell. When is the last time the Braves has a real rivalry?
I couldn't agree with Chipper more. The back-and-forth garbage got old really fast. I roll my eyes every time I hear a player baited into a quote.
I agree with all the commenters.. on one hand, I like the rivalry. On the other hand, use actions, not words.
At the end, though, I think Chipper sounds like sour grapes!
I have to admit, the Braves enjoyed years of success on the field during which their attendance and TV ratings declined. 'Shut up and play' is great for players, less so for fans.
Hardcore fans don't need the back-and-forth. Putting a little spice in the rivalry, however, seems to translate into putting additional fannies in the seats-- and there's nothing wrong with that!
I think that a little in your face is ok, but, with the length of the season, and the turns and twists of fate that occur, I say that Chipper is right! Just go play ball! As long as the Phillies have a 500 season, I am a happy camper. With a World Series,I was out of my mind! But, I love baseball for baseball! GO PLAY THE GAME! Let the "Chips" fall where they may!
Chipper is a sour-faced creep. The Davis Love of baseball.
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