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Live Chat With Hall of Famer Chipper Jones
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Jason Gaines
10:05
Hey Chipper! Huge Fan, thanks for everything that you did for Braves Country, what is your favorite game winning home run, that you hit in your Hall of Fame Career?
Chipper Jones
10:06
That one made me think.  Probably that last one off Papelbon.  Walk off HRs are always special, but hitting it off a division rival, a great closer and in that environment in my last season was really special.
Justin Hall
10:07
Hey Chipper, would you ever consider taking a managers position in the MLB? & besides the Braves what team would you be most intrigued to manage?
Chipper Jones
10:09
I do not think I want to manage at this point.  Game has really changed.  Love matchups and gut feel and analytics doesn't always translate to the same move.  I love the game and where it is, and I am fascinated with how analytics are used.  Just a different set of decision making now and I am not sure it would embrace an old timer, old school guy like me haha
Aris B.
10:10
Hey Chipper, I was just wondering - do you think you would've hit more home runs in your career if your home ballpark was Truist instead of Turner Field?
Chipper Jones
10:10
Oh absolutely.  Lets just dream on that...
Wiffle Ball Star
10:11
What's the best advice Hank Aaron ever gave you?
Chipper Jones
10:12
Hank always told me to swing the heaviest bat I could get through the zone.  He was always big on getting the bat to the point where it needed to be at the right now.  Not a huge bat speed guy.  Wanted me to get the biggest piece of lumber at the right place at the right time.  I followed that advice throughout my career.
Mike
10:13
What were the biggest differences on the field, in the club house, and off the field between your rookie year and your last year?
Chipper Jones
10:16
Different culture in our clubhouse.  First year was very business-like...tons of vets.  Get your work in, come to the park ready to play, know what we wanted to accomplish.  In the last year, the game was really starting to change.  We were a younger team.  It was great for me because it kept me young and kept the clubhouse mood really light.  I got crushed for my mock turtlenecks and tight pants.  I WAS the old vet and guys like BMac and others kept me fresh and made me fall in love with the game all over again...that was the beginning of this new era of baseball and players we are seeing now.  Love how the game evolves...
Aidan
10:17
If you were to give someone who wants to be an mlb player any piece of advice what would you give them?
Chipper Jones
10:19
Keep your head down and work.  Don't read rankings, press clippings or things people say about you...good or bad.  Those comments...those rankings...those opinions do not matter to you.  You and your teammates and your support system determine how your career will go.  Try to turn 4 plays and 4 at bats every night into something you can build upon.  It is a lot harder than you think or can even imagine.
I'm going to answer 2 or 3 more.  Sorry if I didn't get to yours.
Tim
10:21
What impressed you the most about the 21 Braves?
Chipper Jones
10:22
I think it was the work ethic and resilience.  They were grinders.  They spend a tremendous amounts of time on the fine details, the things it takes to be champions.  The hitting coaches and Ron and every guy in that dugout were invested in being great.  From man 1 to man 25 on the roster, they were grinding.  I knew that team had a chance if things went right at the end because of that mentality.
Superstition
10:25
Hi Chipper is it true that a lot of baseball players are superstitious? If so, what are some of the strangest ‘rituals’ you saw teammates do in order to have success on the field?
Chipper Jones
10:27
I can tell you my own, which were kind of weird.  I ate four chocolate chip cookies and a Powerade before every game.  And we are REALLY quirky about new equipment and tools of our trade.  New batting gloves and you go 0-4 then goodbye BGs.  New bat and a few strikeouts - into the trash heap.
RFC
10:28
Much of your career was during a transitionary period in baseball history because of analytics and data science. If your rookie year was in 2021 instead of 1995, how do you think your career would play out with the new tools available to players? (of course, starting on a World Series championship team!)
Chipper Jones
10:33
Great question to end on.  We had the tools we had and we used them to the fullest.  I am not sure it would change my career.  More information is available to both hitters and pitchers now.  The playing field and information game is still even...there is just more of it.  Players have always gotten to pick and choose what information works for them.  At the end of the day, execution is key.  Not one piece of paper is going to help me hit a 98 mph sinking FB with the game on the line.  However, the preparation and the importance of these analytical tools is crucial for today's player to be mentally prepared to do exactly that.  Again, we used what we had to do that back in the day and today's player does the same.  At the end of that preparation and great work the front office does to prepare their players, you have to execute.  You have to use all of that information to get the result you want.  Both pitcher and hitter.  That is the great battle that has existed and will always exist in the game of baseball.
10:35
Thank you to everyone and thank you for all of your questions.  There were some great ones out there I didn't get to.  And as much as I would love to talk baseball all day (which I could), I retired for a reason - to spend time with momma and these boys...and squeeze in some hunting and golfing too.  This was a blast.  All my best to MLBTR and you fans.  You are what makes the game great.  Hang with the players as we get through this lockout.  We will be back and I know all of them are chomping at the bit to take the field this spring.  Take care.
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