What if Chipper goes .300/30/100+

[brett]

Does Chipper still retire if he continues to have a great season, particularly if he hits around 30 home runs and ends up within 15 or so of 500, and if he leaves his average enough buffer to likely keep it over .300? Does he have to give back all those gifts? Going into the season he could only afford 2 years at about .270, or a little lower but if he goes .285-.290 this year he could probably sustain a sub .250 year the next.

[Joltin' Joe]

and if he leaves his average enough buffer to likely keep it over .300?

I wonder if he cares about his lifetime .400+ OBP....
The .400 OBP is more in danger than his .300 from pulling a Mantle...

[Bigfoot 88]

I think he would still retire. And that is because while he is putting up those home run and RBI numbers, he is barely playing. His body is worn out. I don't see him going back on his word.

[dominik]

I wonder if he cares about his lifetime .400+ OBP....
The .400 OBP is more in danger than his .300 from pulling a Mantle...

I wonder if he even knows his OBP.

I think he will retire anyway. going out on a high will even increase his legacy and give him a couple more votes then if he goes out with a .250 season.

[SamtheBravesFan]

Chipper isn't Brett Favre. He knows his reputation would be tarnished if everyone gave him farewell stuff and then he says, "Ooopsie, nevermind, I'll come back!"

[brett]

Chipper isn't Brett Favre. He knows his reputation would be tarnished if everyone gave him farewell stuff and then he says, "Ooopsie, nevermind, I'll come back!"

Might he feel that he owes Atlanta fans his best shot at 500 HRs though (or that not trying would also tarnish his reputation).

[csh19792001]

Does Chipper still retire if he continues to have a great season, particularly if he hits around 30 home runs and ends up within 15 or so of 500, and if he leaves his average enough buffer to likely keep it over .300? Does he have to give back all those gifts? Going into the season he could only afford 2 years at about .270, or a little lower but if he goes .285-.290 this year he could probably sustain a sub .250 year the next.

Brett, how many players in history have played 19 years or more and never had one bad (or even below average) year?

Chipper's OPS+ has been 116 or better since 1995, his second year. Hw many people have been THAT consistent?

[csh19792001]

I wonder if he cares about his lifetime .400+ OBP....
The .400 OBP is more in danger than his .300 from pulling a Mantle...

I read/heard Chipper a couple times in interviews that his goal, year in and year out, is to score 100 and drive in 100. Accounting for 200 runs for his team in that way was the most meaningful thing to him, at least it was in his prime. Constant nagging injuries (and a couple major ones) have kept him from that every year except one in the last decade...

[GiambiJuice]

I don't see him pulling a Pettitte. Chipper seems like an honest person.

[Matthew C.]

Chipper seems like an honest person.

Tell that to his first wife.

[SamtheBravesFan]

Might he feel that he owes Atlanta fans his best shot at 500 HRs though (or that not trying would also tarnish his reputation).

No, he wouldn't. One, he doesn't owe them jack squat and two, I don't think his body can hold up for 500 home runs.

[Joe33]

I don't see Chipper going back on his decision to retire. It just appears that he's had his fill of playing through pain and injuries.

[Joe33]

I don't see him pulling a Pettitte. Chipper seems like an honest person.

I don't understand the fan mentality of feeling slighted by a player that goes back on a decision to retire.

[brett]

Brett, how many players in history have played 19 years or more and never had one bad (or even below average) year?

Chipper's OPS+ has been 116 or better since 1995, his second year. Hw many people have been THAT consistent?

Musial had 22 seasons (and a lost war year) with a 101 OPS+ or better. He also had non-negative WAR in all 22 seasons (0 or better). he was at 0 with a 101 OPS+ in 1959.

George Brett had 19 straight positive WAR seasons and 18 straight 100+ OPS+ seasons but he was DHing at the end.

Ruth had 21 straight years with better than 3 WAR. 2 WAR or a full 154 games of play would be average.

Mantle had a 117 OPS+ for all 18 years and was over 137 for 17 straight and retired off a 143 season. Relatively speaking he should have kept playing but absolute league averages may have embarrassed him.

Without a big slump Jones will put up his 18th straight 2+ war season meaning he was a better than average player in all of those years.

[Matthew C.]

I don't understand the fan mentality of feeling slighted by a player that goes back on a decision to retire.

Right. People change their minds about their job status all the time. Now, Favre/Jordan levels can get a little excessive, but generally speaking...who cares.

[Matthew C.]

Musial had 22 seasons (and a lost war year) with a 101 OPS+ or better. He also had non-negative WAR in all 22 seasons (0 or better). he was at 0 with a 101 OPS+ in 1959.

George Brett had 19 straight positive WAR seasons and 18 straight 100+ OPS+ seasons but he was DHing at the end.

Ruth had 21 straight years with better than 3 WAR. 2 WAR or a full 154 games of play would be average.

Mantle had a 117 OPS+ for all 18 years and was over 137 for 17 straight and retired off a 143 season. Relatively speaking he should have kept playing but absolute league averages may have embarrassed him.

Without a big slump Jones will put up his 18th straight 2+ war season meaning he was a better than average player in all of those years.

Greg Maddux had 21 straight + seasons.
Tom Glavine had 18 straight 2+ seasons (20 straight + seasons).
Warren Spahn had 18 straight 2.5+ seasons.
Walter Johnson missed out on 20 straight 3+ WAR seasons by .1 WAR in 1920.
Cy Young was 6+ WAR for 15 straight years

[brett]

Right. People change their minds about their job status all the time. Now, Favre/Jordan levels can get a little excessive, but generally speaking...who cares.

I wouldn't have a problem with it. I think the problem is with announcing the retirement tour to begin with.

[GiambiJuice]

I don't understand the fan mentality of feeling slighted by a player that goes back on a decision to retire.

I don't feel slighted. It's just annoying to hear about how they are quitting because they so badly want to "spend time with the family" and then they come back a few months later. What, is family no longer important to you? Same goes for Favre, Urban Meyer, etc..

Especially in cases like Clemens, where he did his farewell tour, collected his awards and accolades etc... and then came back the next season as if nothing happened.

[RaysFan_98]

I don't feel slighted. It's just annoying to hear about how they are quitting because they so badly want to "spend time with the family" and then they come back a few months later. What, is family no longer important to you? Same goes for Favre, Urban Meyer, etc..

Especially in cases like Clemens, where he did his farewell tour, collected his awards and accolades etc... and then came back the next season as if nothing happened.

I hope we get to play OSU Soon and beat the living tar out of them (I am a Florida Gators Fan)

[philliesfiend55]

For Chipper to play through 2013, hit 500 home runs, while maintaining a lifetime .300 average would be ideal for his fans and would be a great waY TO GO OUT. But if he reaches those goals then he'd probably finish the '13 season with around 2,900 hits and then there would be the temptation to come back to reach 3,000 hits....and holding off retirement to reach statistical goals is never going to stop.
That's why this season will probably be his last. Even failing to reach 500 home runs and 3,000 hits his place in Cooperstown is already assured.

[Matthew C.]

I wouldn't have a problem with it. I think the problem is with announcing the retirement tour to begin with.

Right - if a player makes a huge public spectacle about it (or holds an entire organization hostage in terms of making important decisions i.e. Favre) that is a different story.

[Matthew C.]

Oopsie- double post!!!

[Los Bravos]

Especially in cases like Clemens, where he did his farewell tour, collected his awards and accolades etc... and then came back the next season as if nothing happened.

It was his tribute to George Costanza.

[ol' aches and pains]

I don't feel slighted. It's just annoying to hear about how they are quitting because they so badly want to "spend time with the family" and then they come back a few months later. What, is family no longer important to you? Same goes for Favre, Urban Meyer, etc..

Especially in cases like Clemens, where he did his farewell tour, collected his awards and accolades etc... and then came back the next season as if nothing happened.

In a perfect world, he should have returned all the gifts and awards, just as Kim Kardashian should return all the wedding presents. Of course in a perfect world, she wouldn't be famous for being famous.

[Joe33]

I love the quote from Chipper after Moyer accused him of stealing signs:

"I mean, dude, we don't need signs, especially for him. I mean, my goodness, every pitch is 78. Come on."

And:

"You question our integrity, that's wrong," Jones said. "I've never accused him of doctoring a baseball. I've never accused him of over-milligraming, nothing. That's [garbage] and he woke us up. I didn't see any signs on the 900-foot homers that were hit."

What is over-milligraming? I'm really going to miss Chipper when he retires.