Chipper wants to shed injury-prone label

The Braves third baseman Chipper Jones, who'll be 35 in April, was on the disabled list three separate times in 2006, twice late in the year for a left oblique strains and once the first week of the year for a sprained knee and ankle. A player that was once the model of health and consistency - Jones played in 150-plus games for nine straight seasons, 1996-2003 - is now dangerously teetering on the brink of having his entire career tainted by the injury-prone label that's fully dogging him. Jones played in only 109 games in 2005, largely due to issues with those genetically bad feet. Often painful bunions led to problems with the plantar plate and a ligament in his left foot, forcing him into a protective boot for more than a month.

Regardless of what preventative measures he takes, as long as he continues to play the game, Jones said his feet are going to remind him that they're not perfectly normal. "Yeah, they give me problems and it's going to keep me out a day here and a day there, but hopefully that's all it is," he said. "I think I can play through it."

He hit his second spring home run Saturday, and he's up to .333 in March, but Jones hasn't even made it through camp without fueling concerns about his health. And it hasn't even been about his feet. Everyone cringed March 12 when Jones pulled up after his first at-bat in Jupiter, Fla. He limped off with what was feared to be issues with those pesky feet. Instead, it was a mild ankle sprain that didn't even keep him out of the lineup a day. Four days later, Jones tweaked his right side during batting practice. He didn't return until Thursday, but a couple of those days were manager Bobby Cox being overly cautious. "His side is no longer hurting," Cox reiterated Saturday, before uttering something pretty telling about Jones' current state. "Knock on wood."

In 2006, Chipper hit .324 with 26 home runs, 86 RBI, 87 runs and 6 SB in only 110 games. Jones has the potential to post big numbers in 2007, if he can stay healthy.
Source: Macon Telegraph