TOWER GROVE — Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones doesn’t have to take a swing this week with his balky right shoulder and he’ll likely edge Albert Pujols for his first career batting title. The numbers are too loaded in Jones’ favor for Pujols to catch up on his own.
He needs Jones to play.
Pujols has slipped well behind Jones after a 6-for-32 (.188) road trip that brings him home today to face Arizona. Pujols has also slipped behind Jones in on-base percentage, .467 to .453, though Pujols still leads by a healthy cushion in slugging (at .633, the only hitter better than .600). Because Jones has 71 fewer at-bats than Pujols this season, the switch-hitting Brave is more prone to bigger gains and larger drops in his average. Pujols, for example, would have to crank out an 11-for-11 jag while Jones rests his shoulder to catch Jones’ .3623 average. After an 11-for-11 run, Pujols would be hitting .3629.
Whereas, an 0-for-11 for slip Jones back into catching distance, at .3535.
Jones as had discomfort in the shoulder for about a month, but over the weekend it became too sore to throw or swing the bat effectively, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. He had only three at-bats in the series, going hitless. For Jones, there are a few more titles at stake than the National League batting title. The AJC explains:
Jones said he doesn’t want to back into the title and expects to play at some point in the final seven games. The Braves finish the home schedule Sunday against the Mets, then close with games in Philadelphia and Houston.
“I have no doubt I’ll probably get back in there,” he said. “At what point, I don’t know.”
Jones has a shot at the first batting title by a Braves player since Terry Pendleton in 1991, and also is close to the highest recorded single-season average for a switch-hitter, Mickey Mantle’s .365 in 1957.
There seems to be a rallying of stars for Pujols to win his second MVP. Manny Ramirez a week ago. Ryan Howard recently. Spoke to Derrek Lee yesterday before the Cubs left Wrigley and he said Pujols numbers were “too remarkable” to ignore when it came to voting. The players vote on the Player of the Year award, but it’s the writers who decide the MVP. It will be interesting to see how the triple-crown jewels factor in, because Howard is poised to take two of the jewels and Pujols has all but dropped out of the race for the other.
These series splits for the two batting title contenders:
CHIPPER JONES - .3624 (158-for-436)
vs. Philadelphia Phillies, at Citizens Bank Park
Career vs. Phillies: .339 (188 games)
2008 vs. Phillies: 14-for-33 (.424)
Career at Citizens Bank: 33-for-107 (.308)
2008 on the road: 65-for-203 (.320)
Career vs. J.A. Happ, Monday: 1-for-3 (.333)
Career vs. Cole Hamels, Tuesday: 5-for-15 (.333)
Career vs. Brett Myers, Wednesday: 10-for-30 (.333)
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ALBERT PUJOLS - .3491 (177-for-507)
vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, at Busch Stadium
Career vs. D’Backs: 55-for-169 (.325)
2008 vs. D’Backs: 2-for-10 (.200)
Career at Busch III: .333 (218 games)
2008 at home: 88-for-241 (.365)
Career vs. Brandon Webb, Monday: 5-for-21 (.238)
Career vs. Randy Johnson, Tuesday: 8-for-19 (.421)
Career vs. Max Scherzer, Wednesday: 0-0 (.—)
Career vs. Doug Davis, Thursday: 10-for-31 (.323)
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