DENVER After being accused by Rockies pitcher Jamie Moyer of stealing signs during Saturday nights game, Braves third baseman Chipper Jones acted like anything but a lion in winter.
He roared all right and kept roaring Sunday morning, lashing out at Moyer for questioning Jones integrity.
But Jones also showed again how much hitting ability he retains, driving in five runs with his third consecutive three-hit game to help the Braves rally from a 6-0 deficit for a 13-9 win Saturday.
It got us all motivated. He woke a sleeping giant, Jones said. We didnt do much before that point, and after that point I believe we scored 11 run. Everybody [on the Braves] knew what was going on.
Jones was at second base after hitting an RBI double in the fifth inning that cut the lead to 6-2. Television cameras showed Jones and Moyer exchange words while Moyer stood the mound, set to throw a 3-and-0 pitch to Brian McCann. Jones said the 49-year-old left-hander accused him of relaying the catchers sign to McCann.
What incenses me is that Im having a conversation with the shortstop [Colorados Troy Tulowitzki], not paying attention to [Moyer], and I get accused basically of cheating, Jones said Sunday morning, before the series finale. And thats wrong. Ive never accused him of doctoring a baseball or out-milligramming somebody.
That just doesnt make sense its a 6-2 ballgame and a 3-0 count. My hitter is taking no matter what in that situation. Because we play the game right. And he thinks Im giving signs? Hes paranoid.
When approached by two Atlanta reporters Sunday in the Rockies clubhouse and asked about the incident, Moyer said, Ive got no comment.
Well, Jones had plenty.
At one point, he rose from his seat in the visitors clubhouse Sunday to demonstrate.
I literally am standing on second base and Im talking to Tulo, and I turn around and [Moyer] is coming set, he said. So I get ready and take my lead, and [Moyer] goes, I see you. And I go, what the [bleep] do you see? What the [bleep] are you talking about? I go, I was [bleeping] talking to your shortstop. And he said something else with his back turned, like he yelled but didnt face me. I go, thats [bleeping] B.S. And I turned around to Tulo and Tulos like [holds hands up].
Tulowitzki was asked Sunday about the incident.
Moyer said something, the shortstop said. I think exactly how Chipper said it is how it happened. I think Moyer accused him of giving locations. All I can tell you is that Chipper and I were just talking, and I didnt get any sense that he was relaying anything. No one knows the truth. You can look at it from both sides. On Moyers side, whos going to say, Yeah, I was giving locations?
So yeah, you can see both sides. But for me, [Jones] wasnt doing anything.
Tulowitzki also said he understood why Jones would be upset.
Put yourself in his shoes if youre accused of something and you know you didnt do it, youre going to be fired up, he said.
When Moyer came up to bat in the bottom of the fifth inning, Jones said the pitcher stepped out of the batters box and had a message for Braves catcher McCann.
What really kind of gets under my skin is the fact that he told Mac, Thats how people get hurt, Jones said.
Jones said Moyers comment to McCann upset him. Later on the field he spoke to Rockies first baseman Todd Helton and Tulowitzki about it because [Moyer] was already out of the game by then, after those 900-foot homers with nobody on base I said he could meet me in the tunnel and discuss it if [he would] like, and I never heard back.
I dont know what he was thinking. Ive never relayed a sign from second in my entire career. And Tulo said his signs are so complex that NASA couldnt steal them.
The long home runs Jones referenced were back-to-back longballs by Matt Diaz and Jason Heyward off Moyer to begin the sixth inning, which served to open the spigot for the Braves offense. Diazs homer was an opposite-field shot rare for him that was conservatively estimated at 422 feet, and Heywards was a 445-foot blast to the bullpen just to the right of straightaway center.
Tyler Pastornicky followed Heyward with a single to chase Moyer from the game, and the Braves went on to score five runs in that inning and four more in the next for a 12-8 lead. Jones had a two-run single in each of those innings.
Jones matched a career high with his 18th five-RBI game, and first since turning 40 last month. He is the second Brave to have at least five RBIs in a game after his 40th birthday. The first was Babe Ruth in 1935, when he had six RBIs and the last three homers of his career in a game for the Boston Braves.
Moyer saw his ERA jump from 3.14 ERA to 4.01 after allowing 10 hits and season-highs of six runs and five earned runs in five-plus innings.
I tell you what, the next time we face them Ill stand with my back to him, and see what he says then, Jones said. Whats his excuse going to be when he gives it up then? I mean, dude, we dont need signs, especially for him. I mean, my goodness, every pitch is 78 [mph]. Come on.
Jones was correct about the rest of the Braves knowing what was going on between him and Moyer during the game.
Any time a pitcher steps off and starts talking toward second base, and then steps out of the box and starts talking to your catcher, you want to know whats going on, Diaz said. So yeah, we were all asking. We were aware.
Jamies been known to be a little paranoid before. Its just one of those things where it made absolutely no sense in the situation. And like Chip said, [Moyer] is one of those guys where giving pitches is really going to help. Youll end up chasing out of the zone. If youre sitting change-up and you get it, youll end up chasing it out of the zone.
Diaz said many major league teams make a practice of stealing and relaying signs, but not the Braves.
To be honest with you, Ive tried to get the Braves to relay signs from second ever since I got here, because every other team Ive been on does it, Diaz said. And Chips the reason we dont. Hell say no, we dont do that. So its funny that he got called out on it. Ironic even.
Diaz said Jones has always preached that hitters tend to expand their strike zones when they know the type and/or location of the thats coming. Pointing out that hes had his best seasons with the Braves, Diaz said hes probably better off because they dont relay signs. He spent most of last season with the Pittsburgh Pirates before being traded back to the Braves in August.
Last year we [Pirates] would relay at second sometimes if it was obvious, and I stunk, he said. So its one of those things Its been a part of the game for a long time. But the situation last night was really bizarre. Were down four [at the time]. Whos going to swing 3-0 when were down four? I mean, even if you get the green light that means youre really selfish. You better hit a homer. Macs a baseball player. He knows.
Jones had one more verbal jab to deliver, this time bringing a Braves rival into the mix. Moyers team from 2006 through 2010.
See, this is what happens when you get a pitcher who comes from a team that [relays signs] constantly the Phillies, Jones said. And he is so paranoid that every single team does it, which is not the case. Because the only people that I ever remember doing it in this organization were [Jeff] Blauser and [Mark] Lemke. Those are the only two guys that I ever knew of that would either give location or give signs from second base. Since then, nobodys ever done it [with the Braves].
Ive never asked for a location, Ive never asked for a pitch, and Ive never given one.
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves...accusation/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_braves_blog
He roared all right and kept roaring Sunday morning, lashing out at Moyer for questioning Jones integrity.
But Jones also showed again how much hitting ability he retains, driving in five runs with his third consecutive three-hit game to help the Braves rally from a 6-0 deficit for a 13-9 win Saturday.
It got us all motivated. He woke a sleeping giant, Jones said. We didnt do much before that point, and after that point I believe we scored 11 run. Everybody [on the Braves] knew what was going on.
Jones was at second base after hitting an RBI double in the fifth inning that cut the lead to 6-2. Television cameras showed Jones and Moyer exchange words while Moyer stood the mound, set to throw a 3-and-0 pitch to Brian McCann. Jones said the 49-year-old left-hander accused him of relaying the catchers sign to McCann.
What incenses me is that Im having a conversation with the shortstop [Colorados Troy Tulowitzki], not paying attention to [Moyer], and I get accused basically of cheating, Jones said Sunday morning, before the series finale. And thats wrong. Ive never accused him of doctoring a baseball or out-milligramming somebody.
That just doesnt make sense its a 6-2 ballgame and a 3-0 count. My hitter is taking no matter what in that situation. Because we play the game right. And he thinks Im giving signs? Hes paranoid.
When approached by two Atlanta reporters Sunday in the Rockies clubhouse and asked about the incident, Moyer said, Ive got no comment.
Well, Jones had plenty.
At one point, he rose from his seat in the visitors clubhouse Sunday to demonstrate.
I literally am standing on second base and Im talking to Tulo, and I turn around and [Moyer] is coming set, he said. So I get ready and take my lead, and [Moyer] goes, I see you. And I go, what the [bleep] do you see? What the [bleep] are you talking about? I go, I was [bleeping] talking to your shortstop. And he said something else with his back turned, like he yelled but didnt face me. I go, thats [bleeping] B.S. And I turned around to Tulo and Tulos like [holds hands up].
Tulowitzki was asked Sunday about the incident.
Moyer said something, the shortstop said. I think exactly how Chipper said it is how it happened. I think Moyer accused him of giving locations. All I can tell you is that Chipper and I were just talking, and I didnt get any sense that he was relaying anything. No one knows the truth. You can look at it from both sides. On Moyers side, whos going to say, Yeah, I was giving locations?
So yeah, you can see both sides. But for me, [Jones] wasnt doing anything.
Tulowitzki also said he understood why Jones would be upset.
Put yourself in his shoes if youre accused of something and you know you didnt do it, youre going to be fired up, he said.
When Moyer came up to bat in the bottom of the fifth inning, Jones said the pitcher stepped out of the batters box and had a message for Braves catcher McCann.
What really kind of gets under my skin is the fact that he told Mac, Thats how people get hurt, Jones said.
Jones said Moyers comment to McCann upset him. Later on the field he spoke to Rockies first baseman Todd Helton and Tulowitzki about it because [Moyer] was already out of the game by then, after those 900-foot homers with nobody on base I said he could meet me in the tunnel and discuss it if [he would] like, and I never heard back.
I dont know what he was thinking. Ive never relayed a sign from second in my entire career. And Tulo said his signs are so complex that NASA couldnt steal them.
The long home runs Jones referenced were back-to-back longballs by Matt Diaz and Jason Heyward off Moyer to begin the sixth inning, which served to open the spigot for the Braves offense. Diazs homer was an opposite-field shot rare for him that was conservatively estimated at 422 feet, and Heywards was a 445-foot blast to the bullpen just to the right of straightaway center.
Tyler Pastornicky followed Heyward with a single to chase Moyer from the game, and the Braves went on to score five runs in that inning and four more in the next for a 12-8 lead. Jones had a two-run single in each of those innings.
Jones matched a career high with his 18th five-RBI game, and first since turning 40 last month. He is the second Brave to have at least five RBIs in a game after his 40th birthday. The first was Babe Ruth in 1935, when he had six RBIs and the last three homers of his career in a game for the Boston Braves.
Moyer saw his ERA jump from 3.14 ERA to 4.01 after allowing 10 hits and season-highs of six runs and five earned runs in five-plus innings.
I tell you what, the next time we face them Ill stand with my back to him, and see what he says then, Jones said. Whats his excuse going to be when he gives it up then? I mean, dude, we dont need signs, especially for him. I mean, my goodness, every pitch is 78 [mph]. Come on.
Jones was correct about the rest of the Braves knowing what was going on between him and Moyer during the game.
Any time a pitcher steps off and starts talking toward second base, and then steps out of the box and starts talking to your catcher, you want to know whats going on, Diaz said. So yeah, we were all asking. We were aware.
Jamies been known to be a little paranoid before. Its just one of those things where it made absolutely no sense in the situation. And like Chip said, [Moyer] is one of those guys where giving pitches is really going to help. Youll end up chasing out of the zone. If youre sitting change-up and you get it, youll end up chasing it out of the zone.
Diaz said many major league teams make a practice of stealing and relaying signs, but not the Braves.
To be honest with you, Ive tried to get the Braves to relay signs from second ever since I got here, because every other team Ive been on does it, Diaz said. And Chips the reason we dont. Hell say no, we dont do that. So its funny that he got called out on it. Ironic even.
Diaz said Jones has always preached that hitters tend to expand their strike zones when they know the type and/or location of the thats coming. Pointing out that hes had his best seasons with the Braves, Diaz said hes probably better off because they dont relay signs. He spent most of last season with the Pittsburgh Pirates before being traded back to the Braves in August.
Last year we [Pirates] would relay at second sometimes if it was obvious, and I stunk, he said. So its one of those things Its been a part of the game for a long time. But the situation last night was really bizarre. Were down four [at the time]. Whos going to swing 3-0 when were down four? I mean, even if you get the green light that means youre really selfish. You better hit a homer. Macs a baseball player. He knows.
Jones had one more verbal jab to deliver, this time bringing a Braves rival into the mix. Moyers team from 2006 through 2010.
See, this is what happens when you get a pitcher who comes from a team that [relays signs] constantly the Phillies, Jones said. And he is so paranoid that every single team does it, which is not the case. Because the only people that I ever remember doing it in this organization were [Jeff] Blauser and [Mark] Lemke. Those are the only two guys that I ever knew of that would either give location or give signs from second base. Since then, nobodys ever done it [with the Braves].
Ive never asked for a location, Ive never asked for a pitch, and Ive never given one.
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves...accusation/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_braves_blog
@ him sonning his pitching
Dat boy Meyer aint bout dat life
