From: Elliott
What kind of impact will Chipper's most recent knee injury have on the Braves' season? Yes it is early, but for the last 3 years the Braves have been in unnecessary close races due to poor early season performances against weaker opponents like the Pirates and Nationals. So any time missed even now is huge. Make no mistake about it, Chipper is the heart and soul of the Braves. The offense was impotent after he went down last year, but the biggest impact will be felt on defense. Brooks Conrad, despite his postseason struggles, is not that bad in the field, but is only a serviceable replacement at best. If Chipper is out for any extended length of time, then Jason Heyward must hit higher than .280 and drive in some runs. Chipper must play at least 140 games for the team to make the playoffs.
The good news is that this is not the same knee that required surgery last season. Early indications are that surgery may not be required, but if it is, then it should be done asap. A quick arthroscopic procedure may only keep Jones out of the lineup for 3-4 weeks. He need to be healthy for the postseason, if they get there.
