Mets are Chipper About Jones

In fifty years of history, the New York Mets have had many chances to develop rivalries and players to hate. One of the most hated among fans in recent memory is Larry Jones of the Atlanta Braves. He is better known by his nickname "Chipper".

After an announcement that he will retire at the end of this season, the Mets have decided to pay respect to his career and accomplishments in September by honoring him in some type of currently unplanned ceremony. Many fans are up in arms over this issue and rightfully so.

Why would a team honor their biggest rival in front of their own fans? It may be a nice gesture to pat homage to a potential hall of fame candidate, but it hardly seems appropriate in this case. After all, did the Braves honor Mike Piazza a few years ago when he reached his milestone for most home runs by a catcher?

Of course not! And why not? Because a handful of those home runs were memorable in key situations against those Braves. Chipper Jones has 48 home runs, 154 RBI and countless big hits against the Mets in his tenure. Is that something that deserves to be celebrated by the Mets?

This is a man who has made a career feasting on Mets pitching so much so that he named his own child "Shea" because he liked playing in the Mets former home so much. And this is what the Mets wish to honor? Coming from the Mets, it sends a very distorted message.

I can understand if the Braves wanted to pay respect to him and decided to do it when they play the Mets late in the season in Atlanta. I can understand if the Braves did that and showed a ton of highlights versus the Mets. None of those are the case here. The Mets have volunteered to do this in front of their own fans.

It is another example of just how out of touch ownership is with their fanbase. It is a sad state that the team and the sport in general finds itself in. The team has clearly shown their desire to make the publicly correct action over the internally correct one.

They have to be thinking of their reputation in this instance. There can be no other reason. Does ownership honestly think paying an opposing player respect in front of their fans is going to be well received?  The truth is that no one can really be sure, but it speaks to how the league has developed more unity over the past fifty years.

Would the Red Sox have shown respect to Lou Gehrig? Would the Yankees have honored Ted Williams? Would the Cubs have paid tribute to Stan Musial? No, no and no. As far as teams go, the general mindset has certainly changed between organizations over the decades. That change is the direct result of players being more friendly to one another.

There are fellow countrymen that choose to work out with each other in the off season before reporting to Spring Training to work with their team. Some players pass on secrets, grips for new pitches, hitting tips and much more.  Major League Baseball  is a collection of players with common interests these days. This may be attributed more to the development of free agency, but it presents a problem.

After all, would Tom Seaver or Bob Gibson have taught trade secrets to another pitcher in their day? No way! There was an overall loyalty to your team then. These days that loyalty is to individuals that have common bonds. The difference is staggering and it has led to this: a team honoring their worst rival.

There's nothing wrong with showing respect the old fashioned way and just pitch around him in a key spot or tip your cap to him after a play. No spectacle, no tribute, no ceremony needed for that. Most of all, Chipper Jones would know he had the respect of those that really mattered to him: the opposing players.