Chipper on Fire, Early Favorite for NL MVP Award
When John Lannan and three Washington relievers blanked the Braves Tuesday night, it marked the end of two Atlanta streaks. The Braves had a five-game winning streak stall, and red-hot Chipper Jones went hitless for just the second time all season.
The hitless evening ended a 13-game streak in which the Atlanta third baseman was 23-for-49 (.469) with four doubles, five home runs and 11 RBIs. His 0-for-4 night dropped his season average to .430, though with 19 ribbies in 20 games.
Jones had back-to-back two-homer games last week. The first of two nights was Thursday, when the switch-hitter went 4-for-4 in an 8-0 romp over the Marlins.
Before Atlanta’s 6-0 loss to the Nationals Tuesday, Jones and Phillies second baseman Chase Utley shared the National League lead with 10 multihit games -- one fewer than the major league leader, Dustin Pedroia.
Heading into Tuesday’s action, Jones led the majors with 34 hits and five 3+ hit games. He also ranked among the leaders in RBIs and on-base-plus-slugging.
Major League Leaders in RBIs and OPS, 2008
(through Monday’s games)
Player. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RBIs. . . . . Player. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OPS
Manny Ramirez, Bos. . . . . . . 20. . . . . . Chase Utley, Phi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.253
Chipper Jones, Atl. . . . . . . . 19. . . . . . Chipper Jones, Atl. . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.235
Pat Burrell, Phi. . . . . . . . . . 19. . . . . . .Pat Burrell, Phi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.218
David Wright, NYM. . . . . . . . 19. . . . . . David Wright, NYM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.166
Mark Reynolds, Ari. . . . . . . .19. . . . . . .Rafael Furcal, LAD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.164
Josh Hamilton, Tex. . . . . . . .19. . . . . . Conor Jackson, Ari. . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.158
A few budding National League MVP candidates are featured here. Phillies Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins have claimed the last two MVP awards for the NL East. Teammate Pat Burrell, the Mets’ David Wright and Jones look like early favorites to make it three straight years for the division.