The last time Chipper Jones was on a flight, his surgically repaired knee ballooned and caused him to miss the next two games. As the Braves, who have won seven of their last eight, head cross-country from Atlanta to Phoenix tonight, there's concern that his knee will once again suffer, David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. O'Brien also notes that Jones plans to wrap his knee before the flight in the hopes that he won't suffer similar problems.
The obvious should be noted: flying from Hartsfield to Sky Harbor is a significantly longer haul than going from Houston to Atlanta (about 1,000 miles longer, actually), which is the route that caused Jones problems earlier this month. Jones also admits his knee is still painful at times. "I’m going through the domino effect right now,” Jones told O'Brien. “The knee is obviously not all the way back yet and when you favor it and you try and play, other things start hurting. You start trying to compensate. I’m trying to stay out there and battle through it, get myself in shape.”
In spite of age and injury, Jones is off to a hot start in 2012, and he's obviously a key part of what figures to be contending Braves team in this, Jones's final season. Provided his knee tolerates the long flight to Phoenix, he can keep at it.
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