'The great ones just think differently': Chipper, Murphy visit Braves camp

NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Braves manager Walt Weiss brought franchise legends Chipper Jones and Dale Murphy to Spring Training to talk to the team’s hitters before Thursday’s 9-5 victory over the Blue Jays.

“I really wanted those guys to talk more about just the mental side of hitting, the preparation, slowing the game down in a big at-bat,” Weiss said. “How did they do it? I don't care if it's in our sport or any line of work. It really doesn't have to even be sports. The great ones just think differently.”

Considered by some to have been the best player of the 1980s, Murphy won consecutive National League MVP Awards in 1982 and ’83. Jones garnered this same honor in 1999 and was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 2018.

Beyond Hank Aaron, Jones and Murphy stand as the most iconic hitters in Braves history. So, it was certainly a thrill for everyone to see the former MVPs field a variety of questions from Atlanta’s current players.

“This is exactly what Walt has stressed to us, that these guys come back around,” Braves ace Chris Sale said. “They care about this organization and they know the legacy they've left. It's fun to see those guys come back around. These are guys that we grew up watching.”

All of the Braves were either toddlers or not yet born when Murphy concluded his great career in 1993. But many of them grew up watching at least the latter part of Jones’ career.

Mauricio Dubón has fond memories of watching Jones on TBS in Honduras, and Sale still has the signed ball he got from the Hall of Fame third baseman nearly 25 years ago. As for Matt Olson, he grew up in suburban Atlanta surrounded by friends and family members who idolized Jones.

So, it’s always been cool for Olson to talk to Jones, like he did on Thursday morning when he asked the eight-time All-Star how much he would be committed to a certain pitch when facing a pitcher who relied on the changeup as his out pitch.

“I just went through the at-bat with him,” Jones said. “I would sit dead red the first pitch against a guy that I knew had a good changeup. No matter what the pitch was, I'd come out of my shoes. If I did get the heater, I'd probably put it in play. But if I got the changeup, I'd swing through it. From that point on, I'd be sitting on the changeup.

“Those are kind of the ins and outs of trying to set a pitcher up to get that pitch you want, because you know, when the rubber meets the road, he’s going to throw it.”

Murphy showed the players a Novak Djokovic interview during which the tennis star was asked about his mental strength.

“The guy interviewing him starts out, 'you're great physically, but your gift is your mental strength,'” Murphy said. “Djokovic goes, ‘I’ve got to stop you. It’s not a gift. I work at it really hard because that’s where the battle is. It’s not physical.'”

Murphy likened this to the battle that continues after a batter misses a fastball or breaking ball that they know they should have hit hard.

“It’s like Djokovic said, there’s a storm going on,” Murphy said. “Some people may not notice it. But the guys that can get through that storm the quickest have the advantage.”

Murphy and Jones might not have focused on exit velocity, launch angle or any of the metrics commonly used in today’s game. But they understood the importance of consistently hitting the ball hard with a good swing plane. More importantly, they understand the same mental challenges today’s hitters face every time they step in the box.

“The game has changed and the way guys pitch now has changed,” Weiss said. “But in relation to your swing thoughts and your mental approach, very, very little has changed.”