As Chipper Jones struggles to locate his stroke, the Braves continue to struggle for offensive consistency. Chipper is now hitting .269 for the season or a whopping 95 points below his league leading average from one year ago. Not only is his average down, but his power production is down too. Chipper will likely miss the 20 home run mark for the first time in his career. His batting average and slugging will be his worst marks since 2004 when Chipper only hit .248 and slugged .485, but he at least homered 30 times and drove in 96 runs that season.

Chipper has gotten so frustrated with himself that he is now talking about retirement. Chipper announced this week that if he struggles again next season, he will simply walk away. He has high standards for himself, and he is not willing to stick around and collect a paycheck. You have to respect him for that, especially after he just signed a three-year, $42 million extension in the off-season. How many guys have we seen stick around too long as their skills erode?

Chipper’s struggles are only part of the Braves’ offensive problem. Brian McCann has also struggled as of late. He has hit .238 in the months since August 1, and that includes a .381 mark over his last 5 games. I think Bobby Cox’s overuse of his All-Star catcher is showing.

One need only look at the Braves’ offensive leaders to see what they need to target in the off season. Brian McCann is the team leader in home runs (18) and RBI (79). Comparing those totals to the rest of the team leaders in the National League only shows that the Braves have a total lack of mashers in the middle of their lineup. McCann’s 18 home runs rank 15th out of 16 National League team leaders placing him ahead of only the injury-depleted New York Mets whose leaders (Wright, Sheffield) have only 10 home runs. McCann’s 79 RBIs rank him 12th out of 16 N.L. team leaders ranking him ahead of only Pittsburgh’s Andy LaRoche (52), New York’s David Wright (66), San Francisco’s Pablo Sandoval (77), and Colorado’s Todd Helton (78). The Braves obviously need to add a thumper this off-season.

The only places on the field available to place the thumper are at first base or left field. Garret Anderson will likely not be re-signed, and it’s questionable whether the Braves would be willing to re-sign Adam LaRoche. The Braves have depth at starting pitcher (assuming the Braves and Tim Hudson mutually agree on his option for next season) and could trade one of those pitchers in a package deal for someone. Javier Vazquez is the most logical choice because he is signed through 2010 and can be traded to any team in a central or eastern division. A package deal involving Vazquez, first base prospect Freddie Freeman, and a lesser prospect might interest Milwaukee who may not be able to afford Prince Fielder after 2010. Vazquez will make $11.5 million in 2010 and Fielder will make $10.5 million. It’s just a thought.