Chipper Jones came within a couple of points of his first batting title in 2007. He's using 2008 to prove it wasn't a fluke.

Jones currently finds himself in a 10-game hitting streak, and has hit safely in every game but one. Granted, the season is only 16 games old, but if someone can make a statement in the first 16 games of the season, he is definitely doing it.

With a 3-for-5 performance tonight against Los Angeles, Jones is hitting a red-hot .455. That's good enough to put him atop the major leagues in batting average. Also, with back-to-back multi-homer games, he now is tied for the major league lead in home runs with six.

Jones, who has battled injuries in each of the last four seasons, is trying to play in 150 games for the first time in five seasons. From 1996-2003, Jones played in at least 150 games. From 2004-2007, the most games he has played in a season is 137, and in two of those seasons he only played in 109 and 110 games.

Many people consider Jones to be one of the most prolific switch-hitters of all-time with a career average of .308 with 392 home runs. But his bat is not the only part of his game that sticks out.

The Mets' David Wright took home the National League Gold Glove Award for third basemen last year, but many believed that Jones deserved it more. In the 126 games he started at third base last season, Chipper committed only nine errors. Compare that to the 21 errors committed by Wright in 159 games, and you can understand why Jones felt snubbed about not winning the award.

Chipper Jones is looking to make 2008 a year to remember, and 16 games into the season he could not have asked for a better start.