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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
558 comments Add your comment
Wayne in Utah
February 26th, 2010
10:47 am
I can see it now……Jason Heyward wearing the “My Little Pony” backpack!
I DEFINITELY need a picture of that!
Jersey Gil
February 26th, 2010
10:47 am
thinbreakness …Agree 100% ours bench is better this year.
thinbreakness
February 26th, 2010
10:48 am
BravePack-
Awesome Dude and I hope you have a blast in July. Great to hear that you support the team from Chicago.
JeremyL
February 26th, 2010
10:49 am
Anyone have any tips for attending a Spring Training game?
We’re going down in a couple of weeks and have tickets for the 3/19 evening game against Detroit.
dmack2027
February 26th, 2010
10:51 am
I think it is safe to say that none of the Braves’ top prospects (which Freeman is) will be summoned to Atlanta for a platoon type role. If the service clock is started, it would be safe to assume that player will be starting. Otherwise, it is better to leave them in the minor leagues to accumulate at bats.
As long as Glaus is healthy, he will be slotted in behind Chipper.
dogsbrekky
February 26th, 2010
10:52 am
Just checking in, what is the car hit count now ?
tiger297
February 26th, 2010
10:52 am
wayne
that would be funny…but it is reserved for a rookie in the bullpen
tiger297
February 26th, 2010
10:53 am
brekky
man haven’t seen you much figure u got the thing in SOHO and been busy?
thinbreakness
February 26th, 2010
10:53 am
Brave Pack-
Wording was strange. It’s great that the Braves have fans in Chicago, that’s what I meant to convey.
David O'Brien
February 26th, 2010
10:55 am
Talked to Buster Olney this morning here at the ballpark, and he’s upset that he has to leave at 10 a.m. because he’s going to miss Heyward’s BP. Everyone wants to see one of the McDonough Masher’s power sessions.
P'cola Brave
February 26th, 2010
10:56 am
Is the My Little Pony backpack just for pitching rookies or for all of them. If I remember correctly Schafer was toting it at the beginning of the season. If they all have to wear it it could be funny seeing someone as big as Heyward toting around a My Little Pony backpack.
dogsbrekky
February 26th, 2010
10:56 am
tiger – nope we almost bought 2 diff bars and EVERYONE talked us out of it
so we are sticking to what we know and expanding the boss lady’s business… I am employing a new designer and opening a new label to do some cheaper jewelry and a more expensive price point line
P'cola Brave
February 26th, 2010
10:57 am
Well judging by the above comments I was wrong about seeing Schafer. Maybe Dunn will make it so the backpack will live on.
dpelfrey
February 26th, 2010
10:58 am
You mean the My Little Pony backback is a real thing? I thought it was a joke about Medlen being a wee-little man. They really have the rookie in the pen wear one? That’s hilarious. Did Moylan come up with that?
Randy S
February 26th, 2010
10:59 am
Apple announced today that they had sold their 10 billionth song on iTunes. The song was by none other than…the Man in Black himself. A 71 year-old man from Woodstock, GA downloaded Johnny Cash’s “Guess Things Happen That Way”. He said that he didn’t even know the song, but was making a Johnny Cash mix for his grandson and liked it from the preview. He received a personal phone call from Steve Jobs and a $10,000 iTunes gift card. Gotta love it when the universe lines up nicely. Happy Birthday, Johnny!
tiger297
February 26th, 2010
11:00 am
brekky
same thing is boring but safe…although the bar/restaurant business is amazingly difficult to be successful longterm
pcola
I could be wrong maybe I only notice it when it gets brought out to the bullpen
TheManMike
February 26th, 2010
11:01 am
Good site for all you NCAA Basketball fans out there…Can watch full games.
http://vault.ncaa.com/
Magic Man
February 26th, 2010
11:04 am
DOB
You are right about Kansas. They are the clear-cut #1 team in the nation. Any objective, educated fan would say that. What separates them is their veteran leadership. All of the top teams – Syracuse, Purdue, Kentucky, Kansas – have top talent, but Kansas has the edge in leadership with Aldrich and Collins. Watch out for Syracuse though. If Wesley Johnson gets fully healthy, they might be the team to win it all. They are loaded talent wise, but are a different team with Wesley Johnson at full capacity. Kentucky is talented, but really young. And, therefore, inconsistent. Any given night, they could blow out someone really good or lose to someone they shouldn’t.
McDT
February 26th, 2010
11:05 am
Just heard that DOB is going to be live on 790 The Zone shortly….not sure what time yet…but they keep saying “shortly”……
dmack2027
February 26th, 2010
11:15 am
I feel compelled to comment on the statements made by lexbrave. I live in Lexington, and watch (if not in Rupp) every second of every game (sometimes more than once thanks to DVR).
UT would not beat KU again. They were lucky to do so the first time, as they hit a number of garbage three point shots. Frankly, UT has been in bad shape since Tyler Smith was dismissed.
I think a UK KU championship game matchup would be great. Aldrich is the only guy in America who can stop Cousins. However, as good as he is defensively, Aldrich is fairly limited offensively. He is not all that explosive, so I am not sure he could get Cousins in foul trouble.
Patterson is starting to be more aggressive, and this is what UK needs to make a title run. The guy is a stud, and needs to shoot the ball more.
I also think it is interesting that UK is starting to post their guards up a little bit. Tyshawn Taylor would have to play well for KU in that game. I do not think that Reed and Morningstar are tall/fast enough to deal with Wall and Bledsoe.
KU has really gotten better over the past month or so. It would be a great game. Comments by irrational UK fans make us all look bad. It is amazing how quick the turnaround has been for UK, in one year.
Back to baseball.
choppertochipper
February 26th, 2010
11:20 am
But….Frenchy is gonna hit 27 bombs this year!
lexbrave
February 26th, 2010
11:20 am
voice of harold – so kansas gets a break for having one loss to a team they should have beaten but kentucky shouldn’t?
that doesn’t really make any sense.
richbrave
February 26th, 2010
11:26 am
TnB:
“I like Diaz a lot, but since he’s been a Brave—
‘06= no playoffs
‘07= no playoffs
‘08= no playoffs
‘09= no playoffs” – TNBRIAN
So what are you saying? He’s no good, or he’s a jinx?
Voice of Harold
February 26th, 2010
11:27 am
I don’t think you’re hearing me, lexbrave.
richbrave
February 26th, 2010
11:28 am
I don’t give a flying —- what FRANCOUER does this season except for 18 times.
Willy Wally
February 26th, 2010
11:29 am
Why anyone thinks Heyward is another Frenchy, or could be another Frenchy, is beyond me. Frenchy had good reviews coming into the majors, but nothing on the order of what Heyward has received across the board.
Heyward certainly could be a bust, but he is the #1 overall rated prospect by Baseball America.
FWIW, over the last 20 years, 12 hitters have been so honored: Chipper, Floyd, Arod, Andruw, Grieve, JD Drew, Hamilton, Tex, Mauer, Delmon, Bruce, and Wieters.
The career average for those 12 hitters for every 162 games (sorry nolie) has been:
.289/.375/.511/.887 with 100 runs scored, 102 RBIs, 30 homers, 33 doubles, 3 triples, 12 stolen bases, 77 walks, 116 Ks. The average OPS+ for those 12 players has been 128.
None of them have a career OPS+ below 95. Only three have an OPS+ below Andruw’s 110, and those are the 3 kids (Bruce, Delmon, and Wieters) who still need enough time in terms of prime years to bring their production up to standard for that #1 ranking.
The ranking by career OPS+ is Arod (147), Chipper (143), Tex (136), Mauer (136), Drew (129), Hamilton (122), Floyd (119), Grieve (113), Andruw (110), Bruce (98), Wieters (97), Delmon (95).
sidslidkid
February 26th, 2010
11:32 am
McDonough Masher??? Ehhhh. I hope that one doesn’t catch on. I’m sticking with “Dent”.
Vote Dent!:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47804530@N07/4383923676/
Heath
February 26th, 2010
11:36 am
I just talked to my mom. I love her. She’s number 1 on my speed dial.
Jeff R
February 26th, 2010
11:38 am
dpelfrey… Well, I didn’t quite say that Heyward should be reassigned to minors if he’s hitting, but I think he REALLY needs to be hitting for management to make a place for him on the opening day roster.
Make no mistake, Heyward won’t spend much time in the minors if he’s sent down at the end of spring training. He’d probably be called up by the end of spring. But going to Gwinnett/Mississippi gives him a chance to develop a little more assurance, and, I think, it takes a bit of the pressure off the kid. IF Heyward starts with the big club on opening day, expectations are going to be through the roof. Some fans look at power hitters (or five-tool guys) as the difference between post season and a ticket home. That’s a lot to lay on a kid who has no high minors at bats, as I recollect.
Jeff R
February 26th, 2010
11:39 am
Willy Wally… nice post at 11:29 am.
DAP
February 26th, 2010
11:40 am
thinbreakness Do you think the way our 25 player team is constructed, that we may weather the injury bug a little more successfully than the Fills?
no, i dont necessarily think so.
thinbreakness
February 26th, 2010
11:43 am
DAP-
Glad I asked. Is it Hinske’s back tattoo, Infante’s left hand, Ross’s low BA or the Melky/Diaz platoon?
Bailey
February 26th, 2010
11:43 am
DOB is next on 790.
McDT
February 26th, 2010
11:44 am
OK, our poet of prose (DOB himself) is now on 790 The Zone —- pick it up on your PC at
McDT
February 26th, 2010
11:44 am
oops….sorry, the site is
http://den-a.plr.liquidcompass.net/standard_plr/audio_player.php?id=WQXIAM&playerType=wmp
ncscoots
February 26th, 2010
11:45 am
IF Heyward starts with the big club on opening day, expectations are going to be through the roof.
Too late. Expectations for the kid are already around Saturn, heading out of the solar system altogether. That won’t change, whatever uni he sports on Opening Day.
Bobby's Belly
February 26th, 2010
11:53 am
Nice to put a voice to the keystroke.
The planet formerly known as Pluto
February 26th, 2010
11:54 am
I waved at Heyward’s expectations when they blew by me and knocked a hole on my surface last week. Interestingly, Jeff Francoeur’s self-expectations for the upcoming season whiffed by shortly after.
Jeff R
February 26th, 2010
11:55 am
ncscoots… I’ve got to concede Heyward’s expectations are already up there. But I still think he benfits from some high minors seasoning, and coming along later in the spring doesn’t have quite the same impact with fans, in my estimation, as Heyward starting in the outfield on opening day. But maybe I’m splitting hairs.
ncscoots
February 26th, 2010
11:56 am
waved at Heyward’s expectations when they blew by me and knocked a hole on my surface last week
Better his expectations than a BP crush, LOL.
Shoulda put up a net.
DAP
February 26th, 2010
11:57 am
i like dent.
ncscoots
February 26th, 2010
12:00 pm
Jeff, you’re probably right on all counts. Having my druthers, I’d see him get some more minor league experience, too.
But the kid is probably screwed, either way, LOL. If he’s there on Opening Day, folks will expect him to go scorched-earth from day one. If he comes up later, he’ll either be the piece that “puts the Braves over the top” or that “rescues the season”. He’s caught in the storm without an umbrella, regardless of when the rain starts.
DAP
February 26th, 2010
12:01 pm
thinbreakness Glad I asked. Is it Hinske’s back tattoo, Infante’s left hand, Ross’s low BA or the Melky/Diaz platoon?
no, its that they have so many excellent regulars, one going down isnt going to make them any worse of than if one our our guys goes down and we get to use one of our excellent backups. look at the phillies lineup and take out anyone of their players, and it is still a very good lineup.
braves have great backups, and good depth, but that doesnt make them better off if there are injuries. the phillies have so many good regulars that they can be a good team with rodd gload playing 1st.
dpelfrey
February 26th, 2010
12:03 pm
Jeff R,
nscoots stole the words out of my mouth. The expectations are already there. He’s already under the microscope, they talk about him almost every night on ESPN and MLBN. If he can handle the attention this spring, he can handle it when the season starts in ATL.
I hope he does spend a month at Gwinnett. They have a series in April here in Charlotte against the Knights and I would love to see him up close. Last year I missed Hanson when he pitched here, the game started at 11:00 am and the Knights did a lousy job of advertising it. By the time I found out, it was too late to ditch work.
braves4ever
February 26th, 2010
12:12 pm
We all agree that Heyward could benefit from more OJT but look at it from a Braves and Wren’s perspective, It’s a Business first and how do you build your baseball business. Create excitement, Fill the seats. Question for all- Will Heyward do those two reqirements?
In your answer lies the bottom line $$$$$, he’s a winner!
dpelfrey
February 26th, 2010
12:15 pm
DAP,
One thing you might be overlooking is that having good backups means Bobby can afford to give the regulars (Chipper, Glaus, McCann, etc.) more days off without losing too much. That extra rest could be the difference between those main guys staying healthy over the entire season. Injuries can be freakish sometimes, but a lot of strains and pulls happen when players are tired.
RHR
February 26th, 2010
12:16 pm
Hey…what happened to The Pee Guy?
FishStripes, a nice little Marlins blog for the SB Nation network, dutifully updated fans with five posts yesterday. These were posts from Spring Training, the most lush, hopeful time of the season, the time when even casual fans stretch their arms out and shake off the cobwebs for a new year. Not a single one of those posts elicited so much as one comment. They’re fine posts, hearty posts, sturdy posts. And nothing. The Internet was invented for pornography, being able to make Ashton Kutcher aware of your existence and the discussion of baseball. The interest just isn’t there. I’m not trying to be mean. The Florida Marlins just aren’t happening. And still, they pop up, ever and ever.
dpelfrey
February 26th, 2010
12:17 pm
That’s why I think Hinske is such a huge addition. He can spell Chipper and Glaus regularly and keep those guys fresh.
thinbreakness
February 26th, 2010
12:20 pm
If Glaus goes down, Escobar bats cleanup, Prado moves to first and stays at #2, Infante bats 6th and plays 2nd. Or Escobar stays at cleanup, Diaz in left batting 6th, Hinske plays first bats 7th and Cabrera plays RF while Heyward sits. Suggest this to keep L,R,S,R,L,R,L,S balance. Don’t kill me, just having fun, not serious, just guessing like a fan would.
dpelfrey
February 26th, 2010
12:24 pm
I agree thin, I can think of about 12 different lineups that don’t look too bad. That’s got to be a good thing.
thinbreakness
February 26th, 2010
12:27 pm
dpelfrey-
If we score 4 runs a game, we don’t lose very often. If we score 3 runs a game, I like our chances still. We will win more games this year than last when we only score twice.
thinbreakness
February 26th, 2010
12:30 pm
I just think our offense is so much better this year in the 7th and 8th. We will be in team’s bullpens because our pitching will keep games close. I think our pen stacks up with anyone.
David O'Brien
February 26th, 2010
12:35 pm
NEW BLOGGAGE
EvanR
February 26th, 2010
12:41 pm
Thin-
I think your last scenario is the most likely. If Glaus goes down, I think Hinske would get the majority of playing time over Infante, because he could fill in for the loss of power far better than Infante could.
Braves Fan For Better or Worse xo
February 26th, 2010
1:00 pm
MATTY DIAZ IS THE BEST. He’s understated, but yet rocks! He should definitely be the fulltime left field starter! AND thanks Matty for the intro to P90X. It changed my life. GO BRAVES!
Jeff R
February 26th, 2010
1:04 pm
ncscoots, dpelfrey… good points, guys. I guess Heyward is in the hot seat either way!
thinbreakness
February 26th, 2010
1:08 pm
EvanR-
I saw this team score runs in bunches last year when KJ and Frenchy were replaced. The Braves scored often last year without benefit of the homer.
Golf One-
February 27th, 2010
7:40 pm
I think the braves will be sorry they traded frenchy and let Kelly Johnson go