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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,152 comments Add your comment
BigTimeTECHFan
February 26th, 2010
4:09 pm
Hardest hit I saw: Dave Parker of the Pirates, remember him, He hit one in old Fulton Co. Stadium. line drive that peaked about the same time it hit the dark blue seats.
2nd – 1st basemen from Arizona (I wan to say his name was Urbio Durazio or something like that) that came up a few years ago was big time hitter, 1 few week up from minors he hit one out in ATL, when it left the bat people were like wow and smiling, didn’t even care it was hit off Braves they were so amazed.
Best thow I ever saw was Berry Bonnell – Center field to home, edge of warning track, looked like it was headed for dugout but it curved so nice, perfect throw
Skipper
February 26th, 2010
4:10 pm
Almost 10 years after Spurrier’s last game as coach of the hated Gators, and the fact that Bobby Cox “likes him now” makes front-page news on ajc.com. Obsession?
Isenberg
February 26th, 2010
4:10 pm
Mr. O’Brien,
In photo 7 of 10 in this afternoon’s Spring Training photos, is Heyward wearing a brace on his arm or is that his bicep? If it’s not a brace then you weren’t lying about this guy being in ridiculous shape.
messin with sasquatch
February 26th, 2010
4:12 pm
with all due respect – longest moonshot had to be maynard jackson in spandex on a bicycle.
eltrompoBRAVESfan
February 26th, 2010
4:17 pm
You can’t beat McDonough Masher, although for some reason “Hailstorm Heyward” has a nice ring to it.
tampabrave
February 26th, 2010
4:17 pm
Correction, Muse concert in Duluth at Gwinnet arena. No Muse love from the blog?
joerochester
February 26th, 2010
4:20 pm
Holla atcha! Heyward
DAP
February 26th, 2010
4:21 pm
tampabrave, i like muse.
bravesgrl4life
February 26th, 2010
4:22 pm
Love the picture of Hanson from today’s ST photos.
MDbrave
February 26th, 2010
4:23 pm
As to Heyward’s nickname, how about Dentin’ as opposed to Hamerin’? Even if he could not hammer as hard as Arron did, he at least can dent a few cars. This year’s spring training, hopefully of his first major league season, and his dentin’ homers are gonna be part of his legacy no matter what happens to him from now on.
Mitchie-san
February 26th, 2010
4:27 pm
How about “Sledge” a different version of Hammer.
joerochester
February 26th, 2010
4:28 pm
Hacksaw Heyward
Michael B
February 26th, 2010
4:28 pm
I like Hammerin Heyward….I’m sure that won’t catch on but if i had to choose I’m with DOB
nolie
February 26th, 2010
4:31 pm
Then again, the average fan doesn’t know their momma the way a lifelong Kentucky native does, if you know what I’m saying. Them kinds of relations are just a lil’ bit too Kentucky for the rest of us. Braveheart
“Oh Mon-sewer, you are such a Lulu”
timthebrave
February 26th, 2010
4:32 pm
i tried to get tickets for the muse but sold out…..heard about it too late
timthebrave
February 26th, 2010
4:34 pm
missed out on muse and alice n chains this week. oh well i saw them when layne staley was singing for them
Innocent Bystander
February 26th, 2010
4:35 pm
I like “Jay Hay”. And I am completely aware of how Heyward is spelled. I guess it could be J-Hey if you wanted.
Just Pat
February 26th, 2010
4:37 pm
nolie
LOL at “Mon-sewer”!!!!
glove51
February 26th, 2010
4:39 pm
DOB: I hope your Jayhawks are unimpressive tomorrow (I think they moslty have been bored). I’m headed to the game in Gallagher Iba Arena in Stillwater tomorrow. It’ll be interesting to see how Self is treated by the fans. This is KU’s first trip back since we went through the hiring of our new coach in April 2008. You may choose not to believ it, but I know from members of his own family and from people in the oSu athletic department that Self had agreed to come to oSu, and then changed his mind the next morning, mostly due to his daughter being in high school in Lawrence (she didn’t want to move).
Tomorrow evening I’ll be taking in the Old 97’s show at The Cain’s Ballroom.
McCann Fan
February 26th, 2010
4:40 pm
J-Hey! But McDonough Masher is pretty sweet. I could buy into that.
nolie
February 26th, 2010
4:41 pm
According to some physics professor, a 500-foot shot at sea level is nearly impossible without help from a strong breeze. Of course, that professor might have been basing his calculations on the typical “unassisted” strength of ballplayers at the time. Pelfrey
probably the same physics prof who claimed the curve ball was just a mirage
MDbrave
February 26th, 2010
4:42 pm
Was reading an article by Steven Henson about A-Rod, which prompted me wondering whether any A-Rod hater ever calls him A-Roid? Probably a more appropriate nickname.
glove51
February 26th, 2010
4:43 pm
Say Heyward
ncscoots
February 26th, 2010
4:45 pm
And, ballplayers don’t play at sea-level.
dap01
February 26th, 2010
4:46 pm
Spurrier?
nolie
February 26th, 2010
4:47 pm
how much one might wish it were 1961 again. SCOOTS
funny choice of year since that was the year everybody homered back then.The most non-smallball year in a couple decades maybe.
Jay-Hey the man
February 26th, 2010
4:50 pm
Jason Heyward and butter cheese.
Heath
February 26th, 2010
4:50 pm
Gotta pick a good spot for fish tonight…
ugaaccountant
February 26th, 2010
4:54 pm
MDbrave – Aroid was the most common way to see his name spelled on message boards last year.
Fleming
February 26th, 2010
4:54 pm
Could steal a nickname from RHR and could just alter the Soriano nickname and call Heyward MFIHY. MF – I’ll Hammer you is what he tells the ball when it’s pitched.
What's in a name...
February 26th, 2010
4:56 pm
A few more…
The McDonough Mauler
The McDonough Mangler
The McDonough Mutilater
BELIEVE…
What's in a name...
February 26th, 2010
4:56 pm
One more…
The Henry County Crusher
BELIEVE…
RHR
February 26th, 2010
4:57 pm
The dude needs to play a major league game before we nickname him. Loaf wasn’t nicknamed in spring training, MFIKY wasn’t nicknamed in spring training, and … I wasn’t alive then so I don’t know for sure but I doubt The Hammer was nicknamed in spring training of what would have been his rookie year. You need to see people work before you can start throwing nicknames at ‘em.
Geeze. Where my Italian people at?
joerochester
February 26th, 2010
4:59 pm
I’m pretty sure they didn’t have blogs when Hank Aaron played, either. Lol.
nolie
February 26th, 2010
4:59 pm
i agree he would be a good pickup. but will he sign as a back up? and is it worth spending money on him if he wont play much? DAP
I’d rather have Lopez replace Conrad/Thurston than Damon replace Matty/Melky.
JFP
February 26th, 2010
5:00 pm
DOB, how about Waaayward Heyward? Just a thought.
Heath
February 26th, 2010
5:00 pm
Steve from OH -
You know a good joint in Akron area for good fish for lent tonight?
Daslied
February 26th, 2010
5:03 pm
RHR, how ’bout we call him “Maybe?”. Or, to appease my Arrested Development hunger, “Maebe?”.
Just Pat
February 26th, 2010
5:04 pm
Is it just me or did that Melky photo look an awful lot like the young Andruw…..dimple and all?
JasonInFL
February 26th, 2010
5:04 pm
DOB, you could always use your laptop to take the notes as opposed to digging out the notepad… (:
JFP
February 26th, 2010
5:06 pm
DOB, or The AJC Bomber. Gotta have a little humor in it.
JFP
February 26th, 2010
5:08 pm
He could always use that when he gets his pinstripes.
Just Pat
February 26th, 2010
5:09 pm
JFP
Hush yo mouf!!!!!!
Bobby's Belly
February 26th, 2010
5:10 pm
The Ja Hey Kid. So simple, yet brilliant.
AustinBrave
February 26th, 2010
5:10 pm
Where are the ST Photos? I can’t find them I must be blind.
cabravesfan
February 26th, 2010
5:10 pm
Even during Olympic hockey we can’t escape NBC’s love affair with notre dame…
glove51
February 26th, 2010
5:10 pm
Hammerin’ Heyward
Mikeyc588
February 26th, 2010
5:15 pm
What about Jason “The Sensation” Heyward?
Soph
February 26th, 2010
5:17 pm
Last Friday, a zebra. This Friday, a buffalo. Just another day ITP.
Tell me about it. Poor thing fell out of the back of a trailer and got hit.
ace
February 26th, 2010
5:17 pm
I like Heavyweight Howard
joerochester
February 26th, 2010
5:17 pm
If you had a tablet, you could write notes on your laptop.
ace
February 26th, 2010
5:18 pm
duh….Heavywight Heyward
bravefaninok
February 26th, 2010
5:21 pm
http://projects.ajc.com/gallery/view/sports/braves/braves-training-022610/
bravefaninok
February 26th, 2010
5:22 pm
AustinBrave
February 26th, 2010
5:10 pm
Where are the ST Photos? I can’t find them I must be blind.
sportsmandh
February 26th, 2010
5:23 pm
Anybody remember the homer McGwire hammered against the Braves off El Presidente Dennis Martinez to straight away center? Don’t know what year it was, but I’m sure it was fully juiced. But regardless that was the longest I’ve ever seen in a game.
wjones
February 26th, 2010
5:24 pm
“gcs
February 26th, 2010
2:48 pm
Why haven’t the Braves looked at free agent Jermaine Dye (27 HR in 2009)?”
Also, would someone explain the infield fly rule? And how is slugging percentage calculated?
dmack2027
February 26th, 2010
5:25 pm
I watched Ortegano throw in the Carribean classic and he was very impressive. Reminded me of Wandy Rodriguez from Houston. High 80’s / low 90’s fastball with well located offspeed stuff. From a southpaw, that stuff plays in the big leagues. He has a chance to be good.
JFP
February 26th, 2010
5:25 pm
Just Pat, just sayin that it seems like all of the top hitters usually end up in NY. But I certainly intend to enjoy his time here. Because he appears to be a special player. How often do you find a five-tool player with that attitude and demeanor? We will get to enjoy it for a while.
Steve from OH
February 26th, 2010
5:25 pm
DOB–good quote from Bobby on Venters. I saw him pitch when the G-Braves were in Toledo and I was impressed with his stuff, but his command definitely needs work. Had trouble hitting his spots in the bullpen.
Heath–sorry man, can’t help ya. House of Hunan has great sushi, and it’s half price on Wednesdays, but that doesn’t help you today…
rammerjammer
February 26th, 2010
5:29 pm
In those “where are they now” photos, Ozzie Guillen looks just like Eli Wallach in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
Man, that’s a great movie.
Just Pat
February 26th, 2010
5:29 pm
(Scrolling back)……Wasn’t Dave Parker the guy who hit the bird (seagull, maybe??) at the old Atlanta Fulton County stadium with a ball that he hit and got all the animal rights groups after him?
Rob from SC
February 26th, 2010
5:30 pm
DOB
Are you getting concerned at all about Jurrjens shoulder.
Jim
February 26th, 2010
5:34 pm
Hard HRs – Wes Covington of Braves hit a ball one night in Ebbetts Field off Don Newcomb that almost took Newcomb’s head off, sailed into the CF stands, hit a concrete step at its edge and bounded almost all the way back to 2B. Newcomb tipped his hat to Covington as Wes rounded third.
BPennington
February 26th, 2010
5:38 pm
Hey guys Hit Tracker has the specs on most of the homers mentioned here right on down to mapping the flight of the ball. Here’s the shot The Mick hit. http://www.hittrackeronline.com/historic.php?id=1963_3
OLE TIMER FROM
February 26th, 2010
5:40 pm
Enter your comments here
Just Pat
February 26th, 2010
5:45 pm
OK, guy-o-s……once again, I’m outta here and headed to the usual Fri. night NPA meeting and, once again, anyone who comes up with the meaning of THAT wins a prize.
Of course, gotta post it on Mon. ’cause I won’t be back until then. Have a great weekend.
Heath
February 26th, 2010
5:46 pm
Steve -
I like Akira Hibachi grill in Solon right off of 422/91 area.
Braveheart
February 26th, 2010
5:50 pm
I’m going with BBD – Big Black Dude.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6vQmB-jEEw
jztwothree
February 26th, 2010
5:51 pm
With a tiny homage to the Gourds: Heymaker!
OLE TIMER FROM ATL
February 26th, 2010
5:55 pm
FOUR QUICK STORIES
1. I saw a ball hit at ole Ponce de Leon Park in Atlanta that landed in Birmingham.
Atlanta Cracker catcher Ebba St. Clair hit one that landed in a box car moving along the bank high up beyond right field. They said that train was headed for Birmingham.
2. I was sitting just beyond the dugout along right field in old Comiskey Park in Chicago in 1960 when Ted Williams hit his last homer in that city. It was a screaming line drive that was LITERALLY still rising when it cleared the 385 ft. marker in right center and kept going almost up to the top of the stands. I have no idea how far it went but that ball was crushed.
3. Eddie Mathews was an 18 year old 3rd baseman for the Crackers when he hit a ball that landed at the base of a peach tree that sat on an embankment in dead center field. About 400 ft. from the plate and center field rose up about 6 feet and leveled off again. There was no fence there. Sitting about 150 feet back from the rise was a little peach tree. That ball hit the ground at the base of that tree and kept rolling. By the time the CF got to it and turned around Mathews was rounding third and trotted home.
4. One night I was entering the St. Moritz Hotel in New York when a cab pulled up and Mickey Mantle got out with his crutches as he was on the DL at the time with his bad knees. I helped him through the revolving door into the hotel and he stuck out his hand to thank me.
I mentioned I had stayed in his Holiday Inn in Springfield, Missouri the week before and he invited me to join him for a beer. We drank beer for about three hours that night and started a friendship that lasted many years. And no, I never had the chance to see him play in person. Wish I had.
Braveheart
February 26th, 2010
5:57 pm
The dude needs to play a major league game before we nickname him. Loaf wasn’t nicknamed in spring training, MFIKY wasn’t nicknamed in spring training, and … I wasn’t alive then so I don’t know for sure but I doubt The Hammer was nicknamed in spring training of what would have been his rookie year. You need to see people work before you can start throwing nicknames at ‘em.
Didn’t Whitey Ford hang the Charlie Hustle nickname on Pete Rose during spring training of his rookie year? I guess you could say though he did that because he became annoyed with Rose acting like a tool sprinting to first after drawing a walk – which I guess fits in with your theory of seeing him in action first.
MZ
February 26th, 2010
6:01 pm
Gatorade drops Tiger
TnBrian
February 26th, 2010
6:01 pm
A possible black superstar playing for the Atlanta Braves can mean only good things. What’s the % of blacks living in Atlanta and how many of them are really interested in the Braves? Maybe Heyward changes things and I bet he will.
Yeah, in those photos I just saw of him … he’s a biggun.
Hey, there’s a name that fits Heyward … Gun.
tommy t
February 26th, 2010
6:03 pm
the “Mcdonough Stunner
Jay-Hey the man
February 26th, 2010
6:04 pm
Jason Heyward and marble cream sauce.
GboroBravo
February 26th, 2010
6:13 pm
I like just Hammer…..like he’s gonna drop the Hammer in racing ya know???
Mitchie-san
February 26th, 2010
6:14 pm
If anyone wants to see a little bit of Venters pitching, I posted a video on YouTube of him in a game last winter while playing for the Honolulu Sharks. Im at work, so I cant post the link. I guess you can do a search and/or look for the Mitchie182 channel.
Braveheart
February 26th, 2010
6:16 pm
I thought about using the McDonough Menace, but I didn’t propose that because it might be taken the wrong way. He seems like too nice a kid to be called a menace, even though it wouldn’t be meant in anything but flattering terms.
From http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-mas1.htm : A masher was a man who thought himself irresistible to the female sex but whose advances were often unwelcome. Masher now sometimes appears in police slang for a man who sexually harasses women.
On second thought, maybe Menace wasn’t so bad
Nick in PA
February 26th, 2010
6:17 pm
THE J-HEY KID!
jeffrey d
February 26th, 2010
6:18 pm
My vote for Heyward’s nickname only got one other vote??
MattyRoss
February 26th, 2010
6:19 pm
uhh…Nick in PA wins.
Crime Dog
February 26th, 2010
6:19 pm
If I ordered something online today and selected next-day air for shipping, was I wrong to expect it to be here tomorrow or Sunday?
Couch Tater
February 26th, 2010
6:19 pm
Lightnin’ HeywardLighnin’ Hopkins – “Hopkin’s Sky Hop”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCI4dFciWiE
Mitchell
February 26th, 2010
6:20 pm
You know, I’m not changing my mind about Bobby Cox. I still think he’s probably going to blow a handful of games for us with his obsession with the pitch-count, over-use of the bullpen, taking a guy like Yunel (arguably our best player last year) out of a game for not running hard to first base… something Chipper hardly ever does. But man, look at this team.
Hudson
Hanson
Jurrjens
McCann
Prado
Escobar
Chipper
McLouth
Hayward
Glaus
Diaz (yes, Daiz)
Wagner
Saito
Moylan
Hinske
Lowe
Kawakami
Medlen
How can you not win with a team like this? Not even Bobby Cox can blow this. I know we’re used to being slighted by baseball pundits and they can think whatever they want but if people aren’t picking us to make the playoffs, they’re freakin’ idiots.
I’m trying very hard not to fall into this trap again but this is a damn good team.
That’s all I’m gonna say.
Mitchell
February 26th, 2010
6:21 pm
I say “yes, Diaz” because I’m known to be a little critical of him. He’s not terrible.
MZ
February 26th, 2010
6:22 pm
yup … Nick in PA wins … the J-Hey Kid
gobravez
February 26th, 2010
6:23 pm
DOB, you are out of the loop. Other braves sites like braves-nation have been using the Jay-Hey Kid as a nickname for months.
Braveheart
February 26th, 2010
6:26 pm
I like “Jay Hay”. And I am completely aware of how Heyward is spelled. I guess it could be J-Hey if you wanted.
So, if you are completely aware of how Heyward is spelled, why would you change it to Hay instead of Hey? You understand that the “Jay Hey Kid” nickname is just a play off of the “Say Hey Kid” nickname of Willie Mays, right? So, your change to Hay doubly doesn’t make sense.
jeffrey d
February 26th, 2010
6:32 pm
Am I the only person who really doesn’t like Jay Hey Kid?
nolie
February 26th, 2010
6:33 pm
That’s all I’m gonna say Mitchell
for the rest of the year? Promise?
jeffrey d
February 26th, 2010
6:34 pm
The nickname, not the player
jeffrey d
February 26th, 2010
6:35 pm
Was Mitchell the one who made the donkey noises?
RHR
February 26th, 2010
6:39 pm
Good stories, Old Timer.
brian
February 26th, 2010
7:01 pm
I like the nickname Jason the Argonaught (I have no idea how to spell that) though I am hoping Heyward will be the real deal instead of myth. He is welcome to become legend
Give Me A
February 26th, 2010
7:01 pm
The premise that too much may be expected is a joke!
Who is reporting the hype on Heyward? The media of course. Who is feeding the media the info to supplement the superhuman feats the media witnesses themselves? Players/management/scouts and other media.
Take the car smashing stories, mix with a liberal dose of player/managment speculation, stir briskly with comparisons to the greats of the game and voila! The Hype seed is planted! And who is responsible for planting it? Players, management, the media!
And so the fans should be cautioned not to expect too much from this superman that has been created by the above named entities?
Give me a freakin break!
Jeff R
February 26th, 2010
7:02 pm
Heyward, with those mighty blows, needs to be called “The Natural,” after Roy Hobbs in the book and movie of that name.
ncscoots
February 26th, 2010
7:07 pm
nolie, guess ‘61 was a Freudian slip, LOL. Even when making a point about small-ball, home runs are still in my head.
Whenever I think about great pitching and little offense, I always think about those ’60s Dodgers, and I suppose I just picked the wrong year. Sue me, LOL. It’s the spirit of the comment that counts.
Eric from MO
February 26th, 2010
7:09 pm
Braveheart hilarious at 6:26!
Jeffrey D at 6:32. Yes! While I think the nickname is a little cheesy considering he hasnt played a big league game, it is by far the catchiest(if thats a word?).
Roman Gal
February 26th, 2010
7:09 pm
Am I the only person who really doesn’t like Jay Hey Kid? jeffrey d
No. I also don’t like anything that has “Hammerin’” in it either. I don’t really like the nicknames that play off another player’s either. Actually, I’m opposed to this whole nicknaming thing altogether…
David O'Brien
February 26th, 2010
7:14 pm
DOB, you are out of the loop. Other braves sites like braves-nation have been using the Jay-Hey Kid as a nickname for months. — gobravez
Good for them. I’ll make sure never to use it (not that I would have, as I don’t like it at all).