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1,115 comments Add your comment
northbeach Scott
March 9th, 2010
3:24 pm
DAP Watching Francoeur live in 2007 and 2008 was a key reason why I did not renew my season tickets for 2009. It was almost unbearable to watch that train wreck hit. He must be a dim bulb to be so pig headed. I feel better, now, so yes it was necessary.
abwright
March 9th, 2010
3:25 pm
So, I’m starting to get excited about 2010 Braves baseball. There’s still a ways to go, but here’s my assessment on the question marks…
1. Can Glaus adjust to 1B defensively and return to form as a hitter? So far, yes.
2. Will Hudson come back to #1 form from TJ surgery? So far, yes.
3. Will Lowe bounce back? So far, yes.
4. Will Chipper bounce back? So far, not looking good.
5. Is McCann’s vision problem solved? So far, yes.
6. Is McLouth’s vision problem solved? So far, not looking good.
7. What’s the bullpen going to look like? So far, who the hell knows?
8. Is Jurrjens shoulder going to recover? So far, looks good.
9. Is Hanson going to avoid a sophomore slump? So far, yes.
10. Will RF be a contributor offensively, after many, many years of yuck? So far, yes.
Based on the early prognosis, I say the Braves win 100 and the WS.
ugaaccountant
March 9th, 2010
3:25 pm
Well, i’ve been wondering about his chances on opening day all offseason. I said if he had a “crazy spring” the team will do the honorable thing and start him from day 1. Sometimes a player does so well the money issue just has to be reconsidered. Well, he’s having a crazy spring so far. Time to start drawing up the Evan Longoria contract, I just can’t see us ever locking him in cheaper than the present.
jim
March 9th, 2010
3:25 pm
Someone using my name posted that Heyward = Francouer a bit earlier. I do not share that sentiment at all. Much different approach at the plate and much different level of maturity.
chuck
March 9th, 2010
3:26 pm
Temper tantrum? No…
Harbor slight resentment that could rear itself later and make it difficult to lock him up early? Sure…
Make your debut mid-April for no good reason besides salary manipulation, and further indentured servitude…they are getting in the way of him making money for no good purpose. Especially when he is going to be worth so much more in the long term than the $5MM you are haggling over.
It’s the same as a pitcher being shut down for his last start so he won’t get his 200 inning bonus…
jim
March 9th, 2010
3:29 pm
I don’t like Heyward in the 7 spot because his high walk total can be negated. If I am the opposing pitcher, I would not give him anything good to hit and take my chances with the 8-hole hitter and the pitcher. He is not protected in that spot, and his contributions are more likely to be wasted.
joerochester
March 9th, 2010
3:29 pm
Jim
It may be possible that there is more than one jim on the blog.
Brian from SC
March 9th, 2010
3:29 pm
ncscoots, that’s right. A .270/15/60 year would be a really good rookie season. .280/20/80 would be a GREAT rookie season. .300/30/100 would be downright historic…I wouldn’t look for that.
He is probably the odd-on favorite to win Rookie of the Year right now. But he will not be the best player on the team, much less one of the best in the league. Of course, he does look like the best player in camp right now.
joerochester
March 9th, 2010
3:30 pm
jim
I would argue that there won’t be a weak hitter in the 8th hole.
thinbreakness
March 9th, 2010
3:30 pm
abwright-
Join the club Dude. I’ve been saying it for weeks. Remember: GOBS AND GOBS AND GOBS OF PITCHING.
Wrigleyville
March 9th, 2010
3:30 pm
thinbreakness = MRS. Frank Wren
Thank you for your pointless input, Ma’am.
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
March 9th, 2010
3:31 pm
Heyward is a special talent. He has an extraordinary attitude and work ethic for his age. He’s done anything and everything the Braves have asked him to do. He’s done each and every one exceedingly well.
He’s going to mean much more to the Braves than a stack of cash 6-years down the road. He’s going to be our first homegrown Atlanta Braves mega-star. He has the temperament, looks, and personality, to be the face of the Braves franchise for years to come. He has the potential to pack the house every night. That’s the type player I think he is.
What a bad-will gesture it would be if the Braves forced him to start the year at Gwinnett. This young man deserves to be on the opening-day roster. Wouldn’t feel that way about anyone else (thought it was right move with Hanson) but this kid could be a once-in-50-years type player. I honestly believe that.
chuck
March 9th, 2010
3:32 pm
I for one want Yunel to bat 5th…he is our best hitter with RISP IMO…
Heyward with his plate discipline might be an interesting hitter in the 2 spot….though I doubt anyone that big has ever hit 2nd…since he will have to wait to take over for Chip in the 3 spot…
I would like to see this lineup…
Prado
Heyward
Chipper’
Glaus
McCann (v Righties)…
Esco (moves to 5 v Lefties)
Diaz/Melky
McLouth (to help turn over the lineup, and get into scoring position on Pitchers bunts)…
thinbreakness
March 9th, 2010
3:32 pm
I said of Heyward weeks ago: .265, 14-18 HR, 65-70 RBI. That’s all the team needs.
C. Tampa Ironworse
March 9th, 2010
3:33 pm
WWJD…What Would Jason Do
I'm Arthur Blank
March 9th, 2010
3:33 pm
Who cares about 2016? This team will be owned by Arther Blank by then. Liberty Media will sell and the Braves will be back under a single owner with big pockets. Turner Broadcasting should have sold this team to Blank years ago.
chuck
March 9th, 2010
3:34 pm
Brian, check out Griffey’s 2nd year…. .300, 22, 80 ….not bad…except I expect more walks from Heyward…
cdog
March 9th, 2010
3:34 pm
DAVE I AGREE WITH YOUR LINEUP EXCEPT ONE PLAYER, WHY IS CHIPPER JONES IN YOUR OPENING DAY LINEUP AND WHY WOULD YOU HAVE HEYWARD BATTING 7TH? HE SHOULD BE BATTING THIRD, CHIPPER SHOULD EITHER BE TRADED OR ON THE BENCH.YOU CAN’T DEPEND ON CHIPPER. HE WILL BE HURT BY THE THIRD GAME
thinbreakness
March 9th, 2010
3:34 pm
Wrigleyville-
Go sit on a roof somewhere and watch Soriano butcher left field.
eric the elder
March 9th, 2010
3:35 pm
FJR: “he’s going to throw a silly temper tantrum if he misses the first 9 games?”
No, I lean toward being with Chuck on this one.
It’s not that he would be missing 9 games. It’s that he would know he is being cheated out of the opportunity to make better money sooner. That’s not spite – - it’s a business circumstance for him personally.
I’m pretty sure I’m not spiteful, but if my employer pulled a cheap technicality on me that would lighten my future wallet, it would affect my attitude big time.
chuck
March 9th, 2010
3:35 pm
Since the Cubs were too rich for Cuban’s blood…and the Pirates too crappy for his attention…what about the Braves?
I know the guy wants to own a ballclub at some point.
FEAR
March 9th, 2010
3:35 pm
thinbreakness – i’m thinking Heyward may actually hit more homers than that. well hopefully at least.
timthebrave
March 9th, 2010
3:36 pm
Brian. we are expecting .300 30 hr and 100 rbi only if he is playing with a pulled hamstring otherwise we are expexting .400 50 hr and close to 200 rbi’s
Brian from SC
March 9th, 2010
3:36 pm
You know, all our leadoff candidates have career OBPs higher than Jimmy Rollins, and only Melky has a lower SLG. The Phillies do OK, and so will the Braves.
FEAR
March 9th, 2010
3:36 pm
Isn’t cuban one of those meddling owners like pete angelos?
FJR
March 9th, 2010
3:36 pm
Chuck, so you’re saying that while numerous other top prospects fully understand this reality of the baseball rules, Heyward is going to take exception, and stick it to the braves over 9 games? Longoria didn’t take exception to it, he understood that’s just how the game is set up, especially if you don’t have unlimited funds, but Jason won’t, he’s going to cause this to keep us from signing him long term? In my view, he’s a class act and understand the business of baseball, that this is the way that ALL teams do it and be fine whichever way it goes.
$5Mill buys a pretty decent amount. Would you like to still have Javy Vazquez? With $5mill more this year, we would.
All that being said, I still think he starts the season in the majors, but mostly because it’s bobby’s last season and bobby is going to get what he wants this year. Not because its a smart baseball decision, because its not.
Nova Scotia Steve
March 9th, 2010
3:36 pm
Bobby’s Belly: Jason “Jesus Christ” Heyward – Now THAT deserves a LOL
DAP
March 9th, 2010
3:36 pm
mtr turnip green jeans He’s going to be our first homegrown Atlanta Braves mega-star.
is that so? im not sure of your definition of mega star, but i guess dale murphy, chipper jones, david justice, tom glavine arent in there anywhere?
thinbreakness
March 9th, 2010
3:37 pm
Fear-
He will, but this is all the production we need from him this year.
Thanagar
March 9th, 2010
3:37 pm
FJR, you’re arguing with another internet “expert” who can’t lay off the caps lock key because he thinks it makes his points sound more convincing. Who in their right mind imagines that Heyward, after amassing tens of millions of dollars from now ’til 2016, is going to leave in a snit solely because he didn’t play the first nine games of 2010?
joerochester
March 9th, 2010
3:39 pm
The Phillies will be the team to beat in the division this year. But I definitely don’t see their rotation being as strong as the Braves.
MZ
March 9th, 2010
3:41 pm
DOB ——-
got my copy of “The Big To-Do” today …. it’s kinda good (smothered in sarcasm)
Rob from SC
March 9th, 2010
3:41 pm
DOB
Besides the 5 who are locks, who do you see as a legit contender for the last 2 pen slots?
Chavez
Acosta
who else
FEAR
March 9th, 2010
3:42 pm
thinbreakness – Oh I got what your saying now.
Boone7
March 9th, 2010
3:42 pm
DOB, really enjoying your coverage of spring training and the J-hey kid.
Also the Son Volt song you posted today is one of my all time favs…Sometimes it’s hard for me to believe that Uncle Tupelo existed…
chuck
March 9th, 2010
3:44 pm
He isn’t sticking it to the Braves, FJR over missing 9 games, he’s sticking it to them because they are standing in the way of him earning more several years from now, when he will already have paid for that small sum you are talking about by virtue of being an extraordinary talent.
Any good agent will tell him this. And I don’t know if you played baseball, but running out on that field as a starting player on any team from the time you are 10 years old is a special feeling. Even more so, I imagine, as a 20 year old in the Majors. Don’t deny him that for a few sheckels.
By 6 years from now, avg attendance will exceed the amount needed to cover the “savings” you achieve with this 9 day plan. It’s simple math.
I don’t purport to know the inner workings of people’s minds, just framing logical thought processes here.
You have to treat special talent differently. Again, Longoria is a good player, but he has nowhere near the ceiling Heyward does, and he plays for a team that operates in the margins financially.
FJR
March 9th, 2010
3:45 pm
eric, that would maybe be a legit criticism, if that wasn’t the way every team does it. Name me the last big time prospect (like number one overall ranked) that started a season on day 1?
For every one of those, there are least 5 that got mid april or midseason call ups, mostly for contractual reasons.
Brian from SC
March 9th, 2010
3:46 pm
chuck: “Again, Longoria is a good player, but he has nowhere near the ceiling Heyward does, and he plays for a team that operates in the margins financially.”
I’m not sure I agree with this. Longoria has a best-player-in-the-league, possible HOF career ceiling.
BravesDA
March 9th, 2010
3:47 pm
Speaking of…is Rocco Baldelli still a free agent?
Any idea who Heyward’s agent is?
Bobby Cox
March 9th, 2010
3:48 pm
Sorry, guys ! Jason will be at AAA Gwinnett come Opening Day. Frank is talking with Arizona about bringing back Kelly Johnson. I’ll have Kelly in left; Natie in center; and Melky in right. Diaz will ride the pine.
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
March 9th, 2010
3:48 pm
By mega-star, I meant a national star on the Michael Jordan level.
Guys who not only pack their own ballpark, but other teams’ ballparks as well.
FEAR
March 9th, 2010
3:49 pm
Rocco Baldelli is still a FA
chuck
March 9th, 2010
3:49 pm
Leave in a snit…you two guys are the only ones framing words like temper tantrum and snit…
No, it will be a cold blooded business decision on all sides from here on out if they send him down for no other reason than to pin him down unnecessarily several years from now.
They bring him up on opening day and it opens up far more possibilities for the club going forward.
There is a reason Chip deferred salary a few years back, and took a little less this time around…he has been treated like the franchise from the start. And I like how we are treating Heyward to this point. Even Frank Wren and McGuirk seem to get it, don’t know why you are being so obtuse.
Is it deliberate?
Glen W
March 9th, 2010
3:50 pm
thinbreakness – “I said of Heyward weeks ago: .265, 14-18 HR, 65-70 RBI. That’s all the team needs.”
I am with you on this… would love to see him stretch it to 20 and 80… but just can’t see him hitting much higher than .260… history just says not many LH power hitters can do it.
itcouldbeworse
March 9th, 2010
3:50 pm
The baseball players union agreed to the rules that are set up in in regards to arb eligible years…Heyward and for that matter his agent will understand this. Not to mention that if he puts up the crazy numbers that some seem to think he will put up his arb years are going to pay him nicely. The braves already proved that they must make decision that are not only good on the field this year but in the future with the vazquez deal. I for one would love the see j-hey on the roster day one but I would find it crazy to pass up having control of a player for a entire year over 10 games.
P'cola Brave
March 9th, 2010
3:51 pm
My personal opinion is bring J-Hey up for opening day. If he turns out to be as good as advertised the Braves will pursue a long term deal. A plus on our side for locking him up is Atlanta is his hometown team. Every kid dreams of playing for the team they grow up watching. And for Heyward this won’t be just a chance to play for your hometown team but a chance to be the coverboy. I know Frenchy was a hometown boy but always had dollar signs in his eyes. Heyward is a different personality, He has his head on straight and was raised to be a very humble guy. I’m not saying he won’t prove me wrong and chase the money but the impression I have of him so far says that theres a good chance he could be in ATL for a long time.
FJR
March 9th, 2010
3:51 pm
LOL chuck, I love J-Hey as much as the next guy, but you saying that Longoria has nowhere near the ceiling that one of the five best hitters in the game, right now, has is kind of crazy sounding. It’s Longoria’s second year and he’s won a gold glove, a silver slugger, is a two time all-star. And he has nowhere near the ceiling Heyward does? Seriously? It might be time to step a bit back down from the hype machine.
J-Hey may very well end up being the better player, but saying that Longoria is just a “nice” player and that he has nowhere near the ceiling that Jason does is, well, to be blunt, just ignorant.
Braves Fan No More
March 9th, 2010
3:51 pm
The sad thing is, the blogger purporting to be Bobby Cox may not be too far off from the real situation.
Loogy
March 9th, 2010
3:52 pm
He’s the most fundamentally sound prospect since David Justice. That’s who he reminds me of. David Justice with speed.
P'cola Brave
March 9th, 2010
3:52 pm
BravesDA
Baldelli is still a FA. Hes working with the Rays right now as a special instructor for ST. He has some kind of shoulder issue and is debating retirement.
E2
March 9th, 2010
3:53 pm
DOB — Stupid question here. Is “Dark Star” your pet name for Disney? If so, may I ask why you chose this moniker for the Mouse Kingdom?
TnBrian
March 9th, 2010
3:53 pm
I’m not trying to be a downer here in the excitement, I’m excited too, but listening to The Fan around noon today I couldn’t help but notice what a smart alleck one of those guys is. I don’t know his name because I’ve only listened a handful of times, but it’s the guy who talks the most out of the two. He was rude to a few callers and just had an arrogance about him I didn’t like. He said he’s 32 years old if that helps.
I agreed with most of what he said, just didn’t like the way he said some of those things and the way he treated some of those callers.
I have NEVER been this excited about a ST game, but that’s what a guy like Heyward will do, I guess.
Ed Glennon
March 9th, 2010
3:56 pm
I know the fans want to see Heyward but I wouldn’t play him against NL East teams so that when the season starts he will scare the hell out of them.
FEAR
March 9th, 2010
3:56 pm
yeah baldelli has some weird bone or muscle disease
thinbreakness
March 9th, 2010
3:56 pm
TnBrian-
Kincaid from Philly – just another transplant that litters, and I mean litters the Atlanta Sports market.
Glen W
March 9th, 2010
3:56 pm
Keith law with his Heyward prediction (see 1:09)
http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/31106
Gray-beard
March 9th, 2010
3:57 pm
With all the comparisons with A-Rod, Junior, McGriff, etc., what about a player from the previous generation? I guess there are only a few of you out there who remember Orlando Cepeda’s rookie year. He was 20 years and 7 months on April 15, 1958 when he started for the Giants in the first major league regular season game played on the west coast. He never had a September call-up and along with 5 other rookies, he made the ‘58 Giants out of spring training. The Baby Bull was voted “1958 Rookie of the Year.”
AB H HR RBI BB SO AVG OBP SLG
Cepeda (1958) 603 179 25 96 36 84 .312 .342 .512
Junior (1989) 455 120 16 61 44 83 .264 .329 .420
A-Rod (1996*) 601 215 36 123 59 104 .300 .350 .496
* A-Rod was called up in ‘94 and had 94 AB’s and in ‘95 and had 96 AB’s
Hope the columns are lined up! Cepeda’s stats wouldn’t be bad for anyone, much less for a 20 year old rookie.
VP
March 9th, 2010
3:57 pm
If you are near a TV, tune to ESPN to watch Baseball Tonight. In a minute they will show the Heyward bomb yesterday and Cox’s reaction to it.
Freddy McGruff
March 9th, 2010
3:57 pm
“Winning this season in Bobby Cox’s final year as manager, snapping a four-year postseason-less streak, might also be factors deemed more important than an extra potential year of affordability in the event that the sides can’t agree to a long-term deal.”
Not a valid point, DOB. If that were the case, we’d still have Javy Vasquez in the rotation and would have waiting for someone to come calling on DLowe (injury or such…)
chuck
March 9th, 2010
3:59 pm
Evan gets to play in a slow-pitch softball league with 5 hour games and beer breaks (TIC)…
I think it’s harder to separate yourself from your peers in the NL and in the OF as opposed to 3rd…i mean in the AL, off the top of my head, you have ARod and Young…how many OFers are there to compare to?
Longoria is fantastic, but he’s not on another plane like someone with Heyward’s physical gifts….
Gray-beard
March 9th, 2010
3:59 pm
Sorry – - A-Rod had 53 AB’s in ‘94 and 142 in ‘95. Copied the games column.
Chopper
March 9th, 2010
3:59 pm
DOB,
Glad to hear someone at the AJC finally talking sense about why it doesn’t matter about starting the clock on Heyward’s arbitration/free agency on opening day…because they will want to sign him to a multi year deal because hello, the kid has everything you want in a big league player.
Also, I think it’s time to put to bed the “comparison fever” on Jason Heyward. All of the comparisons come with a caveat, like “he reminds me of Fred McGriff, except he is more athletic” or “he hits as hard as Cliff Floyd, but has more plate discipline” and on and on. I’m starting to believe that there is no comparison because he has what most other players don’t…no holes in his game!!! So I think he will make a name for himself, that will be beyond comparisons. I mean, how many players come to the table with excellent plate discipline, hit for average, hit for power, hit in situations, runs well, steals bases, takes extra bases on pitches in the dirt, can catch well and throw well? Chipper was right, a player who knows the finer points of the game belongs in the majors, when they are a backup middle infielder, but especially when they have the real deal tools that Heyward does. You never heard Chipper or TP talk about Jeff Francoeur glowingly like they do about Heyward, and those two guys know hitting and the finer points of the game very well.
TnBrian
March 9th, 2010
4:00 pm
thinbreakness, Kincaid … that was his name. Thanks.
Mercy, they’d be fighting for the hangup button within a split second if he got that sarcastic, smart aleck tone with me. like I said, he seems have an idea on topics and all, but he’s a douche. The other guy seemed pretty cool though.
chuck
March 9th, 2010
4:00 pm
And Longoria needs to bring the avg up and the Ks WAY DOWN (like the Caps don’t you) before he is considered one of the top 5 hitters in the game.
DHD
March 9th, 2010
4:01 pm
snotboogie…DHD has been around since before Heyward was a gleam in his daddy’s eye…..maybe his grandaddy’s. Maybe even before someone was not embarrassed to use “snotboogie” as a name.
Glen W
March 9th, 2010
4:02 pm
Gray-beard (3:57) Love the suggestion of Cepeda… but of course I’ll note he was a RH hitter. Elite RH hitters usually come into the league at around .280-.290… elite LH hitters usually come in at around .260 or so.
Daslied
March 9th, 2010
4:02 pm
My prediction for Heyward in 2010: .000/.000/.000. He will hit the first pitch he sees, the ball will turn into powder and the rest of MLB will retire (except for Smoltz). He will then heal the ball with his tears, salute the crowd and return to The Fortress Of Solitude.
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
March 9th, 2010
4:02 pm
Bad as I hate to say it, Michael Vick was the closest thing we’ve had to a true mega-star. Aaron was a mega-star as he neared (didn’t sell-out opposing ballparks, or even ours, prior to record chase) the HR record, but he wasn’t homegrown through the ATLANTA system.
FEAR
March 9th, 2010
4:04 pm
Daslied – hahahahha!!!
Renegator
March 9th, 2010
4:04 pm
TnBrian:
I think you are talking about Matt Chernoff. Kincade is much older than 32.
FEAR
March 9th, 2010
4:05 pm
Off topic, but any of you Wrasslin’ fans watch the new monday night wars last night? haha
RC
March 9th, 2010
4:06 pm
Bad as I hate to say it, Michael Vick was the closest thing we’ve had to a true mega-star.
Dominique Wilkens would like a word with you…
Glen W
March 9th, 2010
4:07 pm
I moved away from Atlanta in 2005… the thing I least miss about the city is Mr. Kincaid… I miss the traffic more than I miss Mr. Kincaid.
smitty
March 9th, 2010
4:07 pm
I love that Son Volt song!
McCann Fan
March 9th, 2010
4:07 pm
Awesome blog as always DOB!
You know we can’t get enough of talk and speculation about Heyward. And I hope you’re right about him starting Opening Day. It just won’t be as fun yelling to Diaz or Melky on April 5th.
I would be interested to see the tv ratings tomorrow from tonight’s game. If you can get your hands on that……………..
cavebird
March 9th, 2010
4:08 pm
FEAR–Actually Baldelli is not really a free agent anymore. He agreed to be a roving instructor of some type for Tampa with the caveat that he might try to play again if his health permitted. He is more or less retired at this point, sort of sad.
chuck
March 9th, 2010
4:09 pm
McNulty’s breakdown on the Genesis of Snotboogie is one of the best ever.
sugarfoot
March 9th, 2010
4:09 pm
I disagree. He is not really that good-pretty unimpressive at Gwinnett late last year. He will be back there to start this season.
FEAR
March 9th, 2010
4:10 pm
cavebird – so he has an actual contract then?
northbeach Scott
March 9th, 2010
4:10 pm
Headed out to watch Braves batting practice. DOB I will be guy in 115 in the white GT cap.
TnBrian
March 9th, 2010
4:11 pm
Renegator, I just looked up Matt Chernoff and recognized him immediately as the guy from CSS. He’s an annoying guy for sure. Maybe it was him, I don’t know.
The Ghost of P.L.
March 9th, 2010
4:11 pm
Greg in TN……….I understand what you said in your 10:09am post about the experience of ML at-bats in Spring Training for someone like Jason Heyward. Sure, he may be pumped to face a Roy Halladay tonight.
However, do you think that Halladay is going to be “as pumped” facing Heyward? My point is that he’s all about getting his work in and making sure that he’s one step closer to being ready on Opening Day. He isnt going to try and strike out the side like it’s game 7 of the World Series.
I’ll watch tonight’s game with a passing interest. However, I’ll get “excited” when the regular season starts.
I also pleased to see that you agree with me that the smart economic move would be to start Heyward in Triple A to begin the season.
However, it’s amusing to see you falling into the proverbial “hometown discount” trap that many on here are pushing for. Dont get me wrong, as a Braves fan, I would love to see them sucker Jason Heyward into signing a hometown discount. The Braves have an incredible bargain with Brian McCann’s contract. He will continue to be vastly underpaid throughout that contract, allowing the Braves have more money to be used to improve the team down the line.
My 7:43pm and 9:38pm posts in yesterday’s blog explains why Jeff Francoeur’s gamble didnt hurt him all that much. Despite McCann putting up far superior numbers and making 4 All-Star games………….Francoeur has made almost as much money as McCann. In fact, if Francoeur were to have a good year with the Mets in 2010, he would be in line to increase his $5 mil 2010 salary past the $6.5 mil that McCann is scheduled to make in 2011.
Money rules. It’s simple as that. I’m not saying that it is right or fair. I’m saying that it’s REALITY. If Braves management lets emotion get in the way, then Heyward starts the year in Atlanta. But if logic and the long term view prevail, then Heyward will be the Opening Day right fielder in Gwinnett.
Deferred gratification is an economics term that basically means “putting off now for a bigger gain later on”.
chuck
March 9th, 2010
4:11 pm
One could argue Mike Vick didn’t truly become a megastar until the first Bobcat began it’s dig into the cold hard earth in Surry, VA….
My alma mater made him…not ATL…
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
March 9th, 2010
4:11 pm
Dominique sold a few tickets, but didn’t pack the Omni on a consistent basis, much less other arenas.
Thanagar
March 9th, 2010
4:12 pm
Chucky, do you even read your own posts? You’ve been tossing around phrases like “eff you mode” and “spiteful,” but you have a problem with “snit”? lol
Jesse Stone
March 9th, 2010
4:12 pm
Let’s call him “sliced bread”
FJR
March 9th, 2010
4:12 pm
Chopper and Chuck, I don’t really care about the argument of whether or not he “should” be on the roster on opening day. He’s going to be, who cares if it’s the “smart” move or not. My point, and apparently one that keeps needing to be made, is that it isn’t irrelevant because we are going to sign him to a long term deal. Free agency years are much more expensive to buy out than arbitration years. That’s just a fact that’s easy enough to see by looking at the contract of any player who has signed a long term deal prior to free agency. The years he would be an arb player are several million below the years he would be a free agent.
I can’t believe DOB missed this point.
We can argue until the cows come home about what’s the “right move.” What can’t be argued is that it’s irrelevant because of a long term contract. That is flat out, straight up, wrong.
I’m done with arguing about what the smart move is, I’m happy he’s going to be there on opening day, even if I think its not the smart move. I have opening day tickets this year, who knows if I’ll be in atlanta for opening day 2016.
But every time I see somebody say “it doesn’t matter because we are going to sign him to a long term deal” I’m going to point out that is FLAT OUT 100% wrong.
Biff Pocoroba
March 9th, 2010
4:12 pm
Turnip Green: Hank Aaron was a BRAVES product, through the Milwaukee Braves farm system. They moved to Atlanta in 1965 ! Learn some history !
joerochester
March 9th, 2010
4:13 pm
Headed out to watch Braves batting practice. DOB I will be guy in 115 in the white GT cap.
Do you have a blind date?
Jay212033
March 9th, 2010
4:15 pm
I’m a huge Heyward fan but some of the comments from people are a bit too much. He has awesome talent that’s undeniable but until he plays an entire season healthy in the ML I’m going to temper my excitement. I can almost bet my house that if Heyward comes out and doesn’t hit very well many of the Pro-Heyward crew on this board will say that he should’ve started the season in AAA or some other non-sense type stuff!
Louisiana Jacket
March 9th, 2010
4:15 pm
Great piece on Heyword DOB! One of the better ones I have seen, I especially like what Eddie says about Heyword wanting to be at the ballpark!
falcons pick spoon
March 9th, 2010
4:16 pm
Ever since Vick went down for his criminal activity, there has been a vacancy for the throne of “the man” in the city of Atlanta. Ladies and Gentleman, that vacancy is now occupied.
Steve McP
March 9th, 2010
4:18 pm
Arsenal are destroying Porto, through to the semis with some great goals.
Snotboogie
March 9th, 2010
4:19 pm
chuck
Agreed with that Mcnulty analysis.Thanks for recognizing the name. People seem to see my name and assume I’m a little middle school twit.
Snotboogie
March 9th, 2010
4:20 pm
Steve McP
And without Cesc too. A couple of goals have been brilliant – esp the one by Nasri.Now they are just having fun.
MLH
March 9th, 2010
4:20 pm
TnBrian
if you were listening at noon then it was either Matt Chernoff or Chuck Oliver. They arevdown in Disney this week for Spring Training
fargondbrave
March 9th, 2010
4:22 pm
did ya’ll read the Peter Gammons article on Heyward? He took a different angle than anybody else. very good read.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100309&content_id=8723826&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
The Ghost of P.L.
March 9th, 2010
4:22 pm
Brian……………how did the Braves attempt to sign Jeff Francoeur to a long term contract work out by the way? The Braves came up snake eyes (even though the Braves lucked out………the fact remains that they tried to sign him to a long term contract and he refused because he was gambling that his play would all him to get a bigger contract).
For every Brian McCann who for whatever reason wants to sign the “hometown discount”……..there’s a Jair Jurrgens and Yunel Escobar who are more than content with going to salary arbitration.
As I said yesterday, if Heyward is as good as advertised, then the players that he needs to be compared to is Tim Linecum and Mark Reynolds. A few days difference in service time is the difference between Linecum being allowed to make $8 mil this year (plus a $2 mil bonus) as a Super 2…………..and Reynolds being stuck with making $500K.
If Jason Heyward starts the 2010 season with the Braves………then if both he and Tommy Hanson continues to play well, both players will be eligible for salary arbitration after the 2012 season. Just imagine if one wins the MVP while the other wins a Cy Young in the next 3 years? The Braves payroll would skyrocket through the roof.
Why not ease in the figures by delaying Heyward’s clock by 1 year? It just does not make economic sense in the long term to satisfy some misguided need to see Jason Heyward on the Opening Day roster at the expense of one more year under the Braves control. Let him rake at Triple A until mid to late May, then call him up and unleash him like they did Tommy Hanson.
BravesfaninWis
March 9th, 2010
4:23 pm
For anyone who wants to see a better shot of Heyward’s monster HR, just watch the beginning of the game tonight on MLB network as they will surely show that one,
Also, I am getting me a J-Hey the kid t-shirt. I will be wearing it when the Braves come to Milwaukee this year.
Casey
March 9th, 2010
4:24 pm
I’m still not sure why this is even a question or a topic of debate? The only thing out on Heyward is positive. Baseball America’s number one prospect in the world, stories of him breaking windshields and denting cars, remarks by veterans saying they see him starting opening day, his Spring statistics. The writing is on the wall, and I am pretty baffled as to why every day is there a story questioning him making the big team? This is the guy that Atlanta fans and teammates have been waiting for, for years, minus Francouer not making it happen. There is no question that Jason will be making the team and starting for the Braves, atleast until the Braves decide to not pay him.