Simmons fractured bone in right hand – updated
Philadelphia – The Braves’ dynamic rookie shortstop Andrelton Simmons fractured the fifth metacarpal on his right hand Sunday against the Phillies making a head-first slide into second base.
It’s sobering news for the Braves, who were playing their last game before the All-Star break on such a high note otherwise, sweeping a three-game series from the Phillies. Simmons will be re-examined by Braves hand specialist Dr. Gary Lourie in Atlanta on Monday to determine the course of treatment.
Injuries of this nature can require four to six weeks to heal and even longer if surgery is required. The Braves wouldn’t speculate on a how much time Simmons might miss before he sees Lourie, but given that it’s a fracture, it’s a significant injury to a player who’s become an important part of the team in a short amount of time.
“That’s just the way it goes, this game of ours, sometimes,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “You pitch three great games and you win three, and then you still feel sick to your stomach with Simmons with his fractured (hand) there.”
Given the way Simmons has played since being called up less than six weeks ago, it’s fitting the injury came on a hustle play. Simmons legged out a double on a ball to center field in the fourth inning, taking advantage of a half-hearted throw by Jason Pridie. But the head-first slide cost him.
“You’ve got to take some risks,” Simmons said. “You can’t just be passive. If I get a chance to do it again, I might slide (feet first) this time, but I’m going to go hard though.”
Gonzalez has come to appreciate the hustle by Simmons, though he’d prefer not to see so many head-first slides. That’s something the Braves will continue to address.
“It’s one of those things you preach about it,” Gonzalez said. “But what a heads-up play. He ran the bases right from the very beginning, something that you preach…He can slide 2,000 times and that stuff never happens to him. So it’s a freak play.”
Simmons was X-rayed at Citizens Bank Park and was wearing a splint on his right hand after the game.
Simmons just won NL rookie of the month for June, after leading all league rookies in batting average (.333), on-base percentage (.365) and hits (30) in his first month in the major leagues. He had spent the first two games of this Phillies series making highlight plays at shortstop.
“Stuff happens,” Simmons said. “I’ve got to live with the consequences. It’s tough, but I can’t do anything about it now.”
Eric Hinske pinch hit for him in the fifth inning, then Jack Wilson replaced Simmons at shortstop in the bottom of the fifth. The veteran Wilson has been the backup shortstop all season but doesn’t figure to be a long-term solution. The Braves have Tyler Pastornicky in Triple-A Gwinnett whom they can call on when the Braves resume play after the All-Star break. They might also decide to try to add a shortstop via trade before the July 31 non-waiver deadline.
Braves general manager Frank Wren indicated late Sunday afternoon those would be decisions he and his staff will mull over during the break.
Pastornicky beat out Simmons for the shortstop job coming out of spring training, in part because Simmons was slowed by a strained oblique muscle. Pastornicky struggled to provide the Braves the kind of defense they needed at shortstop, though, and Simmons was called up from Double-A Mississippi on May 30.
Simmons has been impressive both defensively and offensively since his call-up, hitting .296 with seven doubles, a triple, three home runs and 15 RBIs, as well as making all the plays defensively.
“It’s tough losing him for an extended period of time with how much he’s meant to us,” Braves catcher Brian McCann said.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
222 comments Add your comment
VinnyD
July 8th, 2012
3:38 pm
Currently, my favorite Brave. Love the way this guy plays.
urban redneck
July 8th, 2012
3:38 pm
NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Jim
July 8th, 2012
3:41 pm
Why oh why do these guys keep sliding head first? You’re asking for injury and you don’t get there any faster.
Andrelton Simmons
July 8th, 2012
3:45 pm
Jim, I definitely got there faster by sliding head first. You can’t fault me for playing hard.
Bigbrave
July 8th, 2012
3:45 pm
Completely agree Jim!
So?
July 8th, 2012
3:46 pm
Fortunately hes got some time off now. Great kid. By the way, whatever happened to the McCann haters?
LaBrenda Watson
July 8th, 2012
3:47 pm
Carroll, could you tell if it was the little pig that went to market?
Jim
July 8th, 2012
3:49 pm
Not faulting him for playing hard; faulting him for playing stupid. We’ve lost Heyward and Prado for key stretches over the last two years because of head-first slides. Your hands are completely unprotected when you go in head first. Go in feet first and you’re the one who can do some damage.
Earl
July 8th, 2012
3:51 pm
Max!! Maxwell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you gotta go home now. We we we.
Zac in Tempe
July 8th, 2012
4:01 pm
Slide head-first, but hold gloves. No reason to expose your fingers. Still hard to fault him.
BigGTMike
July 8th, 2012
4:01 pm
And we lost Freeman on a feet first slide. Nonissue.
beef pocoroba
July 8th, 2012
4:05 pm
no more sliding!
phil
July 8th, 2012
4:10 pm
Stupid….oh well.
Mike
July 8th, 2012
4:17 pm
OK….so now it’s broken. I guess there’s no way to fight stupidity unless Wren lays down a policy against head first.
BravesFaninBama
July 8th, 2012
4:24 pm
Man, oh man…This sucks SO bad. This is going to be a huge blow to this team…
Do you go with Pastronicky? Wilson?
Darn.
So?
July 8th, 2012
4:31 pm
Would the baseball expert who wrote yesterday morning that the braves would lose the last two games against the phillies please report back in?
BravesfaninWis
July 8th, 2012
4:31 pm
This news sucks. I guess we are now stuck with Wilson or Pastornicky, or both. Either way, this sucks.
Brave New World
July 8th, 2012
4:32 pm
Heal well, Andrelton!
extremus
July 8th, 2012
4:33 pm
I think it should be obvious by now after so many hand injuries that the Braves should begin enforcing rules against head-first slides. It’s just playing roulette and it’s never a matter of if an injury will occur; it’s WHEN.
I really hope Andrelton Simmons has a speedy recovery and can get back on the field soon, but the injury is to his throwing hand, so it’s hard to say how this will affect him long term.
braveshoo
July 8th, 2012
4:36 pm
We have to bring up Pastornicky. Old man Wilson just doesnt have it anymore. He will kill us.
doc c
July 8th, 2012
4:37 pm
coming from a former player i always went in head first and jammed to many fingers to count. you cant fault him for hustling on the play. its also easier to protect yourself from an errant throw going in head first rather than catch a ball to the face going in feet first.
Tampa Gator
July 8th, 2012
4:38 pm
Anyone notice how fast “Not A” BravesfaninBama traveled from Bama back to Wis to again become “Not A” BravesfaninWis……just to say everything in life sucks.
RunninWithTheDawgs
July 8th, 2012
4:39 pm
A pinkie fracture. He could be back in the lineup in as soon as three weeks.
Tampa Gator
July 8th, 2012
4:40 pm
Then he became “Braveswho”……but life still sucks…..or kills. There isn’t a postive bone in this person’s multiple personalities.
chem
July 8th, 2012
4:40 pm
probably more like 4-6 weeks
Tampa Gator
July 8th, 2012
4:41 pm
I like turtles!
JNick
July 8th, 2012
4:42 pm
As was stated, Freeman was injured on a feet-first slide….so pick your poison….a solid solution for head first slides is to HOLD your batting gloves in each hand, keeping your fingers protected and still allowing you to slide head first, if you feel that you must.
Heal quickly Simba. As for McCann….all my hate mail/postings seems to have worked. He woke up. Nice to see.
Tampa Gator
July 8th, 2012
4:43 pm
Jar really looked great today after that homerun. Pitched to the corners and really had the Phillie hitters off balance all day. It is a great thing to see him coming back….and may become even a better “pitcher” in the long run. If Ben Sheets comes up and throws well….things look good for the second half…..if no one else hurts any pinky fingers. Get well soon, Simmons. You are a terrific young player. Go Braves.
Peachstealth
July 8th, 2012
4:44 pm
5th metacarpal isn’t pinkie finger it’s the bone in the hand between the wrist and finger.
Tampa Gator
July 8th, 2012
4:44 pm
Now…..HE…..SHE…..IT…..has transformed himself, sheself, itself…..into TAMPA GATOR…..go figure…..at 4:41PM. I am shocked.
Cody Mac
July 8th, 2012
4:44 pm
@ Jim – When it’s a close play like that, mental tendency is to slide head-first because it’ll give you a chance to reach around the tag attempt. Sliding feet first in that situation would’ve resulted in an out, with Utley’s leg blocking that end of the bag.
By going in with his hands, he could accurately reach over/around the leg to hit the bag before the tag was applied.
Obviously it’s a much larger injury risk, but it’s done for a reason…not because he’s “playing stupid”.
Tampa Gator
July 8th, 2012
4:46 pm
If it is that bone……at least two months minimum……then a little bit of struggle to hit when he gets back. Oh boy. Just too bad for the young man. But he has an extremely bright future.
Tampa Gator
July 8th, 2012
4:48 pm
JNick…..
I thought it was his sessions with his brother that did the trick…..not your postings. Excuse me, I must have been mistaken. Now….start posting about Uggla….please.
Tampa Gator
July 8th, 2012
4:49 pm
I am paranoid!
GwinnettDad
July 8th, 2012
4:49 pm
Bummer. Hope he’s back in the lineup ASAP.
Dirty Dawg
July 8th, 2012
4:53 pm
Yeah it was a hustle play, but it turned into a wasted play. Hard to think about it – instincts are instincts – but leaving first base open with the number eight hitter up followed by a weak-hitting pitcher basically was all for naught. Actually it was less than naught since, in my opinion, we just lost the best SS in the league. Let’s hope the healing won’t take too long and that Pastornicky will be better than he was in April and May. Maybe if the rest of the bats come around we can get by with Jack Wilson hitting eighth cause his glove is tons better than Pastors’.
Tampa Gator
July 8th, 2012
4:55 pm
BravesfaninWis….
Stealing people’s posting names and posting can get you banned…..hopefully. Are you 12 years old? If so, I apologize. If not, get some help. Have a nice day. Go Braves.
Ted M
July 8th, 2012
4:56 pm
I’m so freakin’ sick and tired of Jack Wilson. He has no business whatsoever of being on the Braves team. He can’t hit at all…certainly can’t pinch hit. He’s not that good a fielder and he’s not that fast. Veteran leadership my as$ let Jones, Prado & McCann provide the veteran leadership. If you can’t trade for a back up infielder let Pastronicky do it (when Simmons gets back from his broken finger).
ldh
July 8th, 2012
4:57 pm
I’ve broken that same bone.It will be 6-8 weeks recovery time.Braves are done anyway,not enough pitching.
Bobby Dews
July 8th, 2012
4:59 pm
1st?
jason
July 8th, 2012
5:00 pm
Dee Gordon, Bonifacio, Simmons all break bones in their hands and dl’d with head first slides. Bonifacio has missed seven weeks. Dee Gordon is going to be out for six weeks. And now Simmons breaks a finger in his throwing hand.
Nothing more stupid than the head first slide. The play isn’t worth it as now their starting shortstop playing well is out to the end of august probably.
moboman
July 8th, 2012
5:02 pm
the stolen base wasn’t worth the DL trip. How many head first sliding injuries before ball clubs forbid them? At least if he had been clutching gloves might have been avoidable.
So?
July 8th, 2012
5:05 pm
Jnick, raging against players having tough weeks marks you as a half-fan, one with lots of opinions and half as much real knowledge. You likely denounced JJ earlier and Uggla now and will do the same for the next player to slump. You’re a chump.
TP
July 8th, 2012
5:06 pm
Let’s say he’ll return around the third week in Aug and Pastronicky us batting .300…..then what?
Top Chopper
July 8th, 2012
5:07 pm
Don’t other teams have rules against head first slides? This is how Heyward was hurt also. I blame the manager!
TP
July 8th, 2012
5:11 pm
Yeah, that head first sliding really cut Pete Rose’s career short.
Largo
July 8th, 2012
5:11 pm
Dumb Dumb Dumb!
Macon Fan
July 8th, 2012
5:16 pm
By going in with his hands, he could accurately reach over/around the leg to hit the bag before the tag was applied easily break a bone in his hand that put him out 4-6 weeks and possibly affect his whole career.
Angel Wings
July 8th, 2012
5:16 pm
That’s tough. Simba sweetheart
KYBravos' fan
July 8th, 2012
5:17 pm
I detest the head first slide. It’s obviously not taught. It’s just(IMO) an instinctual move caused by PURE hustle. I’m an oldtimer, because as a kid, the first guy I remember sliding like that was “Jungle Jim” Rivera of the ‘59 “Go-Go White Sox? They lost to Dodgers in the WS. Anybody out there as old as I am remember him? He was a big-time hustler. Go Braves!!!
1eyedJack
July 8th, 2012
5:18 pm
If he hit a double how could he be holding gloves when he slid?
Tim
July 8th, 2012
5:19 pm
It’s effectively a “boxer fracture”, not a pinkie finger fracture. Peach is right, it is the bone between the wrist and the finger, on the outside of the palm of the hand. Not sure holding something would have helped.
old school player
July 8th, 2012
5:20 pm
To all the posts who continue to stress that he needs to be clutching his gloves…how do you expect him to do that if he just hit the ball?!? Do you wish to see him running and trying to take them off as he runs? Of course not. Baseball is a sport. People get injured playing sports. I’m just thankful he was playing hard and not just jogging to first. Unfortunate…yes, but I’ll not fault his effort.
1991 braves
July 8th, 2012
5:21 pm
If the braves had a decent hitting coach maybe the players wouldn’t have to rely on their fathers or brothers to help them adjust their swings and get out of slumps. First it was Chipper, and now McCann. Proof once again that the braves have the worst coaches and manager in baseball. Too bad Venter’s father or brother can’t help him with his mechanics. The sad thing is that braves fans will have to watch Pastornicky making his many errors, and Wilson making his errors and his pitiful swing. Simmons was the only bright spot on this team, and now he will be gone for several weeks.
jason
July 8th, 2012
5:25 pm
Someone earlier was mentioning heyward getting hurt sliding head first a few years ago.
Heyward at the time was living up to the publicity and having a great rookie year. He damaged limaments in his thumb sliding head first into third and has never been the same. I saw an interview with him over a year after he was injured and he said he still can’t bend his thumb back and was told it will never be the same.
Doc
July 8th, 2012
5:27 pm
After reading through the comments, I wonder how many people that comment actually watch the game. Simmons didn’t steal a base. He couldn’t have his gloves in his hands, because he was hustling out a double. When was he supposed to take his gloves off, coming out of the batters box, rounding first, or digging towards second? C’mon people.
Hope he heals quickly. Also, it’s good to have McCann back offensively and it was nice to see Uggla’s jack today.
Angel Wings
July 8th, 2012
5:29 pm
Does anyone here think maybe now make a trade for SS? I don’t know just asking?
kral
July 8th, 2012
5:30 pm
1991…memorial…to AG…and Gomer P…STUPID is as stupid ….blogs
kmarshall 4
July 8th, 2012
5:33 pm
anybody but pastornicky nick ahmed,josh wilson we need defense at short not offense would rather have old man jack
kmarshall 4
July 8th, 2012
5:34 pm
yes angel wings no more pastornicky please
Long time fan
July 8th, 2012
5:35 pm
He could always toughen up and play through it but that is very wishful thinking. We will find out tomorrow and be glad the all-star break is this week and he won’t miss a lot of time.
64 year Braves fan
July 8th, 2012
5:36 pm
Chipper Jones should teach all Braves players how to slide feet first. He knows how to do it.
Head first slides lead to serious injuries and you don’t get there any faster. Feet first popup slides are best. Why don’t they insist on that in the minor league system. This could cost the Braves a playoff
spot.
kral
July 8th, 2012
5:36 pm
Sportfans we have no other choice than the pastor ….right now
Really?
July 8th, 2012
5:37 pm
@jnick is right… many players hold their batting gloves in their hands, thus their fingers are curled not sticking out and this seems to help a lot.
Angel Wings
July 8th, 2012
5:38 pm
Called back to work. See ya Go Braves!
braveslover
July 8th, 2012
5:39 pm
Since it’s not a finger break it will not affect his batting as much and should not affect his throwing at all. Depending on the type of break (complete vs incomplete) will determine time missed and rehab. Here’s hoping the news tomorrow is an incomplete break, couple of weeks in a soft cast and then a couple of rehab assignments. Here’s also hoping that Pastornicky matured a bit at AAA and will help the Braves while he’s here. He had a decent bat when he was here just looney in the field.
Cheesefrog
July 8th, 2012
5:42 pm
This is always a tough argument when it comes to the head-first slide. But besides the fact that so many guys hurt their necks, shoulders and fingers sliding head-first, to me it’s just a simple matter of your exposed fingers vs. the fielder’s cleats with all his weight on them. The fingers are bound to lose. And in this case Simmons couldn’t have held his gloves because he was the batter. I understand it’s more instinctive, but geez is it worth it? If Utley’s got his leg in front of the bag then slide and make HIM pay with your cleats. Gonzalez is raving about what great hustle it is, and Simmons says he’d do it again if had a do-over. I hope they feel the same way every time they see Wilson or Pastornicky walking back to the plate after failing to get a hit.
Long time fan
July 8th, 2012
5:43 pm
It has been a mixed bag with Pastornicky at Gwinnett from the games I have seen on CSS or heard on the internet. He has had good moments and then bad moments.
kral
July 8th, 2012
5:46 pm
yes ….I saw him in HD rounding 1st,,,churning to 2nd turning a sure single in to an impossible 2b….saw him trying to pull off his gloves…did some of you.. %%%%…quote it …not watch the game…but still feel compelled to offer your expert advice
Whiskey River
July 8th, 2012
5:48 pm
@kral I saw the game and you are right.
DaveinNEPA
July 8th, 2012
5:50 pm
Jmo but I think they have to make a deal for a SS.
Wilson probably couldn’t take the everyday grind and we already saw that Pastornicky is NOT a ML quality SS. No amount of coaching can make his range or his arm better.
GaDawg
July 8th, 2012
5:51 pm
Rent a SS from someone who’s selling after break! Leave Pastronicky at Gwinnett and find one more starter and let’s kick some ass in the 2nd half!
Whiskey River
July 8th, 2012
5:54 pm
I completely agree but i don’t know any SS available. Maybe I don’t know.
kral
July 8th, 2012
5:54 pm
thanks WR..did notice he stopped to tie a shoelace between 1st and 2nd
Jeroen Jansen
July 8th, 2012
5:56 pm
A S , beterschap ruman, i un pronto rekuperashon.
Whiskey River
July 8th, 2012
5:56 pm
Hey GaDawg Your old buddy Yunel is available.
OPTIONS
July 8th, 2012
5:58 pm
I HOPE SIMONS WILL BE BACK SOON, I THINK THE BRAVES COULD EXPLORE OPTIONS FROM OTHER TEAMS…
SEAN RODRIGUEZ AND JEFF KEPPINGER FROM TB RAYS
BRENDAN RYAN FROM SEATTLE
MARCO SCUTARO FROM ROCKIES
MAICER IZTURIS FROM ANGELS
JAMEY CARROLL FROM TWINS
Whiskey River
July 8th, 2012
5:59 pm
@Jeroen Jansen If you can’t speak English. I speak 3 languages, which one would you like. I prefer English.
Old Time Fan
July 8th, 2012
6:02 pm
Tough about Simmons, he was hurt on a hustle play, however just about every game someone is sliding into first base. It has been proven that you get there sooner by running through the bag. The only time to slide in that situation is if the fielder has been pulled off the bag and is trying to tag the runner out. This goes back to coaching and poor teaching of fundamentals.
kral
July 8th, 2012
6:09 pm
GOSH…OTF..no one in the brave’s system knows how to coach base running..give me a break..and all the other teams hire idiots….40 yr, fan myself
Fritz Belly
July 8th, 2012
6:14 pm
It is almost impossible to slide with your batting gloves in your hands while stretching a single to a double!!! Do you expect him to be removing his gloves while running?!?!
Also, a head-first slide is faster than a feet first slide. You decel faster when more of your body mass is in contact with the ground, which happens faster in a feet-first slide than in a head-first slide. It’s called friction.
Old Time Fan
July 8th, 2012
6:15 pm
Come on kral, if you were that knowledgeable, you would be aware of this. I am not going to sit here and argue with you, but by reading a previous post, it is obvious that you are a Smart A.
Whiskey River
July 8th, 2012
6:16 pm
WOW kral your 40. you are still wet under the ears.
Andrelton Simmons
July 8th, 2012
6:16 pm
At the time of the play I was excited because it was a heads up play, but this just cost us big time for nothing. I mean we had JJ coming up bating behind him it didn’t matter if he was on 3rd we weren’t scoring a run, but you can’t fault the kid for hustling. Just really unfortunate and unlucky…Bad luck for the Braves continues.
Edit: Side note DOB can you tell us what’s up with Julio Teheran he got smacked around AGAIN today in AAA going 5 innings, 9 hits, 7 ER’s, 4 HR his ERA for the season is now 4.92 literally more than double what it was last year in the SAME LEAGUE!!!!
jason
July 8th, 2012
6:19 pm
Ex Mets are really coming back to cost the braves. Pridie’s dumb play costs simmons six weeks and reyes nailed freeman with a double play throw a few weeks ago and freeman says he still has trouble griping the bat with nerve damage to his thumb.
Jerry in Tennessee
July 8th, 2012
6:20 pm
Carpal is in the hand. Metacarpal is the finger.
Whiskey River
July 8th, 2012
6:21 pm
Come on Old Time Fan Give us all a break. Forget it and be nice. It happened It is devastating but there is nothing we can do.
kral
July 8th, 2012
6:23 pm
NO WR…56…OTF…yes..can be a smart a…especially when bloggers make broad based comments…that they have no factual reason to back up
Jasons Shrinking Waist
July 8th, 2012
6:23 pm
Well forget Grienke…the brewers wanted pastornicky
willie
July 8th, 2012
6:24 pm
He was 3-23 in July anyway. They seem to have figured out how to pitch him. Nice player but not the end of the world. I like the hustle.
Whiskey River
July 8th, 2012
6:28 pm
@kral 56 still young to me. You and OTF need to be nice.
kral
July 8th, 2012
6:31 pm
I can be both….
gotigers72
July 8th, 2012
6:32 pm
There is/are one or more teams that forbid their minor league players from sliding head first. Can’t remember which team/teams it is. Senior moment. They fine them, and with the pay they receive in the minors, that is quite a blow to the player. IMO all teams should have that policy in place.
When I coached LL, we brought a slip and slide to one of the other coaches’ houses and taught sliding feet first that way. The kids had a blast and it was an effective way of teaching that. However, there is not much sliding in LL, head first or feet first. Watching kids try to slide in Tee Ball is a hoot! In high school our coach had a “sliding pit” with sand in it as a way of teaching feet first sliding. He made everybody wear sliding pads to avoid the inevitable “strawberries” that would pop up w/o the use of said pads. There wasn’t much head first sliding in those days [late 60s, early 70s].
Unpopular Opinion
July 8th, 2012
6:33 pm
Sliding head first is just stupid and not worth it. You all can talk about hustle and heart all you want, but it’s still a silly thing to do. I’d much rather a player be called out than to spend weeks on the DL.
Whiskey River
July 8th, 2012
6:33 pm
@ Jasons Shrinking Waist. It could still happen because there is 3 other players involved.
Whiskey River
July 8th, 2012
6:34 pm
@kral Wish i was 56 again.
coach
July 8th, 2012
6:34 pm
Trade for Marco Scutaro and call up pastornicky, release wilson then send pastornicky back down when simmons is back
timS
July 8th, 2012
6:36 pm
You hate to see any player injured , head first feet first injuries happen. Tough the young man was on his way to being a super star. Hopefully he will have a speedy recovery at the same time don’t try to come back to quick. Unlike Pansie Freeman who should have been called out for interference on his piss poor slide way back when in Miami when he got a little boo-boo and wasn’t himself for almost a month. Simmons injury is legite
kral
July 8th, 2012
6:36 pm
retired 30 years…teacher
Spud
July 8th, 2012
6:38 pm
Can Prado play SS? Might be time to find out.
J
July 8th, 2012
6:38 pm
Play Prado at Shortstop and let Hinksi and Diaz rotate out in left field. That would be the best option both offensively and defensively.
Whiskey River
July 8th, 2012
6:42 pm
@kral 35 yr retired Vice Detective. Turned big 70 last month.
Old Time Fan
July 8th, 2012
6:43 pm
Last post kral, I am a retired high school baseball coach and while I don’t pretend to be on par with the professional coaches, I did attend numerous coaching clinics some with Braves personnell, some with college coaches, and in the early 70’s at Ga Southern I took Ron Polk’s coaching baseball class. Every one will tell you that you reach 1st base sooner by running through it rather than sliding into it head first. That is what I was I was taught and I will take it as factual information . Have a nice day, how about that WR?
Whiskey River
July 8th, 2012
6:47 pm
Sounds like you know what you are talking about. That is great to be knowledgeable like that,but my point is Why argue?
PaulG
July 8th, 2012
6:53 pm
Haven’t read all the blogs but it seems fredi is escaping blame for the slide
lee maye
July 8th, 2012
6:54 pm
Jed Lowrie of the Astros. Send a couple of midlevel prospects. Dodgers are also after him. Pastornicky and Teheran to Brewers for Greinke.
Prado is not a SS, J. Would be better off with Pastornicky at SS. And, Hinske and Diaz in LF would be a disaster.
kevkat
July 8th, 2012
6:58 pm
It’s ridiculous to continue to call him or the play “stupid or dumb”. Stupid or dumb would be if he broke his finger outside of doing his job which is playing hard. Had he broken it out skateboarding or four-wheeling or doing something outside of playing baseball I could agree with ” stupid or dumb” for more than one reason. What’s done is done. Even he said he might would have done it differently but he would still play hard. Had he made it without this happening there would be no conversation or quotes like..”well I’m glad he made it but he shouldn’t slide head first”. No, on the contrary, it would be ” wow, this guy really hustles, etc.”. Injuries happen, broken fingers happen being hit by pitches and the percentage of head first slides that involve injury obviously can’t be that high because if it was more teams would address it. He’ll take several weeks to heal and be back..he’s still the future shortstop of this team and if they can’t win without him, they shouldn’t win. Braves fans are all upset, nothing wrong with that, but no need to keep harping on him being stupid or the play being stupid.
wisconsinbraveswin
July 8th, 2012
6:59 pm
every game is a good win now until season end, good pitching an d hitting , it wasn’t stupid or dumb for his effort to get to the base it is sports it is baseball you do what you can for the team it shows that he wants to win rather you agree or not, thats why he is a pro, and we or not .. enuff said GO BRAVES
DaveinNEPA
July 8th, 2012
7:00 pm
Oh, for crying out loud!!!!!
Once again………..our “knowledgable” fan base starts with the “Prado to SS” BS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Repeat after me…………..Martin Prado, great player that he is, IS NOT A SHORTSTOP!!!!!!!!
Whiskey River
July 8th, 2012
7:00 pm
@lee maye Sounds good. Brewers also want Guerrin. Other than that I completely agree. How about Minor, Salcedo and Redmond to Twins for Liriano and Denard Span. Heard that one yesterday. What do you think?
Old Time Fan
July 8th, 2012
7:01 pm
Not trying to argue WR, I just stated my opinion and was called out. I am a frequent reader of the blogs and occasional blogger and I enjoy your postings as you try to keep an even keel. Last thought, I don’t think the players are motivated by FG and I would love to see a change of management.
BravesfaninWis
July 8th, 2012
7:02 pm
@ Tampa Gator,
I have never used anyone’s name on here numb nuts. Have DOB check if I used any other members name on this site ever and he will tell you no.
If I ever used a different name, I always made it known. So before you start calling people out, get a f’n clue putz boy. Still looks like you follow only my posts on here, glad I can help you get through the day. Must be rough living your fat ass in your mom’s basement and only getting thrills on a message board.
kral
July 8th, 2012
7:04 pm
I want argue OTF,,ALSO was at GA SOUTHERN…took baseball under RP….has nothing to do with who taught you…but being a coach ..seconding guessing others of the profession …coached…football…baseball…and basketball..have all the answers..where sports are concerned…not a clue…sorry for questioning your expertise
Whiskey River
July 8th, 2012
7:05 pm
Lets everybody get over it. It happened. It is devastating to the team. As Fans we are hurt. But lets hang in there with out team and see what happens, We are now in 2nd place. Just 4 games out. WE are OK. Luv our Braves Go Braves!!!!
Logan
July 8th, 2012
7:06 pm
Picked up a game on every team in the east. Not a shabby finish going into the break.
Whiskey River
July 8th, 2012
7:11 pm
All of you SHUT UP and get over it. We all love our Braves. Nobody should be accusing anybody.. Be nice. BravesFanin Wis Be nice I enjoy listening to your posts. Some are funny some are knowledgeable. Say what you want to say.but don’t accuse anybody of anything. If you are accusing me of anything bring on the proff. I have always liked you . What have I done?
Bvillebaron
July 8th, 2012
7:19 pm
BravesfaninWisc:
Here’s a suggestion for you: stop with the name calling and grow up!
SMOLTZ29
July 8th, 2012
7:23 pm
Pick up Marco Scutaro, cost us a bucket of balls and some cash! MAKE IT HAPPEN WREN
Ted M
July 8th, 2012
7:26 pm
Holy Cow….hold his batting gloves…didn’t you guys watch the game or you tube the play. Simmons stretched a single into a double. Baseball players should be sliding feet first 95% of the time. Only when it is absolute must win situation should slide head first.
Whiskey River
July 8th, 2012
7:30 pm
You guys are unbelieveable. No matter what happens you complain. Get over it. I have had enough Good Bye Go Braves!!!
Ted M
July 8th, 2012
7:31 pm
I’ll take Marco Scutaro over lame Jack Wilson. Actually, I’d take any average double A player over Jack Wilson. JW is nothing absolutely nothing.
No Flag Since Lemke
July 8th, 2012
7:35 pm
Braves would be damn fools to spend their scarce money or prospects for a shortstop when he have the solution for the next 5-7 years out for 4-6 weeks. Get by with Wilson/Pastornicky platoon and use what resources we have to fortify the bench and add a middle rotation guy.
74bravesjersey
July 8th, 2012
7:44 pm
Does Jordan Parazz play ss? Give him a shot, oh yea, been on a Gattis mission, anybody know the latest on him? Andrelton’s shoes are big to fill.
smithyred
July 8th, 2012
7:48 pm
I agree with VinnyD, —— I love the way Simmons plays. He is the shortstop now. He is going to be something. He might be out a while but he will be ok and Braves will be ok to. Braves played great this weekend. Glad Bryan has got his stroke back.
74bravesjersey
July 8th, 2012
7:51 pm
@whiskey river; Hang in there big buddy, jest wanna say hey Buddy!
Billreef
July 8th, 2012
7:52 pm
Jim, just shut up. You obviously haven’t ever played the game
Hat tipping
July 8th, 2012
7:56 pm
Injuries are part of season. Just ask phillies. No panic trades. Ride it out, see how long he is gone and see how team reacts. Couple weeks ago fans were freaking out over losing beachy. While beachy has been loss, surprisingly JJ has stepped in and pitched well.
jason
July 8th, 2012
7:57 pm
How many more hand injuries can a team have. Gonzalez says you can slide 2,000 times head first and not get injured. Well now two key players have gotten injured this way and one had his career altered.
Heyward had 8 home runs, was batting over .300 with an ops of 1.030 when he did ligament damage to his thumb sliding head first. Heyward said in an interview he still can’t bend his thumb back and he has been a shell of the player since. It isn’t that he didn’t live up to the hype. He was living up to it he just got a debilitating injury. Bobby Cox said he had a thumb injury like that and it didn’t go away the rest of his career.
But with the braves luck it doesn’t matter how they slide. Freeman got nailed sliding feet first and reyes’s throw did ligament damage to his thumb. A month later after already getting cortisone shots he says he is going to use the all star break to get more shots. He says it still hurts catching throws and gripping the bat.
So you have had three key young players have their careers altered with hand injuries in freeman, heyward, simmons.
Hopefully simmons just had a clean break and no ligament damage. At least it is his pinky even though it is throwing hand. Freeman and Heyward both had ligament damage to their thumbs which are disastrous injuries when it comes to gripping the bat and swinging. Freeman said bobby cox also told him he will probably have to deal with this injury the rest of his career.
jason
July 8th, 2012
7:58 pm
Heyward had 8 home runs and ops of 1.030 in the middle of may when he got injured his rookie year and was on pace for a huge year.
He has never had a streak like that since.
Billreef
July 8th, 2012
7:59 pm
All of these morons saying ‘he should have been clutching gloves”. This wasn’t a steal, it started in the batters box. Are you suggesting he should have gotten some gloves from the 1st base coach as he went by? God there are some idiots on here.
Andrelton Simmons (Braves) — BaseballMoves.com
July 8th, 2012
8:00 pm
[...] Source: ajc.com [...]
Hat tipping
July 8th, 2012
8:00 pm
Also Minor Delgado and Tehran are very young top prospects. Struggling early in their careers is no reason to trade them. These are growing pains for them They are not over the hill vets who struggle like Hernandez Trade one and you are trading the starters of the future.
Billreef
July 8th, 2012
8:02 pm
AND PINHEAD’S. IT’S NOT HIS FREAKING PINKY. It’s in his hand.
buffering
July 8th, 2012
8:09 pm
you got to go and get a short stop now. We CANNOT make a pennant run with Jack Wilson. they are going to make simmons have surgery and he will be out for 6 weeks or longer. IF he is out that long then he wont be in playing shape so basically his season is done.
We dont have a short stop now Frank Wren. We dont have a pitching staff Frank Wren. We dont have a bench frank Wren. We need some help Frank Wren!!
Whiskey River
July 8th, 2012
8:09 pm
@74braves jersey Hey good Buddy Go Braves!!! Got to go pick up sister. See you tomorrow.
buffering
July 8th, 2012
8:10 pm
the metacarpal is the last bone in the hand before the pinky.
BravesFaninBama
July 8th, 2012
8:12 pm
Tampa Gator…What is your problem? How am I being negative? Also, I am my own person. No one is using my user name.
I said it sucks he’s out. The Wisconsin person and I are completely different. Please don’t use my name in your messages again.
BRAVESFAN
July 8th, 2012
8:14 pm
I just Googled “fifth metacarpal bone” and then realized I got that when punching someone in the head (a cement head). While the knuckle went back it didn’t cause me any problems unless I’m street fighting. Hope the Braves are giving Andrelton Simmons the best care otherwise I got a good “fifth metacarpal bone” on my left hand for them.
JoeFan
July 8th, 2012
8:32 pm
Makes no sense to trade for a SS who you might use for 6 weeks.Go with Wilson / Pastornicky and hope the offense makes up for the weaker defense. The Braves need to solidfy the bench, bullpen and maybe add a top shelf starting pitcher if doesn’t cost them the farm.
kangaroo Court
July 8th, 2012
8:38 pm
Spud I agree, put 14 at short. Also why the heck isn’t 14, on the All Star Team?
I pray Andrelton gets back as soon as possible.
JohnW
July 8th, 2012
8:48 pm
Get off this kids back for hustling. For those of y’all who think sliding head first is a bad idea, you must have never played the game of baseball. You can injure yourself in any aspect of the game. You get taught at a young age to slide head first. Get down and dirty and to hell with all the guys who don’t hustle out every play.
Heisenberg
July 8th, 2012
9:02 pm
Fredi was overheard saying “Hopefully he can rest it over the allstar break and will only miss a few games without having to go on the DL”.
Bob the Blogger
July 8th, 2012
9:11 pm
I broke the exact same bone a few years ago. There will be swelling, muscle atrophy, joint stiffness, rehab to get the hand to close, then building up strength.
I think that’s the same or similar bone that Omar Infante broke a couple of years ago, and he came back in 4-6 weeks.
Pastornicky would be a fair substitute. How quickly we get spoiled by a great player.
Alaska Braves Fan
July 8th, 2012
9:12 pm
In the long run, head-first slides are not good – EVER! The small return isn’t worth the huge potential for injury. Now we’ll be missing Andrelton, probably until about the second week of September. Check out the on-line images of the bone that is broken. He cannot throw effectively until it is completely healed.
So, what will the Braves do? I hope they don’t jump into a trade for the position. Pastornicky will fill the spot just fine if they call him up, but, of course, Wilson never would reach the “Andrelton” level, on offense or defense. Especially on offense. We just have to get along until Andrelton can return. Perhaps the McCann resurgence, plus a hoped-for improvement from Uggla will fill the void.
When I say Pastornicky will do fine, I’m thinking that he will be the weak link, but that others will pick up the slack. He’s a good guy, but he’s nowhere nearly as talented as Andrelton.
Let’s all just send out very positive vibrations for Sheets. If he comes on like gang-busters, he could make a huge difference.
ABF
Another Clueless Blogger
July 8th, 2012
9:22 pm
Simba will be back!
Bravefaninok
July 8th, 2012
9:53 pm
J
July 8th, 2012
6:38 pm
Play Prado at Shortstop and let Hinksi and Diaz rotate out in left field. That would be the best option both offensively and defensively.
There is a very good reason Prado plays everywhere except SS….
IHEARTCARROLL
July 8th, 2012
10:57 pm
You never see anyone in the dugout drinking milk. Always water or sports drinks. There’s the problem.
Powder Blue
July 8th, 2012
11:14 pm
Thank goodness we have Wilson and Pastornicky. Oh, wait…
Harpie
July 8th, 2012
11:18 pm
What a bummer about Simmons. But no team in baseball likes making excuses more than the Braves, so now they have another excuse when they start playing like crap again ( and you can pretty much count on that happening ).
Slammin' HELMETS, and breakin' BATS!
July 8th, 2012
11:40 pm
All of you complaining about headfirst slides have clearly never played baseball at a quality level, yet you make these demands that the Braves should essentially “ban” sliding. Baseball is a sport, and like with any sport, there are risks of injury… that’s how it goes. So, stop your crying and get over it. It’s unfortunate, but Simmons did nothing wrong, he made a heads-up play. If that was a crucial moment in the middle of a World Series, you wouldn’t be complaining about his aggressiveness if it got him in scoring position to potentially score the winning run. You have to play this game like it’s your last, EVERY DAY, otherwise you’ll never be a great ballplayer… you may turn out good, but you’ll never be great if you’re, like Simmons said, “passive.” Just wish him a speedy recovery and move on.
Slammin' HELMETS, and breakin' BATS!
July 8th, 2012
11:42 pm
@Powder Blue: Haha
Heisenberg
July 8th, 2012
11:42 pm
Before I go to bed to begin another work week (and because I did not win the lottery – yet), for anyone who cares to point out that head first sliding is not faster because otherwise you would see track sprinters diving for the finish line, there is no comparison.
In case you were not paying attention during the women’s 100 meter final at the US Olympic trials, track running events are judged by when the torso crosses the finish line. This means even if you dive head first you are not timed until your torso crosses – not your finger tips. Also the track pavement will mess you up. As opposed to baseball where whatever part of your body touches the base before the ball or tag is safe – and the dirt may give you a strawberry but will not otherwise leave large patches of skin missing.
Lastly, Whiskey River (as I empty my glass), hope all is well in your continued recovery. Good night.
peachstealth
July 8th, 2012
11:49 pm
Jerry in tenn,
Carpal is in the wrist, metacarpal in the hand, fingers are phalanges. You have 3 phalanges in each finger, proximal, middle and distal.
F G said he broke his knuckle which leads me to believe the break is on the distal end of the metacarpal .
wliiy g hate liberty media,i
July 8th, 2012
11:52 pm
the bravess did good shocked methey havent. swept philly since 2002 in philly. somebody go find pacman to be a ss til simmons gets back team is 4 out fielding is more important
than hitting i saw hansons face the other night when simmons made that play confidence the pitchers know that defense is behnd them that series reminded me of the team in the ninties timely hitting and fielding.
Top Chopper
July 8th, 2012
11:56 pm
To Slammin’ helmets: two words– Pete Reiser
wliiy g hate liberty media,i
July 8th, 2012
11:56 pm
get somebody in trade asap wren do yr damn job yr pastornicky therory sux the kid cant field and you dont have pitching as good now that can come back from ss errors
wliiy g hate liberty media,i
July 9th, 2012
12:00 am
well once again john scherholtz screwed trades elvis andrus in texas would look good now in a braves uniform insteadof texas
wliiy g hate liberty media,i
July 9th, 2012
12:06 am
where is jeff blauser at? and andrew jones 3 hoeruns saturday for yankees and braves gave him awsy
wliiy g hate liberty media,i
July 9th, 2012
12:10 am
well if frank wren does not get s s in a. few days before thursdsy well frank yr team faces santana friday dickey saturday
wliiy g hate liberty media,i
July 9th, 2012
12:12 am
the mets come friday frank
Charles
July 9th, 2012
12:25 am
Tough break for Simmons, but to my surprise the Braves showed incredible effort the past few weeks after looking like potted plants against the Cubs. With the resurgent Jurgens, the need to make a deal for starting pitching is less acute, but there is a huge hole at SS created by Simmons’ injury. If it’s going to be 6 weeks as reported by DOB, using Wilson and even worse Pastornicky will cost us several games and be extremely costly in what is now shaping up as a race for the wild card unless Washington chokes.. Wilson is average in the field, Pastornicky was a failure in field and at the bat, while you will be lucky to get .200 from Wilson at the plate. So the Braves should consider making a deal for Lowrie of the Astros — the Astros might take one of the pitchers and Lowrie has the flexibility to play 3B as a long term replacement for Chipper when Simmons returns, as well as 2B. Lowrie would be worth getting rid of the inconsistent Minor or Delgado, although both showed a lot of heart in their last starts. Let me weigh in on the head first slide — it’s part of the game but injuries do occur. Players might want to consider keeping the batting gloves on after they reach base to minimize these type of injuries — just a thought.
Nevada Roy
July 9th, 2012
1:20 am
Would it make any sense to take a look at Miguel Tejada who was released from his minor league contract with Baltimore?
larry wayne
July 9th, 2012
1:48 am
ahhhh this is terrible news! simmons was certainly one of the best shortstops in the national league since his call up, and probably the best defensively. him impact on this ballclub was enormous too, providing great at bats in the 8-hole, fantastic defense, and a hustle mentality (that unfortunately, and ironically, resulted in his injury). hopefully we get him back this year in time for a run into the postseason, as he really is an incredibly promising youngster.
until then, options? frankly, I favor moving prado to short for the time being and having hinske/diaz as a left field platoon. there’s really nowhere on the field that prado can’t play, and I’m confident the guy would be just fine at short. in that case, calling up constanza wouldn’t be out of the question either to maintain good defense in left, along with a solid 8 hole hitter. personally, i prefer that course to calling up pastornicky, as he really didn’t show me anything in his month or two up here. no knock on him – i think he’d be an adequate replacement for the time being – but I think putting prado at ss and possibly constanza or hinske/diaz in left is the way to go.
regardless, this team has options to put in place for what hopefully shouldn’t be a horrendously long recovery time for simmons. that said, i’d hate to make a kneejerk reaction trade and give up any potentially valuable piece or prospect for a quick bandaid.
Terry B.
July 9th, 2012
2:40 am
Prado doesnt have the range of Simmons, but its a good idea. Diaz to LF- til Simmons gets better . Prado plays every position well- should be all star- good stop-gap measure at SS temporarily.Have Gotay back up IF.
NickB
July 9th, 2012
3:54 am
prado was a below avg 2nd baseman, he would be as bad as Pastornicky at SS
not to mention that by moving Prado there you have created 2 defensive problems by putting a platoon in LF instead of just one at SS….. that’s not a smart move
I know nothing...
July 9th, 2012
5:46 am
Bring up Tyler Pastornicky for Friday with the Met’s and beyond…and during the all-star break, work out Miguel Tejada at short and see if he has anything left in the tank (more than likely…not). But the look at Tejada cost’s us nothing and remember that this is a guy that had 150 rbi’s (albeit eight years ago)…but at 38, maybe too old to move enough at short anymore? Patornicky, who has shown a good attitude after he was sent down, may come up and really do a good job filling in? Has to improve on his .948% fielding average though. (Tejada has a career .972% fielding average…)
I know nothing...
July 9th, 2012
6:13 am
One thing I do know is that Jack Wilson should not be the answer over the next 60 days…(till Simmons is back!)
Pinch hitting ability… the “Bench” is looking weaker and weaker as of late…needs fine tuning!!! Hinske has pulled a Terry Forster and looks to have eaten himself out of Baseball…what a slow bat! Diaz is butt buster, thats about it…unless we need a fly ball to right?
Ross…good enough for spot duty, though.
Gonna need a fix…
Selah!
I_R_HUMAN
July 9th, 2012
6:22 am
Great sweep this weekend….sucks about the Simmons injury. Hopefully Wren takes his head out of his butt long enough over the break to do something about that instead of waiting a few weeks. This little bit of momentum they have right now is great and we don’t need a GM who sits on his hands with a wait and see attitude.
I’ve enjoyed the heart and play that Hinske has brought to the team but I believe “The Diesel” is running on empty. It really would make the team better if he were replaced.
Jack Wilson has turned into more of an extra coach/sac-bunt specialist than anything else. Adding another utility guy who can play the infield and possibly the corner outfield positions would be nice.
Juan Francisco…I’m a little more puzzled by him. He’s somewhat young and has raw power but seems to have no discipline….but because he does at least take his hacks he’s a danger factor off the bench.
Matt Diaz falls into that same area like Hinske except he does swing at pitches…instead of watching them fly by and he’s a serviceable outfielder.
David Ross might be the best backup catcher in baseball but when he’s forced to play multiple days in a row it’s clear why he is a backup (on the offensive side).
What this is all coming down to is this. The Braves need some serious bench help. Bench help that has a little pop and that can make consistent contact. If they do pull the trigger on a trade for a pitcher that would be icing on the cake.
GaryinBham
July 9th, 2012
6:53 am
I join the anguish about Simmons, I don’t join in the panic. This is how you trade the future for a dumb rental. Jack Wilson is not 65 years old. He doesn’t hit in part because he never plays except for defense. A comment Brian made after the game indicated his confidence in Wilson, which says that the defense was a big issue for the team. So the glove is the thing, especially for the pitchers. The platoon with Pastornicky wasn’t so great, but something will work out. It won’t touch what Simmons did. His spark is a real loss, but he’s going to be here for years. The “we gotta trade for a shortstop” is how we Texiera for a “pennant run” (or, as we call it, “selling for farm”). Hate it, but go for some defense and maybe a cheap pickup and hang in.
BobDawg
July 9th, 2012
7:08 am
You always have to slide feet first with the popup slide leg position in case of an overthrow and you are on third then…. Heyward sliding headfirst possibly cost him a Superstar career with the injury to his thumb.
Bob the Blogger
July 9th, 2012
7:53 am
One thing is for sure, they have to replace Wilson with somebody who can hit better than a pitcher. A solid glove that can hit .250 should be attainable.
Lemke's Knuckler
July 9th, 2012
8:34 am
Trade for Marco Scutaro. The next 4 to 6 weeks are too important to leave the shortstop position in the hands of Wilson or Pastornicky.
Lemke's Knuckler
July 9th, 2012
8:36 am
What we’ve got here is a failure of communicate…Prado is NOT a shortstop!
Lemke's Knuckler
July 9th, 2012
8:38 am
BobDawg…”Heyward sliding headfirst possibly cost him a Superstar career with the injury to his thumb.”
Uh, okay. Calling the race after the first lap, eh?
Joshua
July 9th, 2012
8:40 am
Bob,
You think a solid glove that hits .250 at SS is something easy to find? Do me a favor – just run through all the MLB teams’ starting shortstops and see how many of those you find for me please.
Joshua
July 9th, 2012
8:42 am
People – it wasn’t the thumb injury that slowed Heyward down nearly as much as it was the shoulder injury. Obviously this is true as he is playing well now.
Part of the decline from his ridiculous start 2 years ago is due to the fact that pitchers realized he can be pitched inside effectively. He has now adjusted to that, and appears to be healthy, and has looked like the Heyward of old for more than a month now.
Ed
July 9th, 2012
9:07 am
Option 1- Call Pastornicky back up, defense suffers tremendously and we lose games
Option 2- Play Prado at SS, platoon Diaz and Hinske in left, we prob still lose some games
Option 3- Prado at SS, call Cantstandya back up and play him in left, prob stay par for the course
Option 4- Offload Wilson and Francisco, trade for a solid SS/Outfield/Utility player and play them until Simmons returns. Even if its just an outfielder, play them in left and Prado at SS. Then we are left with a decent bench player instead of the black hole of suck that is Francisco and Wilson
hunter55
July 9th, 2012
9:11 am
Wilson, 3 to 4 outs a game depending on how many bats he gets, count on it
Clay Carroll
July 9th, 2012
9:16 am
Sam Ting happened to Prado a few years ago. Braves should show those plays over and over again at spring training.
MikeY
July 9th, 2012
9:18 am
Braves record w/ Pastonicky on the roster: 28-24.
Braves record w/ Simmons on the roster: 18-15.
Really close.
I would still prefer Simmons.
Wilson and Hinske
are not contributing at all. At least Diaz hits LH pitching pretty well (.278), and Francisco has improved and plays well when he starts.
Ed
July 9th, 2012
9:21 am
I like Pastornicky fine, but lets be honest, he’s not half the player Simmons is. He gets called back up and we are in for 6 weeks of “Simmons woulda had that,” “Simmons would have never booted that ball,” and “This inning would have been over 10 minutes ago if Simmons was playing.”
Tami
July 9th, 2012
9:28 am
This was strange the way it played out when the play happened live. I thought maybe Andrelton got hit in the head. He looked fine otherwise. I guess the pain kicked in while he was still running the bases before the inning ended. The TV coverage showed him grimacing in pain holding his hand when he was back in the dugout. I didn’t realize it took that long for a finger to heal. I know if you break a toe you can tape it to the “next door neighbor” and grind it out for a couple of weeks until it heals. I guess fingers heal differently. It’s too bad, really, since Andrelton sparked up the team and maybe helped them raise their defense because of his play. And boy can this kid run the bases!!! I got to see him in person on June 27th. I hope he won’t be out too long.
Wilson
July 9th, 2012
9:30 am
The Braves winning pct with Pastornicky at SS was .538 before Simmons was called up and the Braves winning pct as of today is at .541 after sweeping Phillies. So will someone please show me how Pastornicky will cause the team to lose games.
Simmons is the smoother, more gifted SS, but if you look at the games won with either at SS there is not much difference. Simmons gives the better individual performance and has more range and a better arm, but the team wins or loses at the same rate as with Pastornicky playing.
Ken Stallings
July 9th, 2012
9:35 am
The head first slide needs to be put out of baseball. It is bad technique and the emphasis needs to start in Little League. It should be made illegal in youth baseball with mandatory ejections for doing it. Then, in high school and college it should lead to ejections. Heyward likely lost two good seasons as a result of hand injuries suffered from a single head first slide and he still does it!
Ed
July 9th, 2012
9:37 am
Our winning pct was higher with Pastornicky because we started out hot, everyone on the team was hitting better, and Beachy was still around. If you think Pastornicky is not going to cost us games with his shoddy defense, you are in for an awakening
Marc Schneider
July 9th, 2012
9:44 am
If I ran a team, I would ban head first sliding for all my players. It may be a quicker way to get to a base but it’s not worth the risk of injury. These guys should be taught to slide feet first at all times. Frankly, I think a lot of the trend toward headfirst sliding started with Pete Rose and, in part, because it looks flashier.
sldkfjslk
July 9th, 2012
9:58 am
Hard to hold gloves when turning a single into a double.
Fantasy Baseball Blog at beondeck.com | Fantasy Baseball Advice
July 9th, 2012
10:06 am
[...] Simmons suffered a broken right pinkie finger in Sunday’s game and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Tyler Pastornicky could be called back up to [...]
Kevin
July 9th, 2012
10:18 am
sldkfjslk, i was just about to say the same thing! I read through the first few comments and so many people were saying the solution is to HOLD YOUR GOLVES. Next time, Simmons, Heyward, Prado, and the other head-first sliders should stop a couple steps out of the box when they think they can take two, pull off their gloves, and then proceed.
In all seriousness, SLIDE FEET FIRST. Not only are your hands safer, but so is your HEAD. And your head is a bit more important than your hands.
Kevin
July 9th, 2012
10:22 am
And I think I’d rather see Chipper lumbering at SS than J. Wilson or Pastornicky. Who’s playing SS in AA Mississippi? Wilson hits like he’s using a plastic wiffle ball bat.
Ed
July 9th, 2012
10:27 am
If they play Wilson at SS, they should just pick a fan out of the stands to come in for every at-bat in his place. Even on the road. That would give us a better chance of getting hits.
Amber Girl
July 9th, 2012
10:29 am
Hurry back Simba. We love you.
DawgDad
July 9th, 2012
10:56 am
“Pastornicky struggled to provide the Braves the kind of defense they needed at shortstop”
Talk about sugar-coating the bad medicine . . . Pastornicky was HORRIBLE. We’re back to Spring Training, wondering when Wren will bring in a Major League shortstop and who it will be. Let’s hope he learned his lesson earlier this season.
Assuming Simmons can be back starting by September Wren needs to find a shortstop who can play 6-8 weeks and then come off the bench. If Wren doesn’t make a move, an infield of Jones-Pastornicky-Uggla is — brutal, in case you’ve forgotten. And if Uggla doesn’t start hitting (not holding my breath there) the bottom of the order is going to drag the team down.
Ralph
July 9th, 2012
11:11 am
JNick
As for McCann….all my hate mail/postings seems to have worked. He woke up. Nice to see.
————————————————————————————————————————————–
Agree, just hope all my hate posts work on Uggla
JNick
July 9th, 2012
11:17 am
….or you could slide feet-first like Freeman and take a DP turn to the paw. Or the face next time. Injuries are going to happen. Guess most of you think players should quit diving for balls or getting hit by pitches…
JNick
July 9th, 2012
11:19 am
@Ralph, it’s bound to work – power of the internets.
As for the people who took my first post seriously….go run headfirst into a brick wall….
bill
July 9th, 2012
11:30 am
players used to run with dirt in their hands to keep their fingers closed to avoid this injury. Oh yeh I forgot Fredi did not see his first baseball game until 2002.
Amber Girl
July 9th, 2012
11:38 am
Proceed with caution. Go Braves!
Kotex
July 9th, 2012
11:51 am
Stop with the Prado at SS crap, I’ll stop the bleeding!!
Amber Girl
July 9th, 2012
11:58 am
Not very nice Kotex
Kotex
July 9th, 2012
12:02 pm
Sorry Super Plus Mom
JimBob
July 9th, 2012
12:08 pm
I’m guessing fans want to trade for a SS that plays better defense than Pastor and has very good offense and play that SS only until Simmons returns? Well Alrighty then. That is easy to do. Name a SS that sits on another teams bench that fits that description and that team would be willing to part with that very valuable player?
Wake up Ed
JimBob
July 9th, 2012
12:14 pm
The SS everyone wants is called a Starting SS on another team. A backup SS from another team won’t cut it with fans. How much in terms of prospects would a SS cost for one month service? How much in payroll?
Steve
July 9th, 2012
12:18 pm
Let’s clear up some complete and utter nonsense on these boards, and also some ridiculous theories that I hear people use all too often.
Head first sliding – despite all people trying to quote otherwise (mostly learning as parents trying to protect their kids) .. you CAN get there faster going headfirst. It has been proven over and over again to those ‘willing’ to listen.
1) You lean backwards when getting ready to slide feet first, which by nature slows you down. Ask any runner about the difference between a slightly forward lean and a backwards lean.
2) On a head first slide, you typically start your slide further from the base, but you actually make contact with the ground clsoer to the base (most head first slides are a ‘dive’ and ’slide’). This lessened contact with the ground leads to less slowdown due to the obvious source of friction. Rickey Henderson, Davey Lopes, and Vince Coleman, and a handful of others have all preached this type of slide and Davey went so far as to have tests done.
2) The other obvious reason for head first slides is that you can ‘manuever’ your hands around tags and slide to certain sides of the base more easily. It is a ‘controlled’ slide. This may not matter on a large number of slides, but it can come in handy.
3) Knee/ankle injuries actually happen more often on feet-first slides than hand injuries on head first slides. That’s going on sheer numbers, and I don’t have percentages as they are not tracked. This was noted about 3 years ago in an article on one of the sites promoting WAR. Don’t have the link handy.
Point is, stop preaching head first sliding is bad like you actually know something .. when you don’t. It was a freak injury and everyone is overreacting.
Sam from SW
July 9th, 2012
12:23 pm
Trade Chipper
John A.
July 9th, 2012
12:23 pm
I watch girls play softball (a faster game) and they slide headfirst and feetfirst bu never get hurt. Are they the stronger sex????? Seems they are…..replace ALL these WUSSIES with females, or put their ass on the busses in the minors.
Amber Girl
July 9th, 2012
12:28 pm
Thanks JohnA. Go Braves!
Steveo
July 9th, 2012
12:45 pm
Doesn’t anyone teach these guys how to slide anymore…..sliding headfirst is just asking for an injury……come on Gonzalez be something other than just a figure satnding in the dugout…
DawgDad
July 9th, 2012
12:52 pm
Somehow the Cardinals managed to pick up Rafael Furcal last year. But then the Cardinals aren’t an organization that sits on its hands.
Ekim
July 9th, 2012
1:06 pm
Bill, When he was injured, he was extending his single into a double. What was Simmons supposed to do? Stop at first, put some dirt in his hands and then proceed to second? I think that would have kind of defeated the purpose.
outkasted
July 9th, 2012
1:39 pm
soo many dumb comments regarding sliding…. those saying u don’t get there faster has never done it… when guys are running track they don’t run through the tape straight up they’re leaning forward…. tough play by Simmons but I’m already a fan dude is a real baseball player!!!
Ed
July 9th, 2012
1:52 pm
I said outfielder/utility player or SS, JimBob, you incompetent hick. There are plenty of those on the market.
Andrellton
July 9th, 2012
2:29 pm
This is all Billie Jo’s fault
farmer
July 9th, 2012
2:30 pm
what a shame for Simmons. he breaks his pinkie on a heads up hussle play double.. I love this kid like everyone else and this is a huge loss.. I say we trade for someone like a Willie Bloomquist if he is available and please cut Jack Wilson because he is just a waste of roster space..
Brave New World
July 9th, 2012
2:38 pm
Simmons will be missed, no doubt. One way to compensate for the runs Simba saves on defense, would be for the offense to score more runs. This will likely happen because Uggla will start hitting, McCann is starting to hit, and Freeman will get hot.
Dirty Dawg
July 9th, 2012
2:46 pm
Lay off Wilson. His defense is better than average and given more at-bats HS hitting will improve. He did win a Silver Slugger award once you know…not that he’ll do it again but he’ll hit better than the Pastor kid is in AAA.
smallmouth6
July 9th, 2012
3:03 pm
John A: I watched girls/ladies play softball for 15 years. I could count the times they belly flopped on a finger or two. Doesn’t make much sense for them, or anyone really, to go in head first.
Skokie Dog
July 9th, 2012
3:46 pm
Okay, Frank, it’s time to get out your checkbook and go sign up Pepe Frias out of retirement. Tell him we just need him to finish out this season.
milesarcher33
July 9th, 2012
4:03 pm
A doctor friend of mine says this is a serious career threatening injury. He says that some people are never the same again. He handicaps Simmons’ lilelihood to return and to be as effective at about 20 percent. Bad news for the kid, his carreer may be over and bad news for the Braves.
Memphis
July 9th, 2012
4:14 pm
Milesarcher33,
With all due respect. LOL Hi career is FAR from Over.
Ken Stallings
July 9th, 2012
4:42 pm
Steve,
Who’s trying to kid who here!
Head first slides have one stopper to them — the defender puts his entire leg in front of the bag and all the runner has to counter is hands, arms, and head — not a good solution.
However, with a feet first slide, those metal spikes keep the defender from using his leg to cover the bag since he’s going to get that leg sliced open when the runner’s spikes jam his leg against the bag. That’s why despite the obvious way to prevent a runner being safe even on a late throw, putting your leg in front of the bag to block it is not done.
Second, the stats you say you don’t have are opposite your claim. I will rely upon the actual baseball players who consistently argue against the head first slide.
Your assertion about the head first slide being a faster path to the bag is a non-sequitor argument! No one denies that. It is clearly faster, but that sole advantage is outweighed by the many other disadvantages. Finally, the Braves had a rookie superstar in Jason Heyward suffer through a year and a half of frustration trying to recover from injury suffered from a head first slide. Now, we get to see a second very promising rookie suffer a bad injury on the same move. That’s all the proof I need!
Lester X
July 9th, 2012
9:38 pm
I HATE MEEBO BAR