Welcome to Jason Heyward’s landing zone (wear a helmet)
The parking spaces on left are well within range of Jason Heyward's bombs over the wall on right.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Bruce Manno drove into the parking lot from hell Friday with a loaner car. His Toyota 4-runner was still in the shop with a crushed sunroof and a bent rack, which is what he gets for parking in Jason Heyward’s landing zone, about 425 feet from home plate behind the right-center field wall at Disney’s Wide World of Sports.
“Yeah, he hit it good,” said the Braves’ assistant general manager, still thinking like a scout.
So why still park here?
“I guess it’s one of those things like, ‘It can’t happen again, can it?’” he said. “Besides, this is a loaner car. I’m thinking of parking on the other side now when I get my car back. We’ll see if we get the net up in time.”
I’m going to post a column later today on Heyward. Before doing so, here’s a little warmup. You’ve no doubt heard of Heyward’s batting practice exploits. Several cars have been dented in the parking lot reserved for Braves’ front office employees, particularly over the past two spring, said general manager Frank Wren, thanks largely to Heyward and prospect Freddie Freeman (both left-handed hitters).
Braves director of travel and equipment manager Bill Acree points to a dent on his Avalanche.
Some time in the next few days, nets will be hung to partially protect the cars. Groundskeeper Ed Mangan took all of the measurements Thursday, Wren said.
“We’ve got balls even clearing this back well,” Wren said, pointing to a tall yell concrete wall that’s approximately 450 feet from home plate. “The real problem isn’t cars being hit in the back. We have balls that are bouncing off the wall and coming back and smashing windhields. [Director of player development] Kurt Kemp has had his windshield smashed twice.”
Bill Acree drove into a lot and pointed a dent in the back of his truck. “That’s not too bad,” he said. “I don’t know who hit it. I told them, we either need to trade Heyward or move the parking lot.”
And the answer?
“We’re buying the nets,” he said laughing. “I guess we’re a little reactionary, huh?”
Clubhouse manager John Holland also had a car dented but wasn’t overly concerned.
“You always know there’s a risk here,” he said. “But it’s not my car. The Braves provide it. If I had my own car, I’d be a little bit more leary of parking here.”
♦
ALSO READ: Heyward doesn’t see why he’s such a big deal.
♦
Earlier posts from Braves’ camp:
♦ The maturing of Yunel Escobar
♦ Eric Hinske and his $5,000 tattoo.
♦ Derek Lowe looking forward after rough year and trade talk.
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88 comments Add your comment
That guy
February 26th, 2010
9:24 am
first!
EW
February 26th, 2010
9:25 am
JS your shadow looks pregnant
That guy
February 26th, 2010
9:26 am
Damn!!!
That guy
February 26th, 2010
9:26 am
I posted a first! What the deuce is going on?
Ben
February 26th, 2010
9:28 am
first. rip ‘em heywood.
That guy
February 26th, 2010
9:31 am
Haha! the shadow does look pregnant!
Jeff, I enjoyed the Escobar article, but someone already wrote something about cars being damaged by Heyward.
Who might be a guy that could turn heads, and be an unnexpected player to keep track of in Mississippi or Gwinnett?
Jeff
February 26th, 2010
9:33 am
haha nice one EW
Blindog
February 26th, 2010
9:40 am
I have to admit,I’ve cussed Bobby plenty of times every year,but I want him to stick around and ride this wave of young talent to many world championships! You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone,and trust me,we will miss Bobby.
Bristol Palin 2012
February 26th, 2010
9:42 am
I can’t wait to see this guy play. Jeff, what do you think his chances of starting in RF are?
Poorbrave
February 26th, 2010
9:42 am
Jason has already had three or four post about hitting cars. How about something new and a different player. I’m sure we have more that Jason and a Tattoo back in camp.
Ted M
February 26th, 2010
9:51 am
Jeff – did Escobar have a translator w/him yesterday? How is his english now?
Walker, Texas Ranger
February 26th, 2010
9:54 am
Bristol? pregnant Jeff? Lets practice some safe sex around here. I know it is just BP, but I hope he gets a fair shot to make the team and not wait until June to save a year cause we could be out of the race by then.
lanier
February 26th, 2010
9:54 am
Enough gushing about this Heyward. Wait and see what he can do against full speed major leage piching especially after June. My god he is basically hittin off a tee right now
.
February 26th, 2010
10:08 am
Blindog…name explains it all. Time for BC to retire after season.
C. Tampa Ironworse
February 26th, 2010
10:11 am
I hope this kid isn’t the “Segway Motor thingy” of baseball players. There’s no way he’s as good as everybody is saying. I hope he is…really. But there’s no place for him to go but down to “disappoint-ville”. Let’s allow him to grow.
shane
February 26th, 2010
10:12 am
JS your shadow looks pregnant
I think thats another guy standing behind him
GetwhatUpayfor
February 26th, 2010
10:17 am
Wake up Jeff.
ET.
February 26th, 2010
10:31 am
This love affair with being the first post on a new blog escapes me. If you really want a challange try being last on every blog. Now that’s a feat I can admire.
Virginia "old" fan
February 26th, 2010
10:32 am
can he hit the slider?
Rod Steiger
February 26th, 2010
10:33 am
Two points to make this morning. First, while we are aware that Heywards batting exploits have been against the coaches and their 60 mph fastballs, one wonders how far it would travle if it had been in the 95mph range? Just saying…
The second point being that Heyward has not shone to be a 5 o’clock hitter in his stops at A and AA ball so I doubt he will be when he finally arrives in the majors. That said, a BA of around .250 should be a reasonable expectation until he acquires the skill set to hit major league pitching. After all, it is for good reasons the pitchers he faced while coming up are still in the minors.
Rod Steiger
February 26th, 2010
10:34 am
To be honest, nobody can hit a good slider, it’s only the hangers that you see sail into the gopher garden.
Jeff Schultz
February 26th, 2010
10:51 am
EW — Haha. Actually didn’t notice that until your comment. And yes, I’m seven months along.
All I'm Saying...
February 26th, 2010
10:51 am
Seems to me it would be safer to park your ride right up against the outfield wall on the right.
As for Jason and Freddie: Everyone needs to leave them alone, relax, exhale, and remember what Hank said the other day: nothing matters until you do it in a real game at the MLB level and do it for awhile. The list is long of minor league phenoms, spring training wonders, and woulda/coulda/shoulda’s like Steve ‘Bye-Bye’ Balboni, Sam Horn, Hensley Muelens, Brad Komminsk, Tuffy Rhodes, Jeff Francoeur, etc.
Schultz: either layoff the post-game meal spread, wrap it up when you ‘get busy’, or wear some Spanx to slenderize that girlish figure as your sillouhette doesn’t do you proud in that picture (assuming its you).
LET’S GO BRAVES!
Jeff Schultz
February 26th, 2010
10:52 am
That guy — But NOBODY wrote from LIVE! in the parking lot. (And it’s too early to answer your question until spring games start.)
Jeff Schultz
February 26th, 2010
10:52 am
Bristol — Good. Plan on addressing that in column later today.
Jeff Schultz
February 26th, 2010
10:54 am
Ted … Escobar sometimes doesn’t use a player to translate any more for quick stuff, like right after a game or something. But for longer interviews, he’s not comfortable doing it in English yet. I understand.
Jeff Schultz
February 26th, 2010
10:54 am
Walker — Bristol and I both decline comment.
Jeff Schultz
February 26th, 2010
10:55 am
E.T. — Maybe you can start a trend.
Ted Striker
February 26th, 2010
11:00 am
I have some rum and cigars for his bat, if it’ll help with hitting the curve ball or the slider.
bruce
February 26th, 2010
11:01 am
its not my car….
sounds like the joke is Does your dog bite?… its not my dog.
That guy
February 26th, 2010
11:04 am
I retract the Damn! post. I would like to thank this boring internship I’m in for allowing me the opportunity to click into ajc.com every five minutes to try to be the first post in Jeff and Mark’s blogs.
Now back to looking productive.
r durden
February 26th, 2010
11:06 am
Is Brandon Jones in camp? Seems like he has fallen off the face of the Earth since a September call up a few years back. I remember a brief Braves lineup featuring 3 Jones! He was the most feared power hitter at Gwinnett for most of last season, is that his ceiling?
r durden
February 26th, 2010
11:07 am
Never mind…i see he was dropped for Hinske and claimed by the Pirates…. Guess the Braves gave up on him.
Delbert D.
February 26th, 2010
11:08 am
Well, we now know he can hit Babe Ruth League-quality pitching. If he hits 20 HR in the actual spring games, I say put him on the roster.
Jeff Schultz
February 26th, 2010
11:10 am
All I’m saying — There are a few spaces there but not many. That wall kind of juts out and goes back in. … And hey, I’m svelte!
This is totally out of line...
February 26th, 2010
11:10 am
…re: this “prospect” – he has never played in the “show” and you dumbarses are annointing him the next “Jeff Francour” – oops, not a really good comparison – probably the next Brad Komminsk – oops, still not a good comparison (bet Schultz probably does not even know who that is/was). Give the kid a chance….
Bravissimo
February 26th, 2010
11:26 am
Svelte huh?..must not be eating the chili fries and double cb’s @ DQ?
Speaking of DQ…Clusters..does your friend Stinky have anything to do with the smelly girl scout cookies?
Have you had a chance to watch Freeman yet? just curious what you thought.
ugaaccountant
February 26th, 2010
11:37 am
To the uninformed poster at 11:10 – Who are you yelling at:
Scouts?
Media?
Bobby Cox?
Chipper Jones?
Hank Aaron?
Braves management?
Nobody was ever saying the kinds of things about Frenchy that are said about Heyward. It is 100% his time to get a chance, stop hating on people for giving their honest assessment.
Bob Horner had a sweet compact swing
February 26th, 2010
11:45 am
Nobody looked “better” striking out than Brad Komminsk…..
Kentavo
February 26th, 2010
11:46 am
You know what? At least people are excited and talking about the Braves. We’ve got the no. 1 prospect in baseball, people! Enjoy it.
squintyeyed
February 26th, 2010
11:56 am
are you kidding? Frenchy had all kinds of hype behind him. He, like Heyward if he makes the team, skipped AAA. Here is hopeing that he can be as god as Frenchy was when he first came out. We will see, I have high hopes.
atlpds
February 26th, 2010
11:57 am
remind me to never loan any of these guys a car. If it’s not theirs, they don’t care where they park it? have some respect.
Red Clay Hound
February 26th, 2010
12:00 pm
Jeff, I hope its twins that are breach. Ouch! Can Heyward hit the old uncle charlie?
CaliGirlinGA
February 26th, 2010
12:01 pm
Our son did that last week at his high school and a woman came onto the field yelling, “Who is responsible and who is going to pay for my window?!?” My son raised his hand and said, “I hit it but you’ll have to talk to the coach about getting your window fixed.” Haven’t heard anything yet, but I sure hope we, the parents, don’t have to pay for her broken window.
AZBravoFan
February 26th, 2010
12:07 pm
r durden:
Pirates claim OF Jones from Braves: The Pirates claimed outfielder Brandon Jones off waivers from the Braves on Tuesday. Jones had been designated for assignment.
(Updated 01/19/2010).
Spellchecker
February 26th, 2010
12:09 pm
John Holland says he’s “leary”? That like “leery”?
Spellchecker
February 26th, 2010
12:10 pm
Spring-training scoring on that goes “E Schultz.”
Cronan
February 26th, 2010
12:12 pm
L
E
E
R
Y
(that’s the word)
Gwinnett Fred
February 26th, 2010
12:13 pm
Translation:
“First!” really means “LOSER”
As in you are either unemployed or will be once your obvious work ethic is uncovered by your employer.
Seriously, some folks are entertained so easily!
Vinny D
February 26th, 2010
12:19 pm
Personally, I want to know how Troy Glaus is doing the spring. Not just defensively but how is he hitting the ball? He should be bustin some car windows out too.
Bobby Cox
February 26th, 2010
12:20 pm
Frenchy was touted as the top prospect in the Braves system (ahead of McCann) but no one ever called him best in the minors. Enough of the Debbie Downers on this blog…best of luck to Heyward.
Sri
February 26th, 2010
12:25 pm
Why is the AJC pumping the cause of Jason Heyward so much, at so early a stage of the year and indeed, at so early a stage of the young man’s life? At the rate at which they are going gaga over him, do we have another Jeff Francoeur in the making? Are we increasing expectations from fans to unrealistic levels? Let the young man play, make mistakes, have some life and work experiences. Please don;t roast him in the spotlight, AJC. Please allow him to flower with all his God give talent and prowess. Please do not waste his careers just because you guys want to have more clicks on your website and more copies of your paper sold. As a baseball fan and an Atlanta admirer, I am requesting you guys to cool off on the excess, mindless attention paid to Jason.
Tomy Fournier
February 26th, 2010
12:29 pm
Atlanta…will be the new champs…for shure….yes!!!
Jeff Schultz gets out in front on the Jason Heyward BP story « control+ATL+delete
February 26th, 2010
12:41 pm
[...] try to pretend that you haven’t read this story three other times I guess: Bruce Manno drove into the parking lot from hell Friday with a loaner [...]
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
February 26th, 2010
12:51 pm
What ever became of Ed Olwine?
All I'm Saying...
February 26th, 2010
12:53 pm
Schultz: Thanks for the reply regarding parking up against the outfield wall and niiiiiice use of the rarely seen –word and human examples of– ’svelte’: a true bon mot moment for you!
And it wouldn’t it be a kick if Heyward was the second coming of Hank? Wow, what a thought. (Although I’ll gladly settle for the second coming of a (healthy) David Justice).
LET’S GO BRAVES!
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
February 26th, 2010
12:53 pm
last?
Joe Simpson The Great
February 26th, 2010
1:03 pm
Jeff,
Suggestion; You may want to go back and Black out the tag number on Acree’s truck?
Joe
Hillbilly Deluxe
February 26th, 2010
1:03 pm
Cover the whole parking lot with a net. It ain’t brain surgery.
Brian in Athens
February 26th, 2010
1:44 pm
LAST
Lefty
February 26th, 2010
1:57 pm
Jeff who?
Crazy Trades McGee
February 26th, 2010
1:57 pm
Do you mean Rocket Surgery? Per Chuck James…
Bristol Palin 2012
February 26th, 2010
2:00 pm
Kentavo
Good post and I agree. I did not mean to imply he will immediately step up like Pujols. Can’t wait for the season opener!
Go Braves!
Lefty
February 26th, 2010
2:04 pm
Any truth to the rumor that the ‘Chop House’ will make it mandatory to wear a hard hat this season?
Lefty
February 26th, 2010
2:05 pm
I know it is only batting practice…..but 450′!!! That is a serious poke.
dirkisabeliever
February 26th, 2010
2:06 pm
i heard there is def hardhat rules for the chop house in the works. hahaha! nice one lefty
I'm a Tool...
February 26th, 2010
2:23 pm
First! Oh, darn, I’m not first. I guess I’ll get back to pickin boogers.
hmmm....
February 26th, 2010
2:44 pm
Why park there? You know the car is going to get pelted. I don’t get it….
Dick
February 26th, 2010
2:57 pm
THERE IS A LOT OF DIFERENCE IN BATTING PRACTICE PITCHING. SURE HOPE MEDIA DOESN’T PUT A FRANCOUER ON HAWYOOD HE WILL BURN OUT OVER TIME GETTING THE BIG HEAD OR G/M WILL TRADE HIM FOR SOME WASHED UP PITCHER AND OUTFIELDER.
Hey, CaliGirlinGA
February 26th, 2010
2:59 pm
Neither you, your kid, nor the coach are responsible to pay for that lady’s car window – in legal parlance it is called “assumption of the risk”, in that she knew there was a baseball field where she was parking her car and that balls do get outside the fences. Hence, she has no one to blame but herself, and thus no one to look to pay for the repair except herself….
ASHEVILLE DAWG
February 26th, 2010
3:27 pm
Jeff if that shadow is you, you’ve got the body of a god, Unfortunatly, it is Budda.
Heyward's a big deal? You could've fooled him | Jeff Schultz
February 26th, 2010
3:49 pm
[...] mutant life form. First we wondered if he could make the team in spring training. Then we wondered how many cars he would destroy in batting practice. Now there’s a thought he has first ballot Hall of Famer stamped on his forehead. And if not, [...]
fes
February 26th, 2010
4:25 pm
re: Joe Simpson the Great – Why bother covering the license plate? It’s a dealer tag. Which begs the question, why is he driving around with a dealer tag?
Joe Simpson The Great
February 26th, 2010
4:47 pm
Come on down to Bill Acree Chevrolet and get yourself a Jason Heyward dented special!
GovClintonTyree
February 26th, 2010
6:49 pm
So Jeff, what is that? A backpack or something?
uberVU - social comments
February 26th, 2010
8:07 pm
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by springbak: Welcome to Jason Heyward’s landing zone (wear a helmet) http://shar.es/m0lHA via @sharethis…
dylan
February 26th, 2010
9:02 pm
diffrence between heyward and frenchy are skin color and freakin size….. no bust her guys 51ks 51walks… maturaitry something Jeff didn’t have!
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February 27th, 2010
4:17 pm
[...] ♦ Live from the parking lot! Jason Heyward’s landing zone [...]
Update: Schultz draws line in the sand on Heyward hype « control+ATL+delete
February 28th, 2010
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[...] Schultz delivered on his promise for a fresh J-Hey column. Seemingly contrite for his egregious contribution to the hyperbole machine, he cautions readers to temper their expectations for [...]
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greypoopoon
February 28th, 2010
7:09 pm
I’d park there and let them beat my 92Festiva to bits,just for the bragging rights! Braves!
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