Braves’ Heyward, Freeman make S.I. cover (uh, danger?)
Let's hope this turns out better than the S.I. cover below.
Somebody must think the Braves are going to be pretty good, because Sports Illustrated just slapped them on the magazine cover.
Wait, is this good news?
Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward can be seen smiling on the cover of this week’s Sports Illustrated. The headline reads: “The Boys of Spring. Only 21, Freddie Freeman And Jason Heyward Are The Cornerstones Of Atlanta’s Brave New World.”
Let us hope this turns out better than the S.I. cover in August of 2005, when Jeff Francoeur was pictured holding a bat, with the headline reading: “The Natural. Atlanta Rookie Jeff Francoeur Is Off To An Impossibly Hot Start. Can Anyone Be This Good?”
And then we found out. Also, the Sports llustrated “cover jinx” has become rather infamous through the years.
But I’ll take the Freeman-Heyward cover as good news for the Braves.
Here’s an excerpt from Ben Reiter’s story, “Brave New World,” which focuses on their age (21) and their friendship:
That 21 equals adulthood would no doubt come as news to the scores of Americans of that age who at this moment are contemplating which rumsoaked location might host the best spring break. But neither Freeman nor Heyward has any doubt that they have reached the age of maturity, and neither does their organization. “If you put a screen in front of them, and you couldn’t tell who was on the other side, the way they talked to you, you’d think these guys are 27- or 28-year-old men,” says Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez.
Assuming Freeman makes the Opening Day lineup, they will be the third- and fourth-youngest regular position players in the majors—only Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro and Marlins outfielder Mike Stanton are younger—and they will become the Braves’ first pair of 21-or-under regulars. Those bits of trivia are of no concern to Wren. “When you’re talented, I don’t think anyone’s going to ask for your birth certificate,” he says. “The umpires don’t card.”
The S.I. cover story may make some nervous. But wouldn’t you agree high expectations are better than low expectations?
By Jeff Schultz
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79 comments Add your comment
@DanWeiner
February 22nd, 2011
11:50 am
Who cares?
Jt
February 22nd, 2011
11:55 am
I care! I like it when my team gets publicity. Now they just have to live up to the expectations!
mclOUTh
February 22nd, 2011
11:56 am
Better than having Nate on the cover with the sub-title “Why Does This Man Still Have a Job?” Or “$7 Million Reasons Why The Braves Struggle in CF”
mclOUTh
February 22nd, 2011
11:56 am
I’ll be picking up this issue and framing it….who knows right?
RDUCK
February 22nd, 2011
11:57 am
jinx!!! Never do you want to make the preseason cover of SI. Somehow, I don’t think it will make that much of a difference for the 2011 Braves. Still too many holes in the lineup and out of place players. Hopefully Freddi can coach them up and better manage the games than Bobby did. I like Bobby but he seemed to get outcoached in alot of big series. 2nd or 3rd in the East is about what I see for them. Hopefully a wildcard birth…
Tomahawk Choppin'
February 22nd, 2011
11:57 am
Second!
Daniel H
February 22nd, 2011
11:57 am
Frenchy was cursed on his own, SI cover or not. That cover didn’t turn him into a crybaby that threw a hissy fit when he got sent down to the minors for a weekend.
dick waters
February 22nd, 2011
11:59 am
Jeff Francoeur was bound to fail long before he even reached the majors. These guys will be fine.
ormewood
February 22nd, 2011
12:01 pm
I think this is great! It’s not their preseason prognostication issue. Everyone is going to pick the Phillies anyway. The Braves potentially have two young, homegrown cornerstones for years to come.
Marcus
February 22nd, 2011
12:07 pm
dang, Jeff, you are crankin’ out more blogs than Octomob does babies. I just got finished tossing a response on the ‘Melo trade/Hawks core vs. the NBA blog and then ‘ lo and behold …’ another J. Schultz offering ……..
nice cover … might have to order it from SI to hang somewhere … if only I had a man-cave.
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
February 22nd, 2011
12:08 pm
The SI kiss of death the season may be in trouble
Innocent Bystander
February 22nd, 2011
12:11 pm
Great to get some national attention, especially for our young crop of guys. I’ll definitely be picking up a copy tomorrow.
Tweets that mention Braves' Heyward, Freeman make S.I. cover (uh, danger?) | Jeff Schultz -- Topsy.com
February 22nd, 2011
12:12 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by hayleydrew, Rebecca Winder Tubbs, Bart Burnett, corey hatch, Jeff Schultz and others. Jeff Schultz said: Braves’ Heyward, Freeman make S.I. cover (uh, danger?) http://bit.ly/e6wM9n [...]
DHD
February 22nd, 2011
12:14 pm
PLEASE tell them that “Braves New World” is older than Satchel Paige. Do these headline guys think they are being clever??? Just stop it with the Braves New World stuff.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 22nd, 2011
12:17 pm
At least one Atlanta pro sports franchise has superstar(s) in the making.
idot
February 22nd, 2011
12:19 pm
RDuck..11:57…….Way to put a positive spin on it?
Braves will win the East this year.
jeffrey d
February 22nd, 2011
12:26 pm
At least the cover didn’t say “Brave New World.” It seems like every time a national publication wants to talk about the Braves, they give it that title.
jeffrey d
February 22nd, 2011
12:27 pm
Oh wait, it does say that
Puma
February 22nd, 2011
12:27 pm
I think they’ll be OK – its not quite like having your picture with a headline of “the Natural”, talk about a recipe for disaster. It should have read “Natty Lite” instead.
Cam Newton
February 22nd, 2011
12:33 pm
I still have a few laptops fo sale!
jwilli120
February 22nd, 2011
12:40 pm
can anyone envision how scary good this brave squad would
have been with endrus and feliz and wainwright on it? qiut
trading away great players for rentals!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO BRAVES
DOUBLE G
February 22nd, 2011
12:42 pm
At least we have awhile before the season starts. Aren’t the jinxes usually for one week, or until the next cover?
Now, if you keep talking it up, the jinx fairy will not be able to forget, and will continually haunt them both. So. Have a little fun for a day or so, then FORGET ABOUT IT!!!!!
It’s the only way to keep it from becoming a jinxathon.
JROLL1
February 22nd, 2011
12:47 pm
CONGRATS TO THE YOUNG GUNS! I THINK THE JINX IS ABOUT TO GET IMPLODED! GO BRAVES!!!
Tami
February 22nd, 2011
12:50 pm
They sure look good on that SI cover. Here’s hoping that they’re even better on the field this season and for seasons to come! They give us fans a lot of hope. My first reaction (remembering Francoeur) was “oh, no!”, I must admit. LOL.
Stockdog
February 22nd, 2011
12:53 pm
Oh Crap! We are in trouble. Will someone tell SI to never visit the state of GA and put our sports stars on the cover. Kiss of death. Heyward will break his hand and Freeman will blow out his knee running to first before game 20. I hate you SI. Except the swimsuit edition.
Sluggo
February 22nd, 2011
1:01 pm
and Brian McCann is the best of all of them and he’s not been on the cover yet. How is that?
Dozer
February 22nd, 2011
1:05 pm
JS, I served with Jason Heyward, I knew Jason Heyward, Jason Heyward was a friend of mine. JS, Jeff Francouer is no Jason Heyward…….
C. Tampa Ironworse
February 22nd, 2011
1:17 pm
I can’t believe they snubbed Greg Notron like that! SI Headline>>>Braves Greag Norton: A poor man’s Nate McClouth patroling Left Field. Who WOULDN’T buy that mag???
C. Tampa Ironworse
February 22nd, 2011
1:20 pm
The Young Guns: Hanson, JJ, Prado, Jay Hey, Fab 5 Fred, Mac? Not too shabby. And with an actual manager running the team? Maybe…just maybe
jeffrey d
February 22nd, 2011
1:21 pm
As opposed to a fake manager?
Keeball
February 22nd, 2011
1:25 pm
Tomorrow will be my 1,700 issue of SI…couldn’t ask for a better cover!!!!!!
Matt
February 22nd, 2011
1:28 pm
People who believe in jinxes and are superstitious must not believe in their own talents. Jeff did post back to back 100 RBI seasons and hit 29 and 19 HR respectively. If the league adjusted they would’ve adjusted faster than the stats say. I believe something else happened. Maybe his body wore down, inury, sense of entitlement, don’t know for sure but his numbers have tanked after that 07 season.
Woody
February 22nd, 2011
1:31 pm
Sometimes a magazine cover is just a magazine cover.
DC
February 22nd, 2011
1:32 pm
Frenchy demise was his ability to swing at every ball thrown…Heyward has poise and knows the strike zone very well…big difference…
papadawg
February 22nd, 2011
1:34 pm
OH NO either they will both get hurt or hit 200.
Supes
February 22nd, 2011
1:37 pm
The Madden and SI jinxes are still around…all we can do is hope for the best.
RDUCK
February 22nd, 2011
1:38 pm
idot@ 12:19… I am not a huge baseball fan but I do follow the Braves and the sport. I am just saying that I believe this roster still has many holes in it. CF, LF, Closer are all suspect at best at this point. 1B is still a question as we have not seen just how good Freeman will be at the major league level. 3B is a big question with the health and production of Chipper and his recovery. 2B is a defensive question as Uggla is not known for his glove that much. I truly hope they do well this season, but they have too many question marks to pick them ahead of the Phillies. Just trying to give my opinion. If it upsets you, then you really need to evaluate your priorities my friend…
Mo Money
February 22nd, 2011
1:39 pm
I agree with the guys from the first few posts above. Francoeur’s downfall was 100% his own doing, not anyone elses (I think it gets brought up more than it should because he acted like an arrogant douche about the whole situation). These 2 guys have more talent now at 21 than Francoeur had or will ever have. Sure they’ll have bumps in the road but who doesn’t at that age. They’ll do fine.
chipload
February 22nd, 2011
1:40 pm
Don’t worry about a Jinx. It’s not like it’s the cover of Madden!
Bryant
February 22nd, 2011
1:47 pm
I would rather have two 21’s than two 31’s with the caption reading can they recapture the magic. These young men are going to be good for a long time. The big question is will ownership pony up to keep them?? Please Mr. Turner buy back our Braves.
David
February 22nd, 2011
1:58 pm
The SI Cover Jinx is a non-issue. Last year’s MLB Preview Issue had Roy Halladay (and a small picture of Brian McCann) on the cover. Looking at how Halladay’s season turned out, I don’t think Heyward and Freeman should be too concerned.
Dave
February 22nd, 2011
1:59 pm
Perhaps the jinx will cause Alex Gonzalez and Nate Mclouth to unexpectedly announce their retirements. Oh, wait… that wouldn’t be a jinx.
SWAT Native
February 22nd, 2011
2:06 pm
They could have made it a threesome with Jordan Schaefer.
jbird
February 22nd, 2011
2:09 pm
A jinx is only a jinx if you suck….these guys will be fine!
Class of '98
February 22nd, 2011
2:20 pm
Michael Jordan is the all-time leader in SI covers, Muhammad Ali is 2nd.
Some jinx.
Ariel Bumgardner
February 22nd, 2011
2:23 pm
Leave Jeff alone!
Cam was the exception
February 22nd, 2011
2:28 pm
Sorry Dawg fans, but-Cam was on the cover this year BEFORE the NC game (actually the SECCG game also), and it didn’t hurt him or Auburn a bit…
Notable exception to the rule…:)
WDE
Kirby Smart
February 22nd, 2011
2:45 pm
Mark Ingram was on the cover late in 2009. He would later win the Heisman Trophy and a BCS National Championship.
Suzy
February 22nd, 2011
3:09 pm
I think it’s great to see the national sports media paying attention to Atlanta and its sports teams, particularly positive attention. I feel that SI has fairly ignored us through the years – and ESPN has as well. You’d think we were a small market – we are not!
After clean-up, Rod Barnes waits for payoff at Georgia State | Jeff Schultz
February 22nd, 2011
3:29 pm
[...] – Braves’ Heyward, Freeman make Sports Illustrated cover (uh, danger?) [...]
PHL
February 22nd, 2011
3:30 pm
There goes any chance Heyward and Freeman had at a long-term successful career in baseball. The SI jinx is alive and flourishing.
jason
February 22nd, 2011
4:14 pm
when do these hit the stands? are they out now?
Nate McLouth
February 22nd, 2011
4:16 pm
Why am I on the team? Did I sign my soul to the devil to continue to earn a paycheck? Am I the first homosexual player to play for the Braves?
Yea right.............
February 22nd, 2011
4:40 pm
Francoeur was a head job and really full of himself. Heyward and Freeman are very grounded and work hard. They will be just fine.
Trainwreck
February 22nd, 2011
4:52 pm
Good for those guys. I think both are in a good position to avoid a jinx. Heyward is healthy again and is already a very cerebral player, so I think that will help him avoid a sophomore slump, and Freeman will be hitting low in the order without much pressure to have to step in and be the main run producer. I’m looking forward to this season
Outside the perimeter
February 22nd, 2011
5:00 pm
Well, there goes two promising years down the drain! The SI jinx is real; Freddie and Jason are gonna see it up close and personal. What a shame…two good-looking young fellows with TALENT and good attitude to match, and who could be major forces in the race for the WS this year! Then, along comes SI. Which teams in the N.L. paid SI to do this?
sheeesh
February 22nd, 2011
5:38 pm
Does anyone read or buy SI anymore? They are about as relevant these days as Playboy. Just another publication that got left behind decades ago.
glc3md
February 22nd, 2011
5:39 pm
Got to love these guys – the real deal.
Rob
February 22nd, 2011
5:41 pm
Agreed….better to have high expectations than low expectations! On the other hand, why in the world do the Braves EXPECT McLousy would resemble a major league baseball player? This my friend is the mystery of the ages! My gosh if they let this “waste of a uniform” play (like Bobby Cox did for virtually the entire season) can someone please see about commiting Braves management to the nearest “funny farm”! Jordan Schafer should be the player with the CF position to lose….not the other way around. I refuse to watch if McLousy is occupying a starting position……what the HECK does Braves Mgt. or ANYONE for that matter see when they watch McLousy trying to play baseball?????? Please….answer me….I am at a total loss at what someone sees in this Bum! Give us a break (and yourself)! There is only one person on the Planet (I hope) that would put this guy on the field and his name was Bobby Cox.
Asheville Dawg
February 22nd, 2011
5:58 pm
Bad news, the jinx is real. Now I’ll have to wait for football, and only the colleges will be playing.
Scouting Report: Freddie Freeman
February 22nd, 2011
6:18 pm
[...] After a solid, albeit unexciting, ’09 season spent between the Southern and Carolina leagues, Freeman solidified himself as a top baseball prospect with his performance last season. With the Gwinett Braves, Freeman batted .319 with an .898 OPS as the leagues’ second-youngest regular (after Jesus Montero). After he crushed a Roy Halladay fastball in front of a crowd at Citizen Bank Park, and after he flashed his defensive ability with a few web gems during his debut last September, Freeman grabbed the attention of fans and coaches alike. The Braves plan to make the young slugger their opening day first baseman for 2011, and believe in Freeman’s bright future. Along with teammate Jason Heyward, Freeman made the cover of a February Sports Illustrated issue. [...]
DoninAcworth
February 22nd, 2011
6:30 pm
Ahhhhhh… Baseball back in the news again. Who’s better the Braves’ young boys or the old guys with their aches and pains. I’ll take Heyward and Freeman and rest of our players and you can have all the others. I’m heading south in just about a week and I expect to see good things. It’s the chemistry folks, always the chemistry! This is the team Chipper has wanted for a long time…lead em Chip, have some fun again. Go Braves!
DoninAcworth
February 22nd, 2011
6:36 pm
Oh, let’s lay off Nate and give him what he deserves, a fighting chance. I predict a maturing young
player who is going to give it everything he’s got and he’s obviously chompin at the bit. Love him and watch what positive vibes can do. We’ll gain from the good fans and if you think you can do better prove it!
Jeff
February 22nd, 2011
7:04 pm
The SI jinx is and always has been a fun marketing tool with no basis in reality. Obviously it’s good when a national publication chooses your team for a cover.
One possible early Bobby vs. Freddy comparison (we’ll soon be sick of those) will be how long the new manager waits if Nate struggles out of the gate.
Dorris
February 22nd, 2011
7:12 pm
How come Andrew Jones and chipper jones are not on the cover ? they are the future of the braves. Andrew jones is just 17 and chipper is just 24
Rob
February 22nd, 2011
7:28 pm
DoninAcworth….I certainly allow for your opinion & optimism for McLousy! However, I do not agree with it. I guess McLousy’s only hope to resemble an actual MLB player would have to be “good vibes”….because he sure doesn’t have the talent. I, for one, would not manage a baseball team or any other “entity” based on nothing more than “hope” or “good vibes”! Professional sports is as they say a “business”…..and McLousy has no “business” donning a uniform! I have faith that Braves Mgt & Fredi Gonzalez in particular will not “give” a position to McLousy simply based on the fact that they are overpaying this Bum by 6.5 million dollars on an annual basis (UNBELIEVABLE)!!!!! Jordan Schafer should have absolutely no problem beating him out for the job…….I just hope & pray that they play the best player in CF & if they do…..that will be Schafer. Only Bobby Cox could “manage” to screw that up!
Luke M.
February 22nd, 2011
8:05 pm
I think it’s a pretty sweet looking cover, myself.
Bill Paxton
February 22nd, 2011
8:22 pm
What the crap!?! FIRE everyone in the Braves Public Affairs Department. What can possibly be gained by having these two guys on the cover? Did we learn nothing from Frenchy?
I don’t know if anybody’s been keeping score (on Braves SI covers) but Game over man…Game over!
Bill Paxton
February 22nd, 2011
8:23 pm
@Jeff…clearly you have not read the long and compelling SI story on their own cover jinx. Sorry…neither of these players will be in our starting line-up by Sept. Game Over!
Chris P. Bacon
February 22nd, 2011
9:03 pm
Sports Illustrated still has a print edition?
techgirl
February 22nd, 2011
9:05 pm
The jinx only applies during the season. A player/team gets hot, SI features them on the cover, then boom, they got hurt or start to suck. I’m not concerned about Heyward and Freeman being on the cover a month before the season starts, no SI jinx for them.
Jeff
February 22nd, 2011
10:01 pm
Yes Bill, I have. Let’s discuss this again in September.
bob
February 22nd, 2011
11:01 pm
Well in all honesty, jeff hadnt discovered he couldnt hit a good curveball yet and then kept pressing so much that hes in a funk he may never get out of until he completely revamps his swing.
Could jeff just take a year off and live in a Tibetan monastery to cleanse his well?
scottbravesfan
February 24th, 2011
2:29 am
Jeff Francouer could not take a pitch in the minor leagues. Anyone who has watched baseball for more than a week could have told you that Francouer was going to fail. He had WAY too many holes in his swing. And power guys who can’t draw walks and can’t hit for a high average is going to struggle in the big leagues. Francouer had talent but he had no feel on how to play baseball. He could not make the mental adjustments to his game and at the big league level if you can’t do that you are going to fail.
Also Heyward and Freeman get on base like crazy via the walk. Even if they go into a slump or get hurt, like Heyward did last year, they will still help the team because they will be able to get on base. And yes this cover will be going into a frame and onto my wall.
scottbravesfan
February 24th, 2011
2:31 am
Chris P Bacon,
SI and other print magazines will always exist. You know why? Because most people don’t want to take their laptops or their Ipads into the bathroom with them.
scottbravesfan
February 24th, 2011
2:32 am
Bill Paxton,
What are you talking about? The only Braves to be on the covers of SI the last two decades are Maddux, the Braves championship team in 95, Jeff Francouer, and Hank Aaron. Aaron, Maddux, and the 95 Braves team did pretty well for themselves. It’s not Sports Illustrated’s fault that Jeff Francouer can’t make adjustments at the big league level.
keef
February 24th, 2011
3:56 am
Headline should have stated: How Long Before Yankees buy both as Braves Payroll is now CHOPPED to $67 million in 2016…
joe
February 24th, 2011
11:18 am
Alabama was on the cover of SI 3 times last year and they still won it all. It doesn’t make a difference in a sport like baseball where u play a million games
BRAVO MAN
February 25th, 2011
11:27 am
Atlanta…Imagine if we could buy alcohol on Sunday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TOM_UuQzc0