Jones’ message: Heyward needs to learn to play with pain
Jason Heyward has sat out 17 games and he's expected to miss several more. (Curtis Compton)
When a player of significance is injured, it can be a problem for his team. When the player of significance has a lingering injury that doesn’t show up on an X-ray or an MRI, it can be a problem for the player.
This is the gray area where Jason Heyward currently sits (with an ice bag).
Chipper Jones did not necessarily call out his Braves teammate the other day when he said that Heyward “needs to realize [that] at 80 percent [he’s] a force,” and that, “There are a bunch of his teammates that are out there playing with discomfort and not healthy.”
But that’s about as close as you can come to saying, “Rub some dirt on it.”
Jones is team’s elder statesman. He is one of the clubhouse leaders. He’s also playing with a meniscus tear in his knee. If he says something, there’s a pretty good chance he is not the only one thinking it.
Heyward says he has a sore shoulder. Nobody doubts that. But injuries can be a dangerous thing when it comes to forming perceptions. At one end of the spectrum, we think of Willis Reed, dragging his injured leg onto the court at Madison Square Garden for Game 7 of the NBA finals. At the other end, we think of J.D. Drew spending an inordinate time lounging on the disabled list and missing games with the Braves because he said he strained his neck while swimming in a friend’s pond. (Was the pond Loch Ness?)
No player in any sport is 100 percent after the season starts. That’s the message Jones was trying to get across. There are degrees of injuries. Most of them are taped up, shot up, iced and played with.
This might just be something Heyward still needs to learn. But at 21 years old and in season two of his career, it’s a bit premature to start labeling a guy (particularly after he was runner up for rookie of the year last season).
Braves general manager Frank Wren said Jones was merely “stating the obvious. We need Jason back in the lineup. I don’t think he was calling him out.”
He certainly did not suggest Heyward lacked toughness. But he chose his words carefully when asked if the club had any lingering concern that Heyward might not fully understand what injury he should or should not try to play through.
“I think that’s the balancing act for all young players,” he said. “Sometimes they’re dealing with injuries and aches and pains they’ve never dealt with before. You don’t want to mess with your career, so you’ve got to figure it out. That’s one thing we’re trying to help him work out – what can you play through and what can you make sure is healed before you play again.”
Wren said the Braves would rather Heyward sit out and heal up now than have the injury linger through the season. He also understands that sometimes players get reputations.
“To me that’s the difficult part,” he said. “Whether you’re in my position, a manager, a fan, a teammate, you’re not walking in that guy’s shoes. We have no doubt that Jason has discomfort in his shoulder, even though tests show there’s no structural damage. But there’s inflammation in there and it’s sore when he swings. Sure, we could’ve brought him back quicker. But we would be taking the chance that this could linger all year.”
Heyward is working with a physical therapist in Orlando. Soon, he’ll go to the minors on a rehab assignment for “several games,” Wren said, and eventually he’ll be back with the Braves. Nobody is putting any dates on this.
When he returns, Heyward will be greeted by a .214 average but a world of expectations to help a struggling offense. The guess here is that he’ll play through whatever soreness he has, barring a significant injury.
This is the closest Heyward has come to feeling any heat or criticism in his career. There’s a pretty good chance that it will have an impact And Jones is right about something: 80 percent of Heyward is still better than most of the Braves’ lineup.
By Jeff Schultz
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216 comments Add your comment
lfp6
June 9th, 2011
11:31 am
Well, playing while hurt is a mixed bag. Schafer tried to play while hurt, but his performance suffered tremendously. Chipper contiues to play while hurt, and while he’s not at his all-star numbers, he isnt exactly stinking either.
What one has to keep in mind is that the Braves have good depth this year; other teams would be in a world of hurt with all 3 of their starting outfielders out.
Anyway, lets hope we can bring out the brooms for the Fish. GO BRAVES!
Nailed It
June 9th, 2011
11:31 am
I don’t trust anyone named Terrell[e].
phil
June 9th, 2011
11:33 am
Terrell – Chipper may be old but the man is a hall of famer, unlike sissy boy Hurtward, and can say any dadgum thing he wants to say, within reason, and get a pass for it. No one is making Hurtward play hurt. Are they?
Hurtward hasn’t done a thing to justify all the inflated crap we keep hearing about the guy. It’s one injury after excuse after another with him. Absolutely he should rest until 100% and then get back on the field. If it takes til September, fine. Then maybe we can see whether this guy can actually play in the major leagues. I think he can. But the time for think and maybe and we’ll see is quickly drawing to a close….
JSS
June 9th, 2011
11:36 am
Ha ha, Chipper Jones? Chipper Jones? One more time Chipper Jones? You have got to be kidding me! Man, just when I thought “Theatre of the Absurd” was passe’!
Until Mr. Jones miraculously develops range to his left beyond that of the man in the Kroger Electric shopping cart in front of me as I pick up some food for my dog; he needs to shut up and get another mouth cancer examine!
JSS
June 9th, 2011
11:39 am
(F)ailed It
June 9th, 2011
11:31 am
“I don’t trust anyone named Terrell[e].”
And who the heck are you?
JASon
June 9th, 2011
11:39 am
Thanks PMC at 10:34, that’s exactly what I was going to say.
gub skynyrd
June 9th, 2011
11:41 am
Trade him and Uggla for Ethier
deb
June 9th, 2011
11:43 am
Heyward played with pain last year from that thumb injury and it did more damage than if he’d let himself heal. Heyward is not who I think of when I think of someone who would sit out with an illigimate injury.
Go Dawgs!
June 9th, 2011
11:45 am
Understand this: anyone who wants to call out Chipper Jones on missing games while hurt is a fool. I’ll say it again, for emphasis. If you’re calling Chipper Jones soft or bagging on him for being out when he’s hurt, you’re ignorant. There’s a big difference between being “injured” and being “hurt”. Chipper Jones has unfortunately been injury prone in the latter part of his career. Nobody that knows anything about sports will criticize a player for not playing when injured. The problem comes when you’re not willing to play through pain. Well, sports fans, Chipper Jones plays through pain. In the past five years, I would be willing to bet that he didn’t have more than 50 regular season games when there wasn’t at least some pain, even on opening day (he’s picked up nagging hurts even in spring training). He is currently playing through a meniscus tear in his knee. In case you didn’t know it, that hurts like hell. Did you see the pain on his face as he motored around third last night in the 10th inning? He gutted that pain out. Chipper’s presence in the lineup is big. The Marlins were afraid of him last night and pitched so carefully that he was able to work a walk and ended up scoring the go-ahead run. He started the rally. Heyward’s presence in the lineup is just as big. Even when he’s not 100 percent, if he learns to play with pain (not “injury”… nobody’s asking him to do that… if he learns to play with “pain”) then he’ll be in there more when the Braves need him. Perhaps he’ll be able to start some rallies of his own.
Get Real
June 9th, 2011
11:45 am
J.R Reid was one of the best pitchers in the NL for the Astros. He complained his arm felt strange but went out against his better judgement. Suffered a stroke and did not pitch again. In addition the Astros did not pay him and he ended up homeless. If he does not fell well he knows it. We don’t
KEEP IT IN THE CLUBHOUSE
June 9th, 2011
11:46 am
Chipper should have said this to Heyward behind closed doors. Heyward is young and he will learn the difference between hurt and injured.
Braves Fan
June 9th, 2011
11:46 am
Well look who’s talking. Turn that finger around buddy!
Johnny
June 9th, 2011
11:50 am
Coming back from his torn ACL Chipper played 140 games in 1995 and never played less than 153 in 2003, when the injuries started piling up. Chipper was 31 when his games played dipped below 150, that’s 10 years older than J-Hey is now.
Uggghhh
June 9th, 2011
11:50 am
Jason can’t solve ALL of the Brave’s offensive woes!!!! I understand that Chip may be frustrated with the club’s offensive performance, but don’t point fingers in a subtle way. Chip should focus on his bats and encourage those who AREN’T injured to do the same. Let J-Hey rest up and get as CLOSE to 100% as possible!
Johnny
June 9th, 2011
11:51 am
I do believe there was a better way to say this to Jason though
beebee
June 9th, 2011
11:53 am
Yo Braves fans:
We need to count our blessings. At least the man is not out for the season like SF’s Buster Posey.
We have a great chance of getting Heyward back. Yet people are fussing.
If he was out for the year with an injury, you’d all be crying and fussing still.
Somehow the Braves are eking up in the standings. Yet here people are, fussing.
Philly had people out for what seemed like 3/4 of the year last year. Yet they came back and won the Division.
Hayell, let Jason Heyward go spend a month in Aruba if that’s what it’ll take to get him totally well. OR, let’s put him in the lineup and let him swing with one arm!
beebee
ATLDawg, ya dig?
June 9th, 2011
12:00 pm
Chipper’s savvy enough to know this shouldn’t be playing out in the press. This should be handled internally.
Braves Fan
June 9th, 2011
12:01 pm
Hey Go Dawgs. Go back to Athens.
reebok
June 9th, 2011
12:02 pm
chipper jones giving advice about how to handle injuries has the same credibility as sarah palin teaching american history
Dumbo
June 9th, 2011
12:07 pm
Uh did I miss something or what…..but Slipper calling out anybody about playing with a little pain is unbelievable….I mean how many games has Chumper managed to play in each year of his career…what a 125 out 162 average year in and year out. It is time Chumper Jones goes home to his ranch and sees if he can hit a deer…because he sure as heck ain’t hitting a baseball. $14 million and he won’t even drive in a 100 RBI’s or even hit 20 homers….ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maurice
June 9th, 2011
12:12 pm
Heyward has been in Atlanta what 1 year and now he’s a bust? Some of you are ridiculous! There is no way he should come back if the doctors don’t say so first. Even Fredi has told him to take a break, so who the hey is Chipper crowing about? His manager or his team mate who makes no where near the money he does. Heyward’s protecting his longevity, Chipper is looking into the now since it’s his last season. Nothing to compare here. Chipper shut up and swing the bat. Heyward get healthy, we won’t need you until after the All Star break.
Last Straw
June 9th, 2011
12:20 pm
Tell Chipper there will be a new Hooters opening in South GA, so he can leave town. JH should tell advice boy to GFY!
Ted Striker
June 9th, 2011
12:24 pm
Striker isn’t gonna comment on this topic.
Tech Tard
June 9th, 2011
12:28 pm
Chipper
I am calling YOU out! Retire! Retire! Retire! Anyone remember his hang nail? What a joke you have become.
Rally
June 9th, 2011
12:29 pm
Chipper Jones is the embodiment of an underachieving, self-promoting, thinks-he-knows-it-all player. He knows more than the doctors, the management, and the player himself. When it comes to him, however, there is always an excuse for his failure to play. I can only hope that this is his last year as a player and that we do not have to hear his ill conceived comments anymore. When you consider the shortcomings of the Braves for the last 15 years, think of the one common element: Chipper Jones.
Terrell
June 9th, 2011
12:34 pm
Nailed It
I don’t know who you are referring to by adding the [e], but just as I expected everybody is coming to the defense of Chipper Jones. Since people don’t read the full post, what I said was if Jones was in his 2nd year and got hurt everybody would be like let him rest save his career but nobody is saying that about Heyward. Look at Jones and his 1st full year in the big leagues and Heyward’s 1st year numbers are comparable. To those that want to compare Chipper’s career to Heyward’s 2 seasons you are full of it and I would advise you to wait so that we can get a better sample.
Go Dawgs!:
The only people that believe that hype about Chipper is you and the media clowns. Opposing teams are politically correct and respect the career Jones has had, but today’s Chipper Jones doesn’t put fear into teams like it use to. Plus at $14M this year Chipper needs to justify why we gave him the extension to begin with. Do you really think if this was Chipper in thr beginning of his career before abritration that he be doing this? No, because he wouldn’t want to risk his future. This is the end of the line for Chipper so he is playing like he has nothing left because he really doesn’t.
If anybody decides to follow Heyward then you also would’ve know that he said he wouldn’t play until the pain was gone was because that pain caused him to alter his swing and create bad habits. People are saying that he needs some at bats to get his rythem, but if the pain is making him taking bad swings then what good is that?
OldFan
June 9th, 2011
12:36 pm
The Braves’ lack of hitting is not Heyward’s fault, but his lack of hitting is. Let him get as well he feels he needs, put him in the game, and see if he can earn the accolades we’ve all assigned to him. I just don’t want him coming back early with an excuse ready made.
J.J.M.
June 9th, 2011
12:37 pm
heyward is a bust and will keep getting hurt
top dawg
June 9th, 2011
12:37 pm
The Braves are winning without Heyward – let him sit. In fact, let him sit when he’s “healed”. So far he’s been a lot of hype without producing much. Maybe we can trade him for Franceour.
Nailed It
June 9th, 2011
12:38 pm
Just merely trying to lighten the mood. We’re all Braves fans here, calm down.
Will
June 9th, 2011
12:42 pm
This may have already been posted – don’t have time to read right now – two sources close to the
Braves (independent of each other) regarding the durability of Heyward have both told me that concerns have grown from small talk to full blown shourts within the organization.
Chipper is wrong regarding learning to play with pain – that’s not the real concern. The real concern within the organization is that Jason is qucikly turning into one of those players who is simply injury-prone. How can this be when he appears to be such a fit athlete? As one of these sources told me, “Jason is a strong, physically fit young man but he is not a “baseball fit” young man.”
Although still much too early to write him off – within the organization the concern grows that the Braves may have been “francoured” again. .
Joe Tess Fish House
June 9th, 2011
12:46 pm
hahahahahaha…….Chipper tellin Haywood he need 2 get of his but and paly!
William
June 9th, 2011
12:48 pm
Hello! It’s only his sophmore season people. Too early for the “he’s overrated” comments or “he is a wash” comments. When he figures this shoulder thing out and he will, then lets see how his season goes. One thing for sure I am certain he will not take into account the silly yet pathetic comments from most of this fickle fan base.
Scott Case
June 9th, 2011
12:50 pm
80% of a guy batting .220 is not a ‘force’ – just ask Dan Uggla
Mark (another one)
June 9th, 2011
12:50 pm
Chipper is still the leader of this team, and for those criticizing him for not playing hurt, just look at this year. No one doubts Chipper is hurting but he is number 4 on the team in total plate appearances. Chippre is next to McCann in innings played. He is still feared enough by other teams to lead the Braves in walks. That is with McCann usually hitting behind him.
You may believe he should have handled this differently, but the reports are also blowing things out of preportion. When I read the AJC, I don’t see Chipper ‘calling him out’. Instead, I read that Chipper wants Hwyward to put some urgency into returning ASAP and don’t wait to be 100%. He also has communicated this directly to Heyward, so its not like he’s trying to communicate through the press.
People want to blow everything into a negative, back biting issue. I see the possibility but I doubt it. The person to ask is Heyward and I bet he understands Chipper’s message. I read it as we (the Braves) need him and he is so talented that an 80% healthy Heyward is better than most outfielders in the majors. That doesn’t appear hard to understand.
tony austin
June 9th, 2011
1:02 pm
For Heyward’s first two seasons, so far he has only missed 37 games [said sacastically].
In 8 seasons from 1995-2002, Chipper only missed 34 games.
Black Moses
June 9th, 2011
1:04 pm
Never question another man’s injury. I can remember J.R. Richards in Houston back in the day. The guy had a undiagnosed blood clot which eventually caused him to have a stroke. People need to back up and leave Jason Heyward alone.
Tech Sucks
June 9th, 2011
1:06 pm
lol I love Chipper but that is the biggest Pot calling the Kettle black of alltime.
Tami
June 9th, 2011
1:10 pm
Well, we definitely need him back by or before the next homestand, where the Braves face the Mets for three, the Rangers for three, and the Blue Jays for three – without any days off. The guys having to play in Heyward’s place are going to need a rest soon.
dumb luck
June 9th, 2011
1:12 pm
I believe I remember reading that the feeling in Heywood’s arm of the injured shoulder was going numb and that was the reason for his concern. I believe all of us would have some concern if we had a sore shoulder and our arm was becoming numb when trying to drink our PBR.
Anon21
June 9th, 2011
1:14 pm
Look, it’s not like we have to guess here about how good the injured version of Heyward is. He tried to play through the jammed thumb in the middle of last season and sucked, and he tried to play through the sore shoulder last month and sucked. The team is not in free fall (thanks, pitching and defense!), and if we can get Heyward back at 90%+ effectiveness and keep him that way for most of the rest of the season, that would be huge. I get what Chipper’s trying to convey, and I respect his right to speak out, but a corner outfielder hitting .214/.317/.407 is not an impact player for any club, even this one.
Texas Pete
June 9th, 2011
1:15 pm
Chipper is just returning the favor for Brian Jordan calling him out last season and passing the buck to Heyward. The thing is, Heyward has been injured twice now in 2 seasons. Both times he played with injury and both times his numbers dropped off his expected pace. When an injury clearly hinders productivity, sit the injured player.
Meanwhile you have guys like Uggla and McClouth who have both experienced decline from their expectations without injury since becoming Braves. Those are the situations where you tell a guy to play through it.
It’s not like Heyward was crushing HRs left and right when the shoulder got worse then decided to pull himself out of the lineup. His numbers were obviously way down for a reason. Let him get healthy and let’s see about a huge 2nd half push towards the division title.
EJ
June 9th, 2011
1:17 pm
Keep the comments in the clubhouse……interrupted chemistry can cause havoc………..Let the Doctors do their job……….Playing for a ring is important to everyone…..so lets be smart as we critique our fellow players…….
Texas Pete
June 9th, 2011
1:17 pm
Will,
What does “baseball fit” mean? Of the major team sports baseball requires the least bit of fitness. I’m not saying you can be a couch potato and an All-Star but you don’t have to be particularly fast, strong, or whatever. You just have to be able to play the game at a higher level than most of your peers.
The thumb injury happens all the time, sliding head first into a base. The shoulder makes me wonder. Heyward said it’s been bothering him since Spring Training. I wonder if he was on an off season weight lifting program that was too aggressive and maybe that’s where the inflammation is coming from. Someone might be trying to turn him into a bulky Pujos type physique instead of leaving him strong and lean. Who knows…
phil
June 9th, 2011
1:18 pm
Get Real
June 9th, 2011
11:45 am
“J.R Reid was one of the best pitchers in the NL for the Astros. He complained his arm felt strange but went out against his better judgement. Suffered a stroke and did not pitch again. In addition the Astros did not pay him and he ended up homeless. If he does not fell well he knows it. We don’t”
J.R. Reid played basketball for UNC. J.R. Richard is who you’re thinking of. I think after several months, the doctors have been anle to rule out a blood clot in Hurtward’s shoulder. The stroke risk right now is, therefore, minimal.
Nice try, but why don’t we deal with reality here instead of a freak occurrence from 1980….
GEORGIA97
June 9th, 2011
1:19 pm
Folks, calm down now. Everything is gonna be A-okay……..as soon as Heyward has his ovaries removed.
Common sense
June 9th, 2011
1:21 pm
Why on earth does he have to go to Orlando for physical therapy? There are world class people right here in town.
blue
June 9th, 2011
1:21 pm
Dr. Phil
June 9th, 2011
10:07 am
Chipper, of the chronic sore toe, shouldn’t call anyone on phantom injuries, particularly when he is batting .250.
Except that the point he was making is he is playing through it, not that it was a “phantom injury”. Try to stay with us…
Fourbee
June 9th, 2011
1:22 pm
What JH fails to realize is that there are at least 50,000 men in Atlanta that would gladly trade places with him and play through the pain. Hey, I’m 60 years old and have severe arthritis, but I’ll play right field every game. I’ll bet I could probably hit .214, too.
Wake up, Heyward! It’s not about you, it’s about the team and love of the game.
Mark's for the Braves
June 9th, 2011
1:22 pm
So is a rehab assignment for Heyward even been talked about yet? What is he doing to heal his shoulder anyway?