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
tony austin
June 9th, 2011
1:23 pm
Not including 1993, according to my research, the Braves have played 2636 games. Chipper appeared in 2309 of those games or 87.59%.
In Heyward’s two seasons, the Braves have played 224 games. Heyward has appeared in 187 of those games or 83.48%.
Chipper didn’t start missing significant time until 2004, his 11th season in the majors, where he missed 25 games. The numbers do go up from there, but he aged and the body started breaking down, no fault of his own.
Heyward missed 20 games his first season. Not his 10th, his first. And he has already missed 17 games this season, with proabably at the least 5 more games. The kid is 21, not 39. Chipper has appeared in all but 6 games this season, playing on a bad knee – Heyward? 17 and counting.
WTG Chipper!
ocho cinco
June 9th, 2011
1:23 pm
chipper, please!
phil
June 9th, 2011
1:26 pm
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?”
Not much…
phil
June 9th, 2011
1:28 pm
Anyone bashing Chipper for missing games due to injury, after all he’s done for us, is not only a moron but an idiot….
There’s a big damn difference between Chipper and Hurtward at this point….
blue
June 9th, 2011
1:28 pm
beauvighn; the tests did NOT reveal “there is nothing wrong with him”. They showed no structural damage; an injury that “doesn’t show up on an X-ray or MRI”. So there couldn’t POSSIBLY be anything wrong with him. There can be tears on the interior of ligaments, tendons, muscles that do NOT show up…and they can be pretty impactful and take some time to regenerate. OH…that’s right…I forgot…medical tests don’t ever miss things. My bad dude…
BIG BUFF
June 9th, 2011
1:34 pm
We got Chipper “15 Day DL” Jones telling Greg Oden, Jr. that he needs to quit being a sissy.
I’ll just keep watching these pitchers mow em down and hope someone runs into one pitch a game.
CUT UGGLA
(I do love Prado and McCann, so I’m not a total hater)
Sonny Clusters
June 9th, 2011
1:37 pm
Talking deer are not that unusual. When we was playing ball at Parkview there was a deer that would wander up to the outfield fence now and then and some people insist that was a talking deer! We never heard it but we understand it would say stuff like, “Uh, take it one game at a time.” That’s the way deer talk and we know somebody else that talks like that and may have some deer in him. That could explain the toes we was reading about here earlier.
bball fan
June 9th, 2011
1:38 pm
If Heyward is hurt the Braves (Wren) needs to step up and tell us. It’s not fair to Heyward or the fans if he is actually hurt and the Braves are hiding the injury. That said, I’m still waiting on Mr. Potential to do something except try to jerk everything into the right field seats.
bostonbravo
June 9th, 2011
1:38 pm
makes you sick to see Omar playing…as Uggla steps up to the plate.
Chipper…quiet down…you’ve gone on DL for a hangover!
gvb
June 9th, 2011
1:39 pm
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t 80% of Heyward a guy who is hitting just above the Mendoza line this year? IF that’s 80%, then stay on the DL and get to 95%. We’ve got a slew of guys who can hit .220.
Oregon Brave
June 9th, 2011
1:41 pm
Dunno anything about the guys on the sick lame and lazy list. What I do know is that when Heyward comes up to hit, is running the bases or a ball is hit to for him to field, things get exciting. I can wait till he’s healthy. But how about Uggla? How low can he go before Wren says enough. Fredi never will. He’s too busy tipping his hat to his old “Fish”ing buddy. Go Braves.
Terry
June 9th, 2011
1:43 pm
Not that what Chipper said was wrong, but I just think that kind of talk stays in the clubhouse & Chipper should not go public w/ it regardless if it was spun or not by the media.
Redwave
June 9th, 2011
1:43 pm
Sonny; You, uh, crack me the, uh, hell up. Chipper must be, uh, well, uh, you know, uh, a deer whisperer.
is this a joke?
June 9th, 2011
1:45 pm
I like Chipper but he should have kept his mouth shut on this one. He has no room to talk.
bad idea jeans
June 9th, 2011
1:47 pm
It’s depressing to think about how much better we would be if would have never traded Infante for Uggla and spent Uggla’s money elsewhere. And that’s just this year. We have 4 more years of this crap.
bvillebaron
June 9th, 2011
1:47 pm
bballfan:
If Heyward is hurt, Wren needs to tell us. Do you think they put him on the DL not because he was injured, but because he needed a vacation.
perfection
June 9th, 2011
1:49 pm
So how many games would Chipper have missed over the last 7-8 years if he didn’t have perfect pain tolerance? All of them?
NCbrave
June 9th, 2011
1:52 pm
I think FW is banking on Heyward, Uggla, and the offense to carry this team in the second half of the season. The pitching has done so much in the first half posting an overall 2.99 ERA. Unbelievable. Basically, we can’t rely on our pitching throughout the course of the year, the pitching is going to have bad games every now and then and I don’t expect O’Venbrel and bullpen to keep this going all season. Offense has gotta step it up.
Jeff R
June 9th, 2011
1:53 pm
Chipper “Iron Horse” Jones. Oh, yeah?
Steve Superior
June 9th, 2011
1:54 pm
Did Heyward not play through pain last year and the beginning of this year? If they rest of the Braves, who are paid a lot more (i.e. Uggla, Chipper, et al), were playing better he could rest. I think it is sad that everyone is putting all their hopes on a 2nd year player. This team isn’t built around Heyward. Was he hitting 3rd, 4th, or 5th? Shultz, you and Bradley need to stop sniffing Chipper’s jock and remind him of what he said when Smoltz did the same thing to him when he was in his 10th year, not 2nd.
Chipper: Heyward needs to learn to play hurt
June 9th, 2011
1:54 pm
[...] [...]
kirkinga
June 9th, 2011
2:00 pm
The guy has played hurt before so I don’t get why some are on him so badly. Is it the usual necks who are suspicious of anyone who is like them?
Could all this be displaced anger falling on the hometown kid? We’ve seen this before when a guy has a mind of his own and people don’t like it.
99% of the lineup is underperforming, including Chipper with his $14/million salary. I do not believe if Heyward comes back and still cannot swing correctly, that the team will be helped. Clearly some fans have already made up in their minds that he is, um, “lazy” or something.
Heyward should not return until he can swing the bat the way he is capable with little, or no pain. We’ve seen him play with a less than correct swing and he was not as effective as he could have been. But he played because it was late in the season and the team was in the playoff chase.
The Braves, and part of their fans, are going to run this guy off the way others have left only to go on a become very productive players, some of them even leaders on their new teams.
jfreak13713
June 9th, 2011
2:01 pm
Chipper should be last player on this team to question another players injury! Chipper has missed a ton of games due to injury some serious and some maybe not so serious. With that said this team really can’t contend without Heyward, period! They are good without him but not a playoff type team. With him in the lineup and being productive they can beat anyone. If it takes a couple more weeks for him to become healthy physically and mentally then give him a couple more weeks. They are hanging in there right now and if Uggla and Heyward are in the lineup and producing around or just after the Allstar break I like their chances.
Braves need to get someone to hit leadoff! That is really a pressing issue for them right now! Boy would it be nice to trade Lowe and or Beachy for Jose Reyes!
Hillbilly D
June 9th, 2011
2:07 pm
Jones is team’s elder statesman. He is one of the clubhouse leaders.
Most clubhouse leaders do their leading in the clubhouse, not in the press.
kirkinga
June 9th, 2011
2:08 pm
The guy has played hurt before so I don’t get why some are on him so badly. Is it the usual crowd who are suspicious of anyone who is like them?
Could all this be displaced anger falling on the hometown kid? We’ve seen this before when a guy has a mind of his own and people don’t like it.
99% of the lineup is underperforming, including Chipper with his $14/million salary. I do not believe if Heyward comes back and still cannot swing correctly, that the team will be helped. Clearly some fans have already made up in their minds that he is, um, “lazy” or something.
Heyward should not return until he can swing the bat the way he is capable with little, or no pain. We’ve seen him play with a less than correct swing and he was not as effective as he could have been. But he played because it was late in the season and the team was in the playoff chase.
The Braves, and part of their fans, are going to run this guy off the way others have left only to go on a become very productive players, some of them even leaders on their new teams.
Texas Pete
June 9th, 2011
2:12 pm
I thought the knock on Chipper was that he’s not a leader. Heck, when Smoltz didn’t get re-upped didn’t Chipper go ranting to the media that the Braves will pay dearly when his next contract was due or possibly go somewhere else to finish his career? Some leader…
JC Boscan III
June 9th, 2011
2:15 pm
If Heyward was in the lineup and still hitting .214, many people would be slamming him like the Ugglaphobes have been doing on this site and elsewhere. We don’t need another .214 hitter in our lineup. It seems a lot wiser for Heyward to get healthy (at least 95%). Many times, an injury shows itself to be more serious down the road, and then everyone complains that the guy was a fool to be out there playing until he’s screwed up his career. He played hurt a lot last season and his stats showed it as the season wore on and pitchers knew he couldn’t hit the inside pitch with a hurt thumb…….. Would you rather have a healthy Heyward for 15 years or a .214 hitter dragging himself out to right field, and making yet another out in a key situation!?! We have enough of those in the lineup as it is.
phil
June 9th, 2011
2:25 pm
if heyward is hurt then why was he playing pick up basketball with nate,and kris in miami?IVE had many offers,and the video of this will be released shortly
ps video was taken last week……
bias
June 9th, 2011
2:28 pm
april fools suckers lol
Ron in Vegas
June 9th, 2011
2:37 pm
Schultz : ” Most of them are taped up, shot up, iced and played with.”
That’s what she said!
MR7777777
June 9th, 2011
2:37 pm
When Smoltz called out Chipper it caught Chippers attention enough to where he got back on the field and has played through injuries A-LOT more ever since. Maybe Chipper is hoping for the same from Heyward.
All the comments about Heyward being a bust are just stupid. We are talking about 140 at bats which he has struggled, most of the time while injured. I have a feeling nobody that really follows the game think Heyward is a bust or going to be a bust.
Would you agree Jeff, and any other reasonable baseball fans?
Dawgdad (The Original)
June 9th, 2011
2:37 pm
If 80% of Heyward is a .214 average, he needs to ignore Chip and try to get well. I think I’d rather have Hinske/Mather out there than a .214 hitting Heyward. If you can’t do the job (Uggla comes to mind) you need to step down and let someone else try.
bias
June 9th, 2011
2:37 pm
Enter your comments here
Flo-Ri-Duh
June 9th, 2011
2:39 pm
Maybe the Braves should consider trading for another Uggla. What a disaster.
bias
June 9th, 2011
2:41 pm
ITS JUST A DAM SHAME THAT YEYWARD IS THE ONLY AFRICAN AMERICAN HERE PLAYING FOR ATLANTA.EVEN BOBBY COX JOB WAS NOT INTERVIEWED.THIS DAM TOWN IS SO RACISTS/,IF I WAS JASON I HAVE TO ASK FOR A TRADE AND GO PLAY WITH SOME BROTHAS LIKE LEBRON DID WITH THE HEAT.
Dawgdad (The Original)
June 9th, 2011
2:46 pm
Hey bias, maybe all the BROTHAS are hanging on the rim rather than hitting the baseball.
Brandon
June 9th, 2011
2:47 pm
I’ve said this whole time…and if he comes back or had come back already and not been able to hit people would be chasing him out of town. Right now we’ve got a lot of banged up people, and some not so banged up, who can’t hit a lick. We weren’t scoring runs and J-Hey wasn’t hitting before he went on the DL. I’d rather him heal as much as possible and then be back able to be a difference maker than trying to gut it out and give us the same thing the rest of the lineup is giving us for the most part.
Big
June 9th, 2011
2:48 pm
Heyward is showing himself to be a big wuss and a bust. What are the odds to have 2 busts on the team. You suck too fugla
Al
June 9th, 2011
2:55 pm
This is looking more and more like the “star” Jeff F. and McCann situation. Is Freddie F. the next McCann and Heyward the next Jeff F.?
Flo-Ri-Duh
June 9th, 2011
2:55 pm
bias – you are dumber dirt. Race has nothing to do with this article about Heyward Latino’s are very skilled at baseball and are simply on the team because they are the best the Braves have right now.
the truth...
June 9th, 2011
3:06 pm
Chipper started his career here with the Bravos by blowing out his knew….lost his first year right off the bat….
He recovered, healed, worked at it and came back strong. He has had many, many injuries throughout his career….yet he stands with more than a couple of records.
If he was never injured and performed like we wish he could and was perfect like all the bloggers here, he would have blown everyone from his era away.
But he is human and his body is as well…so I have to give him a pass for those reasons alone…none of us are perfect…
Chipper is right….professional athletes have to play hurt throughout their career…when they can and if they can. What he said had to be said….just like it was said to him years in the past….
Let him who has no sin cast the first stone….can’t be me….
fan
June 9th, 2011
3:09 pm
bias…really? come on…enough said.
as far as heyward. His swing is ugly and he had one good partial season. lots of guys have had streaks. He has not shown me anything yet. The braves have the worst outfield in the majors. its time to stop talking about prospects and deal some to get some quality on this team. once again….great pitching but no hitters. I used to think pendlton was the problem. but i dont know what to think now. we need a spart on this team from somewhere…
the truth...
June 9th, 2011
3:16 pm
The Braves have the worst “fans” in the majors as well….
…if the shoe fits, wear it….” ….this isn’t a science folks….anyone here can hit a 95 mph fastball with a wicked move on it….next pitch an 83 mph change up?….
Sure you can…..
dean
June 9th, 2011
3:27 pm
Phil @ 11:19.
Of course I’m not get paid gazillions to play. That’s not the point. The point is that there is some pain you can play with-without further injury. There is some pain that you better not try to hide because playing will cause more damage. Then there’s the mystery pain. No obvious reason bit it’s there, and it can sit you down.
I still believe he might have Greg Oden Disease.
Sonny Clusters
June 9th, 2011
3:33 pm
Beign close with a deer is not something we are familiar with but Chipper is well known to be close to deer. When you are out in the woods with somebody like Laroche talking to a deer instead of him would make sense. We think Chipper and the deer would be about the same as far as being able to express themselves verbally. Chipper would probably use more worn cliches, though. This year Chipper has added some new words to his vocabulary and we was impressed to learn it. Being the Buck Commander is heavy stuff and being a team leader and only being able to come up with those silly haircuts must be a tough load to bear. But we was talking deer, not bear.
Sonny Clusters
June 9th, 2011
3:41 pm
We’re not saying Chipper is dumb but he counts by striking his foot on the ground a lot like a horse would do. Some people don’t think Chipper is fair game for jokes and blog comments but we think he is fair game (and fair game on his ranch would get shot by him). Talking about Heyward lining up is a lot like talking about Chipper not facing Lincecum and Halladay so he could get some rest. On off days we heard he likes to ease over to his neighbor’s house and eat some of his garden.
coo coo bird fan
June 9th, 2011
3:45 pm
If Chipper doesn’t say anything then Who? He is the captain, after every game win or lose the microphone is in his face, he wants to win. Heyward needs to feel better and then come back, We are holding our own through these trying times and everyone knows it wont last all year. We are last years Phillies a force to be reckoned with down the stretch. Also, count on the Braves making a move before the all star break to solidify an offensively challenged outfield. Uggla, is getting harder and harder to watch, it certainly isn’t a lack of effort he hustles every single play, thank GOD for Chipper being in the clubhouse, I think he knows a little bit about prolonged slumps. I would never sit beside anyone else for the rest of the year. Go Braves, your biggest fan.
Concern
June 9th, 2011
3:48 pm
Am I wrong or is it Jones that seems to always be on the sideline. Seems like he is one to be talking. Have many games has he missed since signing on. Said long ago Braves should trade Jones guys while could get something in return. Obviously not one of my favorite players.
Maybe I just don’t really know him.
mike
June 9th, 2011
3:51 pm
Understand that trying to swing the bat with shoulder pain is a bit difficult…note that as the pain progressed, so did his strikeouts…
coo coo bird fan
June 9th, 2011
3:56 pm
Truth, watch your mouth! When you talk about bad fans you are inadvertently including yours truly. There is no bigger fan, 30 yrs. and counting buddy and never wavered. Good times and bad I always got there back, and If they are in last place I am still going to the park to support my team. The worst fans are the ones who judge players while they sit on there couches getting fat and talking about how tough the need to be, or need to be hitting, etc. Don’t judge till you walk in a players cleats and furthermore continue front running and pulling for whoevers winning so you can feel better about your pathetic life. Yeah, I’m talking to you. Have a nice day. Go Braves.