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
ClemsonBrad
June 9th, 2011
9:46 am
FIRST!! I am in the camp that he needs to rest….J-Hey banged up so far in his career has not been very productive on the field.
Nailed It
June 9th, 2011
9:54 am
Heyward needs to get back out there. Do a few games in the minors and get back to Atlanta so we can an offense going.
MattyB
June 9th, 2011
9:57 am
Every young player should have a clubhouse leader like Chipper Jones. Heyward should feel fortunate.
Sonny Clusters
June 9th, 2011
9:58 am
We was thinking Chipper would be hesitant to call anybody out after Smoltz called him out awhile back and called Chipper everything but a big sissy . . . which was what he was acting like. When we was playing ball we called out Jeff one time when he was crying because he struck out in a big game and Stinky Wintes came up and hit a walk-off homerun and got treated at the Dairy Queen instead of Jeff. That was some bad memory seeing a teammate acting like that. We wrote a little poem for Dan Uggla and it goes like this . . . Roses are red, Uggla is blue, His average just dropped, from 1-7-2.
What??
June 9th, 2011
10:01 am
I really don’t understand any of the commentary about Jason. He played a good portion of last season with a messed up thumb because he didn’t want to tell anyone. He didn’t hit well during that period and it hurt the team. Same thing this year. He was playing with a bum shoulder and wasn’t hitting well. It is much better for the Braves to have Jason healthy for 120 games and playing his best than for him to be playing hurt for 162 games and not playing well. I really don’t think Chipper was trying to say anything about Jason other than that they really need him in the lineup (which is obvious to anyone who has had to suffer watching this incredibly anemic offense).
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.
Fish Bisch
June 9th, 2011
10:07 am
Heyward is a bigger bust than Francouer was.
Jeff
June 9th, 2011
10:10 am
U-G-L-A he ain’t got not hit today
Supes
June 9th, 2011
10:10 am
Heyward needs to ’suck it up’ and play. Looks at players like Prado who don’t wanna come out no mater what. If this “shoulder issue” is not affecting his swing (like the hand injury he had last year that had him struggling for six weeks) he should be playing and doing what he can like the rest of the guys who are playing less than 100%.
It’s a darn baseball season…at some point you’ll be dealing with injuries…play through them! Earn the love and respect of your team mates, the fans and the rest of the league.
Don’t complain every time you bang your big toe walking up the stairs….
JackDennis
June 9th, 2011
10:12 am
Heyward will be a big part of this team. But he needs to get in there and play ball. Now.
Nailed It
June 9th, 2011
10:12 am
Fish Bisch – easy on THAT comparison.
Tech Fan
June 9th, 2011
10:12 am
Chipper was not calling Heyward out. This was all taken out of context. DOB said on the radio yesterday that Chipper was just giving Heyward advise that Chipper had to learn himself when he started having nagging injuries. In fact, when DOB asked Chipper if he felt like he needed to get in touch with Heyward to explain his comments, Chipper said no, he already spoke to him weeks before he said these things to DOB. Heyward will be back in about 3 weeks…..
Dennis Reynolds
June 9th, 2011
10:17 am
Man some of you “Braves fans” embarrass me to the point I almost want to become a fan of a team with better fans. Too bad I’m a die hard Braves fan already.
LEARN SOMETHING PEOPLE!
PMC
June 9th, 2011
10:26 am
Part of the message was that our outfield is a freaking mess. Basically the fantastic production at 2nd last year shifted to left and that was about it.
His message was just…..please hurry back because just having him in the lineup helps even if you’re hurt.
Organizationally, for whatever reason, they have completely and totally failed to find any semblence of outfield production.
What I don't get
June 9th, 2011
10:27 am
Heyward played “injured” all of last year and missed brief bit of time sitting on the DL because of a bad hand. Yet he’s “soft”? Thanks AJC writer for not reminding your boneheaded readers out there that Jason has indeed played with pain and injuries before. Hell he should have been on the DL to start this season off but “played with pain” in his shoulders until his arm could no longer hold up.
But I forget… that’s how its done in this town. Have to have these readers come on and comment a blog about nothing.
PMC
June 9th, 2011
10:28 am
From top to bottom for about the last 5 to 7 years the scouting, drafting what have you. They are woefully inadequate for a major league club.
PMC
June 9th, 2011
10:30 am
We traded for Rick Ankiel for gosh sakes.
beauvighn
June 9th, 2011
10:31 am
I think the prima donna heyward needs to spend some time back in AAA. He has forgotten how fortunate he is not to have those 8 hr. bus rides to remote outposts..Look what it has done for Schafer..Stop being a cry baby heyward..The tests show nothing is wrong with you..
steve brown
June 9th, 2011
10:31 am
The hole in this lineup for the past few years is the salary sucked up by an average player who due to a litany of injuries is a part-timer, that is Chipper Jones. He needs to shut up and go away (or just go huntin’) and let the manager manage. The audacity of Jones questioning another players threshold of pain when he himself could be called a slacker for all the games he has missed the past half dozen years is pathetic.
What??
June 9th, 2011
10:32 am
Supes – You are a moron. Of course his shoulder is affecting his swing. That’s why he was hitting .214 before he went on the DL. God what stupid comment.
PMC
June 9th, 2011
10:34 am
They don’t make the playoffs without Heyward last season. Let’s back off the sissy comments.
Something is obviously very wrong with his shoulder. It wouldn’t be the first time doctors have been stumped.
Harvey Updyke
June 9th, 2011
10:34 am
Roll damn tide
Hankie Aron
June 9th, 2011
10:37 am
Heyward needs to get healthy first. This is a lose/lose for him no matter what he does. If he plays and is ineffective then people will say he should have gotten healed or if he doesn’t play at 80% then he is getting comparisons to JD Drew. He had huge production last year before the thumb injury. Sad to say but some players have to be at 100% to be effective and Heyward seems to be that type of player.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
June 9th, 2011
10:38 am
Chipper Jones was 100% correct. Once ESPN and others got it it was spun, but Chipper was not throwing him under the bus.
Larry
June 9th, 2011
10:43 am
Chipper suggesting another player should play when injured. Wow!
That’s like Bill Clinton telling Anthony Weiner he should be a loyal husband.
Sonny Clusters
June 9th, 2011
10:45 am
To clear things up, here is what Chipper really said . . . “Uh, being at, uh, 80% is, uh, better than having some uh, bozo out there. (insert a couple cliches here) “
Braves73
June 9th, 2011
10:45 am
This is a very tricky situation for Jason. I completely understand his desire to be “100%” before he comes back to the club, but at what point will that ever happne? The Braves as an organization, have done every medical test on his shoulder and have not found any “major structural damage”.
The onus is now on Jason to make the decision to come back and start playing with the discomfort or what for the pain to completely subside (which will not occur do to the unnatural motion that swinging a bat will have on his shoulder). The decision is his, but time is ticking and the Braves desperately need his presence in the lineup.
LMAO
June 9th, 2011
10:50 am
Hey Larry Who you calling out Mister OLE on any hard ball hit
to Third. Oh wait my toe hurts my knee hurts SHUT LARRY
RETIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What??
June 9th, 2011
10:50 am
As long as the Braves are staying in the division race, what is the motivation to rush Heyward back into the lineup and possibly cause him to play with a nagging injury all year? If the wheels were coming off the wagon, I could see putting some pressure on him to play hurt. That is not the case, so my vote is to give him another week or two to get as healthy as possible.
CONservative Johnson
June 9th, 2011
10:53 am
He definitely called Heyward out; after getting mad because Smoltz did it to him. The spinning now is kind of funny . . .
Dozer
June 9th, 2011
10:54 am
Dr. Chipper should be doing this without involving the media – seems I recall that he wasn’t too happy a few years ago when Smoltz did the same to him. Where’s Freddie in all this?
LMAO
June 9th, 2011
10:59 am
LARRY LARRY QUITE CONTRARY I HOPE HEYWARD
JACKS YOU UP WHEN HE SEES YOU
sportsvet
June 9th, 2011
10:59 am
Hell! Hayward is not the problem! UGLY IS! No ill will here but I’m sure we could get someone to take UGLY’s place and hit more if he was on the DL. But wait, he is…
Coach
June 9th, 2011
11:01 am
I don’t take Chipper’s side often, but I agree with him in this case 100%.
Steve, Chipper averaged 158 games/year from age 24-31.
Hankie, no one is ever 100% healthy throughout a season so if JH stays injury prone, what good will he be?
I don’t know what JH is going through, and I’m not questioning him yet. But bottom line is you have to play through minor injuries & aches, pains, & soreness.
Sonny Clusters
June 9th, 2011
11:03 am
We was considering . . .does Chipper Jones talk like a deer? If your best friend was a deer wouldn’t you talk a little like him? For instance, “Uh,toss it over here, uh, Deerbuddy.” Not knowing exactly what a deer talks like puts us at a disadvantage but we can guess a talking deer would sound and make about as much sense as Chipper Jones.
Bravefan for life
June 9th, 2011
11:04 am
Hasn’t Chpper been sitting a lot himself? Knee, Back, Side? Seems to me the last three games that I watched, Chipper was not in the lineup. Prado was playing 3rd.
Hes one to talk I think!
Sonny Clusters
June 9th, 2011
11:08 am
Deer talk is secretive. Not many people get close enough to a deer to have one talk openly. Clearly, Chipper Jones walks among the deer and is now starting to talk like a deer. Who on this team is better at the sports cliche? No one. We was always thinking that when Chipper retires he can be an announcer on deer TV.
phil
June 9th, 2011
11:09 am
Hurtward….Isn’t he the one that the idiots among us labelled a hall of famer after one at bat? Is he the one on the magazine covers? On the commercials?
He’s also the one not on the field, right? The one hitting .214? The one who can’t go back on a baseball and actually catch it? The one who can’t make an accurate throw?
Chipper should have said more.
steve brown
June 9th, 2011
11:10 am
Coach, what about the past 6 years-are you giving Jones a pass for prior service.
dean
June 9th, 2011
11:11 am
My right shoulder hurts from waking up to going to bed. It has for almost 30 years. I know what caused it. Nothing broken, torn or mutilated according to the docs who have made their boat, car, vacation house payments, etc. off my visits. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that!) “Here. Take some of these for the pain”, they would say. I did. For awhile. Why risk heart attack, stroke, or erections that last longer than 4 hours for a sore shoulder?
I’m not saying JH is dogging it. I’m only saying that there are in fact times the docs can’t the find the thing that’s causing the pain that, in my case, was damm near debilitating whenever I want to be my son’s catcher. Just throwing the ball back to him was a killer. No way could I have ever played through that.
Jason Heyward Needs To Grow Up
June 9th, 2011
11:14 am
Jason Heyward is lucky to have Chipper Jones to set him straight. So far his MLB career has amounted to lots of potential and not much production. His pre-occupation with sliding headfirst into everything will limit by years whatever he might accomplish .. Go take a look at videos of Mickey Mantle, Henry Aaron, Ernie Banks, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig .. Do you see them sliding headfirst into everything? Jeff Francoeur got the reputation as being a baseball player who played the game like it was football. Young Mr. Heyward could use a little bit of that intellectual approach. Quit whining; play the game.
Bill
June 9th, 2011
11:18 am
Rest, rest,rest,rest,rest, we will be ok without you till you are well….screw what they say..call up Gartrell and play. We might like what Gartrell bring to play and J-Hey may be out of a job.
phil
June 9th, 2011
11:19 am
Dean – You aren’t paid piles of money to play for the Braves either while gladly eating up all the press about yourself when you’ve done little to deserve it…..
I for one am sick and tired of hearing how great this guy is when he in fact isn’t great, nor even close to it.
He’ll be great when he actually performs….which is looking more and more like never.
Terrell
June 9th, 2011
11:23 am
For all those calling out Heyward, if this was Chipper Jones in his youth you all would be saying let him rest. You all would be saying Chipper is the future so we should try to save him. Is Heyward important to the team? Yes, but Chipper really should be calling out his overpaid teammate (like himself) Dan Uggla. Having a sore shoulder from an injury is different from having a sore shoulder from working out because that soreness will go away. Soreness from an injury lets you know that the injury still lingers. If Heyward comes back and plays and the shoulder gets worse are we going to blame Heyward for coming back to early? Are we going to call him a bust? Or, are we going to do the right thing for once and hold Chipper Jones accountable for the pressure he is placing on this young player to come back and ruin his career?
You know what’s sad? I bet if it came down to Chipper or Jason staying on this team everybody would pick Chipper inspite of the obvious.
diggit
June 9th, 2011
11:24 am
.214, a shaky glove, and a gigantic hole in his swing on the inner half that every pitcher in the National League will continue to exploit until/unless he figures it out. And he’s not winning any people over by using his injuries as an excuse. He’s gonna have to hit more HRs to even get to be less of a bust as Franceour
Matt from MN
June 9th, 2011
11:27 am
Given that Chipper has too often, in my opinion, come back too soon from injury, I don’t think J-Hey needs to be taking advice from him. Listen to the Doctor, do the rehab and come back when the doctors say it’s OK.
Chess
June 9th, 2011
11:28 am
Chipper = They call me Mr. Glass…….
JLC
June 9th, 2011
11:29 am
Heyward is quickly turning into the next Cliff Floyd. Loads of potential, but only to give you flashes of it.
Johnny
June 9th, 2011
11:29 am
An injured thumb or shoulder doesn’t make you swing at pitches that are in the dirt!
Bootsie
June 9th, 2011
11:31 am
The question is when is Jones going to stop being the team’s medical doctor and psychiatrist, the hitting coach and the batting coach, in addition to trying to take Freddie Gonzalez’ place as he did with Bobby Cox. I wish Jones would either keep his mouth shut or ride off into the sunset as Cox did.
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?
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.
heartofdarkness
June 9th, 2011
3:56 pm
That a clubhouse leader is calling for a hitter, who while injured, was hitting .214, says a lot about the Braves organization’s ability to develop outfield talent in its system. Unfortunately, the club’s desperation is all too apparent to the rest of MLB.
rlinaug
June 9th, 2011
3:57 pm
you idiots who are calling on chipper to retire are fools. He ranks 25 in RBIs this season, at 39. He’s still great. And cause he’s played with a sore toe, a torn miniscus and all other ailments–and cause he’s a future hall of famer–he’s precisely the man to tell heyward to get wash the sand out of his •••••.
boog
June 9th, 2011
4:23 pm
I am in the camp of letting Heyward get completely well. He was not performing with the shoulder as it is…. period. As far as Chipper is concerned someone should lecture him about hanging on two years too long. He is a below average player making 14 mil. per year? When the Braves can dump his and Lowe’s salary maybe they can get some guys who can hit. I appreciate what Chipper has DONE IN THE PAST… but what he is DOING IN THE PRESENT is simply hamstringing our GM. Chipper has said in the past that if he could not perform he would not hold the Braves hostage but rather retire…. well… here’s your opportunity Chip… RETIRE!
bravesfanforever
June 9th, 2011
4:30 pm
I have one Question.Is Heyward really hurt or is he a goof off.He looks fine sitting on the bench and jumping around with everybody when he was in the dugout.He needs to suck it up and play.I have no problem with Chipper saying what he said.Somebdy needed too.It should have been that Good for nothing No balls Fredi Gonzalez.What waste of Human flesh.There is no fire in him at all.Rookie of the year will be Freddie Freeman and Rookie pitcher will be Johnny Venters and give the closer a little slack Kimbrell is real young and is growing into that role he will be just fine.Just take a couple of tums when he enters the game.Hey Freddie G get your head into the game show some fire hey argue a call or two show us you care.
DawgDad
June 9th, 2011
4:46 pm
Geez, the guy has a sore shoulder and he’s hitting .214. This is pretty plain evidence he needs to sit and rehab the shoulder. The REAL problem is the guy below the Mendoza line who DOES NOT have a sore shoulder.
Parkview Groupie
June 9th, 2011
5:08 pm
I <3 Sonny Clusters.
xoxoxo
Bobby Bobby
June 9th, 2011
5:14 pm
Shut up Larry. Go home.
jerry
June 9th, 2011
5:23 pm
I would like to see him say that he is fine and pain free just to see if he is really any good.
1eyedJack
June 9th, 2011
5:27 pm
Maybe Chipper should have done the Jedi Hand Wave on Heyward.
tim
June 9th, 2011
5:48 pm
lets not tap dance around Jason Heyward is a pansy ,wuss,candy, soft or whatever else you can think off. The thing everyone is missing here is that Jason Heyward is a selfish individual. He has no concern for his teammates he is only concerned with his career. Well Jason fame is fleeting take what you can get and run with it. Only you can decide what you want your rep to be that of a gamer or someone who look like Tarzan play like Jane. Right now I and many others think Jane is tougher.
bvillebaron
June 9th, 2011
5:54 pm
Yeah Tim that’s right, Heyward was being selfish when he tried to play through a thumb injury last seasson. Some of you guys are priceless, truly priceless.
dp
June 9th, 2011
6:24 pm
Chumper are you still pissed that Hayward won’t go the Hooters in Roswell with you…..heck I thought the Braves put in your contract no more Hooters after you dropped a big old chicken on your big toe and had to miss about 10 games!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go Chumper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Timbo
June 9th, 2011
6:51 pm
I don’t always agree with what Chipper has to say, but he’s right on this one. Hell, people at my work had this discussion long before Chipper came out publicly with his opinion. The fact of the matter is that Heyward may just be one of those players that is “brittle” and can’t play hurt. I think it’s a”head” thing more than a “body” thing though. Oh and by the way. He is not injured and he was never injured. He was/is just hurt. Big difference….I’m still a fan though, and have high hopes for him.
Timbo
June 9th, 2011
6:55 pm
MLB baseball is humbling like no other team sport. I can’t help but think if Heyward was batting .350 with his sore shoulder, that the DL would not have even been a consideration. Hell, they need to put Uggla on the DL for some “mystery” injury and let him sort it out in his head.
JT
June 9th, 2011
7:06 pm
Who the heck is Jason Heyward??? See how easily we forget the forgetable?
Next one to forget is Dan Ug (whatever his name is) disappearing fast as his batting average>
Hope they sent du down to AA to learn how to bat. Not AAA he is not that good.
We deserve more than a monkey with a bat (got that from B Cox.
PMC
June 9th, 2011
7:32 pm
sigh… 90% of this is just wasted drivel.
LJ
June 9th, 2011
7:35 pm
Suck it up, JH.You’re getting the rep of a Slacker.
murphy
June 9th, 2011
7:44 pm
Reading some of the comments from so called Braves fans sadden me to thiunk I have something in common with such ignorant people. Let Heyward heal and when he comes back if he is as inept as the rest of the hitters the you may have a reason to criticize.
Notso Fast
June 9th, 2011
8:14 pm
If 80 percent of what Heyward has done is better than his backup then the Braves are in real trouble. We sometime confuse potential with production.
Disgusted
June 9th, 2011
8:22 pm
It ain’t Heyward and it ain’t Uggla – it is this sorry a$$ low rent managerial staff we have……get rid of Fredi and Parrish – and fire up these players by kicking them in the butt instead of appeasing them and covering for them….Call them out….tell them they are doing a pi$$ poor job…..embarass them in the media….and then if they don’t play, trade them!
Get Real
June 9th, 2011
8:23 pm
J.R Richards Phil. You knew that but whatever
BirdDawg24
June 9th, 2011
8:33 pm
if u people dont like the way the braves are playing > u shouldve seen them back in the 70s and 80s. aside from hank,murphy and horner not much more to tell.if u dont like how they are playing , put on some cleats and get out there.
Hit A Single
June 9th, 2011
9:01 pm
We build these players up and make them stars before they do anything to earn star status. Bobblhehead night, what a joke. Heyward should have ask them cancel it. If he was hitting .280 he wouldn’t be hurt. Slumps will cause you to hurt. I am like Chipper, he needs a good butt kick.
bob
June 9th, 2011
9:10 pm
I love it.
A guy who has averaged 125 games played over the last 7 years is commenting on JH and the DL. Is there some saying about glass houses and stones?
The same guy (who is a HOF player without any doubt) is now hitting .250.
Talk with the bat as the team needs the HOF bat as much as the JH bat.
brooks
June 9th, 2011
9:38 pm
I disagree 80% of .214 is .171. Keep him out. Doesn’t have the heart imo.
J Clay
June 9th, 2011
9:51 pm
Same ole Chipper huh? Dude has missed more time for faux injuries than anyone in the history of MLB but this year he plays injured so he gets to call out J Hey…I know I am in the minority but I will be glad when Chipper and his mouth are gone. Can anyone tell me how many tweaks he’s had over the years?
Benny
June 9th, 2011
9:55 pm
George Lombard, anyone?
Professor Moriarty
June 9th, 2011
10:58 pm
I’m with Dr. Phil: Chipper is one of the great hypochondriac’s of the modern era. Time to retire the John Wayne act.
Heyward doesn’t need Chipper to set him straight, but he does need someone to tell him — and Prado — to stop sliding headfirst. It’s a bonehead play and invitation to injury.
Freddie G
June 9th, 2011
11:08 pm
This is the clear case of the kettle calling the pot black.
Jason
June 9th, 2011
11:11 pm
Hey Chipper,
Should Dwayne Wade sit out those minutes because of the thigh bruise?
Just soliciting your expert opinion.
Jason
June 9th, 2011
11:18 pm
How the hell can anyone say Chipper is right, unless they are the buffoon like he is.
Jason
June 9th, 2011
11:28 pm
Chipper has not been productive for the last three years, and is hanging on because of the money. His production over the past three seasons does not warrant $14 million or 17.5% of the payroll. The Braves could have upgraded the offense by signing two free agents and would have gotten more productiion at third base and centerfield.
reckingball
June 10th, 2011
1:49 am
I don’t know what percent of Heyward, the Braves had before he went on the DL, but if it was 80%, then it was not enough.He was doing anything with his bat.
His “presence” in the lineup doen’t mean much, if he can’t produce at the plate.
Let the kid heal up, come back at 100%, and be able to help the offense score some darn runs.
Harald
June 10th, 2011
3:44 am
Some of you really have no clue and some of you do. Just typing behind your walls of protection. I bet hardly none of you would have the balls to stand up to them and say it to their face. Eventually Chipper will have to have another knee surgery, but hopefully not as bad. I think that is only inevitable. He’s pretty much on his last year or so in the sport and off he’ll ride into the sunset after a long and successful career as a professional baseball player. Heyward is just starting his “career” folks, I think he should do what the doctor tells him to do, but also do what’s most comfortable to him. Yes, I do feel he needs to tough it out though. There is nothing structurally wrong with him, he’s just got a little pain. Like chipper is saying, there are plenty of athletes who play with pain and that’s something that Heyward will have to learn to do.
Harald
June 10th, 2011
4:06 am
Oh, and another thing… some of you are typing just to be typing. You follow a team when they are in first place, not because you care much about the sport but because they are in first place, like my roomate. He is kinda clueless when it comes to sports, but he tends to root for teams because of their first place status. I mean he claims that the Yankees of all teams is his favorite team! Only because of their fame, nothing more.. Why even waste your time? To some of “us” who actually have meaningful memories playing the sport. I mean Baseball is that one sport that I played for 11 years of my life, so it was all I really loved growing up. I’m sure there are plenty of others who can relate… Well, following a team and being a fan means so much more to us than others. Because the sport is a part of our lives and our lives would truthfully be incomplete without it.
You sit there and mock the sport that we love. You sit there and mock our team? How dare you… For you lifetime fans out there. Go you! Go you for picking a team and sticking with it through thick and thin. Go you for picking the Atlanta Braves as your team. By the way in case you all didn’t know, the Braves currently have the highest ERA in baseball! And I don’t know about you, but the last time I checked. The pitcher is actually the most important position in baseball and the catcher is the 2nd most important, in my opinion of course. And a lot of the other positions are tied. Of course I was a catcher, but I mean the most action occurs with the throw from the pitcher to the catcher. Am I wrong? And to have the highest ERA in the sport means a tremendous amount. I know for a fact that we will go to the playoffs again this year. Maybe we’ll win the World Series maybe we won’t. Eventually the Braves will win the World Series again and I can really smell it. Now can we all just get along???
Buzz ME
June 10th, 2011
4:50 am
chipper is right. Heyward is a sissy-ass
bob horner's third nipple
June 10th, 2011
6:19 am
baseball players are faril and i can’t use the real word that goes with being a female cat. meow. play hockey, it’s a mans sport. these guys are..meow’s.
Matt
June 10th, 2011
6:32 am
Hey steve brown above, dude really u think chipper doesnt have thr ight to call him out like that, for goodness sakes chipper busted his balls this past winter and every spring training day to come back from his 2nd acl tear, and he succeeded. He may be hitting bad right now, but even playing right now with a tear in one of his knees, chipper has missed maybe 5 games this whole year and some were due to days off scheculed. Heyward does need to take his time coming back so he doesnt injury anything more serious, but chipper was only stating the obvious that heyward in the lineup adds another weapon that pitchers have to remember about either by him getting on base with a walk, or hanging a curveball/slider because chipper or mccann are on deck and the pitcher is worried about facing them….. Chipper has had a very injury plauged carreer that is after the braves screwed him up/over when they moved him to the outfield for that one season, after that is when all of his injuries started they wore him down by playing him out there, and if their not careful the same thing is going to happen to prado!!!!
RA
June 10th, 2011
6:36 am
I’m glad Chipper called him out. This team needs veteran leadership and this is the closest that I’ve seen to that in quite some time.
No fan of Larry Wayne
June 10th, 2011
7:14 am
Well Larry Wayne is at it again,(refuse to call him Chipper) it appears that old Larry thinks he is running the show in Atlanta.How many times has he been out with sore knees,sore this and that? shut up Larry Wayne you are a player and nothing else.
Escaped from Email Purgatory
June 10th, 2011
8:27 am
Schultz,
Where is any mention in your blog about the irony of Chipper Jones, of all people, preaching the gospel of playing with pain? Somebody else playing, that is – with their pain, he means to say.
How can you leave that responsibility to mouth breathers such as myself (and about a third of the posters to this blog)?
Larry C is plumbing new depths in chutzpah – one of his friends can explain what that means to him. Hey Schultz, you’re his pal. You can tell him.
His response to his detractors in your blog a few months ago was ballsy (i.e. Suck on it. I make more money than you and you’re losers who live in your parents’ basement).
But for a guy [Chipper] with an undeniable history of excusing himself from work for maladies small and smaller, to publicly lecture a teammate on toughness displays breathtaking gall.
The correctness of Chipper’s statements about Heyward aren’t the point here. This is truly a case where you embrace the message and discredit the messenger. Never has it been more deserved.
Of all the nerve. Chipper’s the kind of guy who invites himself over for dinner at your house then criticizes the choice of soda pop – “I only drink Pepsi products.” Chipper would bum a ride to work from you, stiff you on gas money and then tell you your car smells funny.
Heck, the new worldwide paradigm for gall should be whatever Chipper does. He’s a natural.
D man
June 10th, 2011
9:09 am
Braves looked good the last three games. Got hits when they needed them and swept the fish.
schmeckdawg
June 10th, 2011
9:30 am
Paging Dr. Larry Wayne Jones…….Paging Dr. Larry Wayne Jones!
schmeckdawg
June 10th, 2011
9:32 am
@ D man
I know winning is the bottom line. That’s all there is to it; however, they have got to start hitting. This 1, 2, 3 runs a game is getting ridiculous! I mean the winning can’t last if this continues.
Pete
June 10th, 2011
9:48 am
Chipper saying that anyone should play hurt is a complete joke…big a$$ case of – pot meet kettle
steve brown
June 10th, 2011
9:50 am
Matt, look at Chippers last 6 years and the number of games he has missed. This is one subject he needs to shut his mouth on.
steve brown
June 10th, 2011
9:54 am
A broken down country “gone huntin” boy needs to let the one brother on the team be.
Bogey
June 10th, 2011
9:56 am
When he gets back in there he should be heavily fined every time he slides head first. Too valuable to risk injury like that. You can be aggressive sliding feet first.
jr
June 10th, 2011
9:57 am
if jason were white u guys would not be talkeing bad about him i love the braves iam from atlanta the truth is we havent won a world series since 1995 the braves just dont keep black players around when we had david and fred and the other good black players we wouldve won more world series but john didnt wont many blacks on the team i lik echipper but the truth is he is washed up now i will enjoy jason while he is still here but the braves dont care for black players u so call fans are fake and wont come out and say it but most of u just dont like great black players
jr
June 10th, 2011
10:01 am
i wish chipper will just go away chipper is washed up we need more hitters on the team all we talk about is the great pichers we have in the farm system but we need a top young 3rd base after chipper leaves i hope this is his last year
briz
June 10th, 2011
1:12 pm
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To jr
June 10th, 2011
1:13 pm
Chipper made his comments in response to something Heyward said about not playing in pain… relax. I like the fact that he is reminding the team that pain is something you sometimes have to play with… you’re never 100%.
catlady
June 10th, 2011
1:28 pm
On the “farm” team will he have to lift some hay bales, slop some hogs, dig out some manure? It might help him a little, even if it is only perspective. Chipper should be the last one to talk, however. Maybe Bob “Oh, I broke a nail” Horner could give him advice? The kid should be at his prime.
Morgan County
June 10th, 2011
3:46 pm
If jason would of kept on playing hurt, people would giving him the Ugla jokes too. Jason and Ugla both are great players.
Paddy O
June 10th, 2011
9:06 pm
So, how do you folks like your new leftfielder now that the honeymoon is over? The old LF is playing fairly well – hitting over 270, 40 RBI and 9 HR – should pass the 200 double plateau & reach 125 HR’s. Maybe those folks pushing those hi tech stats don’t know squat about heart.
Paddy O
June 10th, 2011
9:07 pm
yeah, jr – noble sentiments.
Paddy O
June 10th, 2011
9:11 pm
whoops, make the RF – sorry, folks. Also, currently Fredi’s old team is ahead of the new team – and the Braves have decent pitching, a decent bull pen and some underperforming players. Maybe Fredi is NOT good a motivating his players.
jr
June 11th, 2011
9:55 am
thanks paddy o also i think freddi freeman should win a gold glove even as a rookie with all them great arms we have in the farm i still feel we need to add speed i hope jordan keeps getting better and better at the top of the order i dont care how u get on base just do it
jr
June 11th, 2011
10:22 am
This is jason second yr yes i agree its to early for him being hurt but this guy is no bust some of u fans are a joke if this game was so easy to play we would have no fans but every player thats in the bigs is special when u are getting paid to play a game i love basball but u some of u fans are just takeing sides because u liike chipper over jason because chipper is white yes chipper will be in the hall one day but its a way to do things instead of letting this get out to the media if u are a black ball player to make in the majors u just cant be average u have to be great
01HAWK
June 11th, 2011
12:22 pm
How can CHIPPER call anyone out on an injury. Chipper is playing with his injuries this year so that he can play at least 135 games as a requirement for another 14 MILLION for next year to kick in. This is in his contract people.
CHIPPER……………………………….SHUT UP ALREADY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jr
June 11th, 2011
2:02 pm
great comment 01hawk
Paddy O
June 11th, 2011
11:29 pm
I would think shafer has a chance, if he mimic Johnny Damon, with hopefully a bit better arm. The Braves should be fairly good. But, none of us really know what Fredi G will do, or if he really is a good manager. At this point, Heyward is looking a bit fragile. He BA makes you nervous, but the Braves need to get back out there. No way Wren could anticipate Uggla hitting like Lemke at the end of his career. Hopefully we turn it around after the all star break.
scottbravesfan
June 12th, 2011
12:27 am
Everyone is thinking this. Keith Law of ESPN said the same thing. He has got to stay on the field. The guy has been hurt every year that he has been a professional. And if anyone is ripping on Chipper, the guy is currently playing on two knees super glued together.
LARRY JONES NEEDS 2 PRACTICE WHAT HE PREACH
June 13th, 2011
8:31 am
LARRY CHIPPER JONES YOU CANT STAY HEALTHY FOR A WHOLE SEASON,AT LEAST HEYWARD WAS PLAYING IN THE PLAYOFFS!
REDNECK CHIPPER CALLS OUT THE BLACK PLAYER,BUT YULL NEVER HEAR THE UNDERCOVER RACIST CALL OUT WHITE PLAYERS!
LONG LIVE THE CURSE OF DAVID JUSTICE!
chief pitchanono
June 13th, 2011
2:15 pm
I think the numbers say it all. Players do have to play banged up, but if you can’t produce because of the injury, then its time to come out. I believe thats what Jason has done. His numbers were beyond terrible before the injury and I could not see any benefit in haveing him in the lineup. If he was hitting well while all this was going on, then I might think that he should have came on back once his DL time was up, but that is not the case at all. Let him get to a point where he is comfortable and then hopefully he gets his swing back. Plus he’s a young guy, and the Braves need him close to 100% to be able to evaluate him as a player for the future. At this point in his career we still don’t know. We’ve seen flashes of pure greatness, and times when he looks just lost or completley uncapable of hitting anything but weak grounders to the right side. We have also seen allot of time on the DL. So being patient and getting him truly healthy is in everyone’s best interest. Go Braves!!!
Bob
June 13th, 2011
6:43 pm
Jeyward should suck it up and play. He isn’t hurt anywhere, except for maybe his pride at not performing as he should. Grow up. Childhood is now over. Start producing or look for another job somewhere, which certainly will not be as much a cushion as you now have. As a by-thought. Hanson should get rid of the long, silly looking beard. Maybe it would put him back in balance and not look like some throw back to the ice-age. I am a long time Braves fan, but come on. Man-up.