Heyward still determined to make impact on Braves’ season
It has been a frustrating season for Jason Heyward, but he still has time to make an impact for the Braves. (AP photo)
(UPDATED: 2 a.m.)
Last season, Jason Heyward gave us no reason to wonder. He gave us only … wonder.
First at-bat: a three-run homer. First season: voted an All-Star starter. He finished with the second-most homers and RBIs on the Braves’ roster. He was the runner-up in the official National League rookie of the year voting by the media (the players voted him first in their award by Sporting News).
A corner outfielder with skill and power. A native of Atlanta. A product of the organization. Manna from marketing heaven. Somebody check — is there a lightning bolt burned into his bat?
But there’s something different about Heyward this year, and it’s the reason the Braves are looking for offensive help in the trade market. Make no mistake: Notwithstanding Chipper Jones’ extended string of ailments, Dan Uggla’s early struggles, and anything else that you might want to consider, the biggest reason the Braves are looking for another bat is Heyward’s second-year struggles.
Whether Uggla bounced back or not – and a 17-game hitting streak certainly suggests he has found his swing – he was going to start at second base. The team needs more production in the outfield. The talk of trading for Carlos Beltran, Hunter Pence or the like is about making up for some of the punch that has been lost by the young right fielder.
We should start with this: There is zero reason to question Heyward’s potential greatness. Those who suggest Heyward is hopelessly flawed and should be traded by the Braves — it’s astounding how many of those emails I’ve received — are being premature, nonsensical, shortsighted, knee-jerk and just plain dumb. They are the ramblings of frustrated fantasy-league players.
Heyward came through in the clutch Tuesday night against Pittsburgh, stroking a two-out, two-run single in the third inning to tie the game 3-3. His first three at-bats also included a walk and an infield single. (He finished the night going 2-for-7, but maybe he just dozed off like almost everybody else in the Braves’ 19-inning, 4-3 win over the Pirates.)
“We forget he’s 21 years old,” Brian McCann said earlier of Heyward. “The bottom line is, when you’re injured and you go on the [disabled list] and you change your mechanics, it’s going to take time to find your swing again. But he’ll be fine.”
It is taking Heyward more time than he would like. This is a first for him. He has dealt with injuries before – oblique, back, groin, foot. But nothing has messed with the mechanics of his swing like the shoulder injury he had this season, not even the thumb problems of last year.
Heyward is hitting only .222. Three weeks ago, he went 3-for-4 with a home run and a double in the series finale against Colorado, and the thought occurred that it might be a turning point. But in the next 12 games, he went 7-for-44 (.159). These numbers are anemic relative to his rookie season: .277, 18 homers, 72 RBIs, .306 with runners in scoring position.
Heyward says his shoulder is fine. He attributes the problems to “bad habits” he got into when he hurt the shoulder and before he went on the disabled list for 3½ weeks in late May.
The upside to all of this is that he still has more than two months, plus a potential postseason, to make an impact. The question is to what extent the Braves are rolling the dice on a player who entered Tuesday hitting .182 since the All-Star break and for the season is at .231 with runners in scoring position and .224 with men on.
He put it an unusual way, saying, “You have to enjoy a struggle. I’m re-learning what I need to do to be successful at this level.
Physically, he says he needs to get his hands back into his swing, stop letting his arms do all the work. But the process has been frustrating.
“It’s a mental thing,” he said. “If you don’t have a feel and you can’t trust your approach or your abilities or whatever separates you from the next person, it makes it difficult. You can’t be anywhere near as productive as you want to be or the team needs you to be.”
Five days before the trade deadline, Heyward realized earlier Tuesday he wasn’t where the Braves need him to be. It certainly doesn’t make last season an aberration. It just makes us wonder about the rest of this one.
By Jeff Schultz
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1,162 comments Add your comment
Jeff Schultz
July 26th, 2011
7:31 pm
Matt: Minor for Beltran. Yes, it’s that simple.
Jeff Schultz
July 26th, 2011
7:32 pm
Dennis Reynolds — I like Schafer a lot, yes. I think it would be a mistake for Braves to give up on him.
Jeff Schultz
July 26th, 2011
7:33 pm
Steve — Yeah, heard about the weather in Cincinnati. They were talking about it on radio.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 26th, 2011
7:33 pm
You get the Heyward emails because of th eway Braves fans seemingly helped run Frenchie out of town. So they the pro Frenchie fans are returning in kind the Anti-Heyward approach. It aint right but I can invision the loonies doing it.
Jeff Schultz
July 26th, 2011
7:33 pm
McLouth on third with none out . . . wasted.
G
July 26th, 2011
7:33 pm
Man this team is so clutch, guy at third, no out and a foul out and strike out… We should defiantly keep Mike Minor, he can help with this.
K-Baby
July 26th, 2011
7:34 pm
Left stranded on 3rd with now outs again. Can’t these guys even produce a ground ball to get the run in?
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 26th, 2011
7:34 pm
What is wrong with Chipper this time? Homer last night figured he might need to rest tonight or people might start expecting him to truly earn his money?
bravos007
July 26th, 2011
7:34 pm
the world is ending. their heads are so screwed up now. it’s april/may all over again. typical braves team. they make you get excited then crash and burn after the break.
Matt
July 26th, 2011
7:34 pm
Jeff: Completely agree. Any way that the Braves can get rid of Minor for a bat, no matter how long he stays with Atlanta. I’m not big on Minor, but I say hold onto the other three, obviously. Any other pressing needs, such as a reliever? If yes, who?
G
July 26th, 2011
7:35 pm
My prediction is Wren doesn’t pull the trigger and gets some guy like Greg Norton and then talks about the future and great we will be in the future and how are future is bright….
Jeff Schultz
July 26th, 2011
7:35 pm
I’m looking over at Frank Wren from my pressbox seat. He’s not on the phone. There’s your trade update.
the barves
July 26th, 2011
7:35 pm
Jeff, I’m listening on the radio, is the crowd as dismal as it sounds?
Or are they just horribly dejected already.
If you don’t follow baseball closely you wouldn’t think that the pirates would be a good team to see. Not a huge draw.
And the phils keep scoring. good lord.
Dennis Reynolds
July 26th, 2011
7:35 pm
Jeff, why? Have you ever looked at his numbers from the minors? Only good years he had were the ones he was busted for HGH. After that he’s done nothing.
Bourn is the answer.
Dennis Reynolds
July 26th, 2011
7:36 pm
Haha. Thanks, Jeff.
Jeff Schultz
July 26th, 2011
7:36 pm
Bye bye . . .
Dennis Reynolds
July 26th, 2011
7:37 pm
Is this happening?
Saint Dawg>>>
July 26th, 2011
7:37 pm
“”What DaHell Is Going On Here”" Have our starters taken extended vacation since the Allstar Break GEZZZ!!!
the barves
July 26th, 2011
7:37 pm
Hanson is pitching very poorly tonight. Bad stuff.
Hope nothing is wrong with that shoulder.
Mister Frisky
July 26th, 2011
7:37 pm
To think us Brave fans a week ago thought this team could contend with the Phillies is laughable.
K-Baby
July 26th, 2011
7:38 pm
Hanson serves up another home run that you can hear all the way to Snellville.
Dennis Reynolds
July 26th, 2011
7:38 pm
Hanson threw that first fastball to Karstens with some anger on it. Still only 91. What happened to his velocity?
carlchamblee
July 26th, 2011
7:39 pm
Mr. Schultz – I’m no big Bobby Valentine fan, but he knows 10,000 percent more about baseball than you. Unless I missed him saying preseason that the Phillies were a majorly flawed team and the Braves were the divisional frontrunners. Or that Heyward having a huge year was a “given”. Or that last year’s midseason Ankiel/Farnsworth acquisition was so large in impact it sent a strong message throughout the league that the Braves were the team to beat.
Pot=Kettle
Saint Dawg>>>
July 26th, 2011
7:39 pm
TIME FOR THE YOUNG GUNS IN THE MINORS PEOPLE……Bring them up now lets see what they got..
G
July 26th, 2011
7:39 pm
Guys this is Frank Wren the same guy that signed Derek Lowe to an unmovable contract, Kawakami, Troy Galus, rushed Jason Heyward, traded Javier Vazquez, signed Scott Proctor, Adam LaRoach, Nate McClouth, let’s Chipper keep calling the shots to play 100 games and hit 250… this guy can’t build a team!!
Najeh Davenpoop
July 26th, 2011
7:40 pm
If they are going to acquire a replacement for Heyward at the trade deadline, they would be better off long term sending him to AAA than keeping him on the bench. At least that way he gets at bats, and maybe he snaps out of it in time to get a September call up and earn his job back.
the barves
July 26th, 2011
7:40 pm
They’re not really this bad Frisky, but they sure do look bad.
We can still contend, but this is going to be a battle for the WC if we can’t get some more wins.
The bad news is that it looks like we’re going to need score more then 2 runs a game to win for now on.
Not a big deal if you can score runs ever.
Columbus
July 26th, 2011
7:40 pm
Somebody’s got to go. It seems like we are stuck with Nate barring a miracle or if he would agree to go down. We have too many LH outfielders. If we are stuck with Nate then either Heyward or Jordan has to go somewhere if we get a RH outfielder. Prado is not going anywhere.
Heyward does have a swing that needs help. He hits too many weak popups and groundballs to 1st and 2nd. He does not produce runs like Schafer has been so for now he is the ODD MAN OUT IMO.
We might see Heyward traded. I would trade him and Lowe for Rasmus somehow. Yes the Cards are shopping Rasmus wanting RH starter. We can still get a RH bat but we ALL would have loved to have Rasmus within the last year and he grew up 100 miles away. I would take him over Heyward ANY day.
If we get a RH bat in the outfield that is a big name, then we have a bigger numbers issue. A serious one and somebody has to be sent down, traded or released. We have too MANY LH outfielders. Only other alternative is to get a RH shortstop but then we swap a RH bat for another. If you dont want theOF issue then I suggest a Diaz type that only plays occasionally. Still will be a numbers issue and we will NOT trade Hinske or Prado. So I say Heyward has to be traded or sent down. There is no choice. Jordan is producing and Heyward not producing and that has created this mess. No job is safe, especially a 2nd year guy. Jordan went down and it looks like it’s Heyward’s turn. His swing SUCKS right now! Trade him and Lowe for Rasmus. That would be a bonus trade and would improve the lineup now and in the future and we could still get a big name rh hiiter or a Diaz type. Money would be freed up to even sign Beltran long term or anybody else we wanted to trade for. We MIGHT see a HUGE trade or two……
Jeff Schultz
July 26th, 2011
7:41 pm
Matt — Thanks. I’m not necessarily trying to start a “dump Minor” bandwagon. But he’s probably no better than third or fourth (Teheran, Delgado, Vizcaino) among Braves’ pitching prospects, organization has depth and he’s expendable for a bat.
the barves
July 26th, 2011
7:41 pm
@carlchamblee
that doesn’t mean Valentine isn’t an idiot, though.
Dennis Reynolds
July 26th, 2011
7:42 pm
Well….at least I don’t own Hanson on my fantasy team….
Small victories.
Jeff Schultz
July 26th, 2011
7:42 pm
The Barves — Crowd is quiet. Not the worst in terms of size. Maybe 20-ish. Not sure.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 26th, 2011
7:42 pm
Hey the Braves fans who didnt want to trade Minor for Beltre deserve exactly what they are seeing tonight. No offense and Chipper sitting on the bench because he has sore legs.
Jeff Schultz
July 26th, 2011
7:43 pm
Dennis Reynolds — The HGH “bust” was suspicious to say the least. He never tested positive. Actually, never tested at all. Also has had a ton of injuries. Just saying, I like him. If you don’t, that’s dine.
Lil' Barry Bailout
July 26th, 2011
7:44 pm
What can the Braves get in trade for Chipper? Maybe a left-handed catcher’s mitt?
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 26th, 2011
7:44 pm
Beltran excuse me. Was looking at the Rangers stats.
Dennis Reynolds
July 26th, 2011
7:44 pm
If you’re going to trade Minor for a rental, why not go all in for a player like Pence who can play LF when Chipper retires? I think the hype has built up too much around Beltran. He’s good, but not worth the price. I think Frank knows that though.
mr. D
July 26th, 2011
7:44 pm
If Hanson keeps hanging his breaking ball, the Pirates will have 6 on the board shortly. Wow when they go wrong, they go wrong
Jeff Schultz
July 26th, 2011
7:44 pm
Hanson has thrown 45 pitches in 2 innings. Too many, especially in this heat/humidity.
Columbus
July 26th, 2011
7:44 pm
@Bravos, did they crash and burn last year or for about 15 years in a row?
Archangel
July 26th, 2011
7:44 pm
The braves lack motivation and excitement. They need more colour like all the other teams have.
Jeff Schultz
July 26th, 2011
7:45 pm
Leading off, it’s Dan Uggla . . . 16-game hitting streak and a .198 average as the drive to .200 continues!
Dylan
July 26th, 2011
7:45 pm
Jeff. Will you tell us when wrens on the phone? Please and thanks
Lil' Barry Bailout
July 26th, 2011
7:45 pm
WHEN Chipper retires? He retired a couple of years ago!
Dennis Reynolds
July 26th, 2011
7:46 pm
Everybody has their opinion, I guess. I just don’t see any sense in a guy with a .300 OBP leading off for a team who’s in contention.
TomahawkChoppin'
July 26th, 2011
7:46 pm
I bet heyward could have gotten the runner in from 3rd with no outs, and the infield back. Can you say two hopper to second. That’s what he does best. haha
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 26th, 2011
7:46 pm
Jeff I should not laugh at the Uggla comment as it truly is very Uggla…
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 26th, 2011
7:47 pm
make it 17!
Dennis Reynolds
July 26th, 2011
7:47 pm
Is it just me, or did last years team have more life? This team looks like they’re just going thru the motions.
Another hit for Uggs!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 26th, 2011
7:47 pm
Dan “Mendoza Line” Uggla. The spark plug to the Braves offense.