Why Jason Heyward might not be here on Opening Day
Regarding prospects, Frank Wren has a saying: “Players will tell us when they’re ready.” Regarding Jason Heyward, Bobby Cox said over the winter: “He might be one who doesn’t have to go through the usual channels.” But even as we on the periphery seek to project the career path of the sport’s latest phenom, we cannot lose sight of one silly but sobering baseball truth:
It makes financial sense for Heyward not to start 2010 on the Opening Day roster.
Rob Neyer of ESPN.com outlines this oddity by referring to a post of Bryan Smith’s on FanGraphs. Smith likens Heyward to Evan Longoria, and it’s an apt comparison: Longoria was the No. 1 prospect of 2008, just as Heyward is the top of the class of 2010. Writes Smith:
Longoria famously waited two weeks for a call-up at the start of the 2008 season, with Joe Maddon slotting Willy Aybar into the third baseman slot until Longoria got the call on April 12. The reason was clear: Longoria would serve only 170 service days with the Rays that season. By Major League rule, a player is a free agent after six full seasons, which are constituted by 172 service days. By waiting two weeks, the Rays bought themselves another year of controlling Longoria.
On the opposite side of the coin is the Detroit Tigers, who were so enthused by Rick Porcello’s Spring Training a year ago that they started the season with the top prospect in their rotation. Porcello would post a 6.42 FIP in April, but was consistent enough to remain with the Tigers all season. As a result, Porcello will be a free agent after the 2014 season. The Texas Rangers, who waited three weeks to call up Derek Holland (for a Longoria-like 170 service days), will have control of Holland through 2015.
There is simply no argument to be made that the marginal value gained by playing Jason Heyward over Matt Diaz for three weeks in April is worth losing Heyward’s rights for the 2016 season. Yes, calling him up on April 25 will mean that Heyward will be a “Super Two”, and thus, eligible for arbitration a year early. But arbitration contracts are still discounts over free agent ones, and I can already promise you that Heyward’s first free agent contract will be a big one. Without delving into the Heyward vs. [Stephen] Strasburg argument, the Braves should certainly take note that Nats GM Mike Rizzo has already written off his right-handed star beginning the season in Washington. If you think it’s because they want some minor league seasoning for him, you’re crazy — they just want an extra year of not dealing with Scott Boras.
About here, I hear you saying: What about ticket sales? Won’t the Braves sell more seats in April if fans know they’ll have to chance to see the team’s biggest prospect since Andruw Jones play at Turner Field? Sure they would. But they wouldn’t sell nearly enough tickets — not in April, when we’re just turning back to baseball and school is in session — to offset the down-the-road benefit of keeping Heyward off the free agent market as long as possible.
(Another consideration: The Braves play only nine of their first 22 regular-season games at home; five of the nine are midweek night games.)
In a perfect world, Jason Heyward would be starting in right field against the Cubs on April 5. He’s really all any Braves fan wants to see. (Apologies to Melky Cabrera.) And Cox keeps saying that if Heyward is among the team’s 25-best players — really, how could he not be? — he’ll be on the 25-man roster when the club breaks camp.
But baseball, as Joe Garagiola noted a while back, is a funny game. Anyone who thinks the Braves — like every club except the Yankees and Red Sox — aren’t looking to save money on player contracts hasn’t been paying attention.
Jason Heyward is really good. But Tommy Hanson was really good a year ago, and he didn’t get the big-league call until June. Yes, Heyward is on an even faster track, but if he manages to outpace the service-time consideration he won’t just be the sport’s No. 1 prospect — he’ll be the world’s fastest human.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
255 comments Add your comment
F-105 Thunderchief
March 5th, 2010
10:44 am
Well?
Mark Bradley
March 5th, 2010
10:45 am
Kudos, F-105. Sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner.
NC Dawg
March 5th, 2010
10:48 am
Not first, but up there.
F-105 Thunderchief
March 5th, 2010
10:48 am
Money doesn’t really talk. IT SCREAMS! So, yeah, wouldn’t shock me at all to see him in Gwinnett for awhile. What does that team draw if he’s there? Interesting.
Ted M
March 5th, 2010
10:48 am
so what is the earliest date we can have him and save an extra year?
Brian from SC
March 5th, 2010
10:49 am
Tough call for Braves brass. I think he will be on the opening day roster, although I’m sure it will give Frank Wren angst. It’s hard to stop the tidal wave of hype that has started with Heyward. Two weeks in 2010 or 5-10 million dollars in 2016?
Mark C.
March 5th, 2010
10:49 am
So we trade 60 ABs of 20 year old Heyward for 600 ABs of 26 year old Heyward? Seems like a no brainer. Completely unfair to Heyward, but thems the rules.
JL Burke
March 5th, 2010
10:50 am
Mark,
What you’re saying makes sense, but if Heyward has no real shot of starting the year in Atlanta due to long-term considerations, why does Cox keep saying he’ll be here if he’s one of the top 25 players? Is there that big of a disconnet between Cox and Wren?
GaDawg
March 5th, 2010
10:51 am
Opening day in RF. End of discussion
falcondawg
March 5th, 2010
10:51 am
Come on Braves dont make us wait!! We are tired of waiting!!!
Brock
March 5th, 2010
10:52 am
so how does the song go… “baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and politics?” Why can’t we just let the best 9 guys play and be done with it?
Brian from SC
March 5th, 2010
10:52 am
Ted M, by my calculations, it would be April 15th. He would miss 8 games. Sure doesn’t seem like a lot, does it?
AJGREENFAN
March 5th, 2010
10:52 am
Don’t make the same mistake with this kid that appears to have been made w/ Jordan Schaffer. (I am aware of the wrist injury argument)
F-105 Thunderchief
March 5th, 2010
10:52 am
I’ve gotten more firsts than Vents published lately. Oh well, I did the Find 5 challenge with 11 seconds to spare, too. It’s a good day.
Man, I hope Heyward is a big contributor this season. And, what if Freeman is tearing it up and Glaus is mediocre? Does he get a call, too?
TerdFerguson
March 5th, 2010
10:52 am
YEah c’mon
Brian from SC
March 5th, 2010
10:52 am
Make that April 16th, and 9 games missed.
Andy
March 5th, 2010
10:54 am
So we redshirt Heyward for a couple weeks? I can dig it.
Brian from SC
March 5th, 2010
10:54 am
JL Burke, Bobby has to say that. Do you think he’s gonna tell reporters: “Yeah, he’d be probably our 5th best hitter, but we want to limit his service time and delay his free agency.”
catch 22
March 5th, 2010
10:55 am
Bradley this is old news. This has been talked about for a year on DOB’s blog.
1eyedJack
March 5th, 2010
10:55 am
If he comes up at the end of April and tears the cover off the ball but the Braves wind up a game out of the wildcard should heads roll?
In Pollack We Trust
March 5th, 2010
10:56 am
David Pollack just tweeted that Wren has agreed to trade Jason Heyward fro Andy Marte. He says it’s a “done deal”.
Jose C-seco
March 5th, 2010
10:57 am
Great article Mark, I didn’t agree with you at first, thought you were crazy (as normal), but you make a great argument for waiting 3 measly weeks, and the Braves would be very smart for doing so.
JL Burke
March 5th, 2010
10:58 am
Brian from SC,
Cox doesn’t have to make a statement about it at all. He never made that kind of statement about Hanson last year.
Brian from SC
March 5th, 2010
10:59 am
When Longoria was held back for a couple weeks, it was because he hadn’t spent much time at AAA, and they wanted to see what he would do at that level. If the Braves make the same decision, expect the same. But everyone will know the real reason. And honestly, if I was in charge of a 80-90 million dollar payroll, I’d probably do the same thing.
Jesse Stone
March 5th, 2010
11:00 am
JL Burke- Last years pitching staff > this year’s outfield
Ted M
March 5th, 2010
11:00 am
thanks Brian…that’s nothing
AD
March 5th, 2010
11:00 am
And if they sign Heyward to a Brian McCann-like 6-year deal two years into his career this whole point, blog, and reason for being is moot.
Blindog
March 5th, 2010
11:01 am
All the games count,the early games we win because of Heyward may be the games that put us in the play-offs.Not playing Heyward,and missing the play-offs by a game or two, would be foolish!!
Brian from SC
March 5th, 2010
11:02 am
JL Burke, he doesn’t have to make a statement at all?
Reporter: Bobby, what do you think about Heyward’s chances of making the opening day roster?
Bobby:…
Reporter: Bobby? Can you hear me?
Bobby:….Beautiful weather today. Hope the rain holds off this weekend.
Ramblin Wrecker
March 5th, 2010
11:03 am
One thing that Rob Neyer and you failed to mention is that the Rays ended up signing Evan Longoria to a multi year deal, buying out his arbitration years and some of his free agency years. That rendered keeping Longoria down for two weeks a mute point.
So the question you have to ask is: Do the Braves intend to sign Heyward to a multi year deal before he’s into arbitration?
The Braves signed Brian McCann to a multi year deal, buying out his arbitration and early free agency years. And if you believe all the Braves say about Heyward, they will want him to be in Atlanta a long time. So they would be looking to sign him like McCann and like the Rays signed Longoria. And Heyward being a smart kid would most likely be open to signing a deal like that. He would be smart enough to know not to wait 5 years for a payday when he could have a career ending injury any day while getting the league minimum over these first three years.
ProScout
March 5th, 2010
11:03 am
Brock- that would be nice but this isn’t high school ball, it doesn’t always work that way.
Moot
March 5th, 2010
11:04 am
Moot point, not mute point.
Brian from SC
March 5th, 2010
11:04 am
AD, that’s not true at all. If they delay that free agency, it would be a 6-year deal for maybe 35 million. If they don’t delay it, it’d have to be a six-year deal for more like 50 million. And he probably would not give over that many of his free agency years.
Brian from SC
March 5th, 2010
11:06 am
Ramblin Wrecker, see my post towards AD. Delaying his free agency was the only reason the Rays COULD sign him to a six-year deal. You think Longoria would have given up a possible 18-20 million dollar salary? You think Heyward would in six years?
Ramblin Wrecker
March 5th, 2010
11:06 am
Plus if Heyward becomes a Super Two arbitration eligible player, that would bring negotiations sooner which could lead them to a multi year deal.
John Contract
March 5th, 2010
11:09 am
Man will Braves fans be peed off if that happens.
That being said you cant blame the Braves for doing it. They are just using the rules to maximum benefit.
JL Burke
March 5th, 2010
11:09 am
Brian from SC,
“Reporter: Bobby, what do you think about Heyward’s chances of making the opening day roster?
Bobby: “He’s a young guy, but he’s certainly got talent. We’ll see how it goes.”
It’s not that hard.
F-105 Thunderchief
March 5th, 2010
11:09 am
We’re all making the big assumption Heyward does in the bigs what he’s done in the minors. That’s a big risk, but he sure does seem like the real deal.
David Granger
March 5th, 2010
11:09 am
This is exactly what has been wrong with the Braves since Ted Turner sold out. Financial “considerations” have taken a much greater role in the team’s operations. Ted didn’t mind spending money on the team because it was a rich man’s hobby for him…whereas corporate ownership just judges everything by the bottom line.
There’s nothing worse for a professional sports team (any league) than to see young players develop, and then…when they reach free agent status…not be able to keep them because the team can’t afford to pay the going rate.
Let's Go
March 5th, 2010
11:11 am
Mark
If say the Braves get off to a hot start and the offense is scoring runs would the Braves then consider waiting until Jun 1st to bring Jason up like they did last year with Tommy Hanson? Then they get the extra year before arbitration.
Brian from SC
March 5th, 2010
11:13 am
Here is Longoria’s salary each year of his 6-year deal. Expect it to be a model for the Braves:
0.5, 0.55, 0.95, 2.0, 4.5, 6.0. That’s 14.5 million dollars total.
If they hadn’t delayed his free agency, it may have had to have been more like this for him to accept:
.55, .95, 3.0, 6.0, 10.0, 15.0. That’s 35.5 million dollars.
That’s a 20 million dollar savings for 9 games missed in April.
David
March 5th, 2010
11:13 am
RIDICULOUS YOU CANT WIN A SEASON IN APRIL BUT YOU CAN LOSE IT IN APRIL! FIRST THEY DONT GO OUT AND GET A GUY THAT CAN HIT 30 HOMERUNS BESIDES TROY GLAUS AND NOW THEY ARE SAYING THAT HEYWARD WONT START THE SEASON EVEN THOUGH HES GUNNA BE CLEARLY READY WHEN IT GETS HERE BECAUSE ITS WHATS BEST MONEY WISE. THAT IS PATHETIC
Justin
March 5th, 2010
11:14 am
I still think Bradley should stick with trying to cover the trade school activity without blowing his load.
Mark Bradley
March 5th, 2010
11:15 am
A full year of baseball service time is 172 days — that’s from the start of the regular season to its conclusion. (Postseason doesn’t count.) The Braves’ season starts April 5 and runs through Oct. 3. That’s 181 days. So basically Heyward would, yes, have to miss the first 10 days. (As Smith notes, Longoria was summoned on April 12 in 2008 and had 170 service days that season.)
Ramblin Wrecker
March 5th, 2010
11:16 am
Brian from SC,
The maximum the Braves could delay either Super Two status or free agency is one year. Longoria (or Heyward) could get injured at any point waiting for free agency in those 5 years just as easy as 6 years, so he made a smart decision to delay the opportunity to make $15 million in 2012 so he could guarantee he would make as much as $44 million between 2008 and 2016.
ITP Brave
March 5th, 2010
11:16 am
I think Heyward is the Braves’ best option in RF, by far. With that said, I will be shocked to see him with the big club on Opening Day.
For what it’s worth, DOB thinks there’s a pretty good chance he starts from day one. I hope the front office surprises me.
Mark Bradley
March 5th, 2010
11:17 am
That’s another consideration, Let’s Go. What if the Braves start hot and Matt Diaz and Melky Cabrera are hitting a ton? You wouldn’t want to have Jason Heyward in the majors just to sit or be part of a platoon. You’d want him playing every day somewhere, wouldn’t you?
Herschel Talker
March 5th, 2010
11:18 am
This is so obvious that it isn’t even worth a column. Anyone who thinks 3 weeks of Heyward on the front end is worth giving up a year on the back end is a fool. This is not up for discussion.
Mark Bradley
March 5th, 2010
11:19 am
With every hit Heyward gets in spring training, he makes it harder not to have him here on Day 1. That’s absolutely true.
tom
March 5th, 2010
11:20 am
Enter your comments here
All I'm Saying Is...
March 5th, 2010
11:20 am
This is a no-brainer for the General Manager who is paid to look at the big picture as compared to the Manager who is paid to win games today, tomorrow and the next day. Heyward goes to Gwinnett for two weeks at least and the Braves have additional financial flexibility. Plus this move would take pressure off the kid to perform on day one—anyone recall what happened with Jordan Schafer? He started hot, got injured, and then pushed himself instead of honestly sharing how hurt he was. Braves good enough to at least go .500 in his absence and with 162 game season, plenty of time to be in the playoff hunt.
LET’S GO BRAVES!
Blue
March 5th, 2010
11:22 am
Herschel; well said. David; QUIT YELLING, DUDE!!
Brian from SC
March 5th, 2010
11:23 am
Ramblin Wrecker, the biggest thing about your point of view is that you’re depending on Heyward to make that decision. That’s what this is all about…control. The Braves want to be the ones to make the decision whether or not he’s a Brave in 2016. Precedent has shown that players tend to lean towards making the big bucks. You’re living dangerously if your banking on Heyward playing for a discount. And in exchange for 9 games in April? I’d hate to be the one making this decision.
NORRIS
March 5th, 2010
11:24 am
The Braves are on TV nightly. Most teams are not and dont have that addition to their budget. The Braves are owned by a company, Yes but there is no reason that we shouldnt have the money to pay the kid to start opening day.
I dont get it…
tom
March 5th, 2010
11:24 am
Hey Brad…..what about the Fans….Level of Interest…..Excitement…..is this the same Wren who TOLD us on Radio and TV in 09′ that Medlin was better prepared to come up before Hansen?? Lets see, is 2014,15,16 right around the corner or are we going to play some ball between now and then??
Mark Bradley
March 5th, 2010
11:24 am
Actually, Norris, most teams are on TV every night. That’s cable for you.
BravesFaninTN
March 5th, 2010
11:25 am
The indeptness of the the Braves owners continues to shine!
NORRIS
March 5th, 2010
11:26 am
I suppose you are right Mark with the addition of MLB network and MLB baseball packages.
matt r
March 5th, 2010
11:26 am
MLB just needs to close this two week loophole and make 3/5 of a season count as a season, or something like that. Under the current rules it makes sense to keep him away for those 10 days.
Mark Bradley
March 5th, 2010
11:26 am
Tom, I’m with you on that. The only reason to be really excited about the 2010 club is Jason Heyward.
I don’t envy Frank Wren. This is a tough call.
Brian from SC
March 5th, 2010
11:27 am
If Heyward starts in AAA and the Braves’ offense is clicking in April and May, it would be very hard to think of a reason to bring him up before June 1st. That’s just common financial sense.
Steven
March 5th, 2010
11:28 am
Sorry MB..but I’ll go to Turner Field to see Mccann, Esobar, JJ, Hanson, Hudson, and Chipper too. Its not just about the new kid.
shmoe
March 5th, 2010
11:29 am
MB,
Good points, but I have to say I disagree with a few. I believe fans in ATL will come out to see Heyward. I actually think this lineup is going to be very very good, and combined with the pitching staff, easily the best Braves team in 4 years.
I also think he starts the season in the bigs. This isn’t just any year. It’s Bobby’s last year, and they will need to squeeze out every possible win they can in the season’s first two months to send him out a winner. Unless Heyward tanks over the next few weeks, or gets hurt (gasp), he will start in MLB.
matt r
March 5th, 2010
11:31 am
You people wanting him here on opening day are missing a key point here. The most valuable commodity in baseball is the pre-free-agency MLB-capable player. These are the building blocks of all teams that do not have unlimited salaries like the Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, etc. We have to hold onto players in this window absolutely as long as possible.
Brian from SC
March 5th, 2010
11:31 am
Worst case scenario: Heyward starts on the MLB roster, but the Braves start 2-7. Ouch…
Don
March 5th, 2010
11:32 am
I can see why we would do that (start Heyward in the minors). We really have such good outfielders already (heavy sarcasm).
Cecil34
March 5th, 2010
11:38 am
Since every decision concerning personnel for the Braves is strictly about the $$$, expect Hayward at AAA Gwinnett on opening day.
I reckon I will go there to see him.
Ramblin Wrecker
March 5th, 2010
11:38 am
Brian from SC,
You’re overlooking the fact that lots of GREAT players make the decision to buy out arbitration/free agency years.
Longoria, Lincecum, McCann, Verlander, Felix Hernandez, Chase Utley…need I go on?
Joe Mauer is considering a long term deal in Minnesota.
The fact is that for GREAT players, my scenario is more the norm than your “wait for my big pay day” scenario. Maybe a greedy kid would be more like that (uh, Jeff Francoeur), but a smart kid like Heyward is going to make a smart business decision to get some millions guaranteed now, before he risks his career and gets nothing.
Cecil34
March 5th, 2010
11:39 am
Correction: Heyward…
jeffrey d
March 5th, 2010
11:39 am
Theoretically, if Heyward was on the opening day roster and the Braves stunk it up all season and are out of the race, could they send him back down for 10 days to bump his service time down?
Omar
March 5th, 2010
11:40 am
But this is Bobby Cox’s last year, how much does that factor in DOB?
Boneyard Randy
March 5th, 2010
11:40 am
You have to send him to the minors for the first few weeks. If you have any sense that is what you do. If they keep him on the opening day roster I wonder about the Braves management. Every fan will understand and those that don’t, well, too bad. Just have a “Jason Heyward” call-up promotional game the day he comes up and promote the hell out of Tommy Hanson, “McCann’s Cans” and Bobby Cox’s final year in the meantime. I’m a big fan of the “Chipper Jones” injury night too, where everyone gets a toy doll of Chip that shows every injury he’s had over his career.
Ramblin Wrecker
March 5th, 2010
11:41 am
Some other names who bought out arb years, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier…
Ramblin Wrecker
March 5th, 2010
11:42 am
more names…Ryan Braun, David Wright…
matt r
March 5th, 2010
11:43 am
jeff d: That is less likely, because then they can’t play the “he needs some seasoning” card, that is they are trying to fool us a little.
RW: Do you want to take a chance on a 20-year-old making a smart decision? Why take a chance one way or the other?
Ramblin Wrecker
March 5th, 2010
11:43 am
more names…Hanley Ramirez, Josh Johnson…
Ramblin Wrecker
March 5th, 2010
11:44 am
Brian from SC,
Cots Baseball Contracts. You should check it out and see for yourself.
http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/
What the fudge
March 5th, 2010
11:45 am
Mark – “It makes financial sense for Heyward not to start 2010 on the Opening Day roster”
.Yeah and Dean Smith needs to retire.
jeffrey d
March 5th, 2010
11:45 am
jeff d: That is less likely, because then they can’t play the “he needs some seasoning” card, that is they are trying to fool us a little.
Oh I know it would go over horribly with the fans, but theoretically…could it happen?
Jason
March 5th, 2010
11:46 am
Why do we play the game? To win. How do we win? We put the best players available on the field.
If Heyward is one of the best players, NOT playing him sends the absolute wrong message to the fan base. Recent Example: The extra five or six starts that Hanson could have gotten last year might have made the second half of the season a lot more exciting.
Plus, we’re talking about what might happen six years from now. We can see from failures like Jeff Francoeur that there is no guarantee that anyone will be here, or worthy of a huge contract, in six years time.
Moreover, how can we be sure that today’s ownership will even be here in six years? It’s entirely possible that a new group (or person) comes in and takes control of the team and has the cash to keep our good players.
Play Heyward now, if he’s ready. The economics of what happens six years from now is unknowable and therefore meaningless.
Ramblin Wrecker
March 5th, 2010
11:46 am
The more I research about the best young players and whether they bought out arbitration years, the more convinced I am that this whole discussion about holding Heyward down two weeks or two months is pretty stupid and a waste of time.
He’s going to be very good and he’s going to sign a multi year deal two years from now and it will be a moo point (like a cow’s opinion, nobody cares).
Ramblin Wrecker
March 5th, 2010
11:49 am
Jason is absolutely right. Hanson went 11-4 last year. If he had been starting all along the Braves could have won 6 or 7 more games if he had started 13 more games. That’s the division or wild card right there. Heyward might not have as direct an impact on wins and losses as Hanson could, but why piddle around with backup and platoon players when you can have Jason Heyward in RF? Just a moronic argument in my opinion.
Brian from SC
March 5th, 2010
11:49 am
Ramblin, we are not talking about buying out arbitration years. The Braves will most certainly do that. What I am saying is that if the Braves do not delay his free agency, the deal you are wanting them to make will have to be much more expensive.
And yes, I am quite aware of Cot’s. It’s has been a bookmark for me for almost two years.
Ramblin Wrecker
March 5th, 2010
11:53 am
And another thing…CNNSI had a great column about the BA top 10 prospects and how they don’t pan out a lot. But more specifically that pitching prospects are much more likely to flop than hitters, significantly more likely. So it does make since to be cautious with a pitcher like Tommy Hanson, because you want to be paying him after he’s proven himself more successful than you would worry about a hitter. Heyward is much more likely to pan out than Hanson. And it’s ok to take a less money conscious approach to his promotion.
Brian from SC
March 5th, 2010
11:54 am
Ramblin, two thing:
Hanson was only worth about 2.5 wins all last year according to fangraphs (and 2.5 is fantastic). So there’s no way he would be worth anywhere close to 6 or 7 more wins over the two months you’re talking about. 2 additional wins is a stretch.
And with Heyward, we’re talking about his impact in 9 games. How much impact can any one player have over 9 games?
Scoots
March 5th, 2010
11:54 am
Mark – informative piece. Might this being Bobby’s last year play into the considerations, i.e. they would want Bobby to be able to field the best team possible for the first 2-3 weeks of the season? After all, I know everyone wants to see him go out on top, and while the season is certainly not won during the first month of play, it can certainly set the course.
What are your thoughts Mark?
I think for the Braves to have any chance at taking down the Phillies, they’ve got to have their 100% best roster possible all year – and that will probably mean Heyward in the lineup.
Ramblin Wrecker
March 5th, 2010
11:55 am
Brian from SC,
Go look at these contracts. Most of them DO but out the first one or two years of free agency, either guaranteed or with player/club options.
Skeezix
March 5th, 2010
11:55 am
Holy smokes—can’t we wait until he actually does something before we start talking about him as a great MLB player? When he is brought up he may struggle a little at first (which is normal), so we fans need to be ready for that. I don’t think the Braves managed Frenchy’s situation well and now in 2010 Frenchy is poised for a break out year; but for the Mutts. I want to see him play as much as anyone, but see no need to rush things. If a few weeks of seasoning in AAA will help prepare him and it also lenthens the time the Braves will have control, that’s the right decision for both the player and the Braves.
Ramblin Wrecker
March 5th, 2010
11:55 am
meant to say “buy out” not “but out”
lefty fielder
March 5th, 2010
11:56 am
MB
I think you missed a perfectly great opportunity to insert a picture of EVA Longoria.
Scoots
March 5th, 2010
11:56 am
The Nats are playing for the future, whereas the Braves have a realistic chance to be in the playoffs this year. That makes a big difference between the handling of Strasburg vs. Heyward, does in not?
Daniel #12
March 5th, 2010
11:58 am
I am assuming that post season time doesn;t count toward the 172 serviice days. Otherwise, if they hope to make the playoffs, they need to wait a while longer to stay under 172. But doesn’t that decrease thier chances of making the playoffs? Yep and there is the bite.
Brian from SC
March 5th, 2010
11:59 am
Yes, and they are making upwards of 15-16 million dollars in those free agent years. Don’t you think the Braves would rather pay 10 million dollars to Heyward in 2016 than 15 million? The Braves may need that 5 million dollars to get a closer or a power hitter. Is it worth 9 games in April in 2010?
todd grantham
March 5th, 2010
12:01 pm
Do you “sacrifice” the month of April (ticket sales, hopefully run production and a not so subliminal message to the fans that saving money is more important than putting the best 9 on the field) plus probably earning Heyward’s enmity when he does have some leverage?
Too many minuses not to start him if he earns it.
Ramo
March 5th, 2010
12:01 pm
Mr. Bradley will Bobby Cox have a say on this. If so I think Heyward will be there opening day.
Reid Adair
March 5th, 2010
12:02 pm
I had not really considered that, but if a couple of weeks gives another year down the road, I would understand. The fact that only nine of the first 22 games are at home is a consideration in that aspect too.
However, expecting Frank Wren to be able to do such simple math may be asking entirely too much.
todd grantham
March 5th, 2010
12:03 pm
MB, you dont think Braves’ fans can be excited about Tommy Hanson?
Some Guy
March 5th, 2010
12:06 pm
If Wren and the Braves brass are smart, they will quickly sign Heyward to a long-term deal to buy out his arb years and even some of his free agency years, similar to what Longoria and McCann received.
Brian from SC
March 5th, 2010
12:06 pm
FYI, of the 9 games Heyward would need to miss, only 3 are at home.
Andrew
March 5th, 2010
12:07 pm
And here we go, I can see it a year from now, Heyward huge bust, AJC headlines reads, “Frank Wren Brought up Heyward to soon!” Do we really think Wren is going to hold Heyward back if we really think hes ready to contribute now? What does Wren get paid for? Again, think about that last question. He can’t play 6 years in advance, hes has to play for now because he might not be around in 3 years, much less 6. If hes got a franchise type player that can contribute and also bring alot of excitement around the franchise, then Frank is going to do it in a heartbeat, its a no brainer. Do clubs try to save money and do stuff like what your suggesting, sure its done to an extent but not to purposely hold back a franchise type player back that can potentially. Whats more important to Wren right now, winning now when he hasn’t put the Braves in the playoffs yet since he took over or is it thinking 6 years in advance when Frank might not even be a here?
Ramblin Wrecker
March 5th, 2010
12:08 pm
Brian from SC,
I’m sorry but I don’t care about these statisitcs. Hanson is head and shoulders above Jo Jo Reyes or Kris Medlen. You can’t tell me he wouldn’t have made a significant difference over those two guys. Remember its not just his impact on those games, it’s also the saved innings of relivers (where Reyes and Medlen went 4 or less innings in all their games, Hanson went 6 or more in most of his starts).
You can’t boil baseball down to a complicated equation and think you know what having Tommy Hanson would mean in more games.
Benjamin
March 5th, 2010
12:09 pm
I say bring him up Opening Day and don’t look back.
Keeping Hansen down last year while we played cat-and-mouse with Tom Glavine might have been enough to keep us out of the playoffs, and he’s only able to impact the team every fifth game. If Heyward’s exponentially better than Melky on Opening Day, let’s don’t mess with it.
MiamiBrave
March 5th, 2010
12:09 pm
Let’s put it into monetary terms. The 50 at bats he misses in the majors during those two weeks will equate to approximately $10-$12 million in savings. This would be the salary difference between his last year of arbitration versus his first year of free agency. That is $200,000 per at bat. I’m sure Brian Cashman will hate to hear he’ll need to wait another year to start the bidding.
Ramblin Wrecker
March 5th, 2010
12:12 pm
And the same is true for having Jason Heyward in more games.
Think of it this way, most of you guys think there is an adjustment period once Heyward is facing major league pitchers. Then he’s going to be 2 weeks (or 2 months) behind in that adjustment, so keeping him down also minimizes his ability to impact later in the season.
If winning is paramount, and in my world it is, waiting is stupid.
What the fudge
March 5th, 2010
12:13 pm
Yeah we need to make the Yankees wait at least one more year before they get him
Brian from SC
March 5th, 2010
12:15 pm
Ramblin, the Braves went 3-5 in games started by Reyes and Medlen in April and May last year. Where’s your 6-7 game swing? A 5-game swing would have made the Braves 8-0 in Hanson’s first 8 starts of his career. How likely is that, considering the Braves were only 12-9 in games he actually did start last year?
Sonny Clusters
March 5th, 2010
12:16 pm
We was a child prodigy and played on teams with players a lot older than us. It would be a shame if this young man doesn’t get to play opening day in Atlanta just because the team was trying to save some money. They did that last year and look what we got. Still, money talks. Half price day at Dairy Queen is the biggest day of the week.
Greg in TN
March 5th, 2010
12:18 pm
Certainly good food for thought, Mark, and something I’ve been keeping in the back of my mind all offseason.
I saw Heyward play last August and he has all the tools to succeed at the MLB level and also seems to have a good head on his shoulders. It’s rare finding the athlete that has both and in most cases, it’s those athletes (the Jordans, the Jeters, the Mannings) that excel on the biggest stages of sport. Can Heyward take it to that level? Time will tell.
Wren and Company have an interesting decision ahead of them if present trends continue. Start Heyward in right field when the Cubs come to town one month from now, or have him start the season in Gwinnett to help ensure he spends the 2016 campaign in a Braves uni.
To me, having him in a Braves uniform in 2016 trumps everything else. Barring injury, he really has an upside I can’t even fathom at this point, and to jeopardize that for a few weeks this April is shortsighted. Ted Turner isn’t walking in the door anytime soon, and while Liberty isn’t applying brakes to the payroll that Time Warner did prior to the team being sold, they’ve still got a business to run and shareholders to appease. They will allow reasonable increases to payroll to keep the team competitive, but nothing over the top. Not in this economy. Unless 755 Hank Aaron drive is sold out for 81 dates and merchandise/concessions sales warrant it, this is what we have to work with for the forseeable future.
To me, it makes it even more important to be smart with player personnel decisions. If the Braves allow Heyward to break camp, it tells me they have a reasonable expectation that they can ink him to a contract prior to arbitration (similar to what was done with McCann). And with CSE being the firm that’s representing Heyward, I don’t see that as an unrealistic assumption.
It’ll be an interesting final week of spring training to be sure.
chem
March 5th, 2010
12:22 pm
Excellent “big picture” article Brad. It’s refreshing to see an article about Heyward that isn’t entirely composed of quotes from other players/ managers about how super fantastic he is. Your coworkers rarely provide insight or anything meaningful while reaching their blog quota. You can punch DOB in the face for me next time you see him.
yellarjacket
March 5th, 2010
12:24 pm
I understand if the Braves decide to wait to call up Heyward. However, you can’t win the division in April, but you can dang sure lose it. Play your best 9 guys from day one and give yourself the best chance to win the division or at least make the playoffs.
Mark Bradley
March 5th, 2010
12:25 pm
In the FanGraphs post, Smith refers to the long-term contract Longoria signed with Tampa Bay as a case study in how to do things.
dap01
March 5th, 2010
12:26 pm
Mark: It is a tough call but you are correct, let Heyward stay at AAA for the minimum amount of time.
It will keep him with us longer and it will also be a safer move. Remember Schafer, he needed more time in the minors.
Diaz can rake for a few weeks.
North Fla Braves fan
March 5th, 2010
12:33 pm
makes sense..give up 2 weeks to keep him for another year and then the bonus is not having to deal with the satan of baseball in Boras.
I say do it for the longer term results!!
VinceVanGo
March 5th, 2010
12:35 pm
I’ve been playing & following baseball for over 50 years and consider myself a baseball purist. Forget the Free Agency Rules, forget the MLB Players Union, forget Scott Boras. These and others have helped ruin our National Pastime. However I still love baseball and think this. Give a young man the starting job when he deserves it, and then pay him what he deserves when the time comes. Especially if he is a franchise player. Boston did it with Ted Williams. St. Louis did it with Stan Musial, the Yankees did it with all of their Bombers. The Braves did it with Chipper and McCann, and with Maddux, Smoltz, & Glavine in their prime. Let’s not make it all about money and saving years. Let’s make it about playing when you’ve earned it and saving what little respect is left in the game. Go Braves and young Heyward.
Greene Hornet
March 5th, 2010
12:38 pm
I completely agree VinceVanGo… As long as the Braves have the money to do it, I agree. I just hope it doesn’t hurt them in signing other good players at that time.
Base
March 5th, 2010
12:39 pm
Why doesn’t 680 broadcast the Braves preseason? Why is there no FM.
Brian from SC
March 5th, 2010
12:40 pm
VinceVanGo, I wish it could be that simple again. But it never will be. Ted Williams and Stan Musial played for $100,000 a year. And there was no such thing as a free agent…Williams either played for the Red Sox, or he didn’t play baseball at all.
JJ
March 5th, 2010
12:41 pm
Just my .02, but nine games without JH to start this week swapped for an entire season later on is a fantastic deal. It’s just the prudent thing to do. However, waiting until June like they did with Hanson is just totally absurd. The liklihood of JH’s absence having a negative impact on this club in the first nine days is probably nill. The liklihood of his absence having a negative impact over the first two months of the season is almost guaranteed.
No way I would be happy with that. (Not that it matters how I feel about it).
Brian from SC
March 5th, 2010
12:44 pm
JJ, I think the only way Heyward is in AAA any time past the first couple of weeks is if the Braves, and more particuarly Diaz/Cabrera, start off hot and there’s not a need for him. There will be no Super Two considerations with Heyward as with Hanson…to much at stake.
Hillbilly Deluxe
March 5th, 2010
12:45 pm
It’s a business and this is Liberty Media we’re talking about.
AZBravoFan
March 5th, 2010
12:46 pm
If you really think Heyward is the face of Atlanta’s future, then you’re planning on locking him up with a long term deal eventually. So the two weeks or one month of service time is irrelevant. Just go with him to start the season. If you really think there’s no way to keep Heyward from going to the Yankees when he’s a free agent, then you try to keep him here as long as possible for as cheap as possible. If that’s the organizational philosophy, then you’ve gotta send him down until June and save the service time. If Melky and Glaus are raking this spring, then I think we’ll all feel better about having Heyward start in Gwinnett.
Hillbilly Deluxe
March 5th, 2010
12:46 pm
Williams either played for the Red Sox, or he didn’t play baseball at all.
And that was wrong, even though it was legal.
McCann Fan
March 5th, 2010
12:48 pm
Nooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
J-Hey needs to be in right field at Turner Field on April 5th. He’s ready to play now. Plus, he’s from here and most likely wants to spend his entire career here. Let’s worry about the money later and let his All-Star career begin ASAP.
What if……………Tommy Hanson had been in the rotation from the start last April. I’m just sayin’
BrokeBackJacket
March 5th, 2010
12:53 pm
There is a more than valid argument either way! Excellent article Mark. IMHO the Phillies are at worst 3rd best team in baseball this season and will be very difficult to win the division even with a great first year fron Heyward…wild card maybe…considering the Braves mgt. and fiscal limitations, it would be the far wiser decision to “buy” an extra year by giving up Heyward for 10 games this year!
If he is as good as billed…and God I hope he is…I will gladly give up Heyward for 10 games, if it guarantees having him for at least one extra year when he should be in his prime!
Say Heyward in the absolute diffenence in 2 wins in the first 10 games this year….just how many wins could he be directly responsible for in a full season 6 or 7 years down the road?
Go Braves…spring training in full swing..season right around the corner….my second most time of the year…by far!
DawgDad
March 5th, 2010
1:03 pm
All I can say is Cabrera, Jones, and Glaus had better be ready to go and come out of the gate strong. A team CAN get buried in the first two weeks of the season.
My expectations for an outfield of Cabrera-McLouth-Diaz are pretty low. I’d be surprised if the Braves could break .500 this year even with the best pitching in the league.
All Heyward has to do is perform at the level of Melky Cabrera or Matt Diaz vs. RHP. So, .260 10 homers 65+ RBI is about what he needs to produce to NOT be a drag on the team’s offense. Keep that in perspective this year; anything above that is gravy. Look back at other top players and that’s about what you can reasonably expect in a rookie franchise prospect (to name just a few, Mantle, Aaron, Winfield, Griffey Jr., C. Jones). At that level, with any defensive ability at all, he’s actually an UPGRADE over Garrett Anderson.
Tailback U
March 5th, 2010
1:06 pm
Unless you are a Braves exec worried about your car you got
to start this year off with the kid.
Start of the year with a good vibe surrounding the team and
with a little luck the team will do well enough to keep the
positive buzz going. This will be important to how willing
the team is to make deals that keep them in contention.
Keith
March 5th, 2010
1:15 pm
You can lose a playoff ticket in April as well as September. If JHey can win us 1-2 games with his set of 5 tools then doesn’t Bobby and the team deserve the chance to win. I am sick of accountants running baseball.
bill_in_atl
March 5th, 2010
1:15 pm
Mark, you say that “the only reason to be really excited about the 2010 club is Jason Heyward”, but how can that even be realistically possible?
If he’s that good then it will mean that the Braves are going to score a lot of runs most likely.
Considering the Braves already have what appears to be the best pitching staff in the league wouldn’t it be likely that if Heyward is half the player we all hope he’ll be then the Braves will be in the thick of a pennant race? Sounds exciting to me.
Frankly I’m not sure how any Braves fan (or home town reporter) wouldn’t be excited to see Hanson and JJ pitch a full season together at the top of the rotation. Seems impossible to me.
Personally I’m excited to see all of the following:
1. If Hudson can return to form following the full recovery and if he can challenge Hason and Jair as the ace of the staff. I think it’s quite likely and if so the Braves become a VERY hard out in an October series, especially with Lowe and KK to choose from as our 4th option.
2. How Prado will do playing a full season at 2B. What an improvement over the first half of last year we should expect!
3. How McLouth will fare with his eyes fixed and playing a full season in ATL. The guy was an all-star (and a gold-glove winner) for a reason 2 years ago.
4. Billy Wagner coming out of the pen to save games. I realize he’s fresh off the major surgery but frankly I saw enough at the end of LAST year to know he’s back and as good as ever. He could get hurt (as could every player in the game) but I’m excited to see him in the role he’s in.
5. Chipper redeeming himself after the 2nd half of last year. Can he do it? Good question. I’m not counting on him to be anywhere near 2008 form, but if he is, then the NL East becomes Atlanta’s to lose.
6. How McCann’s eye surgery will affect his game. I seem to recall him being literally one of the best hitters in the game (not just catchers) prior to the start of his eye problems. If his eyes are as good as he seems to say, again that is exciting news to me as a Braves fan. I see him as a serious MVP candidate this year if his eyes hold up.
8. I’m not expecting anything super from Glaus at 1B, but that’s another guy that COULD have a big year and if so it’s just gravy..and I’ll be excited to see how he does.
I may be getting a little long-winded, ok maybe more than a little, but I just don’t see how you could make that comment.
VR Jacket
March 5th, 2010
1:16 pm
For everyone assuming Hanson’s year would have been a success had he not started in AAA, take a look back at Smoltz’s rookie season. I think he started 1-10, had to go through therapy, then finished strong.
Bubba
March 5th, 2010
1:21 pm
@BravesFaninTN – you said: “indeptness” – Now THAT’S ineptness!!!!
ASHEVILLE DAWG
March 5th, 2010
1:21 pm
It seems pretty black and white, two weeks early or one full year. Put me in the category that say “waiting makes the most sense”. Two weeks in Gwinnett won’t kill Heyward, and saving money in this enviroment is the way it has to be.
Scared of Jet Jaguar
March 5th, 2010
1:24 pm
Look,
We need to wait and then have Heywerd another yr. We Dont know what 2019 will bring, and we dont wanna lose him okay.
Jack G.
March 5th, 2010
1:25 pm
If I were Heward and the Braves stiffed me out of big bucks for an extra year, I would be Pi$$ed.
To get even I would take free agency at the first opportunity and tell the Braves to stick it.
Economy can sometimes bite you in the A$$. Cheap aint the way to go.
All of the players are overpaid, but you have to go with the flow. It is what it is
Steve
March 5th, 2010
1:25 pm
Mark,
Any insight on how ticket sales have gone so far? Single game and season?
Steve
March 5th, 2010
1:36 pm
Whatever happens the Braves need to make sure that Sports Illustrated does not use JHey on their cover and lable him “The Natural!”
fieldofdreams
March 5th, 2010
1:37 pm
Three weeks at Gwinnett won’t hurt anyone?
McCann Fan
March 5th, 2010
1:38 pm
McClouth .282, 23, 75
Escobar .305, 15, 75
Chipper .310, 16, 80
Glaus .265, 24, 90
Mac .320, 27, 100
J-Hey .297, 26, 97
Prado .300, 12, 65
Diaz .314, 10, 60
Melky .275, 6, 45
Hinske .275, 10, 25
Infante .305, 4, 30
Ross .280, 7, 35
KPH
March 5th, 2010
1:38 pm
Lets see lose him for 2 weeks or a whole season…???? Duhhh. Hello G. Braves see ya in a couple of weeks coach Cox.
John
March 5th, 2010
1:40 pm
Here’s another reason why Heyward might not be here on Opening Day: In a pro-active cost-cutting move, the Liberty Media Braves traded Heyward for prospects.
sugarfoot
March 5th, 2010
2:02 pm
Heyward, Heyward, Heyward! If he is the key to the Braves success, I fear we are in trouble. Is there nothing else to write about? You know dang well that the Braves organization is going to do whatever it can NOT to spend money. Go ahead and plan on him spending the first of the season in Gwinnett, so the company retains money and bargaining power, because they really do not care about winning games.
Tony
March 5th, 2010
2:08 pm
Heyward should break camp with the big league club. It’s NOT only “all about the $$$”. The Braves have a HUGE need for production from it’s ourfied.
Last year, when Hanson started the season at AAA, the braves were LOADED
with quality starters.
The need is win now. The $$$ is secondary. My bet? Heyward
starts the season as an Atlanta Brave in RF.
doc
March 5th, 2010
2:21 pm
hanson not being here might have cost them some games as he proved to be that good. would it have been enough to get them to post season, maybe?
just the same to hold him back and save millions even if for fifteen days would hard to ignore. in the meantime maybe the g braves would out draw the a braves.
All I'm Saying Is...
March 5th, 2010
2:31 pm
I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS IS EVEN A DEBATE (AND YES I KNOW I’M SHOUTING): IF HE PLAYS IN GWINNETT FOR TWO WEEKS, WE GET ANOTHER ARBITRATION ELIGIBLE YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!
Give up 14 days and get 365 days?! Heck yeah, I’m making that deal since we’re talking about the J-Hey kid.
Are you “He needs to start out in Atlanta” people completely clueless? No one is suggesting we keep him down until June. Plus we don’t have an inept at the plate outfield of Schafer, Francoeur, and Diaz/GA to start out like last year without even mentioning the instant outs known as Kelly Johnson and Casey Kotchman that use to be in the line-up.
Our hitters are better all around and leaving J-Hey at AAA for TWO WEEKS is no big deal for our success in 2010.
Geez, I’m sorry but anyone who thinks J-Hey should not go down for TWO WEEKS is a flipping idiot.
LET’S GO BRAVES!
DC Braves Fan
March 5th, 2010
2:45 pm
Keep this in mind on the money. Waiting to call Heyward up could cost the Braves a couple of games in the standings. Given the division they play in and the competition in this league, that could be the difference between making the playoffs and watching them. The playoff gates alone, particularly when you factor in the time value of the money, would more than make up for the early Free Agency period. Had the Braves brought Hanson up last year at the beginning of the season, they may have actually had a chance to win the wild card.
OrlandoDawg
March 5th, 2010
3:14 pm
You start Heyward off in Gwinnett. If it were Richmond, it’s a much different story. In Gwinnett, Heywards still around to get people excited for the Braves. The Braves are as cheap as anyone- he’s starting off in Gwinnett even if he hit’s 1.000 in spring training, sorry clowns.
Like someone up there said, this could save the Braves $10-15mm long term to possibly reup on Hanson…
retired scout
March 5th, 2010
3:21 pm
The kid has played three spring training games and I believe has two hits but seems almost everyone assumes he is “ready” for the starting RF position. What is this based on? How many have ever seen him play? Are the opinions just based on what you have read from sportswriters, bloggers, etc? Not a very good basis to form an opinion. He might benefit very much in his development by playing a couple of weeks to a month at Triple A, and who knows whether it would help or hurt the Braves record? Certainly, not any of us here.
Carolina Gent
March 5th, 2010
3:22 pm
Just out of curiosity, if the Braves do send Heyward down for 10 days-2 weeks, who probably gets his place on the roster for Opening Day and then who gets shipped out when he gets the call (assuming Chipper’s not on the DL by then)?
Murphy4HOF
March 5th, 2010
3:27 pm
Disagree about the point that the marginal value gained is not worth an entire year of control. That’s only valid if you believe the Braves win the division by a landslide (or by at least a few games). Heyward could make quite a difference from the get-go and since games won at the beginning of the season matter just as much as games at the end of the season, I say if he’s ready let him start day 1. 1 extra HR or timely base hit in a close game could make the difference between the penant, the wild card, or an undeserving exit for Bobby Cox.
jim
March 5th, 2010
3:45 pm
People chill. If he is the real deal ( and I think he is ), waiting a couple of weeks is nothing. I would gladly trade two weeks to have an additional year when he should be far more productive to the Braves. Lets just enjoy the fact that the home team appears to have brought another winner to the program. Who would have thunk it?
Halberstram
March 5th, 2010
3:48 pm
There may be more implications than just trying to save money. Heyward has had barely any bats above single A. He also wasn’t able to participate much in the Arizona Fall League. With all the pressure surrounding him, especially since he’s a hometown kid, I think it would be best to let him start out at Triple A.
Delbert D.
March 5th, 2010
3:58 pm
It’s treachery like this by organizations that affects players’ loyalty to teams.
bfred
March 5th, 2010
4:12 pm
I’m going with my brain over my heart on this one. See you mid-April, Jason.
brent a.
March 5th, 2010
4:14 pm
The way many suburbanite Atlanta sports fans act, they would atually prefer to see Heyward at AAA in April, instead of down in the big city.
brent a.
March 5th, 2010
4:19 pm
Folks, please understand . . . this isn’t just about money, it’s about player control.
1 more year of Heyward, by keeping in in the suburbs for a few weeks in April.
Once he’s a free agent, he could set sail for New York.
Making a few extra dollars at the gates in April – and even a lot in October – won’t mean that much if he flies the coup to New York on a 10-year, $300 million contract one year before he would’ve become a free agent, had we simply let him start the season in Gwinnet County.
Joshhh...
March 5th, 2010
4:20 pm
Mark Bradley — always the downer.
Space Monkey
March 5th, 2010
4:22 pm
If he wants people to be excited about the team, Wren will break camp with Heyward. One big difference between the Braves and the Rays: The Rays had no chance of contending with or without Longoria. Every game counts for the Braves.
oldfart
March 5th, 2010
4:29 pm
Make it Bobby’s decision based purely on baseball ability and do right by the kid. He and his agent might remember it later. They did right by Chipper and he really never went shopping, do the same here. Too many things can happen in five years including (finger’s crossed) Liberty Media being out of the picture.
Alan
March 5th, 2010
4:29 pm
props for managing to not contradict yourself with some stupid statement about how the Braves are too cheap to start the year with him (although I’m not convinced you weren’t thinking that)
WonderDawg
March 5th, 2010
4:39 pm
The same “fans” screaming that Hayward won’t be with the Braves the first three weeks will be the first “fans” screaming for Wren to “send him down” if he starts out struggling because of the pressure.
chuck....the real chuck
March 5th, 2010
4:50 pm
So you guys want to look cheap on the front end, when it’ll only serve as a reminder when it’s time to get him to ink a long-term deal in 2-3 years?
Not sure who his agent is now, but I bet it’s Boras by then….who will only convince him to test the waters if the offer isn’t rich enough….and we won’t be able to retort that we ignored the super 2 worries and let him keep the job he will undoubtedly have earned.
This guy isn’t going anywhere if we play it smart. And being cheap resonates with players and other FAs…or don’t you read about NFL players being irritated at Max tender offers…
Play him if he earns it, pay him early and lock him up long-term…not a tough decision at all Mark…
chuck....the real chuck
March 5th, 2010
4:53 pm
Not to mention 3-5 extra home games could mean another $500,000K in gate receipts because people will finally come out to the ballpark….ATL sucks for attendance, I live in DC and attend more home games than at least half the people on here…
Don’t you think having him in the lineup for the opening series or two is gonna be worth some trade deadline cash?
Let’s open our eyes and realize that this kid has box office potential, and Grim Reaper Extraordinaire Terry McGuirk should be the first to recognize that…
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
March 5th, 2010
4:53 pm
There’ll eventually be a lawsuit over this very subject.
The practice will end at that point, probably with a team having to prove that a player was sent down, and brought back, for some legitimate baseball (non-economic) reason.
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
March 5th, 2010
5:00 pm
The chances of Liberty Media owning this team in five-years, are about the same as Gary Coleman being at the helm…
DELAWARES ONLY BRAVES FAN
March 5th, 2010
5:16 pm
GREAT ARTICLE.POINTS OUT EVERYTHING THAT THE REAL WORLD OF TODAYS BASEBALL IS ALL ABOUT.20 YEARS AGO THE SAME THING WAS HAPENING BUT NOBODY TALKED OR WORTE ABOUT IT.
Colbrave
March 5th, 2010
5:21 pm
CAll him up 2 weeks into the seaso and get 1 more year of control. Give the team 1 more year of JHey, sounds the right thing for GM to do.
King Herod
March 5th, 2010
5:36 pm
I love everything I have heard or seen about Jason Heyward. But I subscribe to the notion he should not start on Day One in April. As a fan, I would prefer to see Jason spend time in Triple A and come up if he appears to be on a roll and demonstrates his readiness for the Big Time. If Jason starts coming out of spring training, he starts carrying a 1000-pound gorilla on his back, and that is a burden nobody should carry, not if we like him. I like Jason. I want him to have every advantage coming into the majors. He needs time in Triple A. I can wait.
wally butts
March 5th, 2010
6:07 pm
People who wait around to be first in a comment to a blog, have no real value to society, as they are obviously, very unproductive people.
fan of baseball
March 5th, 2010
7:05 pm
stats are a large part of baseball even when you talking about salaries and hire dates and or player control….he hasnt played many games at the major league level he can wait and so can we……great article mark…nothing better then talking baseball past or future…
rmf
March 5th, 2010
7:29 pm
I had assumed all along that the Braves would leave Heyward at AAA until the Super 2 Deadline passed just like Hanson. It makes sense, on a long term basis, for a lot of reasons — just ask the SF Giants.
The problem the Braves have now is they have done nothing to temper expectations. In fact, they have done the opposite. I see another pr disaster coming if they send him down to start the season even if it is the correct decision from a long term perspective.
If he keeps performing they may have no choice but to start him in the majors in April based on the public statements they are making.
WJ
March 5th, 2010
9:36 pm
Last again! I’ve got more lasts than most have firsts.
Jason Heyward
March 5th, 2010
9:40 pm
I’m starting opening day.
Gary
March 5th, 2010
9:49 pm
I want to keep him here as long as possible so I agree. Plus it will do him some good to let him play a few weeks in aaa.
Gary
March 5th, 2010
9:50 pm
Just realized…hello. The aaa team is in Atlanta. So if fans here want to see him, they just drive to L’ville.
P. Bull Terrier
March 5th, 2010
10:34 pm
It seems strange to me that the Braves seem like they would even consider bringing Heyward up on opening day. First and foremost, MLB is a business, not little league. It’s not about putting the best 9 on the field. It’s about managing a budget and generating a profit, or at least keeping losses at a managable level for tax purposes. The ONLY reason the Braves business cares that this is Bobby Cox’s last season is because it is good for the marketing dept. There’s no way they will base long term payroll decisions on Bobby Cox’s retirement.
The expectations for Heyward this season are already completely unrealistic. He may project to be a super star, but you can’t expect him to be Fred McGriff/Darryl Strawberry from day 1. Realistically, if his stats this season are similar to what you would expect from Matt Diaz, it will be a very good season for a 20 year old rookie.
Joey P
March 5th, 2010
11:07 pm
if you want fans to come to the games Heyward has to be in RF
Joey P
March 5th, 2010
11:08 pm
If you want fans to come to the games then Heyward should be the RF on opening day plain and simple.
Joey P
March 5th, 2010
11:35 pm
you know its funny. Ya’ll were complaining when Wren traded Vazquez for Melky. Now Melky is the best outfielder in the field. Give me a break. Melky is good and maybe being in the National League will make him better. But watching Jason play RF.Watching him bat he is ready. You didn’t complain when they brought Andruw Jones up from the AA team. It needs to be Diaz/Melky,Nate, and Jason in the outfield.
edward
March 5th, 2010
11:45 pm
If he only misses 10 games then what is the problem? It’s not likely we will go 0-10 to start the year so it doesn’t hurt at all. Let him know why he is going to the minors for 3 weeks and that he has a spot waiting at then end of those weeks. The odd man out is Cabrera and he only became that when Heyward became the latest phenom. It’s a horrible call but one that I am grudgingly with Wren on this time. Lose 3 weeks at 20 or lose him to F.A. when he is 26? I’ll lose the 3 weeks everytime. His first contract if he turns into the star we all are predicting then he’ll be commanding 15-20million on that first contract. Maybe more.
UKUGA/brent a.
March 5th, 2010
11:50 pm
“One big difference between the Braves and the Rays: The Rays had no chance of contending with or without Longoria.”
Yeah, those 2008 Rays were terrible!
FJR
March 6th, 2010
12:11 am
man RamblinWrecker, as a fellow Tech guy, you seem to have issues with the maths.
Cold Hard Fact: If heyward’s agent knows that his sixth year would be a free agency year if he didn’t sign a long term contract, he is going to ask a higher price for that year than if it would just be an arbitration year. So your argument that great players sign contracts that cover arbitration years and early years of free agency, and thus this whole thing is moot has no merit. It totally determines the bargaining power of the two sides when it comes to nailing down dollar amounts. A player who will be a free agent in 6 years can demand a LOT more money than a player who is just going to be an arb eligible player in 6 years. It’s likely going to be at least a 5 million dollar difference if Heyward is an impact player.
Cold Hard Fact: a 20 year old isn’t going to make a GIGANTIC difference in 9 games.
Cold Hard Fact: $5mill could make a gigantic difference in 2016, when I still plan on being a Braves fan.
In fact, the only argument Wren can responsibly make FOR putting J-Hey on the roster on opening day is that he feels like he’s going to be fired before 2016, and thus won’t have to deal with the consequences. Either that, or Bobby is using whatever organizational strong arm power he has to FORCE Wren to bring him up.
Mekons
March 6th, 2010
12:11 am
If it’s three weeks, we should do it. Jason isn’t stupid.The Braves put millions of dollars in his pocket. The Rays took away a year of Longoria’s contract, then gave him a very generous contract. We should do the same unless we can do it before the season starts. We can play Melky or Matt in RF for a couple of weeks. If I was Jason, I’d sign a McCann contract with a few more bucks.
It seems to me that while he wants to get paid, and who doesn’t, he isn’t primarily driven by money. He’s smarter than most of us anyway. When you can make $100 million in your life, or more, who cares about $2 million? I think he wants to stay a Brave and will be like Chipper; paid a bit less than he is worth, but happy. McCann is in the same league there. And Huddy.
Escobar and Hanson and others will get their money. I’d take short money if it was guaranteed. You break your leg or tear your shoulder and there’s no more money.
N8
March 6th, 2010
2:40 am
I’ll say this much. You have a point Mark, and with the longterm future in mind, it’s a strong point. But if the Braves (Wren) was worried about long term team success, Wagner wouldn’t have been signed, Lowe would have been dumped to the first team willing to remotely take on that contract and Hudson surely wouldn’t have been resigned to a 3 year extension, along with the thought that perhaps Chipper might have been asked if he was willing to accept a trade.
Wren and the Braves are trying to win NOW (in Bobby’s last year – you know? Because the the last 20 years haven’t meant much, but NOW it does.)
If Wren is serious about the Braves winning in 2010, Heyward will be on the opening day roster. If he’s not interested in winning in 2010 and only has 2016 in mind. Then yeah…. Heyward will start the year at AAA.
Conyers Braves FanYellow Jacket
March 6th, 2010
4:32 am
Enter your comments here
Conyers Braves Fan
March 6th, 2010
4:36 am
Mark: Good assessment….Braves should let JH start in AAA. Anyway, its too early to tell if he is ready to start in ML since there have been only 4 games. Too much hype on JH ….everyone
needs to back off and just watch what happens the rest of spring training.
chuck....the real chuck
March 6th, 2010
5:13 am
Did any of you go to Myrtle games? Jackson games? The kid is ready now…
He will be here for 15 years, and therefore we will sign him to a deal before he can get to ARB anyway….if we bring him opening day and bestow that honor on him, not only do we reap the reward of extra gate receipts, but we reap the goodwill of him remembering we didn’t go the cheap route when it’s time for his extension…
Go cheap now, pay later….Hanson was a question of innings and seasoning…this is not.
Rocky Chop
March 6th, 2010
7:51 am
Jeff Hullinger is reporting Braves interested in re-signing Frenchy, can anyone confirm?
38YearBravesFan
March 6th, 2010
8:28 am
Having heard the logic, my bet is AAA for him for 4-6 weeks. Makes too much sense from the money side.
GO BRAVES!!
DoninGa
March 6th, 2010
8:30 am
Boy, am I an old timer. (came up in the late 40’s) Back then none of this mattered. If the boy was good enough he came North with the team. Sometimes I think we are all way to … what’s the word, scientific? Hey, stop all the analyzing, and let the best players play ball! The second guessing that goes on is enough to make me puke!
bob
March 6th, 2010
10:24 am
It is a business first, and 10 days will not make difference.
Besides Gwinnett fans could get a chance to say ” I saw him when….”
bob
March 6th, 2010
10:27 am
If the Braves made the playoffs, does that count as service days?
Najeh Davenpoop
March 6th, 2010
11:12 am
Keep him in Gwinnett for an extra month and control his rights for an extra year. Obviously.
Chris
March 6th, 2010
11:18 am
I’m ready for the Braves to make a comeback and every player counts. I want the BEST team on the field for Bobby’s last year. Even if that costs the Braves an extra year on the back end!
Jeff R
March 6th, 2010
12:01 pm
I believe Mark is correct. Wren will opt to assign Heyward to Gwinnett to add another year of Heyward’s services.
If Wren does so, I can’t say I blame him. The game’s economics and the union agreements are such that it forces teams to play all sorts of tricks.
Johnny Hazeltine
March 6th, 2010
1:46 pm
Just like the Cardinals will find room in their budget to resign Albert Pujols, I believe that the Braves will one day find room to sign Jason Heyward.
Johnny Hazeltine
March 6th, 2010
1:49 pm
Plus, in Bobby Cox’s final year, where 1 or 2 wins could determine a playoff spot, I doubt Wren will make the same mistake he did last season with Hanson by waiting to call up Heyward.
Ken Stallings
March 6th, 2010
2:14 pm
You make a cogent business analysis, Mark. It is hard to refute the logic of it and that is why I think your prediction will be accurate — likely to the very day Heyward is called up!
quint
March 6th, 2010
2:32 pm
Ramblin Wrecker
Dude, you need to team up with Mark. Good arguments…good arguments.
One other thing, guys: If Bobby makes the decisions about who breaks camp, would he be less concerned about negotiating with Heyward in ‘16? Not saying he would he would do this for himself and say to heck with the team 6 years from now, but could he?
gcs
March 6th, 2010
2:36 pm
DON’T RUSH HIM!
The Braves are not going to win diddly this year. There is no need to bring Heyward up too soon.
Look what happened to Jordan Schaefer, Joey Devine and you could say Frenchy too when they were brough up too soon.
Also note that McCann is the only former “Baby Brave” left on the team.
…
true but...
March 6th, 2010
2:56 pm
Heyward would sell a lot of season tickets too, he would help to fill the stands early on, and is there really going to be much of a difference in how much we have to pay him etc if we get one more year. I say it seems more likely that he will cost a good bit more (per/year) after that extra year. Either way it is going to be a lot of money. The way things are going under this ownership we are going to need him to take a home town discount either way. I say play the best guys you got on opening day. If we are going to be in this wild card race –> Philly has a really good club and has to be the division favorite, then we have to realize that even these early games are really important. Its going to come down to a couple of wins or losses. Lets be honest Glaus and Chip are kind of hope and whim players at this stage and they are our power bats 3,4. We will want and need all the major league experience Heyward can get.
Mark Bradley
March 6th, 2010
3:07 pm
Stay tuned for my next great article, where I’ll try to convince you that Jason Heyward is potential trade bait, you know, to save money six years from now.
hammy
March 6th, 2010
5:00 pm
This is the easiest decision that has even been made. Not having Heyward for a couple of weeks as a rookie in exchange for a full year of Heyward in his prime….
What’s there to even think about? On top of this, the kid could probably use at least a few more weeks of minor league seasoning before making the jump. It is shocking to me that this is even a debate.
hammy
March 6th, 2010
5:08 pm
”
Mark Bradley
March 5th, 2010
11:26 am
Tom, I’m with you on that. The only reason to be really excited about the 2010 club is Jason Heyward.
I don’t envy Frank Wren. This is a tough call.”
that’s one laughable assertion, yet exactly the kind of thing you’d expect to a sportswriter to pen.
Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurjens anybody?
JohnSmith242
March 6th, 2010
7:04 pm
The fact of the matter is, the Braves will need every win they can get if they want to make it to the postseason. Those two weeks without Heyward could be costly in the worst way…
Why not let the kid play, then offer him a solid contract well before arbitration if he does well, ala Brian McCann?
hawesg
March 6th, 2010
7:39 pm
Bradley: Consistently wrong…
BravesFanForever
March 7th, 2010
5:52 am
Braves management has lied so many times–or at least stretched the truth so many times–that they will say, “Oh, what is two weeks, that’s essentially opening day isn’t it?’
Think about what they have said many times in the past about increasing the budget, bringing in that “big hitter”, etc. that I just don’t believe them. Frank Wren has done a pretty good job so far but I don’t appreciate the spin to keep the fan interest up. It’s really annoying.
So I wouldn’t be surprised if Heyward is at Gwinnett for two weeks–if that’s all it takes to keep him for another year–even if he hits .400+, slugs .600+, and impresses the entire world! It’s all about the money people… Follow the money…
Cunning Stunt
March 7th, 2010
7:47 am
That level of dishonesty and spin makes them like virtually every other big corporation on planet earth. PR people, and spin have been the complete death of honesty.
Lew
March 7th, 2010
9:03 am
Enter your comments here
jc_dawgs
March 7th, 2010
10:49 am
Braves need to stick to what Cox has said….”If he’s among the best 25 players on the team”.
Wren should make the effort to not make Cox look like an idiot…especially in his last year.
He’s hitting .400 right now. Still several weeks before they have to make a decision. For me…I say you need to start him on Apr 5th if his avg stays above .325
There is too much hype going on. The fans….who generally are not in tune with the ins and outs of arbitration and such…want to see the potential phenom on opening day. They will be disappointed if he’s not there.
Wren needs to remember that your Atlanta Brave fans are what really needs to matter. They are the ones buying those tickets.
Boog Alou
March 7th, 2010
10:53 am
Only problem with keeping Heyward away for a couple of weeks, is that our HOF’r Chipper Jones should be out of the lineup with injuries after 2 weeks, and he & Heyward won’t get to play together very much.
MJ
March 7th, 2010
11:30 am
What the fans want to see, and what is best for the team, is not important to the Braves GM. Heyward will not be in the starting line-up on Opening Day for financial reasons. The opportunity to hold on to him one more year will be too great to ignore. The Braves already know they will not keep him as soon as he can become a free agent. The kid is another Ryan Howard, but the Braves will never open up their pocketbook to keep him on the team. I’m going to enjoy every minute of his time in Atlanta, because there is no way he’ll finish his career here. Chipper will be the last player in franchise history to stay with the team for his entire career. The Braves brass don’t have the courage to step up and sign and maintain the best players in order to win a World Series. They just want to put a team on the field that can draw 25 – 30,000 fans on average to games so they can break even financially and call it a day. The moves they make every year are never designed to bring Atlanta a World Series title. Some of the past players they gave away and got nothing in return for: Furcal, Betemit, Renteria, Sheffield, Jermaine Dye, Frenchy, Elvis Androus, Salty, Texiera, etc, etc, etc. With Furcal, Dye, Tex, and Frenchy in the line-up they would be compete with any team offensively in the NL or AL.
Steve
March 7th, 2010
11:56 am
Great article Mark. I thoguht the super two stuff was nonsense given the financial impact the ticket sale increase would make, but I had not thought about this little tidbit.
The Braves should definitely wait until two weeks are over to call him up. The only real drawbacks I see would be:
1) Facing pitchers in AAA who are tehre for a reason generally. They are working on new pitches, control, mechanics or whatever. This can actually impact a hitters swing, as they are frequently chasin bad pitches or having their timing thrown off. Since it’s not much different than what he sees in spring, it hopefully won’t impact him that much.
2) Would this cause any animosity with Heyward when he eventually does become a FA? If this kid is as good as he looks so far, I think every Braves fan is pulling for him to be a Braves lifer like Chipper. This franchise needs players like that, as they draw in the fans more than one year rentals. I sure hope forcing control over him for an extra year (taking money away from him) doesn’t impact oru ability to sign him down the road. It’s not like the Braves are none for rewarding guys a year early with lucrative deals (small deals maybe, but nothing like they would get on the FA market).
Either way, it’s probably worth it to keep him down 2 weeks. Thanks for pointing this one out Mark. I can now tell my entire fantasy league not to draft him because of this and the possible super-two issue. Maybe they will listen and let me sneak in and grab him (I draft Braves heavy and don’t care if I lose).
illtbagya
March 7th, 2010
12:47 pm
Heyward?? fmart and ike davis are making him look bad
i thought this kid heyward was supposed to be willie mays incarnate……meh….i havent been all that impressed yet. now the mets two rookies….THEY are tearing shiite up.
keef
March 7th, 2010
2:58 pm
If Liberty Media is still the owner in 2016 and not a local Georgian Steinbrennerish owner, it won’t really matter when Heywood comes up now, will it?…
Jeff
March 7th, 2010
5:58 pm
Can’t say I agree with you Mark. Don’t think Bobby and Frank Wren would be talking him up so much this spring training if they didn’t fully anticipate J-Hey would make the team. The Hanson situation was a lot different in that we had a full rotation. The fact that this is Bobby’s last year there’s no way they’re going keep him in the minors for 10 days when the fact is his presence in lineup for those 10 days could be the difference in making the playoffs.
Kenny J
March 7th, 2010
11:01 pm
Good comments, Bill_in_Atl Re Heyward discussion — one of the main reasons we’d need him in the majors is to give us a HR bat. It’s way early, but in five spring games the story line seems to be his on-base percentage which isn’t the run producer we’re starving for. I have no doubt he’s the real deal and can’t wait for that kind of star to play at Turner Field. But money aside I’d rather J-Hey get the HR stroke down in AAA for awhile, and let proven ML’ers like McLouth, Melky and Diaz carry us in the interim. Now if Heyward starts boppin’ ‘em out in Grapefruit League the next three weeks the whole story changes. That would be sweet. Even then, I’d trade a couple of weeks for a whole year later on.
Mark Bradley's Fan Club
March 7th, 2010
11:23 pm
Good points all around, Mr. Bradly, but consider that arbitration awards have deviated from the traditional rubber-stamped low-ball club offer– they’ve become true hearings about value. Ryan Howard’s case set that up and it was continued this year with some biggies (Lincecum). So, I’m not so sure that there’s quite the discount that there once was, and if this trend holds, then there will be even less of a discount. What would seem to be an automatic decision now is unclear in my opinion.
Coach (2011 or Bust)
March 8th, 2010
2:25 am
YO MARK BRADLEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope you actually read this because it’s a developing story that no one has bothered to think about as of yet……
Who’s gonna replace Diory Hernandez on the depth charts? It’s an important question because if one actually looks at the season long progression, the Braves almost always end up utilizing at least three different short stops for various reasons.
Look at 2009, Escobar, Infante(he got hurt) and Hernandez.
2008 saw three short stops in Escobar, Infante and Lillibridge. Ditto for 2007 with Renteria, Escobar and Woodward. I had to go all the back to 2005 where Furcal and Betemit saw almost all the playing time at SS (Pete Orr played one inning at the position).
My point is that Brandon Hicks is the next best option and he’s not on the 40 man, nor has he played above double A as of yet.
It would seem that the Braves have some roster decisions ahead of them. Diory Hernandez will go on the 60 day DL while Jason Heyward will obviously be addd to the 40 and 25 man rosters. But the Braves will still need to add another SS eventually and drop another player from the 40 man.
Bradley, do you think the Braves might trade for a player, add Hicks or simply wait to see what pops up when teams start cutting players toward the end of spring training?
Thanks.
Coach (2011 or Bust)
March 8th, 2010
2:38 am
P.S.
I checked all the way back to 1990 and 2005 was the exception for at least three short stops. Our Braves will see somebody not named Escobar or Infante playing SS in 2010 and he is as of yet…..unnamed.
Paddy O
March 8th, 2010
10:30 am
this is a sharp article. It provides insight to a process, with details many of us I am sure would not have factored into our decision process. If it gives you an extra year, I would probably wait to call Heyward up. He should be much better at 26 vs. starting out, and that extra year is a great benefit.
Don
March 8th, 2010
10:56 am
It depends on Heywards maturity as to whether he needs to be called up at all for the 2010 season. If the has the rare, rare maturity of understnding on his own that he needs to work the count, be slective, make the pitcher throw some pitches, and concentrate on making solid contact rather than being concerned about the HR; then bringing him up will be fine. But odds are that he needs a manager who teaches, emphasizes, demands this of young hitters. If this be the case, then keep him completely away from Bobby Cox this year. Keep him at AAA until next season. Remember that our two hitters that developed best as young hitters, had their dads giviing them advice and guiding them rather than Cox and Pendleton.
paw paw
March 8th, 2010
2:49 pm
WE NEED OWNERS THAT WILL STAND UP IF THEY WANT TO PLAY BALL WITH THE BIG BOYS. WHERE IS TED WHEN WE NEED HIM. THE BRAVES OWNERS ARE NOT WHAT WE NEED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tea
March 10th, 2010
7:13 am
I am so sick on money controling everything.
brieatz
March 10th, 2010
7:51 am
If we know his first free agent cotract is going to be big (which we do) why not sign him right now to a 6 year deal like Longoria did? If they can’t write the check to compete then get out of basebal Liberty Media!
Kane337
March 10th, 2010
5:06 pm
Send him to the minors for 2 weeks so we have him for another full year. Have patience people.
GTFan1
March 11th, 2010
6:39 am
http://thesportsdebates.com/2010/03/10/the-tony-larussa-bobby-cox-and-joe-torre-debate-%E2%80%93-cox-is-simply-the-best/
lin
March 11th, 2010
10:11 am
i think has bad as they want him for open day be best to wait till 2nd half season give him more a chance to hit etc with less stress. cause it will eventually catch up to him in big leagues. look like time will tell for sure
Wreckmaniac
March 12th, 2010
10:46 pm
Why go ga-ga over this kid ? Didn’t we learn anything from the Francoeur
experience ? He probably should spend the entire year in AAA. Maybe have a couple of 5 to 10 game stints in Atlanta and just leave it at that. All this tells me is that there is no one else to talk about which is not good. Of far bigger importance is keeping McCann healthy.
Wreckmaniac
March 12th, 2010
10:47 pm
Lets hear about the pitching and who will replace Wagner when he goes down
The Atlanta Braves: 2010 Preview « Atlanta Braves – Elite Fantasy Players
March 15th, 2010
1:27 am
[...] The hottest prospect in all of baseball will make his Major League debut in 2010 after storming through the minor leagues with 46 extra base hits in 351 AB. He played only three games of AAA ball in 2009, but all signs point to Heyward starting for the Braves in RF this season. So far this spring Heyward is 8 for 18 with 5 extra base hits and two steals. His mix of power and speed might even garner him the leadoff spot in 2010. Mark Bradley with the Atlanta Journal Constitution speculated in a recent article that Heyward might not be on the opening day roster because of financial reasons: http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2010/03/05/why-jason-heyward-might-not-be-here-on-opening-day... [...]
Matt
March 15th, 2010
2:39 am
Frank Wren must be wincing with every double Heyward hits this Spring.
Pel
March 15th, 2010
11:14 am
Bring him up when the Braves have a long home stand.
Mike Klein
March 16th, 2010
3:20 pm
This is all very intriguing. So what’s the decision if Heyward starts in Gwinnett where he hits .214 with one home run, two doubles, a ton of ground balls and strikeouts? Do they call him up with “He’s ready and so are we!” Let’s not set the team and then spend the next month or two setting the team again. Make a decision that the kid is ready or he’s not ready and stop worrying about six years from now. We’ve been waiting a lot of years for a good team. If’ this kid is good enough, just do it. The extra time Jeff Francoeur got in the minors meant nothing overall to his Braves career.
Jared
March 16th, 2010
5:20 pm
do the 172 days have to consecutive and do they start running (and keep running) from opening day? What Im asking is could heyward make the team out of camp and then be sent down later (if need be or if, God forbid, we were out of the race) in order to get his major league days below 172? Space it out during the year by sending him down for 5 days, a week, here and there. Just a thought.
Jared
March 16th, 2010
5:24 pm
2 other things:
1) Liberty Media (hopefully) won’t be the ones writing checks by the time Heyward is due a raise. I think theyre gonna sell asap.
2) A championship club shouldnt be worrying about petty money issues like this. The Braves used to be above that. If the kid is ready, get him on the field. When its his time, if he’s really that good, then pay what it takes to keep him.
Bizzle
March 16th, 2010
7:11 pm
Not a tough call. By the time we need to afford his bat, Lowe and his ungodly salary will be long gone and two more of our young guns will be in the rotation at a super-bargain. Also, if the Braves let this player slip through their fingers because of money….
atl cracker
March 19th, 2010
6:20 am
did this column change today from what it was yesterday? or the day before? or the day before the day before? why not?
J-HEY KID
March 19th, 2010
11:53 am
Maek Bradley you are an idiot,have you not seen Heyward play during the spring he will be a superstar from day one.Go Braves Good Luck Bobby !!
bruce
March 19th, 2010
5:58 pm
Mark,
What say you now… time for a new story on the braves to get this one off the home page, kinda embarrassingly outdated, unless of course you still think your suppositions are still valid. Throw us a bone. Thanks, Bruce
truth hurts
March 20th, 2010
9:16 am
Good call dumbass.
Phil
March 22nd, 2010
12:09 am
Ouch, that hurt
Braves Fan in N Fla
March 22nd, 2010
9:37 am
Big difference in Longoria signing a long term deal is Longoria has Paul Cohen as an agent..Heyward signed with the devil of all sports in Boras, who I seriously doubt will do any favors for the Braves
Moonlight Graham
March 22nd, 2010
6:45 pm
Makes sense, but after the 9 games at Gwinnett, he should be up helping the A Braves.
Braves fan since '66
March 22nd, 2010
7:13 pm
I say start him on April 5th. I may not make it to 2016.
George
March 22nd, 2010
7:47 pm
This story or speculation is two weeks old. Isn’t it about time to take it down? The previous post was March 5th, I rest my case.
Everything Jason Heyward
March 23rd, 2010
9:33 pm
[...] Why Jason Heyward might not be here on Opening Day: http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2010/03/05/why-jason-heyward-might-not-be-here-on-opening-day… [...]
J-Hey Kid Must Play
March 23rd, 2010
10:34 pm
Jason Heyward is here and ready. He is the hometown guy, and regardless of financial issues….Heyward will be a Brave unless we trade him as we did Frenchy.
Heyward won’t learn unless given the oppurtunity. I’d rather him get the kinks out in April and May than in June and July.
Join the Facebook group: The J-Hey Kid
Donnie
March 24th, 2010
4:12 pm
Good Post. Very enlightening!
Scott
March 24th, 2010
4:54 pm
Just start Heyward and sign him to an extension early. They could buy out his arbitration years and service time becomes more of a moot point.
Sports news » Blog Archive » 5U: In which Ichiro makes a ridiculous catch
March 24th, 2010
5:18 pm
[...] • More Heyward coverage: Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution explains why the top hitting prospect in baseball – a guy who’s batting .364/.523/.576 this spring – should begin the year in the minors. [...]
Notso Fast
March 25th, 2010
9:45 pm
Tough call but he does seen to be having some trouble with left handers on high and tight. Can’t hurt to have the extra year for a couple of weeks.
Rod
March 26th, 2010
10:08 am
LOL, Mark Bradley is wrong again. Bobby Cox said Jason Heyward will be on the opening day roster. Reported this morning on 680 by JK.
Mr. Cox
March 26th, 2010
11:19 am
You are so stupid.
early
March 26th, 2010
12:13 pm
you were wronger n sh!t!
skip
March 26th, 2010
12:25 pm
so much for that idea…….
In RF on Opening Day, Jason Heyward! Hip, hip, hooray! | Mark Bradley
March 26th, 2010
12:44 pm
[...] this month Bryan Smith of FanGraphs made a strong case as to why the Braves shouldn’t let Heyward start this season in the majors. The crux of his argument was the crux of every argument in 21st Century baseball: [...]