I was wrong....

by ryan c on Mar 9, 2010 8:14 PM EST

About a month ago, I argued that Johnny Damon would put more "average fans" in the stands than any prospect. After the first few weeks of watching Heyward, I couldn't be more wrong. Sorry to all who had to put up with my stubbornness.

This kid has star power far beyond what I thought would be possible out of a prospect. I've heard the argument concerning keeping J-Hey in the minors for 2 weeks, but I'm not quite sure that it's worth it. The fanbase might go nuts.

This FanPost does not express the views or opinions of Talking Chop.

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All is forgiven.

GO BRAVES!

"My team of nine guys who hit like Albert Pujols and never ever bunt just beat your team with one Shane Victorino 472 to 3."

by justincredubil02 on Mar 9, 2010 10:24 PM EST reply actions

Its not your fault.

I don't need the Cat Lady to throw cats at me to let me know she's crazy!

by McCann and McWill on Mar 9, 2010 10:44 PM EST reply actions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6dHCyCSdgI&feature=PlayList&p=060409B9DADA2BD0&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=8

by Bronn on Mar 10, 2010 3:20 AM EST up reply actions

+1

"SIGN PUJOLS OR FIRE WREN" ~ Swo12bv

by Smoltz's Beard on Mar 10, 2010 10:14 AM EST up reply actions

Where did this 2 weeks mess come from?

Longoria I guess, but Longoria isn’t right. He signed an extension like hopefully Heyward does, eliminating the bother of arbitration and service time. If we keep him down for salary reasons, it’s 2 or 3 months, not 2 or 3 weeks.

by Mr. Sanchez on Mar 9, 2010 10:47 PM EST reply actions

I think there is a difference between arb. timeline and Super Two. The thing is 170 “service days” which means we can keep Heyward down for 2 weeks (9 games) and get 1 whole year of arb. delay.

Then again, if he signs the big contract up front, it is a non-issue.

"My team of nine guys who hit like Albert Pujols and never ever bunt just beat your team with one Shane Victorino 472 to 3."

by justincredubil02 on Mar 9, 2010 11:16 PM EST up reply actions

The Longoria situation was interesting because their plan was to keep him down for the 2 months to get that extra year before arbitration, but then old Drinky Drunk Willy Aybar got hurt, they called him up, and quickly (they must have already been working on it) came to the extension agreement. Hard to believe a team would be that willing to put such a guarantee into a guy who’d never played a day in the Majors, but it looks like a pretty good gamble now. Still, very scary tactic.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Mar 10, 2010 12:45 AM EST up reply actions

Difference between Super TWO

And the pop for hitting free agency a year a early. If he gets more than 172 days of service time, his free agency starts a year sooner. I just learned of this recently.

If you leave him down for about 2 weeks, it ensures he’s not over the 170 days threshold.

by Bronn on Mar 10, 2010 3:22 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah, I know. Still, that wasn’t the Ray’s original intention, just a weird side effect.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Mar 10, 2010 11:21 AM EST up reply actions

If I recall correctly...

weren’t Longoria or his agents in the process of filing a grievance because of being sent down for purely service time delaying reasons?

by Mr. Sanchez on Mar 10, 2010 3:48 PM EST up reply actions

I think so, but they would have had absolutely no legs to stand on for something like that. Their chances of winning would have been next to nothing.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Mar 10, 2010 8:07 PM EST up reply actions

Also guilty

of the same infractions. Ok, I didn’t think that Damon’s star power would be greater, but I did think that signing him would be a good idea. And I did think that Heyward should probably go to the minors. I have been proven very wrong on both counts.

I am sorry.

by Andy Braves Fan on Mar 10, 2010 2:32 PM EST reply actions

Heyward has surprised me

I saw him in August and he was awesome. But his physical changes and increased power are pretty shocking. He’s grown an inch and put on 30 lbs, I read this week somebody listed him as 6’6" 250 lbs. Not positive but I thought he was 6’4" 210 last year. I think 6’5" 240 is probably concensus now. He had 17 HR in 99 games last year, now they are putting up nets because he’s breaking cars. I’m not suggesting he’s using steroids. But, those “growing into his frame” needs just came about faster than I expected. He will bring more interest to the Braves than Damon could if he grew his hair, beard and signed a 3 year deal.

by bighop on Mar 11, 2010 12:05 PM EST reply actions

I don’t know why it would be a surprise. Most 20 year young men are still filling out. Add a proper diet and a serious commitment to a well formulated weight-lifting program, and there’s big potential to pack on lean muscle mass and corresponding weight gain.

by fandave on Mar 12, 2010 6:37 PM EST up reply actions