Chipper says Heyward needs to play through pain

While I appreciate Chipper's openness about this, and he even worded things so it's not a harsh remark by any means, but why make the comment publicly?

12 months ago biggentleben 23 comments 0 recs |

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Sounds to me like Chipper’s a little frustrated with his inability to play fully healthy.

by swainzy on Jun 8, 2011 2:27 PM EDT reply actions

His own inability, I mean to say.

by swainzy on Jun 8, 2011 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Love you Chipper, but you are flat out wrong. Heyward has been a mess playing through pain. He needs to be healthy.

Boo! Tomorrow AM. I want all things now!

by Perrinbar on Jun 8, 2011 3:37 PM EDT reply actions

What an idiotic statement

Heyward’s main problem the last two years has been that he’s ignored the pain and ended up costing himself more time than he would have if sat out and got healthy

by Resentment on Jun 8, 2011 4:35 PM EDT reply actions

This has been linked before.

My buddy and I just decided that the braves would be set if we could get Matt Kemp, Jose Reyes, and Albert Pujols.

by willlinn on May 17, 2011 2:13 PM EDT

by Bronn on Jun 8, 2011 4:55 PM EDT reply actions

I looked and didn't find anything.

It was an ESPN lead story when I was on the site, and I linked from there.

"Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results."
— Albert Einstein
Twitter: @biggentleben

by biggentleben on Jun 9, 2011 8:25 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't like that Chipper did this

If he wants to say something to Jason, do it in private. You can only imagine that Heyward is going to feel somewhat attacked here. The problem is, Heyward wasn’t at 80%. Everyone was mad that he let his injury linger too long last year and it hurt us. If he needs one more week to get his shoulder back to where he can swing the bat well, then so be it. Hinske and Mather will be fine for another week.

by Alex H on Jun 8, 2011 6:12 PM EDT reply actions

I’m losing respect for Heyward daily. Every baseball player will tell you that playing pretty much everyday has the chance for things to not feel right and hurt some days. If there is something structurely wrong then yes you need to take time off to heel it, but Heyward has been examined and there is nothing wrong. If he’s not willing to play through some pain than he is no use to anyone.

by jack dein on Jun 8, 2011 7:25 PM EDT reply actions

Ive never understood this sentiment

I dont think the problem is him playing through pain — he has shown in the past the willingness and ability to do that. The problem seems to be playing well through pain. I dont see how that is something someone can just will themselves to do. Im sure if he could hit .300 with good power while feeling hurt, he would. But he’s proven he can’t do that, so why would we want him in the lineup in that situation?

"He knows where he's throwing. If he didn't, there'd be dead bodies strewn all over Idaho." - Washington Senators scout on Walter Johnson

by Doghnut on Jun 8, 2011 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions

He must have been hurt all year then because he’s pretty much sucked from opening day.

by jack dein on Jun 8, 2011 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions

He has been hurt all year. Said Tuesday was the first time he was even 80% wise guy.

Twitter: @Ben_Duronio Stop calling Tommy Hanson "Big Red"

by BenDuronio on Jun 8, 2011 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions

So every time he feels a little pain he’s going to have to miss 2 weeks. That amounts to what an average of about 110 games played a year.

by jack dein on Jun 8, 2011 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Youre right

He should play 160 games and suck instead of 110 while being awesome.

"He knows where he's throwing. If he didn't, there'd be dead bodies strewn all over Idaho." - Washington Senators scout on Walter Johnson

by Doghnut on Jun 8, 2011 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions

No matter how good he is in 110 games he can be replaced if he’s going to be injured all the time. Hopefully his body matures and he stops having nagging injuries because I don’t want that to be the thing that ruins a promising career.

by jack dein on Jun 8, 2011 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions

tell heyward to talk to cal ripken about playing through pain

by Brandonba on Jun 8, 2011 10:07 PM EDT reply actions

Gonna add:

Joe said tonight during the pregame that Chipper was “hot under the collar” and none too happy about the way ESPN handled this story with the headline and “spin” they put on it. He said they totally took it out of context and his comments were not meant in the way they portrayed it. The “poll” on their site about it really upset him. He said “I’ve been there and it’s not fun.” (talking about someone questioning him not playing when he could).

Joe said he (Chipper) indicated his comments were trying to convey how valuable Jason is to the team and not how it was being made to sound. He said that Jason knows how he feels about him and this situation.

"In the happy moments, praise God. In the difficult moments, seek God. In the quiet moments, trust God. In every moment, thank God." - Robert A. Wood

by NCChopper on Jun 8, 2011 10:39 PM EDT reply actions

This^ Thank you Miss

Senator, we have another old saying,"Don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining." Fletcher

by jimmontg on Jun 8, 2011 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s good to see Chipper trying to shut this whole thing down a little.

"One thing I’ve learned as a Phillies fan is that a lot of people hate our team and its fans."-commenter on The Good Phight

by Chipper Pwns on Jun 9, 2011 3:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Exactly

That was my point with his wording vs. the headline of the story. I was just curioius if it needed to be said at all, or if that’s something that should have stayed 100% in house.

"Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results."
— Albert Einstein
Twitter: @biggentleben

by biggentleben on Jun 9, 2011 8:26 AM EDT up reply actions

I have been

worried about Heyward being injured a lot. I am glad that NCChopper cleared up this Chipper comment, because I thought it sure sounded fishy. Chipper is a whole lot wiser than to say something publicly like this. He is also incredibly supportive of his teammates.

So I agree that Heyward should stay away until healthy. We have a great backup system in Hinske and Mather. The possible problem I see with the arrangement is that Mather would better, IMO, as an everyday player. On the other hand, Hinske seems to thrive coming in late in games.

by BravesFaninAZ on Jun 9, 2011 1:12 AM EDT reply actions

Heyward says he’s waiting to come back until he’s 100% healthy. That’s fine and everyone wants him to put himself first and protect his young body but at some point he will need to be a consistent healthy force of production in our lineup.

"In the happy moments, praise God. In the difficult moments, seek God. In the quiet moments, trust God. In every moment, thank God." - Robert A. Wood

by NCChopper on Jun 9, 2011 9:28 AM EDT reply actions

Obviously, playing at 80% is the best way to achieve this goal…

Twitter: @Ben_Duronio Stop calling Tommy Hanson "Big Red"

by BenDuronio on Jun 9, 2011 11:56 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Heyward and Chipper

I don’t really have a problem with Chipper on this. I have to wonder if part of the backlash is the ‘untouchable’ status of Heyward, which seems to exist on this site.

Here’s the problem I have with Heyward. Every baseball player plays with soreness. You think pitchers don’t play with sore shoulders? I’m sure other Braves players feel the same way. Sometimes, when baseball players go through slumps, they blame things like ‘shoulder soreness.’ I’m not saying that’s what Heyward is doing, but for just a moment, consider what Chipper is saying.

I’m just a fan, and yet I’m getting a little tired of Heyward’s many ailments. These ailments can pile up and really taint a career. The guy is 21, and he’s already dealing with many issues. Other than his ACL, Chipper was mostly healthy until his 30s, and didn’t play fewer than 153 games until 2004 (excluding the shortened 2005 season, of course).

by ryantex on Jun 9, 2011 5:24 PM EDT reply actions