Chipper: Braves need Heyward back on field

[The Don™]

MIAMI – Jason Heyward was eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list and play Tuesday, but the Braves' young slugger had not swung a bat in more than two weeks and was still probably a few days from even hitting off a tee.

Braves third baseman Chipper Jones said he understands that Heyward wanted his sore shoulder healthy before he plays again, but said the 21-year-old right fielder needs to realize how important he could be to the Braves right now.

Heyward recently said that he wouldn't return before his shoulder was completely recovered, that he learned his lesson from trying to play through injury as a rookie in 2010. The quote got a lot of attention, not just from fans and media but other players.

"There's not [pat answers]; it's within each individual player," said Jones, who has been plagued by injuries since his mid-30s, after averaging about 158 games played per season for nearly a decade.

"I think where Jason might have erred was the comment that he made, 'I'm not coming back until it doesn't hurt anymore.' That has a tendency to rub people the wrong way," Jones said. "And we understand where he's coming from – he wants to be healthy when he plays, so he can go out and give himself the best opportunity to be successful. I get that.

"What Jason needs to realize is that Jason at 80 percent is a force, and Jason at 80 percent is better than a lot of people in this league. And that there are a bunch of his teammates that are out there playing with discomfort and not healthy, and still going at it."

Heyward last played on May 21, and for the past week has been rehabbing at the Braves' extended-spring training site in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Utility players Eric Hinske and Joe Mather have split playing time in right field.

Braves right fielders ranked last in the National League with a .225 average and .302 on-base percentage before Tuesday.

Heyward hit .214 with seven homers, 14 RBIs and a .317 OBP in 45 games before going on the DL, including 4-for-41 with one double, no RBIs and 15 strikeouts in 17 games during May. He said his right (non-throwing) shoulder had bothered him since late in spring training, but worsened to being painful to swing by mid-May.

An MRI exam showed inflammation but no structural damage. He had cortisone shots in the front and back of the shoulder, rested for a few days, then returned to the lineup. A few days later, he said the pain returned. Heyward was placed on the DL and flown back to Atlanta from Anaheim on May 22 for another MRI.

The second MRI was a dye-contrast type that produces more detailed scans. It showed no structural damage, only inflammation of the labrum that the Braves characterized as "normal wear and tear."

Manager Fredi Gonzalez had initially anticipated having Heyward back from the DL within a few days of the 15-day point, but Heyward continued to complain of soreness in the shoulder. Monday was the first day that he told team officials the shoulder felt significantly improved.

"He's feeling a better, so that's a good sign," Gonzalez said. "Probably about three or four days away from swinging a bat. What I mean by that, probably hitting off a tee, soft-toss."

If Heyward has no setbacks in a few days of hitting off a tee, then in batting practice or extended-spring training games, he would probably begin a short minor-league rehab stint of two or three games.

"By that point he'll be [out] almost three weeks, right?" Gonzalez said. "So you hate to run him back in there and hurt his legs or something. So when he's ready to go, I'm assuming three rehab games, maybe."

Along with Dan Uggla's season-long slump, Heyward's diminished production has had a profound effect on the Braves' offense. As a rookie, Heyward hit .277 with 18 homers, 72 RBIs and a .393 OBP that was one of the highest in history for a player so young.

"It's just a situation where, I don't think he really realizes how much of an impact he has on the game just by his presence," Jones said. "And that's something I had to learn, too. When I started going through my injuries early on, obviously I wanted to get healthy and whatnot. But I realize that, even now, my presence in the lineup means something. Whether I'm healthy or not.

"And he's more of a benefit to us standing out there in right field than he is down here in Florida [at extended spring training]."

Jones was asked whether the Braves' lagging offense was any more difficult to address via the trade market, given the uncertainty of Heyward's return and the continued struggles by Uggla.

"All the more reason to go out and get somebody," Jones said. "If you're not certain, if you don't know that you can count on him to come back, then you've got to do something. Obviously that's not a decision for the players to make. That's a decision that Frank {Wren, Braves general manager] going to have to weigh.

"Meanwhile, there are a lot of question marks right now with the ballclub. Time is going to have to bear out the answers."

http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2011/06/07/chipper-braves-need-heyward-back-on-field/

[The Don™]

Weird that his shoulder felt significantly improved after complaining of soreness

Chipper seems like he's calling Heyward out...

[ATL Fan in the DMV]

Well Don, I'd agree with you that he IS calling Heyward out a bit. He's not throwing him under the bus per se, but he is letting it be known that Heyward needs to effectively suck it up and play.

He's right in that many people will misconstrue Heyward's comments about only coming back when he is completely healthy; after all, many players do play with injuries and soreness. What Chipper fails to mention here (along with so many anti-Heyward fans and the he's-not-tough-enough fanclub) is that when those aches and pains become too significant, debilitating, or start radically affecting performance, most players eventually set aside their pride and bow out and rest/go on DL/whatever. The injury he has is clearly significant, as it has greatly affected his performance. As I've said before, this is a shoulder we are talking about, not a toe or hangnail. [And as much as I want to come down on Chipper for missing games the past couple years for minor things, I will resist].

However, we don't have to go back far to know how "playing with discomfort" has affected the performance of prominent Braves players. Just last year, Heyward injured his thumb in May sliding head first. He then proceeded to do the following before finally landing on the DL: .222/.328/.361 with just 3 homers and 17 RBI...in 40 games! Even with that awful stretch, he wound up achieving a .277/.393/.456 slash line with 18 HR and 72 RBI.

Or JJ last year. Yeah, the 4.64 ERA version of him. The same one who concealed shoulder soreness for much of the season.

Or what about Schafer the year before, who burst onto the scene homering in his debut then proceeded to absolutely shart the bed while he hid a wrist injury that proceeded to bother him for--get this--over a year and a half.

Too far in the past, you say? And now we come to this year. Heyward admits later in the season that he has been bothered by discomfort in his shoulder--get this--since Spring Training. Guess what Chipper? He proceeded to, you guessed it, play with discomfort. He proceeded to drop the gaudy slash line of .214/.317/407. Oh, and was 4 for 41 in May. His performance got WORSE as the season wore on.

You know, I like Heyward...I think he will be a good player in this league for some time. And I like Chipper. But he's off base here. If the Braves were hitting like everyone expected them to before the season started, Chipper likely doesn't make those comments. But he did. And despite what you and anyone else may feel about Heyward, only he knows how much it truly is bothering him. And I can tell you this: Offensively, that version of Heyward is absolute garbage. Putrid. Pathetic. His "presence" hasn't scared anyone while he has tried to play through pain.

I will leave you with this: If THAT version of Heyward and his "presence" is more useful to the lineup right now, then isn't that more of an indictment of how garbage you all have collectively played offensively instead of some "only plays when he's healthy" tag you are subtly starting to affix to him? The offense may very well have forced us to invent fun new words to describe its epic ineptitude, but let me make one thing clear: It does not, nor should it ever, provide ANY reason with a leg to stand on to rush a player back when he clearly needs to rest and come back healthy for the team. Because doing so is not only short-sighted, moronic, and counter-intuitive, but it also risks the long-term health of said player--a player that can help buoy the performance of the team for years to come.

Edited June 8, 2011 by I Am The Truth

[K26dp]

Chipper Jones before his meniscus tear: .275/.366/.465

Chipper Jones after his meniscus tear: .211/.318/.316

Hey Chipper, how's that playing with an injury thing working out for you? How about the team? Do you think maybe if you get the injury fixed, sit out the four-to-six weeks that it would take to heal, and come back stronger, could that help the team more than having a guy hit .211? Because I'm pretty sure whomever we called up from AAA to fill in for Prado while he plays 3B could hit at least as well as you.

Chipper Jones is one of my favorite players, in part because of how much he puts the team first. But he's way off base here. Heyward's "presence" doesn't mean crap if he can't hit because hit shoulder is screwed up.

[R.C. Collins]

I am just going to say this about Heyward's injury. He has had two seperate MRI, neither of which show any significant damage or anything that he risks worsening. It is inflamation. That is what both MRI have shown. Inflamation.

They make anti-inflamatory drugs. It is called tylenol.

I do not want Heyward back in the game and risk him getting hurt worse. I am not that kind of fan, but Heyward cannot expect to feel perfect all the time and this situation seems to be an issue of him feeling completely pain free. As he gets older he is never going to be pain free as most baseball player and most people notice as they age. Heyward will stay on the DL as long he feels like he needs and thta is fine, but in two years I really do not want to hear these same people who now want to handle him with kid gloves start saying he was coddeled by the organization and that is why is is not reaching his full potential. Which I am sure will happen if that becomes the situation. It will always be someone elses fault.

That being said. I hope Heyward gets his shoulder right and he comes back ready to produce and not a moment sooner. Both sides have points in this issue and ignoring the other side is stupid. Heyward has a point and his body means his decision and he knows better than any of us what to do with it. So here is hoping that he feels better soon and gets back in that lineup.

Edited June 8, 2011 by R.C. Collins

[K26dp]

They make anti-inflamatory drugs. It is called tylenol.

Really? You should let the Braves medical staff know about this, they may never have heard of this wonder drug.

Obviously we all want Heyward back in the line-up. But do we want the Heyward back in the line-up that couldn't turn on an inside fastball because his shoulder wouldn't work and ended up grounding weakly to short all the time? Is that better than a Hinkse/Mather platoon? Which do you think helps the team more?

[R.C. Collins]

Really? You should let the Braves medical staff know about this, they may never have heard of this wonder drug.

Obviously we all want Heyward back in the line-up. But do we want the Heyward back in the line-up that couldn't turn on an inside fastball because his shoulder wouldn't work and ended up grounding weakly to short all the time? Is that better than a Hinkse/Mather platoon? Which do you think helps the team more?

It depends. If mather and hinkse do nothing than pop out, then I would rather have Heyward in there at not 100% because he could still work the count and get walks and change the way a pitcher approches the hitters around him.

I don't need the let the medical staff of the braves know anything, they are not the ones saying Heyward should be sitting. It is all on Heyward and how he says he feels.

Also, keep in mind that Beachy and McLouth have both had Oblique strains, and have made steady progress and basically are already begining activities to get back on the field. Heyward has a sore shoulder and hasn't made any progress of which to really speak.

Edited June 8, 2011 by R.C. Collins

[K26dp]

It depends. If mather and hinkse do nothing than pop out, then I would rather have Heyward in there at not 100% because he could still work the count and get walks and change the way a pitcher approches the hitters around him.

Have they been doing nothing than popping up? And Heyward wasn't drawing walks when he was hurt, pitchers knew that they could throw strikes and he wouldn't be able to drive them.

I don't need the let the medical staff of the braves know anything, they are not the ones saying Heyward should be sitting. It is all on Heyward and how he says he feels.

All they've said is that there's no structural damage. They've verified inflammation. They can't say "oh, he can't turn on an inside fastball, he should sit" or not. Heyward can detemine that, because it's his body, and I trust him to figure out if he can play or not.

Also, keep in mind that Beachy and McLouth have both had Oblique strains, and have made steady progress and basically are already begining activities to get back on the field. Heyward has a sore shoulder and hasn't made any progress of which to really speak.

Beachy and McLouth have nothing to do with Heyward.

[R.C. Collins]

Beachy and McLouth have nothing to do with Heyward.

Actually, they do.

The issue that is annoying people about this situation is that there is basically no forward momentum with Heyward at the moment.

You can look at two players who have had injuries that tend to be more severe in an oblique strain than that of a sore shoulder and those two players are already progressing while Heyward seems to not be.

Again, I am not saying Heyward should be in the lineup tonight, I am simply pointing out that there should be a plan as to him getting back to action like there is with Beachy and McLouth, but there is none.

Edited June 8, 2011 by R.C. Collins

[K26dp]

Actually, they do.

The issue that is annoying people about this situation is that there is basically no forward momentum with Heyward at the moment.

Heyward's injury is different. It's a crying shame that people are annoyed, but that's a "them" problem. Heyward's only concern right now should be to get his body right and get back to the game, but now he's got to contend with being "called out" by a teammate, the de facto leader of his team?

And shouldn't Chipper know better? Didn't he get riled up by Smoltz essentially doing the same thing to him about five years ago? I thought Smoltz was out of line then, and Chipper is out of line now.

[K26dp]

I would be fine with ti if they said, in 3 days, a week or a week and a half Heyward plans to be hitting off the tee, taking batting practice, etc...

We are getting nothing.

Heyward said, point blank, that he would start swinging the bat next week.

[R.C. Collins]

Heyward's injury is different. It's a crying shame that people are annoyed, but that's a "them" problem. Heyward's only concern right now should be to get his body right and get back to the game, but now he's got to contend with being "called out" by a teammate, the de facto leader of his team?

And shouldn't Chipper know better? Didn't he get riled up by Smoltz essentially doing the same thing to him about five years ago? I thought Smoltz was out of line then, and Chipper is out of line now.

My point is not to be critical of Heyward, my point is that Heyward and the team needs to address this like they do any other injury. Just because his name is Heyward doesn't make him untouchable and all his injuries are "different". It is an injury like any other injury ever in baseball and should be approched that way.

The team should be honest that this is something more than shoulder inflamation or start setting goals for baseball activities.

I would be fine with it if they said, in 3 days, a week or a week and a half Heyward plans to be hitting off the tee, taking batting practice, etc...

We are getting nothing.

Also, I do not argue Chipper making a mistake by making the comments publicly. I think that is overstepping a bit, but I cannot say I totally disagree with what he said.

[R.C. Collins]

Heyward said, point blank, that he would start swinging the bat next week.

Then that is fine, lets see it. I hadn't heard anything like that.

Edited June 8, 2011 by R.C. Collins

[K26dp]

Then that is fine, lets see it. I hadn't heard anything like that.

It came from a Mark Bowman tweet.

Heyward is feeling better. Might start swinging the bat again in 3 days. Still at least a week away.

[The_ATL]

Chipper Jones before his meniscus tear: .275/.366/.465

Chipper Jones after his meniscus tear: .211/.318/.316

Hey Chipper, how's that playing with an injury thing working out for you? How about the team? Do you think maybe if you get the injury fixed, sit out the four-to-six weeks that it would take to heal, and come back stronger, could that help the team more than having a guy hit .211? Because I'm pretty sure whomever we called up from AAA to fill in for Prado while he plays 3B could hit at least as well as you.

Chipper Jones is one of my favorite players, in part because of how much he puts the team first. But he's way off base here. Heyward's "presence" doesn't mean crap if he can't hit because hit shoulder is screwed up.

Simply put Heyward is a *****, he does need to suck it up because Chipper is right there are players out there right now who are not 100%. FFS JS was out there 48 hours after being smashed in the face.

[The_ATL]

Heyward's injury is different. It's a crying shame that people are annoyed, but that's a "them" problem. Heyward's only concern right now should be to get his body right and get back to the game, but now he's got to contend with being "called out" by a teammate, the de facto leader of his team?

And shouldn't Chipper know better? Didn't he get riled up by Smoltz essentially doing the same thing to him about five years ago? I thought Smoltz was out of line then, and Chipper is out of line now.

Heyward has missed significant parts of his first 2 seasons because of simplistic injuries. He didn't dislocate the darn thing.

[ATL Fan in the DMV]

I don't see how you can side with Chipper. He's no medical doctor. And he's off base for all the reasons that have already been stated. Following is the exchange between Chipper and Smoltz in 2007 in which Chipper was on the receiving end (just like Heyward is here):

Smoltz said: “You can’t worry about who’s in the lineup and who isn’t. You can’t worry about that stuff anymore. I certainly appreciate the effort of the guys who are on the field busting it.”

“”I have no comment. I’m not even going to address that.”(when talking about if he was talking about Chipper)

“We all could wish we were feeling better, but that’s the way it goes.”(when asked about his sore shoulder).

Chipper responded: (Asked if he had rushed himself back in the lineup) “Probably. Let’s just say there are people who don’t believe me, “Let’s just say that and leave it at that. I’d be stupid if I didn’t take it the same way, I will play the rest of the games this year and do whatever I can. Somebody I know better not miss a start.”

“I got nothing to say, he made his point through the media. Now I’m going to make my point through the media. If he doesn’t want to do it man to man, then fine.”(when talking about if he had talked to John yet).”

Yeah, sounds like Chipper didn't appreciate being the object of someone's misguided comments.

[The_ATL]

I don't see how you can side with Chipper. He's no medical doctor. And he's off base for all the reasons that have already been stated. Following is the exchange between Chipper and Smoltz in 2007 in which Chipper was on the receiving end (just like Heyward is here):

Yeah, sounds like Chipper didn't appreciate being the object of someone's misguided comments.

Yet Chipper got his *** out there shortly after the comments were made by Smoltz didn't he?

[youngbloodz]

I want Heyward out there. But I want him healthy. The Braves felt like his shoulder was bad enough to put him on the DL. If you don't take care of the little injuries than it can turn into a major one

[K26dp]

Simply put Heyward is a *****, he does need to suck it up because Chipper is right there are players out there right now who are not 100%. FFS JS was out there 48 hours after being smashed in the face.

How do you swing a bat when you arm goes numb when you do it? Because that was what was happening with Heyward.

Last I heard, you don't purposely try to hit a pitch with your face.

[K26dp]

Yet Chipper got his *** out there shortly after the comments were made by Smoltz didn't he?

How well did he play? Did he aggravate anything else componsating for injury? Was he actually helping the team?