2010 MLB Season Discussion

[Akiyama]

Heward's been compared to Fred "Crimedog" McGriff, someone else whom I can't remember, and oh.. the pop off his bat sounds like Hank Aaron.

...really? And sadly, it was Bobby Cox who said that.

[Moss]

Yeah I read that article... I don't think it's puffery but do you really have to compare him to Hank Aaron before he's had a major league AB?

[Akiyama]

No joke. Way to jinx the kid.

[Cephius]

I don't believe in jinxes. Let's go Jesus MONSTERO

[fren.]

He's gonna be good, so so good.

Oh and yes, if you don't have a PS3 and love baseball, get MLB TS 10. Like I said elsewhere, the only thing bad about last year's game was the jackass on the front cover.

[Saga]

Oh c'mon Pedey isn't so bad

[Moss]

Obligatory Tommy Hanson/Jason Heyward post (there will be many more)

BRAVES EXCITED ABOUT FULL YEAR OF HANSON (12:38 p.m. ET)
The Braves are very encouraged about their starting pitching for several reasons.

First, Tim Hudson says "I haven't felt this good in six years." The discomfort in Jair Jurrjens' right shoulder has diminished "from a 7 to a 0.5," says manager Bobby Cox.

And, the Braves will have Tommy Hanson for the entire season.

When another top Braves starter, Derek Lowe, was asked what impressed him most about Hanson, he said, "Where do you want me to start?"

That's how good Hanson is. "Every pitcher in the big leagues has good stuff, the difference is the guy who has it mentally, and he does," said Hudson. "You could see it last spring. When he got to the big leagues last year, he thought he was better than the hitters."

"His stuff is sensational," Lowe said of Hanson. When asked about the trade of ace Javier Vazquez, Lowe acknowledged that the Braves had lost a terrific pitcher, but he said, "We're going to get 15 more starts from Tommy Hanson. That's a pretty good start."

-- Tim Kurkjian, ESPN The Magazine

HEYWARD TURNING HEADS AT BRAVES CAMP (12:33 p.m. ET)
Braves right fielder Jason Heyward has had some prodigious batting practices so far this spring.

"It sounds like a 30-aught six going off when he hits the ball," said Braves pitcher Tim Hudson. "I was walking through the outfield, I heard that sound, turned and said, 'What in the heck was that?' "

Pitcher Derek Lowe agreed about the sound, saying, "His BP is frightening."

Heyward said Thursday that he weighed in, clothed, at 250 pounds. He said in spikes, he stands 6-foot-6.

"He is huge," said Braves catcher David Ross. "His hands are huge. Hank Aaron was here the other day and talked about how big Jason's hands are. And Hank has big hands."

-- Tim Kurkjian, ESPN The Magazine

From the ESPN Spring training blog http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/...pring_training

[fren.]

Jesus, why did I always peg him as a Carl Crawford clone (in terms of physical appearance)?

[Moss]

iirc a Braves player compared him to a bigger Carl Crawford, I was thinking he was closer to 6'3" 220. 6'6" 250 (although that is probably a little exaggerated) is ridiculous for a 20 year old kid.

[Bregor]

Just remember that Montero didn't hit one in the batter's eye... he hit it over it. The fence itself is 408 feet away, and the eye extends back and up. It was easily a 450-475 foot homer.

Juss sayin!

Yankees fans fussing over a prospect is just so precious. When's the last time you had a homegrown position player with this much hype? Nick Johnson was always on prospect lists but didn't get nearly this much press.

[Cephius]

Yankees fans fussing over a prospect is just so precious. When's the last time you had a homegrown position player with this much hype? Nick Johnson was always on prospect lists but didn't get nearly this much press.

That Derek Jeter kid seems to have turned out okay. Also I know you said position player, but the Joba Chamberlain hype was pretty insane.

[Bregor]

That Derek Jeter kid seems to have turned out okay. Also I know you said position player, but the Joba Chamberlain hype was pretty insane.

Not saying they don't pan out in the Bronx, it's just every two or three years most teams get to hang their hat on some kid too young to drink. Jeter's RoY was '96, so it's been 14 years? Welcome back.

[*Shinzon*]

Not saying they don't pan out in the Bronx, it's just every two or three years most teams get to hang their hat on some kid too young to drink. Jeter's RoY was '96, so it's been 14 years? Welcome back.

Has he really been playing that long? Damn

[Ensam]

Bernie Williams was decent too

[Ensam]

holy jesus

going by the stats, Bernie Williams was a horrrrrrrible CFer

he didn't post a positive run total after he was 26 until he had a real small sample since when he was 37. -8 runs per 150 games for his career.

man he could hit though

[Bozo]

http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com...=.jsp&c_id=phi

So close!

[Alderaan]

Looking forward to a whole season out of Tommy Hanson and hopefully Jason Heyward. Although my Bravos have a track record of sending down prospects to start the season, to save money.

[Bregor]

Braves fans popping up everywhere. Why do I feel like it was just Aki last season?

Meanwhile, holy shit I had no idea Marlon Byrd was so jacked, we're gonna have to break out the Sosa sleeves again:

http://cdn1.sbnation.com/entry_photo...g_baseball.jpg

[Akiyama]

Haha. It *felt* like it was just me, but I think I remember one other person.. not sure. I'm the Braves flag bearer though, so get off bitches. Heyward better be up here to start the season.

[Moss]

Well I didn't join until December so step off!

and moar Heyward:

Jason Heyward's batting practice drives are costing the Atlanta Braves -- but local body shops aren't complaining. Heyward launched a shot over the right-field wall this week that smashed through the sun roof of assistant general manager Bruce Manno's car. The bill was $3,400.

Heyward has dented other vehicles, too. So much damage, in fact, the young slugger is turning the parking lot into Jason's Junkyard. The daily demolition derby has forced the Braves to take action. Stadium workers are installing protective netting to safeguard the cars and any unsuspecting people walking around.

The Braves spent 12 years at their spring training home without worrying. Heyward, a 20-year-old outfielder and perhaps the top prospect in baseball, forced a change after one week of workouts.

"I guess they just figured it's time to stop waiting around on that," Heyward said.

-- Associated Press