Three things I learned at spring training
Article By smcneal.tsn on 19th March, 2010
By Stan McNeal
Sporting News' Stan McNeal visited Braves and Astros camps Friday:
Heyward does it again
Jason Heyward continues to keep auto insurers busy. In batting practice Friday, the 20-year-old uber-prospect hit another car with one of his mammoth home runs. This was quite a precision shot. Heyward dodged the protective nets in right field and landed this homer smack in the middle of a rearview mirror of Braves' media relations director Brad Hainje. The mirror was smashed, but no harm was done to the part that contains the mirror.
Heyward -- some are calling him the "Say Hey Kid" -- has been the hit of spring training, as much for his batting practice shows as for an overall game that is far ahead of most his age. He has walked nine times and struck out only three. He is hitting .440, runs the bases well, plays good defense and goes about his business like a veteran.
So how many more cars will he have to bruise before the Braves announce he will open the season as their right fielder?
"He's left me some messages," Braves general manager Frank Wren said, "But we haven't talked yet."
The decision will not hinge on finances, Wren said. "It's about being competitive," he insisted.
Finances, however, are worth considering. It is about service time. After six seasons, players are eligible to become free agents. If Heyward is in the majors all of 2010, that counts as one season. If the Braves send him to the minors for just a couple of weeks, however, Heyward then would not accrue the 172 days needed for a full season of service time and would have to wait another year to become a free agent.
If you think that is forecasting a bit too far ahead, Wren won't disagree. "Who's smart enough to know what's going to happen in the next six years?" he asked.
Who's smart enough to know what will happen i...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
Sporting News' Stan McNeal visited Braves and Astros camps Friday:
Heyward does it again
Jason Heyward continues to keep auto insurers busy. In batting practice Friday, the 20-year-old uber-prospect hit another car with one of his mammoth home runs. This was quite a precision shot. Heyward dodged the protective nets in right field and landed this homer smack in the middle of a rearview mirror of Braves' media relations director Brad Hainje. The mirror was smashed, but no harm was done to the part that contains the mirror.
Heyward -- some are calling him the "Say Hey Kid" -- has been the hit of spring training, as much for his batting practice shows as for an overall game that is far ahead of most his age. He has walked nine times and struck out only three. He is hitting .440, runs the bases well, plays good defense and goes about his business like a veteran.
So how many more cars will he have to bruise before the Braves announce he will open the season as their right fielder?
"He's left me some messages," Braves general manager Frank Wren said, "But we haven't talked yet."
The decision will not hinge on finances, Wren said. "It's about being competitive," he insisted.
Finances, however, are worth considering. It is about service time. After six seasons, players are eligible to become free agents. If Heyward is in the majors all of 2010, that counts as one season. If the Braves send him to the minors for just a couple of weeks, however, Heyward then would not accrue the 172 days needed for a full season of service time and would have to wait another year to become a free agent.
If you think that is forecasting a bit too far ahead, Wren won't disagree. "Who's smart enough to know what's going to happen in the next six years?" he asked.
Who's smart enough to know what will happen i...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
Readers Comments
Related News
Featured Sponsors
Interested in getting MLB Tickets for this coming season? The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division. Get your New York Yankees Tickets today!
The Baltimore Orioles Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Since 1992, the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
New York Mets Tickets: The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. The Mets are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Get your Minnesota Twins Tickets today!
The Toronto Blue Jays Tickets are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners Tickets are looking to be a good team this year.
Detroit Tigers Tickets: The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises.
The Philadelphia Phillies Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. One of the biggest games of the season are the Phillies Red Sox Tickets. Another long time rival in the same state is Phillies Pirates Tickets.
The Chicago White Sox Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division.
The Atlanta Braves Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in Texas, representing the Dallas-Ft.Worth metropolitan area. Get your Texas Rangers Tickets today!
San Diego Padres Tickets: The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California.
Tampa Bay Rays Tickets: The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in 1998, the club has played at Tropicana Field.
The Florida Marlins were established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Florida Marlins Tickets are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
San Francisco Giants Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, who currently play in the National League West Division.
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland Indians Tickets are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League.
The Baltimore Orioles Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Since 1992, the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
New York Mets Tickets: The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. The Mets are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Get your Minnesota Twins Tickets today!
The Toronto Blue Jays Tickets are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners Tickets are looking to be a good team this year.
Detroit Tigers Tickets: The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises.
The Philadelphia Phillies Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. One of the biggest games of the season are the Phillies Red Sox Tickets. Another long time rival in the same state is Phillies Pirates Tickets.
The Chicago White Sox Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division.
The Atlanta Braves Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in Texas, representing the Dallas-Ft.Worth metropolitan area. Get your Texas Rangers Tickets today!
San Diego Padres Tickets: The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California.
Tampa Bay Rays Tickets: The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in 1998, the club has played at Tropicana Field.
The Florida Marlins were established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Florida Marlins Tickets are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
San Francisco Giants Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, who currently play in the National League West Division.
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland Indians Tickets are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League.
