Happy Jason Heyward Day Post
April 6, 2010 at 9:35 am by Capitol Avenue Club under Atlanta Braves
I hope everyone enjoyed opening night and opening day. From now on, April 5 will be known as “Jason Heyward Day”. I won’t expound on all the easily romanticize-able symbolism that took place before and during yesterday’s game, I’ll leave that to the experts, but I’ll just say this. From the second Jason Heyward hit that 2-0 sinker out of the park, I knew, without a doubt, that he is exactly where he belongs. Arbitration politics aside, the Braves absolutely made the correct decision. I’m not saying he won’t do his best Jordan Schafer (who also homered in his first MLB plate appearance last year) impression, I’m saying even if he does, this was the correct decision. He’s ready, without a doubt, and he also makes the team better, without a doubt. And that’s the end of the story.
Standings
I’d just like to point out that the Braves’ run differential is currently greater than or equal to the total runs scored by every other team in major league baseball.
WPA Diagram
Courtesy of Fangraphs:
I was hardly surprised to learn that the most important play according to WPA and Leverage Index was Jason Heyward’s home run. I was also hardly surprised to learn that Jason Heyward tallied the most positive WPA yesterday. The legend continues.
Buehrle
If you haven’t seen Mark Buehrle’s spectacular play yet, give it a watch. One of the best plays I’ve ever seen.
Glaus
I’m generally not the type to worry or get too excited after one game. I’ve obviously betrayed the latter sentiment in the opening paragraph of this post and I’m about to betray the former. I’m unable to get over the fact that Troy Glaus didn’t look very good in the field yesterday. Maybe it’s just one game, maybe he’ll get better, but if his defense doesn’t improve we’re going to see a lot of Derek Lowe (and Tim Hudson and Jair Jurrjens, for that matter) starts like the one we saw yesterday. I’m not particularly worried about his bat, I think he’s healthy and if he stays healthy the bat will come. But defensively, he scares me. After Teixeira, Kotchman, and LaRoche, Braves fans have been recently spoiled with above-average, if not plus, defensive 1B. I didn’t expect that to continue, but I also expected every ground ball to not turn into an adventure.
Stat of the Day
Whoever had money on Nate McLouth being the only Braves’ regular not to score a run yesterday can collect. How things change in just one month. Brian McCann led the Braves by scoring 3 runs yesterday, and Martin Prado, Jason Heyward, Chipper Jones, Troy Glaus, and Yunel Escobar all scored two. Eric Hinske, Brooks Conrad, and Melky Cabrera scored the other three.
By the way, Nate McLouth had a successful day, I’d say, going 1-for-3 with two walks. Melky Cabrera went 0-5 with one walk. I really don’t care about the batting order, but if this sort of thing continues, the roles need to be reversed.
Off Day
Do you know why MLB teams schedule an off day during the first series of the year? It’s because they don’t want to have to issue a rain check to a sold out crowd. They’d prefer to re-play opening day on the off day. I can’t say I blame them, but I do wish there was a game on tonight.
That’s all from me for now.
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Braves batted around TWICE, TWICE! Crazy! I hate Cubs fans, man!
That’s interesting about the rain check. I always just assumed it was so that each team could get a little more attention / viewership for the opening of their season.
My sentiments on Heyward exactly. I think that with maybe one exception that I was the only one advocating Heyward to start in MLB over at Braves Journal. I’m not saying that he won’t tank or end up at Gwinnett for a tune up but I am saying that the Braves put their best team on the field to start the season and that out weighs any future arbitration or free agency considerations.
Lord his bat speed is incredible. I’m no scout or expert on hitting but if he makes consistent contact balls are going to be flying at high velocity all over the place.
Player of the game for me was Yunel Escobar. He is a baller when his head is on straight.
My impressions from Turner Field yesterday:
1. Heyward…what can you say? I screamed like a woman who just got a new car on Oprah along with the guy in front of me.
2. Lowe: B- He made a few mistakes that really got hit hard. I’d guess that he will be a little better than last year but will still own an ERA over 4.
3. Escobar: Johnny hit the nail on the head. The guy is a rock star with men on base.
4. McCann: May hit .670 for the season
5. McLouth: Better not collide with Heyward running down a ball. It’s just a no-win situation for him. Overall our outfield is really fast and covers the gaps well with Melky in left.
6. Bullpen: goosebumps for Wagner. Did Soriano look as bad on TV as he did from the seats?
I could go on and on but those were the things that stuck out in my mind from the Ted.
I too wish there was Atlanta Braves baseball on today.
Can someone enlighten as to what exactly Glaus did wrong in the field yesterday? Maybe I missed it. You aren’t suggesting those couple of off-line throws were his fault, are you? He made a good play to get off the bag and make the tags on them.
I loved seeing Heyward too, and had the same initial reaction, really, but the fact of the matter is still that there isn’t any way two weeks is more valuable than a year.
You mentioned Glaus in the field. I’m even more concerned with him at the plate. He just plain cannot get around on a fastball at this point, and I don’t see that improving. Chipper’s bat is also looking slow to me. I hope that’s just a false impression on my part, but he’s also become a statue in the field at third base.
I hear there is a movement to declare it “cinco de Abril” in Mexico.