Braves Notes From Camp
Just like Heyward, I showed up early at the Braves big league camp. Basically, it was either hang out with Mike & Mike during ESPN The Weekend, or walk 20 steps into Champion Stadium and check out the Braves. I'm sure Golic and Greenie don't mind. Picked up the spring training credential (priceless) and got right to work.
Walked by Jair Jurrjens in the tunnel and he was smiling. Arm must be feeling better. Tommy Hanson took the field and patted Bobby Cox on the butt. Only in baseball and football can you get away with that. It's also a sign of the respect the kid has for the skipper. Medlen really looks like a kid out there with the adults. It's refreshing. Sort of funny. Glaus was working on his game at 1st base. Taking ground balls and throws from Escobar at short. Troy is a big dude. Chipper joked that it will be hard to throw one wild over his head at 1st. Chipper also told me that the strength of this team is the quality depth. Deep in pitching. Deep position roster. Tough outs 1-8 in the line-up. McLouth is really fit. And the Braves really need Nate to step up with a big season. McLouth is not the smallest player in camp. That title goes to #78 Matt Young, a minor league outfielder, who is 5'8" 165. Young hit .289 at AA Mississippi last season and stole 42 bases. The Braves would take 25-30 out of McLouth this season.
One of my first moves at spring training is to check out the dudes with the high numbers, because it's the first time I'll put eyes on most of them. Mike Minor, the 1st round pick, is #73. He's probably looking at AA MIssissippi this season. Cody Johnson is #77. He's a big bopper (6'4, 200) from the left side, who hit 32 homeruns in High-A Myrtle Beach last year. Of course, he struck out 171 times too. After the big ESPN The Weekend ceremonies, fans were treated with some BP, under the lights at Champion Stadium, and Cody treated them with a few bombs. Freddie Freeman is #70 (6'5", 220) and he's got a smooth left-handed swing.
Obviously, the big story is phenom Jason Heyward. Big #71 has been putting on an impressive show of power in batting practice. He's 6'6" in cleats and now 245 pounds. When he gets his arms extended, the ball just explodes off the bat. There is a lot of talk about these BP homers, but he's a line-drive hitter. Heyward will be seen galloping towards 2nd base for a lot of doubles this season. And know this, this kid is aware of the strike zone. He walked as much as he struck out last season in the minors. He wasn't overwhelmed last year in Braves camp...hit over .300 and with 3 homers in 40 at bats. No reason to believe he'll come up short this time around. He's just special. Because of the damage he's doing to automobiles in the parking lot, Disney has installed the "Heyward Nets", to protect the cars. Wait to you get a look at this guy! And get ready to see him take the stage back in Atlanta. It's going to happen. And it's going to be big. And exciting. He'll be the biggest deal since the Falcons took Vick #1.
Of course, this is the last go-around for Bobby Cox. The players just love him. And he's straight up with the media. Always comes right over and shakes your hand. Bobby spends the early days of spring out in the bullpen, watching the pitchers throw. He's got a walkie-talkie, which allows him to communicate with the batting practice cage. It's going to be an honor to follow his 25th and final season managing the Braves.
Got to see Saito throw some live BP. That's where the pitcher tells the hitter what's coming---fastball or breaking ball. Saito's fastball appeared explosive. His breaking ball looked nasty too. Hope he can hold up for 162-plus. More later.
Walked by Jair Jurrjens in the tunnel and he was smiling. Arm must be feeling better. Tommy Hanson took the field and patted Bobby Cox on the butt. Only in baseball and football can you get away with that. It's also a sign of the respect the kid has for the skipper. Medlen really looks like a kid out there with the adults. It's refreshing. Sort of funny. Glaus was working on his game at 1st base. Taking ground balls and throws from Escobar at short. Troy is a big dude. Chipper joked that it will be hard to throw one wild over his head at 1st. Chipper also told me that the strength of this team is the quality depth. Deep in pitching. Deep position roster. Tough outs 1-8 in the line-up. McLouth is really fit. And the Braves really need Nate to step up with a big season. McLouth is not the smallest player in camp. That title goes to #78 Matt Young, a minor league outfielder, who is 5'8" 165. Young hit .289 at AA Mississippi last season and stole 42 bases. The Braves would take 25-30 out of McLouth this season.
One of my first moves at spring training is to check out the dudes with the high numbers, because it's the first time I'll put eyes on most of them. Mike Minor, the 1st round pick, is #73. He's probably looking at AA MIssissippi this season. Cody Johnson is #77. He's a big bopper (6'4, 200) from the left side, who hit 32 homeruns in High-A Myrtle Beach last year. Of course, he struck out 171 times too. After the big ESPN The Weekend ceremonies, fans were treated with some BP, under the lights at Champion Stadium, and Cody treated them with a few bombs. Freddie Freeman is #70 (6'5", 220) and he's got a smooth left-handed swing.
Obviously, the big story is phenom Jason Heyward. Big #71 has been putting on an impressive show of power in batting practice. He's 6'6" in cleats and now 245 pounds. When he gets his arms extended, the ball just explodes off the bat. There is a lot of talk about these BP homers, but he's a line-drive hitter. Heyward will be seen galloping towards 2nd base for a lot of doubles this season. And know this, this kid is aware of the strike zone. He walked as much as he struck out last season in the minors. He wasn't overwhelmed last year in Braves camp...hit over .300 and with 3 homers in 40 at bats. No reason to believe he'll come up short this time around. He's just special. Because of the damage he's doing to automobiles in the parking lot, Disney has installed the "Heyward Nets", to protect the cars. Wait to you get a look at this guy! And get ready to see him take the stage back in Atlanta. It's going to happen. And it's going to be big. And exciting. He'll be the biggest deal since the Falcons took Vick #1.
Of course, this is the last go-around for Bobby Cox. The players just love him. And he's straight up with the media. Always comes right over and shakes your hand. Bobby spends the early days of spring out in the bullpen, watching the pitchers throw. He's got a walkie-talkie, which allows him to communicate with the batting practice cage. It's going to be an honor to follow his 25th and final season managing the Braves.
Got to see Saito throw some live BP. That's where the pitcher tells the hitter what's coming---fastball or breaking ball. Saito's fastball appeared explosive. His breaking ball looked nasty too. Hope he can hold up for 162-plus. More later.
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