2011 Atlanta Braves

[Watson]

Quote: Originally Posted by PMG_HART

JT can you post theirs and any other Braves players twitter accounts? I have the Cyborg Hanson one and that is funny as heck sometimes.

@PeterMoylan
@kris_medlen

[Sportsforever]

Read something this morning that I thought was pretty cool:

Since 1900 only 7 players have had an OBP over .380 at 20 years of age. You might recognize some of the names - Ott, Teddy Ballgame, Mantle, Kaline, Foxx, A-Rod, and....Heyward.

Pretty elite company right there!

[Dog]

Quote: Originally Posted by Sportsforever

Read something this morning that I thought was pretty cool: Since 1900 only 7 players have had an OBP over .380 at 20 years of age. You might recognize some of the names - Ott, Teddy Ballgame, Mantle, Kaline, Foxx, A-Rod, and....Heyward. Pretty elite company right there!

And that was after he "struggled" for most of last year?!

[Sportsforever]

Quote: Originally Posted by JNes12

And that was after he "struggled" for most of last year?!

The thumb/wrist injury really hurt his overall numbers. Look at these splits (from fangraphs):

He slid into third on May 14th and injured his thumb.

These are the numbers he had up to that game (Apr 5-May 14):
.299/.425/.608 (31 games, 97at bats)

While playing hurt (May 15-Jun 26):
.222/.328/.361 (40 games, 158 at bats)

After his DL stint (Jul 15-Oct 3):
.302/.419/.457 (71 games, 265 at bats)

That puts his numbers surrounding the time he first injured his thumb, and his DL stay, as follows (102 games, 362 at bats):
.301/.422/.533

If he stays healthy this year, I honestly think he can be an MVP candidate.

[Dog]

Quote: Originally Posted by Sportsforever

The thumb/wrist injury really hurt his overall numbers. Look at these splits (from fangraphs): He slid into third on May 14th and injured his thumb. These are the numbers he had up to that game (Apr 5-May 14): .299/.425/.608 (31 games, 97at bats) While playing hurt (May 15-Jun 26): .222/.328/.361 (40 games, 158 at bats) After his DL stint (Jul 15-Oct 3): .302/.419/.457 (71 games, 265 at bats) That puts his numbers surrounding the time he first injured his thumb, and his DL stay, as follows (102 games, 362 at bats): .301/.422/.533 If he stays healthy this year, I honestly think he can be an MVP candidate.

Mother of God. I love the guy, but I feel like I'm going to have a Chipper Jones type hate for him over the next 10 or so years. I loved Chipper, loved the way he played, but hated how he killed the Phillies so much. Looks like Heyward is going to be the same way.


And yes, MVP is a definite possibility. Would he be the youngest ever MVP at 21? I'm about to look that up.

[Jgainsey]

I was wondering the same thing not too long ago, and I believe the only other 22 year old to win the award was Vida Blue, as a pitcher in the 70's. I'm pretty sure he won the Cy Young award that year too.

Other than I don't think there have been any other guys his age or younger to win the MVP. I remember Pujols being one of the younger winners in '05, but he was already 24 or 25.

[Sportsforever]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jgainsey

I was wondering the same thing not too long ago, and I believe the only other 22 year old to win the award was Vida Blue, as a pitcher in the 70's. I'm pretty sure he won the Cy Young award that year too. Other than I don't think there have been any other guys his age or younger to win the MVP. I remember Pujols being one of the younger winners in '05, but he was already 24 or 25.

I know Vida won the CY in 1971 when he won 24 games and had a sub 2.00 ERA. Unfortunately the innings load really took a lot out of him and he never approached those numbers again. He was indeed the youngest to win the MVP.

Ryne Sandberg was the 2nd youngest to win it in 1984 (he was 24 at the time).

[Dog]

So he could be the youngest? He would be like 2 weeks younger than Vida if he won it this year. I kind of hope it happens, actually