Atlanta Braves (4x World Series Champions)

[TheRob8801]

The Pujols comparisons are ridiculous. The more appropriate analogy would be Andruw Jones, and he was the real deal for the Braves. As of right now, one game into the season, I have no doubts that Heyward is the real deal; and it will only help when he has the veteran savvy.

I don't think the Pujols comparisons are ridiculous...people aren't comparing Jason to current day Pujols, they're comparing him to rookie Pujols. That's about right according to the hype. The production will be different, but mainly because Heyward and Pujols are different types of hitters. The Andruw comparison is great in terms of what he brings to the team...but I think Jason brings a lot more than Andruw did, even when Andruw was the rookie phenom going off in the playoffs...

It will be very interesting to see how the transition from Cox to whomever takes the job will affect Jason's growth. The supporting cast around him isn't going to differ much...but Bobby's been known to "raise" a player through the first few years of their MLB tenure.

One thing I'm sincerely hoping for...is that Terry Pendleton doesn't ruin Jason's career like he did Andruw's.

 

[NFBuck]

I don't think the Pujols comparisons are ridiculous...people aren't comparing Jason to current day Pujols, they're comparing him to rookie Pujols. That's about right according to the hype. The production will be different, but mainly because Heyward and Pujols are different types of hitters. The Andruw comparison is great in terms of what he brings to the team...but I think Jason brings a lot more than Andruw did, even when Andruw was the rookie phenom going off in the playoffs...

It will be very interesting to see how the transition from Cox to whomever takes the job will affect Jason's growth. The supporting cast around him isn't going to differ much...but Bobby's been known to "raise" a player through the first few years of their MLB tenure.

One thing I'm sincerely hoping for...is that Terry Pendleton doesn't ruin Jason's career like he did Andruw's.

Let me guess, you're a Braves fan too.

The Pujols comparisons are ridiculous...rookie year or not. Look at Pujols numbers, his rookie year was on par with the rest of his career.

This kid may be good, but I don't see him putting up numbers like Pujols did- .329 BA, 39 HR, 130 RBI, 112 R, 47 2B. Rookies put up those numbers once a generation.

If he puts up 2/3 those numbers, it would be a pretty damn good rookie year.

 

[morbitzerker]

Albert Pujols St. Louis Cardinals Rookie season
Year|Age|G |PA | AB | R | H |2B|3B|HR|RBI|BB|SO|BA | OBP|SLG |OPS

2001|21|161|676|590|112|194|47|4 |37 |130|69|93|.329|.403|.610|1.013

Not taking anything away from Heyward, but Pujols was a force his rookie year. A 48 consecutive-game on base streak doesn't happen on its own. .300+ batting average, 37 HR's, 194 hits, 112 runs, and 130 RBI are not numbers you see from rookies. NL Rookie of the year is a great honor and Heyward could do it, but I don't see a Silver Slugger Award in his first season in the majors. I could be wrong. However, Heyward does not need to be Pujols in his rookie year, nor do I expect him to be, he just needs to be Jason.

 

[TheRob8801]

The Pujols comparisons are ridiculous...rookie year or not. Look at Pujols numbers, his rookie year was on par with the rest of his career.

This kid may be good, but I don't see him putting up numbers like Pujols did- .329 BA, 39 HR, 130 RBI, 112 R, 47 2B. Rookies put up those numbers once a generation.

I don't see him putting up those kind of numbers either...don't quite know how you overlooked that in my post.

That's about right according to the hype. The production will be different, but mainly because Heyward and Pujols are different types of hitters. The Andruw comparison is great in terms of what he brings to the team...

In terms of sheer excitement and hype, Jason's right on par with Albert's rookie season.

I'm expecting a season somewhere right in the middle of what Andruw Jones did his first full season in '97 and what Albert Pujols did in his rookie year. Something along the lines of [.273BA, 28HR, 100RBI, 86R, 32 2B]. That would be an absolutely PHENOMENAL year...and would definitely be worthy of ROY...but watching him play in the minors and seeing his progression over the past 2 years...I truly expect he can do it.

 

[sepia5]

.275/20/80 would be about my guess, and that would be a phenomenal rookie campaign. This is a really, really big transition. It's not often that a rookie puts up better numbers than that.

 

[CentralMOBuck]

I don't see him putting up those kind of numbers either...don't quite know how you overlooked that in my post.

Man your own posts contradict what you are saying so much. You started with this.

I don't think the Pujols comparisons are ridiculous...people aren't comparing Jason to current day Pujols, they're comparing him to rookie Pujols. That's about right according to the hype.

And followed it up with this.

The production will be different, but mainly because Heyward and Pujols are different types of hitters. The Andruw comparison is great in terms of what he brings to the team...but I think Jason brings a lot more than Andruw did, even when Andruw was the rookie phenom going off in the playoffs...

 

[Flocka]

Fuckin' Taos Jr. over here.

 

[BuckeyeSoldier]

Let me guess, you're a Braves fan too.

Was gonna post the exact same thing before i saw yours.

 

[TheRob8801]

Man your own posts contradict what you are saying so much.

Yea, you're right. I wasn't very clear on what I meant about the comparisons to Pujols.

As explained in my reply to NFBuck, the only comparisons you can really make to Pujols is how much hype he's received over the past few years leading up to his MLB debut...and now since he's burst onto the scene the expectations he's had put on him by fans and critics alike.

I expect him to be a standout athlete...and wouldn't be at all surprised to see him put a stamp in the history books much like Pujols did during his rookie season, but as mentioned before, Albert is on another planet in terms of talent that nobody can do quite what he did.

 

[CentralMOBuck]

Was Pujols this hyped when he came up out of the minors?

 

[TheRob8801]

Was Pujols this hyped when he came up out of the minors?

Yes.

Dude absolutely killed Cardinals camp the year before he hit the majors.

74R 19HR 96RBI .314BA .543SLG

That was when Albert was 20, same age as Heyward is now. I expect that kind of season from Jason, except for a lower BA facing MLB pitchers all season.

69R 17HR 63RBI .323BA .555SLG

This is Jason's stats in '09 in the Braves' farm system at the age of 19. So you can see where the comparisons are coming from.

 

[Piney]

Albert Pujols St. Louis Cardinals Rookie season
Year|Age|G |PA | AB | R | H |2B|3B|HR|RBI|BB|SO|BA | OBP|SLG |OPS

2001|21|161|676|590|112|194|47|4 |37 |130|69|93|.329|.403|.610|1.013

Not taking anything away from Heyward, but Pujols was a force his rookie year. A 48 consecutive-game on base streak doesn't happen on its own. .300+ batting average, 37 HR's, 194 hits, 112 runs, and 130 RBI are not numbers you see from rookies. NL Rookie of the year is a great honor and Heyward could do it, but I don't see a Silver Slugger Award in his first season in the majors. I could be wrong. However, Heyward does not need to be Pujols in his rookie year, nor do I expect him to be, he just needs to be Jason.

Of course Heyward can't be as good as Pujols rookie season, Heyward isn't juicing like Pujols was

 

[BigWoof31]

.275/20/80 would be about my guess, and that would be a phenomenal rookie campaign. This is a really, really big transition. It's not often that a rookie puts up better numbers than that.

If he hits that in the 6 or 7 spot in the lineup - the Braves will win the East.

 

[TheRob8801]

If he hits that in the 6 or 7 spot in the lineup - the Braves will win the East.

I doubt he'll stay at 7 all season.

If Melky and Troy don't pick things up I feel like they may play with Heyward in the 2 spot, or move Yunel back to 2 and shift everyone up 1. I don't see Heyward batting anywhere lower than 5 come June.

 

[BigWoof31]

Heyward had an RBI last night and it was his turn to give Chipper a big hug after Jones hit the go-ahead HR. Braves win 3-2!