Talking Chop

REMINDER: The Braves will be featured on MLB Network's "30 Clubs in 30 Days" on Wednesday, March 17th. IIRC, MLBN does a real nice job with their season previews. Check it out!

"I told (Heyward) the other day, I don't know what the f--- I was thinking."

"I think we need him," Jones said. "I think we need him to be a contender in the East. We need him from Day One."

Schafer update: "That's the best that I've felt in 10 months"

"Home runs, I know they're going to come," Heyward said. "I know that's part of my game; I'm not worried about that. But I was just happy about having a good at-bat because he made some good pitches. It was a good at-bat, a good swing."

Braves starters have not allowed a run in the first five games of spring training, getting two scoreless innings each from Tommy Hanson, Tim Hudson, Kenshin Kawakami, Derek Lowe and Kris Medlen.

-DOB

Chipper on Heyward: "I will be shocked if he doesn't break camp with us."

When Spring Training started I was kind of secretly hoping for Heyward to struggle just a little bit so we could give him some needed experience in AAA. Now, after seeing what the Beast can do, I almost feel like it'll be a huge blow to the Braves' momentum if Heyward doesn't break camp with the team.

JASON HEYWARD FOR OPENING DAY RIGHT FIELDER.

"Everybody knows he belongs. It's just a matter of getting used to the big-league pitching, how quick the adjustments are made. But he's the best 20-year-old I've ever seen."

Has anyone here ever stood in the box against Major League pitching? Didn't want to make a whole FanPost, just curious. I maintain that I would be able to at least foul-tip the ball but nobody else agrees with me. I was average in High School.

Best line of the spring so far: Andrew Jones showed up in great shape, about 25 pounds lighter than last year. And he proclaimed to others, "I am the best CFer you guys have in camp." To which Joey Cora replied, "You should be. Only pitchers and catchers have reported."