OK Braves fans and MSSTATE 7

[shoeless joe]

I have no doubt Swanson will get better with time, he is just 24. Like a lot of Metro ATL Braves prospects, way too much was expected from him (see Heyward, Jason) too soon and the Braves rushed him hoping all of Marietta would come see him and offset the rest of their crap roster.

Ummm...lots of wrong here.

Swanson may have been rushed up but that is far from the braves M O. heyward was didn't start to go down for 2 years. Then the league adjusted and he didn't. He still can't hit consistently. I remember Bobby valentine commenting on his swing mechanics and how they would prevent him from being consistent without some adjustments. This woulda been about his 2nd or 3rd year up.

Frenchy was another guy that tore it up for a few years and then refused to adjust. He'd always been a studd that had done it his way and he never could wrap his mind around having to make a change.

Neither of these guys were "rushed" to the majors.

[BrunswickDawg]

Ummm...lots of wrong here.

Swanson may have been rushed up but that is far from the braves M O. heyward was didn't start to go down for 2 years. Then the league adjusted and he didn't. He still can't hit consistently. I remember Bobby valentine commenting on his swing mechanics and how they would prevent him from being consistent without some adjustments. This woulda been about his 2nd or 3rd year up.

Frenchy was another guy that tore it up for a few years and then refused to adjust. He'd always been a studd that had done it his way and he never could wrap his mind around having to make a change.

Neither of these guys were "rushed" to the majors.

It's a perception impact and the pressure of being very young and having to impress your hometown. So far, none of the young local Braves have been able to handle it. Heyward was 20 when he came up and Frenchy was 21. Both of them could have benefited from more time in the minors to strengthen their ability to adjust. All 3 of them had excellent ability but had never played at a level of baseball anywhere and failed. Then they get to fail every night in front of family and friends. Heyward did start to decline in his 2nd season - dropping his AVG by .50. He actually did adjust in year 3, getting back to .269 and his career high 27 HR - but then got injured in year 4 and was never the same. Frenchy was his best in his 2nd full season, and then got figured out and never adjusted. Both guys were considered "busts" by Braves fans by the time they were 25.

To me, all that pressure on a 20-21 year old kid in his hometown is too much.