Atlanta Already Knows he Plays Hard
DENVER -- When RYAN CHURCH suffered a concussion sliding into Yunel Escobar's knee last year, there were some Braves that thought he'd put himself in position to suffer the ailment with a late, high slide that could have injured Escobar.
But now that he's a member of their team, the Braves are going to enjoy the blue-collar, aggressive nature displayed by Church, who introduced himself to his teammates on Saturday afternoon and then found himself starting in right field a few hours later against the Rockies.
"He [plays hard]," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "That's obvious to everybody."
Church, who was acquired from the Mets in exchange for Jeff Francoeur on Friday, actually suffered two concussions within a span two months last year, and after incurring that second one on May 20 at Turner Field, he found the Mets utilizing him as a pinch-hitter two nights later and a total of four times during the six days that followed.
"I took that first month off during the offseason, and it was just one of those things where I woke up and finally all of the symptoms were gone," Church said. "After that, I started working out and didn't have a problem. So I kept building on that and I haven't had any problems since then."
While Church might finally feel normal, he still hasn't regained the form he'd displayed while hitting .311 with nine homers and a .913 OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) in the 42 games he'd played before suffering that second concussion.
In the 115 games that have followed, Church has hit .264 with five homers and a .686 OPS.
Part of this could be blamed on the fact that the Mets didn't allow him to gain the immediate rest that he's since been told that he needed. But the 30-year-old outfielder also didn't benefit from the pitcher-friendly dimensions at Citi Field, which the Mets opened this year.
During the 32 home games he played with the Mets this year, Church hit .216 with a .576 OPS. In 35 road games, he batted.326 with an .804 OPS.
"The park plays big, but everybody has to play in it, so you can't use it as an excuse," Church said. "At times, it could be frustrating. But what can you do? It's already built and it's concrete and it ain't moving."
With the trade, Church gained the opportunity to play with Chipper Jones, whom he'd adopted as his favorite player while growing up in Santa Barbara, Calif. (????) as a Braves fan.
Church, who will be utilized primarily in a right field platoon with Matt Diaz, showed his sense of humor when asked if there would be any animosity between himself and Escobar.
"I don't even remember any more, that's the good thing about it," Church said. "That's part of the game. It was unfortunate, but hey, we're teammates now."
When Friday's trade was completed, the wide-ranging thought was that it allowed two teams to move a pair of players that needed a change of scenery. Church is simply looking at it as one that could benefit him and Francoeur.
"I think it's going to work out for both of us in the end," Church said. "He's going to love it there. It's the biggest stage. At times, it can be tough. But he's a tough player and he plays hard. I think all you have to do in New York is play hard and they'll love you."
Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com.
DENVER -- When RYAN CHURCH suffered a concussion sliding into Yunel Escobar's knee last year, there were some Braves that thought he'd put himself in position to suffer the ailment with a late, high slide that could have injured Escobar.
But now that he's a member of their team, the Braves are going to enjoy the blue-collar, aggressive nature displayed by Church, who introduced himself to his teammates on Saturday afternoon and then found himself starting in right field a few hours later against the Rockies.
"He [plays hard]," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "That's obvious to everybody."
Church, who was acquired from the Mets in exchange for Jeff Francoeur on Friday, actually suffered two concussions within a span two months last year, and after incurring that second one on May 20 at Turner Field, he found the Mets utilizing him as a pinch-hitter two nights later and a total of four times during the six days that followed.
"I took that first month off during the offseason, and it was just one of those things where I woke up and finally all of the symptoms were gone," Church said. "After that, I started working out and didn't have a problem. So I kept building on that and I haven't had any problems since then."
While Church might finally feel normal, he still hasn't regained the form he'd displayed while hitting .311 with nine homers and a .913 OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) in the 42 games he'd played before suffering that second concussion.
In the 115 games that have followed, Church has hit .264 with five homers and a .686 OPS.
Part of this could be blamed on the fact that the Mets didn't allow him to gain the immediate rest that he's since been told that he needed. But the 30-year-old outfielder also didn't benefit from the pitcher-friendly dimensions at Citi Field, which the Mets opened this year.
During the 32 home games he played with the Mets this year, Church hit .216 with a .576 OPS. In 35 road games, he batted.326 with an .804 OPS.
"The park plays big, but everybody has to play in it, so you can't use it as an excuse," Church said. "At times, it could be frustrating. But what can you do? It's already built and it's concrete and it ain't moving."
With the trade, Church gained the opportunity to play with Chipper Jones, whom he'd adopted as his favorite player while growing up in Santa Barbara, Calif. (????) as a Braves fan.
Church, who will be utilized primarily in a right field platoon with Matt Diaz, showed his sense of humor when asked if there would be any animosity between himself and Escobar.
"I don't even remember any more, that's the good thing about it," Church said. "That's part of the game. It was unfortunate, but hey, we're teammates now."
When Friday's trade was completed, the wide-ranging thought was that it allowed two teams to move a pair of players that needed a change of scenery. Church is simply looking at it as one that could benefit him and Francoeur.
"I think it's going to work out for both of us in the end," Church said. "He's going to love it there. It's the biggest stage. At times, it can be tough. But he's a tough player and he plays hard. I think all you have to do in New York is play hard and they'll love you."
Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com.
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Duffy Clean in Futures Game
In other pro baseball action DANNY DUFFY acquitted himself well in Major League Baseball's Futures Game Sunday at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Representing the Kansas City Royals Duffy hurled two-thirds of an inning and gave up one harmless base hit.
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