The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
New manager’s practices filled with intensity, communication
Atlanta United’s first week of training under new manager Gabriel Heinze has been intense. From the first session.
“It was tough day, for sure,” midfielder Emerson Hyndman said. “He introduced himself like that. We didn’t expect anything less. We had a tough time last year. We expect him to come in and tell us what he wanted us to do and be very direct. He has great ideas on how he wants to play the game. We are learning quite a bit in a short time.”
To call last season a “tough time” is a bit of an understatement. No playoffs for the first time. A negative goal difference for the first time.
That’s why Heinze is in charge. That’s why the team is holding two practices a day.
“The way he wants to play requires hard work and a lot of fitness,” Hyndman said. “A lot of things we are doing are tough physically as well as mentally. It’s about being tough. He wants to play on the front foot. We have it in our mind that it’s going to make us better.”
The style — three central midfielders, a lot of pressing — reminds one of Gerardo Martino’s two seasons as Atlanta United’s manager.
Like Martino, Heinze also is a very clear communicator. The players say they know exactly what he wants from them or wants them to do, whether he uses his hands or his interpreter.
“As a player it gives you that sense of security, that sense of confidence,” winger Erik Lopez said. “We are hoping it will be a year full of results and wins and championships.”
Hyndman said Heinze took him aside and explained which position (central midfielder) is best for him and is allowing him to concentrate only on that role. Hyndman said it’s different than last season when he was used in a variety of positions.
“Very comforting for me to know that this is my position,” Hyndman said.
As intense as Heinze is, and as intricate as his pressing system is, Lopez said the players free to express themselves on the field and unafraid to make mistakes.
“As players you will always make mistakes,” Lopez said. “It’s those mistakes that you end up learning from. From a coach, that’s good to know who is going to support you.”
The Braves have no shortage of candidates for their depth spots. There’s a chance that their bench and bullpen will consist of players already on the 40-man roster, but there are several individuals better-positioned to sneak onto the opening-day roster.
1. RHP Carl Edwards Jr.
The moment the Braves signed Edwards, he became arguably the most intriguing reliever in camp. Formerly an electric thrower with the contending Cubs, Edwards’ career has been stalled by injuries. He’s made two appearances this spring, striking out three and giving up one run (a homer). Edwards needs to beat out a player such as Grant Dayton or Luke Jackson for a spot, which seems realistic.
“Carl Edwards was really, really good,” manager Brian Snitker said after the 29-year-old’s spring debut. He’s already standing out to the right people.
2. 2B Jason Kipnis
Kipnis, a two-time All-star, can handle second base and the outfield. He also possesses more upside at the plate than the team’s other bench options. Infield depth including Johan Camargo and Kipnis would give the Braves some versatility, though the backup shortstop spot would still be questionable (the team will give Camargo opportunities to prove himself there over the next few weeks).
3. INF Pablo Sandoval
Sandoval, who plays first and third, is facing an uphill climb to make the roster, but he’s in the discussion. The Braves’ bench is an underwhelming group right
now, and like Kipnis, Sandoval has a track record and ranks among their better offensive options. The switch-hitter joined the Braves late last season, playing in the regular-season finale and earning a spot on the postseason roster. He made enough of an impression that the Braves wanted him back in camp.
“He brings instant credibility with what he’s been through,” Snitker said of Sandoval. “I know we didn’t use him that much, but having him here, the player he is, the person he is, I’m excited to get him in camp also. We’re looking for guys for bench roles and Pablo fits that description. We’ll use spring training and see where he stacks up. A guy with that experience could be a great help in that role.”
The Jake Lamb signing dealt a blow to Sandoval’s chances, however. But the Braves clearly like him, and given how their bench looks offensively, Sandoval
has a shot.
Two other notable non-roster invitees:
Veteran right-hander Nate Jones could potentially work his way into the conversation. Jones, 35, pitched a clean inning in his spring debut. Still, he’s a long shot, given the pitchers vying for spots.
Shortstop Ehire Adrianza is among those battling for a bench job. He would give the Braves a comfortable backup at that position, an important consideration. Adrianza doesn’t offer much at the plate, and if the team decides it’s comfortable with Camargo at shortstop, Adrianza’s best selling point is mitigated.
There’s a lengthy list of other non-roster players who’ve generated attention this spring, including relievers Victor Vodnik and Freddy Tarnok, and outfielders Michael Harris and Drew Waters, but they won’t factor into the Braves’ opening-day roster.
Georgia finished the regular season fourth in the SEC and earned a double-bye in the SEC Tournament.
That’s great. So what? As harsh as that sounds, that’s the deep-seated truth for the Lady Bulldogs. It’s what happens going forward that will define the 2020-21 team.
They know it, and they’ve embraced it.
“The goal is to get a trophy, get a ring,” said senior Jenna Staiti, the Lady Bulldogs’ leading scorer and rebounder.
Said Joni Taylor, reigning SEC coach of the year: “I know this team is confident and believes they can get to Sunday and win.”
For the Lady Bulldogs (185, 10-5 SEC), there remain significant mountains to climb to get there. It will start in their first game, this afternoon at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C. As the tournament seedings worked out, Georgia will face Kentucky in the third round.
That’s either cruel fate or a fortuitous opportunity to exact some revenge.
The fifth-seeded Wildcats (17-6), who defeated Florida 73-64 in the second round Thursday, have been a proverbial thorn in Georgia’s side of late, winning six of the past seven games in the series. Most recently, they saddled Geor- gia with a 62-58 defeat Feb. 25 at Stegeman Coliseum.
While that loss didn’t ultimately cost the Lady Bulldogs their double-bye (UGA clinched it with a win over Florida and Kentucky’s loss to Ole Miss this past weekend), it knocked them down a spot that could have had them facing the Arkan- sas-ole Miss winner rather than the Wildcats.
What makes Kentucky particularly tough is Rhyne Howard. The 6-foot-2 junior guard is the two-time reigning SEC player of the year. She averages 19.8 points and 7.5 rebounds. She had 27 in the win in Athens.
Should Georgia get past the Wildcats, No. 1-seeded Texas A&M (22-1, 13-1) likely will await. The Aggies are playing eighth-seeded LSU in the 11 a.m. game preced- ing Georgia-kentucky. The Lady Bulldogs lost to A&M 60-48 on Jan. 31 in College Station.
If the Lady Bulldogs can get rolling, they’re definitely built for tournament success. Georgia is one of the deepest teams in the SEC, featuring nine play- ers playing double-figure minutes. UGA is the only SEC team to not have any player among the top 30 in the league in minutes played.
If they can get into a second or third game in a row scenario, such depth could make a difference. Of course, Taylor has the Lady Bulldogs hyper-focused on the first one.
“We know it’s going to be tough, and it’s not going to be easy,” Taylor said. “But I think we’ll be locked in and focused and play as long as we can. For us, hopefully Sunday that means playing for a championship and then also playing well as we go into the NCAA Tournament in a few weeks.”
Said Staiti: “We know what to do, what know what to take care of, we know how to play. I think we’re in a really good position.”