Friday, February 24, 2006
Devine has stuff to be a future closer
02/19/2006
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Back in Raleigh, N.C., there are a number of young adults who entered North Carolina State University in the fall of 2002 preparing to graduate and experience life in the real world.
Minus those who may be called into military service, none will enter the work world and receive the immediate on-the-job pressures and lessons that former classmate Joey Devine received amidst a slew of adversity last year.
Exactly one year ago, Devine was a hotshot All-American on the N.C. State campus. Now as he prepares for his first full professional baseball season, he's a humbled and ever-confident 22-year-old relief pitcher, who seems quite capable of overcoming the potentially disastrous events that marred his rookie season in Atlanta.
"I still have a hard time believing what took place last year, just because so many things happened," Devine said. "But I was very blessed for what took place. I don't think there could be a better learning tool than what took place last year."
After fast-tracking his way through the Minors and finding himself in the big leagues just two months after being drafted by the Braves, Devine immediately made an unwanted entry into the record books. But becoming the first pitcher to allow a grand slam in each of his first two Major League appearances simply set the tone for the first chapter in his career.
The chapter and the Braves' season concluded in an even ruder manner when Devine's final pitch of 2005 was deposited into the left-field seats in the 18th inning of the Game 4 loss to the Astros in the National League Division Series.
"I still think about it to this day, don't get me wrong, but just because it was an unbelievable baseball game," Devine said. "That was the best baseball game I've ever been a part of. But as far as the home run, that's gone. It happened. It's already happened. It's in the past."
Such is the impressive mind-set the mature Devine brought when he arrived in Braves camp last week. It's obvious the Braves have no need to put him on suicide watch or even provide a sports psychologist who would be available 24 hours a day.
For a few weeks, Devine couldn't escape the pain and disgust that came after he allowed Chris Burke to drill the memorable walk-off homer in the longest postseason game ever played. But as time passed and his strong will rebuilt his confidence, he came to the conclusion this was simply something from which he could learn.
"It was one of those things, I had to break it down, think about it and leave it at the stadium," Devine said. "If I would have dragged that on with me the rest of the offseason, I would have showed up at Spring Training a different person."
Other than possessing a few extra pounds of muscle and the lessons learned from last year, Devine came to Spring Training as the talented young hurler the Braves envisioned when they selected with their first pick in last year's draft.
He also seems to have total support from the veteran pitchers, coaches and members of team management who still regard him as a potential superstar.
"Joey D had a little rude awakening to the big leagues last year," Tim Hudson said. "But the kid has a lot of talent and a tremendous ceiling ahead of him. We're hopefully going to help him reach it the best we can. I know where I was right out of college, and I wasn't where he's at."
After being named the 1997 collegiate player of the year by some groups, Hudson needed three Minor League seasons before he got his call to the big leagues. Devine had made just 22 appearances in the Minors before the injury-plagued Braves called him to Atlanta.
Devine's Aug. 20 Major League debut began favorably when he tossed a scoreless 12th inning against the Padres at Turner Field. But he tweaked his side during the 13th inning and minutes later allowed a game-winning grand slam to Xavier Nady.
Attempting to pitch through the discomfort three days later at Wrigley Field, he was slammed yet again by Jeromy Burnitz. Life hadn't been this cruel just a few months earlier in Raleigh.
"You don't like to see that happen to any young player," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said. "But of all the people that we could have had to endure that, he would have been the best."
Including the postseason, Devine has delivered 145 pitches in his big-league career. Two resulted in grand slams and another slammed the Braves' hopes for a world championship. But with his great confidence intact, his future remains bright.
"Joey Devine has such an incredible upside," John Smoltz said. "I don't know any player in the history of the game that has gone through what he did. His personality will deal with it."
Instead of simply reflecting on the longballs he surrendered, Braves manager Bobby Cox remember how impressive Devine was in the Minors and during his final three regular-season appearances in which he totaled three scoreless innings, struck out three and surrendered just one hit.
"He's got to feel pretty good about himself coming right out of college, pitching in the playoffs and under pressure and everything else," Cox said. "That's a huge step."
It's also a huge endeavor to work 81 1/3 innings, which Devine did from the start of the N.C. State season through Game 4 of the Division Series. But he rested his arm during the offseason and is prepared to accept whatever role the Braves present him this year.
Devine's success as an All-American closer at N.C. State puts him in position to compete against Chris Reitsma for that role in Atlanta. But the young hurler says he wouldn't be upset being used in any sort of middle-relief role.
"It's going to be exciting," Devine said. "It's going to be an exciting year. I'm really excited about getting out there playing and being an important part of the Braves organization."
As for the Braves, they feel fortunate to have found another young hurler whose mental makeup appears to be just as impressive as his talented arm.
"This game is going to bring adversity every step of the way," Devine said. "Hopefully if I'm playing long enough, there is going to be several more times where I'm going to have to fight adversity. No one is perfect.
"The better you can handle the adversity and learn from what takes place, I think that's what is going to build you as a player and a person."
Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Back in Raleigh, N.C., there are a number of young adults who entered North Carolina State University in the fall of 2002 preparing to graduate and experience life in the real world.
Minus those who may be called into military service, none will enter the work world and receive the immediate on-the-job pressures and lessons that former classmate Joey Devine received amidst a slew of adversity last year.
Exactly one year ago, Devine was a hotshot All-American on the N.C. State campus. Now as he prepares for his first full professional baseball season, he's a humbled and ever-confident 22-year-old relief pitcher, who seems quite capable of overcoming the potentially disastrous events that marred his rookie season in Atlanta.
"I still have a hard time believing what took place last year, just because so many things happened," Devine said. "But I was very blessed for what took place. I don't think there could be a better learning tool than what took place last year."
After fast-tracking his way through the Minors and finding himself in the big leagues just two months after being drafted by the Braves, Devine immediately made an unwanted entry into the record books. But becoming the first pitcher to allow a grand slam in each of his first two Major League appearances simply set the tone for the first chapter in his career.
The chapter and the Braves' season concluded in an even ruder manner when Devine's final pitch of 2005 was deposited into the left-field seats in the 18th inning of the Game 4 loss to the Astros in the National League Division Series.
"I still think about it to this day, don't get me wrong, but just because it was an unbelievable baseball game," Devine said. "That was the best baseball game I've ever been a part of. But as far as the home run, that's gone. It happened. It's already happened. It's in the past."
Such is the impressive mind-set the mature Devine brought when he arrived in Braves camp last week. It's obvious the Braves have no need to put him on suicide watch or even provide a sports psychologist who would be available 24 hours a day.
For a few weeks, Devine couldn't escape the pain and disgust that came after he allowed Chris Burke to drill the memorable walk-off homer in the longest postseason game ever played. But as time passed and his strong will rebuilt his confidence, he came to the conclusion this was simply something from which he could learn.
"It was one of those things, I had to break it down, think about it and leave it at the stadium," Devine said. "If I would have dragged that on with me the rest of the offseason, I would have showed up at Spring Training a different person."
Other than possessing a few extra pounds of muscle and the lessons learned from last year, Devine came to Spring Training as the talented young hurler the Braves envisioned when they selected with their first pick in last year's draft.
He also seems to have total support from the veteran pitchers, coaches and members of team management who still regard him as a potential superstar.
"Joey D had a little rude awakening to the big leagues last year," Tim Hudson said. "But the kid has a lot of talent and a tremendous ceiling ahead of him. We're hopefully going to help him reach it the best we can. I know where I was right out of college, and I wasn't where he's at."
After being named the 1997 collegiate player of the year by some groups, Hudson needed three Minor League seasons before he got his call to the big leagues. Devine had made just 22 appearances in the Minors before the injury-plagued Braves called him to Atlanta.
Devine's Aug. 20 Major League debut began favorably when he tossed a scoreless 12th inning against the Padres at Turner Field. But he tweaked his side during the 13th inning and minutes later allowed a game-winning grand slam to Xavier Nady.
Attempting to pitch through the discomfort three days later at Wrigley Field, he was slammed yet again by Jeromy Burnitz. Life hadn't been this cruel just a few months earlier in Raleigh.
"You don't like to see that happen to any young player," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said. "But of all the people that we could have had to endure that, he would have been the best."
Including the postseason, Devine has delivered 145 pitches in his big-league career. Two resulted in grand slams and another slammed the Braves' hopes for a world championship. But with his great confidence intact, his future remains bright.
"Joey Devine has such an incredible upside," John Smoltz said. "I don't know any player in the history of the game that has gone through what he did. His personality will deal with it."
Instead of simply reflecting on the longballs he surrendered, Braves manager Bobby Cox remember how impressive Devine was in the Minors and during his final three regular-season appearances in which he totaled three scoreless innings, struck out three and surrendered just one hit.
"He's got to feel pretty good about himself coming right out of college, pitching in the playoffs and under pressure and everything else," Cox said. "That's a huge step."
It's also a huge endeavor to work 81 1/3 innings, which Devine did from the start of the N.C. State season through Game 4 of the Division Series. But he rested his arm during the offseason and is prepared to accept whatever role the Braves present him this year.
Devine's success as an All-American closer at N.C. State puts him in position to compete against Chris Reitsma for that role in Atlanta. But the young hurler says he wouldn't be upset being used in any sort of middle-relief role.
"It's going to be exciting," Devine said. "It's going to be an exciting year. I'm really excited about getting out there playing and being an important part of the Braves organization."
As for the Braves, they feel fortunate to have found another young hurler whose mental makeup appears to be just as impressive as his talented arm.
"This game is going to bring adversity every step of the way," Devine said. "Hopefully if I'm playing long enough, there is going to be several more times where I'm going to have to fight adversity. No one is perfect.
"The better you can handle the adversity and learn from what takes place, I think that's what is going to build you as a player and a person."
Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/
