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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
4,361 comments Add your comment
David O'Brien
December 1st, 2010
1:13 am
ward, it doesn’t matter whether you or I are “sold” on McLouth as the center fielder. Once more: He’s lowed more than $7.5 mill, and they’re not going to get another center fielder and go into spring training with McLouth pegged for bench duty. They’ll get another CF if they have to at a later date, if he stinks and they don’t have another suitable replacement.
nolie
December 1st, 2010
1:15 am
ward I do not know how else to say this – the team that won the world series is one of the slower teams in baseball and was dead last in stolen bases.
ward
December 1st, 2010
1:16 am
I just don’t see Nate as a lead off guy, and he struggled in the lead off roll. Nate is more of a 6th or 7th hitter.Look at his stats closely. Thats if he bounces back?
ward
December 1st, 2010
1:17 am
Nolie:Speed came to life in the play offs for San Fran.
David O'Brien
December 1st, 2010
1:20 am
Russell Bell, others: Braves still have plenty of time to trade Kawakami, whether it’s this winter or during the spring, when some team gets desperate like the Braves were a few years ago when they signed Mark Redmond during spring training out of his basement (he’d been pitching off a mound he set up there at his Oklahoma house).
They’ll probably end up eating most of the$6.7 million that Kawakami is owed, unless he changes his mind about going back to Japan. But I really believe they’ll trade him, one way or another.
ward
December 1st, 2010
1:21 am
Nolie: I’m not trying to pick an arguement.I’m just think the Braves need to get a lead off hitter who can bunt, steal bases,hit for average as well.Nate is not the lead off type.
ward
December 1st, 2010
1:24 am
I’m not mad at the guy’s for their views. I just think speed will win you ball games.
David O'Brien
December 1st, 2010
1:26 am
Ward, have you missed all the times I’ve written that Fredi Gonzalez plans to have Prado bat leadoff and McLouth hit second? That is, if McLouth’s hitting well. If not, he’d likely be down in the order. But Fredi G. had Prado as the leadoff guy in most of the various lineups he has drawn up since the Uggla trade.
nolie
December 1st, 2010
1:27 am
Nate has most of the tools of a decent leadoff hitter ward. He has a decent OBP and a good stolen Base success %. If he bounces back he will be fine at leadoff though Fredi seems to think of him as hitting second which I disagree with.
He stunk last year no doubt and he might not come back, but if he does he will be fine up there and if he doesn’t they will eventually replace him, but it’s highly unlikely to happer within the first coupla months.
all these posts about Nate having always stunk are total overreaction to last years decline.
ward
December 1st, 2010
1:30 am
DOB: I think i did missed that! I just don’t see Mclouth our center fielder.
ward
December 1st, 2010
1:32 am
I wish i could believe Mclouth will bounce back?
nolie
December 1st, 2010
1:37 am
I’m not saying he will. He may not, but with all the salary considerations they are almost certain to give him the chance to. all we can do is hope.
ward
December 1st, 2010
1:39 am
I just think we could do better than Nate, and have somebody else with speed in the 2nd spot.Then you have two guy’s with speed at the top of the order.
ward
December 1st, 2010
1:47 am
If Nate has a great year, and makes the All Star team. I’ll buy his jersey, but right now i’m just not sold on him.
nolie
December 1st, 2010
1:48 am
I seriously doubt he is gonna make the all star team
ward
December 1st, 2010
1:54 am
Speaking of The Walking Dead: I saw all the T.V Series, and very impressed. I’m looking forward to see the season final.
jed
December 1st, 2010
1:56 am
i doubt he’s gonna make it to july.
BravesAC
December 1st, 2010
2:00 am
The Walking Dead….it’s like a Son of Sam Peckinpah(sp?) movie. Man is it gory. The episode where the zombies break into the camp and the daughter gets it was too much gore for me…and I’ve saw Andres Thomas play ss for years so I have a tolerance for gore.
nolie
December 1st, 2010
2:00 am
could be right
ward
December 1st, 2010
2:02 am
Check out Narnia Prince Caspian, and The Dawn Treader. It’s coming out this week or next week in the theaters. I heard it’s going to be good.
ward
December 1st, 2010
2:04 am
How about when they all made it to the laboratory, and all the dead bodies were lying on the ground.That was gory too.
ward
December 1st, 2010
2:06 am
I hope some time I can buy the first season of The Walking Dead.
jed
December 1st, 2010
2:07 am
nolie, what’s your guess on the cause of nate’s precipitate decline?
ward
December 1st, 2010
2:38 am
I’ll talk to you guy’s tomorrow. Always good talking….. Nite every one!!! Be cool !!! and “Go!!! Braves!!!.”
ward
December 1st, 2010
2:48 am
Breaking news…… and this is true! Rangers are on the verge of offering Cliff Lee a 5 year deal.
ward
December 1st, 2010
2:49 am
Nite all, and be cool……
Kyle
December 1st, 2010
3:50 am
DOB – Do the Braves still think high enough of Schafer to make him the long term answer in CF? I saw you typed earlier about the chances he could be the 4th OF and was wondering if they have cooled on him as most fans have.
Couch Tater
December 1st, 2010
7:33 am
In case you missed it, a fun interview of Jon Sciambi by Jonah Keri…
http://jonahkeri.com/2010/11/23/podcast-episode-8/
DOB –
FYI. In the interview, Boog said he would be calling Thursday’s UCLA/Kansas game.
ncscoots
December 1st, 2010
8:21 am
If he bounces back he will be fine at leadoff though Fredi seems to think of him as hitting second which I disagree with.
Fredo might be sucked in by the LH-hits-2 syndrome, LOL. Or think that McLouth has more pop in his bat and should hit behind Prado. Or something. I guess.
I tend to lean towards McLouth hitting 1 and Prado 2, my own self. Long time until lineup cards, though, so I’m not holding Fredo’s feet to the fire on virtual lineups in December, LOL.
Tyler
December 1st, 2010
8:29 am
How long does Henski have to decide on Braves/Brewers offer?
How long do the Braves have to decide whether or not to tender or non-tender Matt Diaz?
Zumaya? Could come under or around $1 mil. Anyone know if he’d “fit in” the clubhouse?
Justafan
December 1st, 2010
8:32 am
No time limit…but both teams wish to know asp……
O.J.
December 1st, 2010
8:32 am
Who is this Henski guy?
ncscoots
December 1st, 2010
8:33 am
I kinda think [Vazquez] will have a decent year if his FB comes back at all. but not sure about it.
Saw some film on him from MLBN, and he was really getting under the ball. Seems to me that’s more a mechanics thing than loss of ability, but he does have a lot of innings on that arm. Hard to call on his bounce-back.
Justafan
December 1st, 2010
8:34 am
He’s alittle 5′5″ guy from Mars……………
Justafan
December 1st, 2010
8:36 am
He’s a guy with a lot of ink!
McFann O O
December 1st, 2010
8:48 am
DOB Superb finale to a terrific season.
Wait…a show is ending its season already? I thought stuff was just getting started now…
Tyler
December 1st, 2010
8:55 am
Hinski. How long does he have to decide? What about Diaz? When do the Braves have to either tender him or contract or non-tender?
E-6
December 1st, 2010
9:04 am
Gotta love the Rockies. First Hampton then Helton now their shortstop who they had locked up for another three years and while a good shortstop manages to come up withan injury every year. Hard to understand the logic out there.
O.J.
December 1st, 2010
9:04 am
Non tender deadline is tomorrow.
McFann O O
December 1st, 2010
9:07 am
Happy anniversary, BMac and Ashley!
VaBravesFan
December 1st, 2010
9:10 am
I think McLouth will bounce back and be somewhat solid. At this point we shouold lower our expectations and just hope he contributes in his final year. Cause we still owe him over 7 million and noone is gonna trade for him as well. I’d be happy if Nate put up a 240-250 avg with a 330 obp. between 10-15 homers and 15-20 sb, with good defense. That would be a huge improvement from last season. Still a chance he could be even better.
Arkansas Transplant
December 1st, 2010
9:16 am
Even if Mclouth bounces back to be somewhat of a decent hitter, his weeny arm in CF is still a liability. So forget about all the talk about his hitting alone, he has other areas of concern as well. This is one guy that has completely handicapped this team.
bbspell22
December 1st, 2010
9:17 am
If Mclouth gets back to what got him in the league in the first place, he will be fine. If Im not mistaken, the Braves needed OF run production when they traded for him, and thats not really what Mclouth is about. Hopefully with the addition of Uggla, the pressure of driving in runs will be diverted from Mclouth and he will get back to his old self…or Im talking out my butt and he hits .190 again. We shall see.
Arkansas Transplant
December 1st, 2010
9:20 am
money pit = Mclouth
Travis
December 1st, 2010
9:20 am
Nate better enjoy his last year with this kind of salary becasue a 250 average with a noodle for an arm won’t get him backup honors with anyone. One of his best assets was the ability to steal bases,. Hard to do that when you can’t get on. No real need for a pitcher to pick at the corners and walk him when he can’t hit it down the middle. The Braves have farm players that have a greater upside. Trade Nate and eat half his salary if someone is stupid enough to go that route. The fans would have a lot less to talk about but at least it would be done once and for all.
Tyler
December 1st, 2010
9:22 am
Someone please explain how Dale Murphy keeps getting overlooked for HOF. .265 average? Never won a WS? Guy played solid Gold Glove OF, has a closet full of Silver Sluggers and back to back MVP’s. Don’t quite see it. I believe this is his last year. I hope he gets in this time around.
So, if the non-tender deadline is tomorrow..should we here about Hinski today? I’d hate to lose Matty D to Phillie.
Shamrock Lucky
December 1st, 2010
9:26 am
So what exactly is meant by Salt Life ? You love eating a lot of salt ? You carry a salt shaker around and put it everything you eat ? If its referring to living by the ocean it should be Ocean Life…
NoBreggie4Dogs
December 1st, 2010
9:27 am
Andrelton Simmons – anyone seen this kid, I am told he is mlb ready as far as defense goes and is as good as Fooky as a kid (and even has a better arm, if that is possible)
scoots – re Vazquez, spot on, his mechanics and those of AJ Burned’em and Joba have been effed up all 2010, maybe why the stinkees finally got rid of said piss poor picthing coach… me thinks AJ and co will be a whole lot better in 2011
ncscoots
December 1st, 2010
9:28 am
Trade Nate and eat half his salary if someone is stupid enough to go that route.
Leaving the team with what option in CF? Is it your contention that a viable ML CF can be had for half of McLouth’s salary? What about the cost in prospects for a trade?
NoBreggie4Dogs
December 1st, 2010
9:29 am
McFann O O – I would ask you about the multiple
oh doesnt matter
Fred
December 1st, 2010
9:29 am
Hope Diaz is gone..one tick pony.. Sign Henski.
Dale was to nice..why do good guy always go last?
Shamrock Lucky
December 1st, 2010
9:29 am
Its amazing the the Braves have McOut shecduled to start in CF with his .190 BA,misjudgment of fly balls, and popcorn arm. I’d release Nate and just realize I wasted $7 million. Heck, I also wated $25 million on KK. Go get what you need in CF and let’s win it all baby ! Don’t let McOut hold us back…
Arkansas Transplant
December 1st, 2010
9:31 am
NoBreggie4Dogs,
Haven’t heard of Andrelton Simmons. Where on the farm is he?
O.J.
December 1st, 2010
9:32 am
HinskE is a free agent, so he can take as long as he wants to decided where to sign, no rush for him.
Fred
December 1st, 2010
9:32 am
Nate is like my x-wife she got the money and I still had to put up with her crap till the kids got 18………
Shamrock Lucky
December 1st, 2010
9:32 am
McOut was allowed to start in CF hit .186 then was sent to the minors,returned and still sucked. It’s over for him. Why can’t the Braves see that ?
Steve McP
December 1st, 2010
9:33 am
The guys name is Hinske
Shamrock Lucky
December 1st, 2010
9:33 am
Exactly Fred. He’s like a house you financed for $7 million and it burned down but you didn’t have insurance…
Fred
December 1st, 2010
9:34 am
Sorry about that ( i ) ..O.J.
Fred
December 1st, 2010
9:35 am
Thanks steve..u so nice.
NoBreggie4Dogs
December 1st, 2010
9:35 am
ARK Tran – Danville Braves
BTW can anyone tell me who made the “dirty birds” name/dance popular for the Falcons ??? (trying to clear up an argument)
Shamrock Lucky
December 1st, 2010
9:35 am
Sorry about all me typos, I’m Irish !
Shamrock Lucky
December 1st, 2010
9:36 am
Jamaal Anderson !
Travis
December 1st, 2010
9:37 am
Leaving the team with what option in CF? Is it your contention that a viable ML CF can be had for half of McLouth’s salary? What about the cost in prospects for a trade? I swear to god that Andruw Jones would be a better option right now with a league minimum salary. Damon at 2 mil would be better. Nate just plain stinks and won’t get any better. We don’t have a CF now. A .190 average? Come on.
NoBreggie4Dogs
December 1st, 2010
9:38 am
Was Jamaal really 1st or just the one who made it famous because of that great NFC playoff game
Shamrock Lucky
December 1st, 2010
9:39 am
I’d let Schafer,Andruw,and McOut battle it out for CF in ST. If Nate beats them, give him the spot. But don’t give it to him without competition. Trade for Michael Bourn of the Astros. They need pitching badly.
Maybe
December 1st, 2010
9:39 am
Whiteshoes and Sanders
Shamrock Lucky
December 1st, 2010
9:41 am
I remember Billy White Shoes Johnson doing a dance but was it the Dirty Bird ? I thought he did a knee knocking dance like Fred Sanford ?
Bill
December 1st, 2010
9:43 am
Astos would ask for 2 banks for Bourn,but u never know Bro Wren.
Arkansas Transplant
December 1st, 2010
9:44 am
How about Mclouth, Beachy, Marek and Mauro Gomez plus 4mil for Colby Rasmus?
McFann O O
December 1st, 2010
9:44 am
NoBreggie4Dogs—
Huh?
bbspell22
December 1st, 2010
9:44 am
Shamrock Lucky
still sucked when he was recalled? Sure, if you call a slash line of .275/.345/.549 with an OPS of .894 sucking. By the way, he also should have had 5HR for Sept, 2 of which were taken away by ridiculous defensive plays.
O.J.
December 1st, 2010
9:46 am
Arkansas Transplant, really???
Arkansas Transplant
December 1st, 2010
9:48 am
I’d be willing to add Delgado to that list if it meant getting Rasmus in return.
O.J.
December 1st, 2010
9:49 am
Arkansas Transplant, again, really?
Arkansas Transplant
December 1st, 2010
9:50 am
Actually maybe replace Marek with Delgado. I think it would get it done. Plus it would free up about 3mil on our payroll.
NoBreggie4Dogs
December 1st, 2010
9:50 am
McFann O O – you really do NOT want to know
re dirty birds – I always thought it was Neon Deion that did it 1st
Arkansas Transplant
December 1st, 2010
9:50 am
Yes really
Travis
December 1st, 2010
9:51 am
McLouth and 4 mil, DelGado and Beachy for Hunter Pence.
NoBreggie4Dogs
December 1st, 2010
9:52 am
BTW Nate looked very good when he came back (at the plate), shows what a little practise and coaching can do
Arkansas Transplant
December 1st, 2010
9:52 am
I’d rather have Rasmus, less expensive and under control for a while at a very team friend salary.
O.J.
December 1st, 2010
9:53 am
Wow, some people never give up, do they? I mean, I love your tenacity and all, but suggesting trades for Rasmus after Cards have said repeatedly that they are not trading him is just plain pointless.
Steve McP
December 1st, 2010
9:53 am
Sorry Fred, it was not just you, but Mr Hinske has been the recipient of some bad spelling for a while and it is one of my pet peeves. At least people seem to have got the hang of Schafer and McLouth for the moment.
I think we will have to all get used to McLouth as the Braves are not going to spend $7.25 Million on him and not give him a chance to see if he has still got the abilities that got him the contract in the first place.
Arkansas Transplant
December 1st, 2010
9:55 am
If they aren’t trading him, then why is it that we keep hearing that the cards are still in discussions? And by the way, I think that’s a very fair trade and might actually turn out to be in the cards favor more.
Bill
December 1st, 2010
9:55 am
Yes.Neon Deon was the dirty little bird also for Braves. Loved the Water bath in locker room.( You the man Deon) that was funny.
Travis
December 1st, 2010
10:01 am
Replacing McLouth is just wishful thinking on my part. The kid is trying. He went down to the minors without a beef and didn’t blame his troubles on anyone but himself. That’s commendable but doesn’t help the outfield. Ankiel is a better defender and Melky (can’t believe I’m saying this) a better hitter and those guys can’t get a job! The Braves have and abundance of pitching and teams like Houston need it. Pence might be a good move.
O.J.
December 1st, 2010
10:03 am
Arkansas Transplant, where do you keep hearing that the Cards are in discussions to trade him? I read that they would only trade him if they were blown away with an offer, and what you offered wouldnt blow anyone away.
timthebrave
December 1st, 2010
10:04 am
Just saw season 1 of eastbound and down about a washed up baseball player…That is one funny show
Ease™ in Sandy Springs
December 1st, 2010
10:05 am
The “Dirty Birds” was the characterization of the 98′ Falcons in general. But Jamal Anderson came up with the “Dirty Bird” dance” in the endzone…Sort like Icky Woods from the Bengals, the “Icky Shuffle”
Arkansas Transplant
December 1st, 2010
10:08 am
Pence’s salary last year alone was 3.5mil, he’ll make more this year, compared to Rasmus’s 418k. That’s a huge difference. Plus Atlanta would like to add a veteran reliever to the pen. The wouldn’t be able to afford doing so with adding Pence. You add Rasmus and it allows you another 3.5mil of payroll space. With the possibility of bringing in an above arm with that amount.
Arkansas Transplant
December 1st, 2010
10:10 am
O.J.
If you don’t think a trade including both Beachy and Delgado wouldn’t at least cause pause on their end, then your completely off base.
P'cola Brave
December 1st, 2010
10:12 am
Morning everyone. For those that didn’t see it what a way to wrap up Sons of Anarchy last night for the season. Great show.
Yippee Ti-yi-yo
December 1st, 2010
10:12 am
But Rasmus would cost you more to start with….you can’t give away the farm for one player.
P'cola Brave
December 1st, 2010
10:14 am
Rasmus isn’t going anywhere. Hes cheap and under control for a while. And for a team that is about to tap out its resources to sign Pujols they need all the young, cheap talent they can get. And what if Pujols doesn’t resign. DOn’t you think the Cards know this is a possibility and would like to have Rasmus there still in case. If they trade Rasmus and Pujols walks your talking about taking around 70-75 HRs and near 200 RBIs out of that lineup. Ain’t happening.
GTSteve
December 1st, 2010
10:14 am
@SteveMcp..I prefer to spell his name Hitske
Burling3
December 1st, 2010
10:16 am
Really hope Hinske re-signs, he was so great off the bench this year. If ya’ll are interested, check out this review of the Braves’ season: http://bit.ly/fHK6th
LTBF
December 1st, 2010
10:17 am
Good morning all
DOB 1:13 am
If we must have Nate in CF all year he must hit 8th if not 9th like Stl does, Nate is just not a major league ballplayer anymore.
Fleming
December 1st, 2010
10:19 am
Neon Deion didn’t invent the Dirty Bird. He invented the Dirty Duck as he so often did whenever a running back came his way.
O.J.
December 1st, 2010
10:20 am
Arkansas Transplant, Beachy isnt even a top rated prospect
This is what you are offering: Mclouth, Beachy, Delgado and Mauro Gomez.
You honestly think Beachy and Delgado would give them cause to pause, then you apparently are way off base.
P'cola Brave
December 1st, 2010
10:23 am
I don’t agree on the Nate stuff. Even when Nate first got here if you go pull his stats. He produced his career norms with us. He struggled off the charts last year yes, everyone knows that. But at the end of the year he began to show a little life.
This is his Sept./Oct. line.
.273/ .359/ .527/ .887
He still has the ability to produce. We are not talking about a .300 hitter here. Were talking about a guy whose going to hit between .245-.260. Even in a year in which he struggled he had a .100 point difference in his BA and OBP. He may not be the Nate we all envisioned but theres reason to believe this guy can rebound to a career norm year.