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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
3,368 comments Add your comment
keylargo
December 28th, 2010
5:22 pm
Chipper should bat either 2 or 3. A .375+ OBP is a terrible thing to waste lower in the order.
Chipper has a .416 OBP the last 5 years and .470 in 2008. You think getting on base might be a good asset for the #2 hitter?
Snotboogie
December 28th, 2010
5:24 pm
Dogs
Agreed. But not beating ManU,Barca and Chelsea gets worrying after a while. Can relax for a while now.
Hope you guys get your act together quick. Its been a serious tumble recently.
VaBravesFan
December 28th, 2010
5:26 pm
Boy if McLouth can come back to earth and be average that would be huge. Our lineup is very deep.
Snotboogie
December 28th, 2010
5:27 pm
….as he drove from doing some deer hunting to throwing for the first time this winter, Kimbrel sounded like the kind of person who could handle it.
I have a feeling Murph is going to like Kimbrel.
Steve from OH
December 28th, 2010
5:27 pm
You think getting on base might be a good asset for the #2 hitter?
Perhaps very possibly maybe so, keylargo.
Efrim
December 28th, 2010
5:27 pm
Steve from OH, yeah, I’d have no problem with that. I’m not too crazy about having three lefties back to back there, but AGon is the worst hitter in the lineup by a healthy margin, so batting him 8th makes sense. I couldn’t be anymore against having Heyward bat 6th. That would give me an incredibly concerning first impression of our new manager….
Carroll Rogers
December 28th, 2010
5:28 pm
Arkansas Transplant, have some calls out on that and no reply yet. Wouldn’t get your hopes up.
Thanks those who said it wasn’t “my” lineup. It’s not.
Interesting thought to have Chipper hitting second. Can’t see him bunting though. Have we ever seen him bunt?… I’m looking it up….He’s had three of him in his major league career. Last one was in 1998.
Lank
December 28th, 2010
5:28 pm
No way I would bat Gonzalez higher than 8. He had a lower OBP for Atlanta than McLouth and his .190 BA last season. I feel short has become our biggest need, especially since Infante, our only backup, is gone.
steve
December 28th, 2010
5:29 pm
Not a particularly impressive lineup. Uggla adds some power but first base is a disaster and Mcclouth has been a failure as a Brave. Little to no speed as well.. really need another big bat or a speedster to get things in order.
cabravesfan
December 28th, 2010
5:30 pm
irst base is a disaster
Based on what exactly?
P-Town Brave ©
December 28th, 2010
5:31 pm
Carroll-
On Chipper bunting…
Thats another reason why Nate would be good for the 2-hole as he is an excellent bunter.
cabravesfan
December 28th, 2010
5:31 pm
*First
don’t know how the F wandered away…
Crime Dog
December 28th, 2010
5:32 pm
cabravesfan-
Don’t you know? Freeman only has ONE career homer! Obviously, he sucks.
Bruce
December 28th, 2010
5:32 pm
Thanks Carroll. I’m so pumped I’m at Disney already
Crime Dog
December 28th, 2010
5:33 pm
Is it weird that my biggest concern regarding McLouth this year is whether or not he’ll start actually making throws from center? Yeah. I guess it is weird.
P-Town Brave ©
December 28th, 2010
5:33 pm
Steve-
Maybe you can explain to me how 1b is a disaster when we’re bringing in the Triple A Player of the Year?
McLouth is well, performing far below expected, so I’ll give you that…but honestly, I’m getting tired of people jumping all over Freeman before he’s even taken the field to start 2011 as the man.
cabravesfan
December 28th, 2010
5:33 pm
Crime Dog -
Of course! That must be it…only one homer in his long mlb career! Silly me
P-Town Brave ©
December 28th, 2010
5:35 pm
Crime Dog, CA-
Well, we might as well throw away the entire Cincinnati Reds franchise…
Why might you ask..?
Well, according to steve, Freddie Freeman is a disaster, and well, since he hit a HR off Halladay and the Reds couldn’t muster a hit off him, in a playoff game mind you, it should mean they should blow that mother up!
Right?
Well, I’m just using his way of thinking there…
cabravesfan
December 28th, 2010
5:36 pm
P-Town-
I like the logic! Makes sense to me
Snotboogie
December 28th, 2010
5:36 pm
…first base is a disaster…
Yet another case of premature extrapolation!
Efrim
December 28th, 2010
5:38 pm
Not a particularly impressive lineup. Uggla adds some power but first base is a disaster and Mcclouth has been a failure as a Brave. Little to no speed as well.. really need another big bat or a speedster to get things in order.
Hahahahahaha. That’s nice…
cabravesfan
December 28th, 2010
5:39 pm
Headline on MSN: “Can Kim Kardashian save magazines?” UGH! If we have to rely on her to save magazines, I think I’d rather see them disappear…
K2
December 28th, 2010
5:40 pm
The Braves best hitters are, in order, McCann, Heyward, Jones (if healthy), Uggla, and Prado. They should be hitting 1-5 in some order (and it doesn’t much matter which order). Even if McLouth comes back to his 2008 form, he’s not as good as those five guys. Putting McLouth in the 2-spot for “confidence” reasons is simply wasting outs.
VaBravesFan
December 28th, 2010
5:40 pm
Gonzo plays a good SS, has above average power for a Shortstop, and him batting 8th I dont see the big deal.
Lank
December 28th, 2010
5:41 pm
I was thinking it’s nice that first isn’t a disaster for the first time in about 10 years. It’s been a never ending change of faces every year since el gato grande and a weak spot except for when Laroche sort of paid attention and two half seasons from Tex.
Danga
December 28th, 2010
5:41 pm
I think I’d rather see them disappear…
Amen.
jason
December 28th, 2010
5:43 pm
sign andruw jones already to replace matt diaz!
VaBravesFan
December 28th, 2010
5:44 pm
I like Scott Hairston
Wide Right
December 28th, 2010
5:46 pm
I’m never one to question Frank Wren. Apart from a few signings I think he has shown himself to have a great sense about who to pick and not pick up. However, since we are talking lineups, I’ll bring up someone I think just fits in perfectly: Andruw Jones. Assuming he can play center as well as McLouth and Mather might play first against difficult lefties, imagine this lineup against Hamels and Lee:
Prado
Heyward
Chipper
Uggla
McCann
A Jones
A Gonzo
Mather
With McCann as good against lefties as he is against righties the 4-7 guys crush left handed pitching…and prado, heyward and chipper are no slouches. It’s a bit about nostalgia for me – I think Andruw Jones is one comeback season away from the HOF and I’d love to see him do it in Atl. But I also think it would be a very cheap, practical move for Los Bravos.
Wide Right
December 28th, 2010
5:46 pm
I’m never one to question Frank Wren. Apart from a few signings I think he has shown himself to have a great sense about who to pick and not pick up. However, since we are talking lineups, I’ll bring up someone I think just fits in perfectly: Andruw Jones. Assuming he can play center as well as McLouth and Mather might play first against difficult lefties, imagine this lineup against Hamels and Lee:
Prado
Heyward
Chipper
Uggla
McCann
A Jones
A Gonzo
Mather
With McCann as good against lefties as he is against righties the 4-7 guys crush left handed pitching…and prado, heyward and chipper are no slouches. It’s a bit about nostalgia for me – I think Andruw Jones is one comeback season away from the HOF and I’d love to see him do it in Atl. But I also think it would be a very cheap, practical move for Los Bravos.
P-Town Brave ©
December 28th, 2010
5:50 pm
Would be nice to see Andruw back out there in a Braves uni, but let’s be honest…
Andruw can not play CF anymore…so at that point, you’d have to rely on Mather to do it…
Thanks but no thanks.
Snotboogie
December 28th, 2010
5:52 pm
I’d rather see that Kardashian clan disappear. But, soon enough, some other vacuous plastic family would take up that spot.
nolie
December 28th, 2010
5:54 pm
Nate makes a lot of outs to bat second. his OBP is walk driven, and at leadoff a walk is as good as a single. that is not true most other places.
P-Town Brave ©
December 28th, 2010
5:55 pm
- Kardashian
- Bieber
-Reality TV
There’s always something trying to ruin my days…
VaBravesFan
December 28th, 2010
5:55 pm
I think AJones is average at best in the Outfield right now. He would be below average in CF. He would bring more power for sure, but doesnt hit for average. Someone will offer more money than us, If we can bring him in for the League Min, I’d go for it.
Nobreggie4Dogs
December 28th, 2010
5:57 pm
snotboogie – I find the owner of my beloved Chelsea to be an absolute thug as are his backers and former partners, several of which I had the displeasure of dealing with over the years, not such a bad thing for the Russian to learn that you ned to build from within as well as buy from without………….. plus he let a “Special” manager go
nolie
December 28th, 2010
5:58 pm
as for Chipper’s bunting ability, of course he hasn’t bunted much up here, Bobby never bunts his three or four hitter. seldom bunted his #2 hitter for that matter. Chipper would make a good hit and run hitter with his bat control.
Snotboogie
December 28th, 2010
6:00 pm
not such a bad thing for the Russian to learn that you ned to build from within as well as buy from without
A thing or two he could learn from the Braves farm system for sure.
Nobreggie4Dogs
December 28th, 2010
6:01 pm
I preferred my Chelsea when we had a bit ofa struggle but had greats like Zola, Wise and Hasselbaink (well 2/3 were champions, Wise made a good thug)
VaBravesFan
December 28th, 2010
6:02 pm
Chipper’s only downside to batting second is running.
Wide Right
December 28th, 2010
6:05 pm
P-town, you really think andruw can’t play CF as well or maybe just slightly less as good as McLouth? I don’t mean that question rhetorically – I don’t know the answer. All I know is his dWAR was still pretty high (full point over mclouth) and I remember he said he can still play CF last year, played it a few times over Rios.
Carroll Rogers
December 28th, 2010
6:07 pm
Esteemed baseball writer and fellow notes grouper Tracy Ringolsby just reported that Bill LaJoie, long time baseball executive, has passed away. He was a special assistant to the Braves GM in 1995-98.
Baseball Exec Bill LaJoie Passes Away
by TracyRingolsby
Bill LaJoie, a key part of building the 1984 world champion Detroit Tigers, died on Tuesday. Lajoie, 76, passed away while taking a nap after lunch, according to a close associate.
LaJoie had been working with the Pittsbrugh Pirates as a special assitant to the general manager. Since leaving the Detroit Tigers in 1990 he held similar jobs with Atlanta, Milwaukee, Boston and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
An All-American at Western Michigan University, LaJoie had a nine-year playing career in the minor leagues, and then went to work for the Cincinnati Reds as a scout and manager in 1965
He spent 23 years in the Detroit organization, beginning in 1968 as a scout and manager of the Tigers’ rookie-leve Bristol affiliate, becoming the coordinator scouting in 1975, director of player procurement in 1975, vice president/assistant general manager in 1979, and the general manaager in 1984,
Steve McP
December 28th, 2010
6:07 pm
But why did they sack Ray Wilkins?
GT Alum
December 28th, 2010
6:08 pm
Carroll,
Aren’t the HR and RBI totals you gave deceptive because of disparity between the number of ABs in each spot? Based on the numbers you provided, he hits a HR every 20.8 ABs and has a RBI every 6.1 ABs in the 5th spot, but he hits a HR every 15 ABs and has a RBI every 5 ABs in the 4 hole. Looks like all the numbers say Uggla’s better in the cleanup spot.
However, part of that is probably based on having better hitters behind him in the cleanup spot than in the 5 hole. If Heyward does hit behind him, he should get Uggla a good number of pitches to hit, though.
McFann O O
December 28th, 2010
6:08 pm
Thanks for the new Blog, Ms. Rogers!
4. Brian McCann
That’s not “Happy New Year” language…
But then you find out how comfortable Uggla is in the No. 5 spot.
But never mind how comfortable BMac is in the fifth spot…? Hey, he was here first…
And BMac has a .292 AVG in the fifth spot, just like Uggla’s AVG in the fourth spot…
Wide Right
December 28th, 2010
6:08 pm
I was also very disappointed to read Natalie Portman married the ballerina she met on her ballerina movie. She is it for me. She made a movie about having a baby at a walmart….I wish that had inspired her to marry a former mass retail employee like myself.
nolie
December 28th, 2010
6:09 pm
Chipper’s only downside to batting second is running
Chipper’s running stats for last year were better that Infante or Prado. he is not as slow as many here paint him. He has always been an above average base runner.
Now granted that this latest operation might make him slower, but we really don’t know that for a fact yet.
McFann O O
December 28th, 2010
6:10 pm
Knowing McCann’s personality, he really doesn’t care where he’s hitting, and he won’t change his approach either way, so Fredi can leave him there if he thinks Uggla is better suited to fifth.
“In this world, if you wanna be Mr. Nice Guy, you’ve got to pay the price.”
Oh, and I think I’d be just like Medlen if I ever had to get put in an MRI machine.
Very claustrophobic…
cabravesfan
December 28th, 2010
6:10 pm
Wide Right -
Fear not, there is still hope. Natalie is not married yet…although she is expecting a baby with her future husband
Steve McP
December 28th, 2010
6:13 pm
Don’t know how far back you go with football DB but I still recall the 1970 FA Cup final that went to a replay, two great teams full of household names, for Chelsea I recall Bonetti in goal, David Webb, Peter Osgood, Charlie Cooke, John Hollins and of course that Rottweiler Ron Harris.
Snotboogie
December 28th, 2010
6:14 pm
Dogs
I used to like watching the Wise/Jimmy Floyd teams – didnt have as many “divas” the current team has. Even Vialli.Fun times.
Carroll Rogers
December 28th, 2010
6:18 pm
yes GT Alum, you are right. My numbers aren’t the full picture…..just more at-bats for Uggla in the fifth hole, which makes me think there’s a comfort zone there….He actually has hit more in the No. 2 hole for his career (1,239 at-bats vs. 997 fifth), but not much in the last three years….really I think Fredi must see McCann and Uggla as interchangable at No. 4 and 5 (which should come as a relief to McFann)….maybe he would think about going Uggla No. 4 and McCann No. 5 vs. righties and the other way around vs. lefties. Plus he probably hits cleanup on McCann’s off days.
tpass
December 28th, 2010
6:22 pm
jordan schafer will make the opening day roster,i see him hitting and he is really impressive, and of course his defense is not even a question.
Nobreggie4Dogs
December 28th, 2010
6:23 pm
Gianluca Vialli – oh those were the days my friends
My New Years resolution to have someone lose 35lbs = Brian McFatCann
nolie
December 28th, 2010
6:24 pm
I really doubt Schafer will make the opening day roster
nolie
December 28th, 2010
6:25 pm
I really doubt that McCann is thirty five pounds overweight too
GT Alum
December 28th, 2010
6:26 pm
Wide Right -
You had me a little confused there for a minute when you said Natalie Portman was marrying a ballerina. Had to look that up.
Mixxo
December 28th, 2010
6:26 pm
Go Falcons!
Nobreggie4Dogs
December 28th, 2010
6:26 pm
Steve McP – was watching Steve McManaman today and thought of you
I remember Cantona, Best and Pat Day from the 70s, that is about all, oh and some dude called Pele…
Nobreggie4Dogs
December 28th, 2010
6:27 pm
McFatCan is prolly 50 lbs overweight-for-age
VaBravesFan
December 28th, 2010
6:27 pm
Schafer would have to be very impressive in Spring Training to make the club. The Braves wont make him a 4th OFer unless they know he’s gonna get a good amount of playing time in Atlanta, they rather him be the everyday CF in AAA to get as many AB’s as he can, maybe a mid season callup if he’s playing well and McLouth isnt doing good. I think the perfect plan is to give him full year in AAA and make him your CF in 2012. See what happens.
GT Alum
December 28th, 2010
6:28 pm
Nobreggie4Dogs -
Are you trying to get McFann upset?
Nobreggie4Dogs
December 28th, 2010
6:29 pm
I love Natalie Portman, and Marissa Tomei and my missus, close in order those 3
McFann O O
December 28th, 2010
6:29 pm
Ms. Rogers really I think Fredi must see McCann and Uggla as interchangable at No. 4 and 5 (which should come as a relief to McFann)
Yeah, that’s not so bad…
Wide Right
December 28th, 2010
6:30 pm
Why is it that women like Natalie postman marry ballerinas? It’s not fair
nolie
December 28th, 2010
6:30 pm
50 pounds? you are nuts
Nobreggie4Dogs
December 28th, 2010
6:30 pm
G Alum – it is my last New Year’s Ressie from 2009, get McFanFattyCann upset, never works but !
McFann O O
December 28th, 2010
6:30 pm
GT Alum—
Probably…
Wide Right
December 28th, 2010
6:31 pm
That’s Natalie Portman. Darn Apple iPad spellcheck
Nobreggie4Dogs
December 28th, 2010
6:31 pm
nolie – oh you took the bait that I had set, I didnt wanna catch some old “catfish”, was looking forsome nice young redfin to take the bait
McFann O O
December 28th, 2010
6:31 pm
Nobreggie4Dogs—
nolie
December 28th, 2010
6:31 pm
personally Natalie does very little for me so I ain’t bothered
nolie
December 28th, 2010
6:33 pm
yeah I figgered you was trollin’ for some nice fresh McFann…
I poke her so often about whats-his-name myself that once in a while I gotta stick up for him
space monkey
December 28th, 2010
6:33 pm
This lineup is so slow that it couldn’t win a foot race against an old folk’s home. Heyward and McClouth are the only ones with decent wheels.
GT Alum
December 28th, 2010
6:35 pm
Wide Right -
I think you missed my point. Ballerina is the term specifically for a female ballet dancer. Wasn’t sure the male counterpart, so I looked it up – danseur (French) or ballerino (Italian). Might just be better to say ballet dancer.
Zing
December 28th, 2010
6:35 pm
Caroll:
The big issue with the lineup as you’ve constructed it (and I’m not saying it’s yours, just that you’ve put it together based on what you’ve heard) is the exclusion of Heyward and his fine OBP from the #2 spot. Even when McLouth was kicking butt in Pittsburgh his OBP was around .350–not bad, but not anywhere near the excellent .393 Heyward put up last year. I mean, c’mon! We’ve got to get that up in front of Chipper, McCann, and Uggla, right?
Also, how about Heyward in the 1 spot and Prado in the 2 (or even 3)? You’d get Heyward up there with his great discipline and Prado with his good slugging percentage behind a guy who gets on base…
Please excuse my obsession with OBP, I just finished reading Moneyball.
McFann O O
December 28th, 2010
6:37 pm
nolie once in a while I gotta stick up for him
And that’s not so hard, is it?
“Whats-his-name”…
Tsk…honestly…
Snotboogie
December 28th, 2010
6:37 pm
Natalie postman
Well she is going to deliver …….
nolie
December 28th, 2010
6:37 pm
guess Fredi ain’t any more into geek stats than Bobby was. Gonna be some irate bloggers if that is so
DS1
December 28th, 2010
6:43 pm
nolie
Let’s fire the bum if he won’t listen to us bloggers!!!
I like the idea of Prado/Chipper/Heyward/Uggla/Mac at the top of the order. And if Nate hit’s like 2008 Nate, then slide him in between Prado and Chipper.
The biggest question mark is what lineup will we see when Hoss is not in the lineup?
TommyP
December 28th, 2010
6:44 pm
For those infatuated with your #2 hitter being able to bunt, how often does that situation present itself during a game? Not too often unless your leadoff hitter gets on to start things.
Let’s say the first 2 innings see 4 hitters come to the plate. The 3rd inning has the pitcher leading off. Out. The leadoff then gets a hit. 1 out with a runner on first. You now have your #2 hitter, Chipper, with a runner on in a non-bunt situation, which is your situation 75% of the time.
If the only reason to put McLouth in the #2 hole is because he MIGHT be our best bunter (which I don’t think he is), move on to your next option.
Prado and Chipper in the 1st two slots in the lineup starts you off with a .350+ OBP and a .380+ OBP. Not many teams can brag about that. Plus both offer solid pop from those traditional lighter hitting spots. (Chipper is more a 15 dinger guy, same as Prado)
Braveheart
December 28th, 2010
6:44 pm
What about Heyward hitting sixth?
Time for Fredo Gonzalez to go out on a little boat ride.
rick p
December 28th, 2010
6:45 pm
I was reading some stat thing the other day, where they said that the difference between hitting #1 and#9 was around 140 plate appearances. So the difference between two and 6 would be around 70. Why would you want McLouth coming up 70 more times than Heyward? Im not sure I want him coming up 70 times at all. OK that’s facetious but it seems to be a baseball tradition of sorts to give away outs in the 2 hole. Maybe you dont want all your outs coming up in the same inning I guess?????
Thanks for all your work during the year, Carroll–much of it unsung–and happy new year to you and yours
nolie
December 28th, 2010
6:45 pm
And if Nate hit’s like 2008 Nate, then slide him in between Prado and Chipper. DS1
no dammit, if he’s hitting he should be leadoff not 2nd.leadoff is a much better place for a walk driven OBP than second is
TommyP
December 28th, 2010
6:47 pm
With Prado as your leadoff hitter, forget steals. His 40 doubles act as a single and a steal. Now you have a professional hitter to drive him in, not a guy you feel is a good bunter.
Braveheart
December 28th, 2010
6:48 pm
Fredo doesn’t have to be into geek stats. Fredo just has to be into common sense. Talking about batting Heyward 6th makes him sound like a retard. Not the first impression he should be giving the fan base.
nolie
December 28th, 2010
6:48 pm
most here do not want him hitting 6th, they want third which would be just fine
TommyP
December 28th, 2010
6:48 pm
Rick p: Yet another good reason not to put McLouth high up in the lineup. He’s coming to bat more than any hitter on the team. Good point.
DS1
December 28th, 2010
6:49 pm
good point nolie. I’d be OK with that. From your lips to Fredi’s ears!
nolie
December 28th, 2010
6:49 pm
If Fredi is just into common sense then yes there will be a lot of irate bloggers cause common sense is not all that common around here
Bat Masterson
December 28th, 2010
6:50 pm
Prado Chipper Heyward
nolie
December 28th, 2010
6:50 pm
depends on how Nate is hitting. If he is getting on base @ 350/360 there is no reason not to bat him first
Braveheart
December 28th, 2010
6:50 pm
You’re gonna be hurtin’, Fredi. You’re not gonna know when, you’re not gonna know where. You’re gonna be hurtin’. You mark my words – I’m watchin’ you!
nolie
December 28th, 2010
6:51 pm
In general I agree with that Bat
GT Alum
December 28th, 2010
6:51 pm
Heyward will likely move into the 3 spot over time, but I have doubts he’d hit there this season even if Chipper were out all season.
nolie
December 28th, 2010
6:52 pm
shoulda taken Bobby back….
Nobreggie4Dogs
December 28th, 2010
6:52 pm
nolie – I have dreams about Miss Portman and Marissa and the English broad, whatshername, Kiera Knightley, woo hoo, but can they play poker
bostonbravo
December 28th, 2010
6:55 pm
isn’t there ANYTHING we can do to move McLouth???
PLEASE!
richbrave
December 28th, 2010
6:55 pm
Thanx CARROLL for the new blog. I know finding news is scarce right now. Do you know if OUR JOSE REYES was last in the BALTIMORE org?
FEAR
December 28th, 2010
7:00 pm
I would kinda like to see Andruw return. Might catch lightning in a bottle or something.