McLouth’s early chill raises some questions for Braves
There's a line somewhere about the bubble bursting on the Braves' season. But I won't go there yet.
It doesn’t make sense to panic only 31 at-bats into a regular season. So I suppose it doesn’t make sense to panic 31 at-bats into spring training. But is it too early to be concerned about Nate McLouth?
The Braves were not completely comfortable with McLouth as their leadoff hitter. We suspected that after he hit .256 last season, and it was confirmed when they pursued Johnny Damon in free agency, albeit belatedly. (Damon ultimately signed with Detroit for $8 million.)
After going 0-for-3 Thursday, McLouth is 1-for-31 in the spring. He has struck out 12 times. His batting average: .032. His on-base percentage: .114.
I emailed a question to Frank Wren, and his response was completely in line with that of any general manager’s in March: “There really isn’t concern. You only have to look at his career to know that he will get it going. Players have 30 at-bat slumps all the time. It only takes a couple of two-hit games and it’s all forgotten. He’s too good a player to worry about a spring drought.”
I know. It’s spring. We’re not supposed to pay attention to statistics in spring. But it’s also clear McLouth is TRYING to hit, not just work out the kinks. And isn’t it somewhat significant that manager Bobby Cox dropped him to sixth in the order Thursday?
“I’m getting there,” McLouth told our David O’Brien. “It’s frustrating not to get hits, regardless of whether it’s spring training. But I’d rather it happen now than in the season.”
McLouth doesn’t have to be great. But if the Braves don’t have even a competent leadoff hitter this season, they’re in trouble. Are you concerned yet?
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182 comments Add your comment
jeff blauser
March 19th, 2010
11:50 am
and Frank Wren has done a great job thus far, and will continue to do so, and I appreciate him downplaying this apparent catastrophe that is Mclouths spring struggles…he knows (much better than schultz or anyone else on this blog) that Mclouth will be fine, because he’s a solid player.
All I'm Saying...
March 19th, 2010
12:00 pm
Joshua: I agree with you completely. Our run production was the least of our troubles last year once we got rid of KJ, Frenchy, and Kotchman from our hitting line-up and Prado, Diaz, and LaRoche were added to the starting line-up. This year with Prado, Diaz, and Glaus starting out from day one, we will be fine even if Nate is benched or batting seventh.
Lowcountry Bulldawg: Frenchy is gone, ‘aint coming back, and didn’t perform while he was here so its a waste of time to discuss him.
LET’S GO BRAVES!
shawn
March 19th, 2010
12:03 pm
Hitting has been a problem with Braves unless you are a good hitter sucha as Chipper or Brian . M…. Isn’t it Terry pendelton job to help him out? I remember that Andrew Jones was in the same situation and TP did nothing. It makes me laugh that TP is considered as Cox replacment?
Clay
March 19th, 2010
12:05 pm
Speaking of Tiger, does anyone else here think his worst addiction is “sexy-texting?”
Paddy
March 19th, 2010
12:09 pm
Don’t worry! It happens every spring to someone in ML baseball spring training. Solid hitter but not a top flight lead-off man. But we have had alot worse over the years in that lead-off spot.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
March 19th, 2010
12:21 pm
Yeah, your right , but I was not the one to bring he point up orginally. I am just pointing out my opinions. Obviously he isn’t coming back. Except to pull a Ron Gant on the Braves. If you remember his days as a Red.
Clay
March 19th, 2010
12:42 pm
Paddy O is a typical limp-wristed sissy.
tt44
March 19th, 2010
1:05 pm
It s a concern! If the hitting doesnt change, he shouldnt be in the lineup opening day! I hope bobby takes a better stance on winning this yr. play the entire season like its the play offs! If ya aint hit ‘in ya aint in the line up….we have had some feeble hitting and that must change! Its an absolute necessity!
Clay
March 19th, 2010
1:20 pm
tt44, think before you type. You want Bobby to manage the regular season the way he manages the playoffs? If he does that, the season will effectively be over by the middle of May!!
All I'm Saying...
March 19th, 2010
1:44 pm
I hear you Lowcountry Bulldawg about whether or not Frenchy hits better with the Mets and comes back to hit the Braves well. Would have been better to have traded him to the AL but his market value was zero which is what we ended up with as we all know in the trade (see: Church, Ryan) but he was not doing the job with us either.
In the 70s, Skip Caray use to joke about all the ex-Braves going elsewhere and doing better such as Dusty Baker, Gary Matthews, etc. and the has-beens coming to us and doing nothing like Nick Esasky, Willie Montanez, etc. so hopefully that won’t come back around and I don’t think it will with Frenchy unless he has an epiphany and suddenly becomes a student of the game and has a plan when he goes up to bat instead of hitting like a football player and always swinging at the first thing that moves into his vision with no sense of a strikezone.
LET’S GO BRAVES!
Paddy O
March 19th, 2010
1:52 pm
Joshua – your an apologist who apparently likes to finish as an also ran. If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen. How much does Wren pay you to be his lap dog?
Paddy O
March 19th, 2010
1:54 pm
Clay your a typical clay brained graduate of a high school here in Georgia. You go to GA perimeter college?
Jeff Schultz
March 19th, 2010
2:05 pm
Joshua: You said, “I would clear things up but honestly most of you are too stupid and biased to care about logic.”
… Joshua, I think I speak for everyone when I say: We all wish we could be as smart as you for just one day. … For what it’s worth, the fact people may have a difference of opinion doesn’t mean one side is stupid and the other side isn’t. It just means they have a difference of opinion.
Paddy O
March 19th, 2010
2:12 pm
Joshua – I thought you were a bloviating schlep, but we agree on McLouth – he is a# 6/7 hitter, at best. However, if you think you have $$, you been drinking from the budget kool aid.
GTSteve
March 19th, 2010
2:47 pm
If he doesn’t start hitting, he needs to be on the bench and Infante or Melky needs to start. I agree with all that are saying that the Braves need to be serious from day 1, and not wait until they are 10 games out at mid-season.
Joshua
March 19th, 2010
3:38 pm
Jeff Schultz: I also wish everyone could be, not necessarily as smart as me, but capable of demonstrating a modicum of capacity for critical and rational thought. I wouldn’t wish an exceedingly high intelligence upon anyone, as it is frequently more of a burden than a blessing, but to know that the general populous was capable of objective reasoning would certainly relieve much of the anxiety I suffer at the though of raising my children in this society.
Do not get me wrong, I’m not saying anyone is stupid for disagreeing with me. I am simply saying that many people are stupid. You on the other hand are worse than stupid. You are using your position at AJC to proliferate you own opinion to the general public, and it wreaks of bad journalism. If you want to be a pundit, then don’t entitle your blog posts as if they are unequivocal facts.
Jeff Schultz
March 19th, 2010
4:30 pm
Joshua — This last post was a little more reasoned. As for my post, I can’t quite figure what you find so wrong with it, or, for that matter, why you consider yourself of superior intellect (in or out of baseball)? We have a difference of opinion: end of story. As for McLouth, I’ve said all along I have doubts about him as a leadoff hitter. I’ve said all along I think it’s a potential weakness on the team, which is why I supported Johnny Damon. Do I think him starting 1-for-31 in the spring means he’ll absolutely start 1-for-31 in the regular season? No. Do I think it’s a matter of some concern? Yes. Exactly where is the “bad journalism” you speak of here? I am a columnist. I get paid for my opinions. If you don’t agree with my opinions, that’s fine. I respect that. But let’s leave it at that.
Thuan860
March 19th, 2010
4:37 pm
Joshua, your a D!ck…
But more importantly… GO BRAVES. this is the best team we’ve had in many years. if you can’t see that, your being overly pessimistic. ATL, stay healthy, stay positive, and we’ll be lookin’ good.
unknown hinson
March 19th, 2010
4:56 pm
Not concerned at all, I’ll start to worry if he still is struggling in May. It’s SPRING TRAINING!
unknown hinson
March 19th, 2010
4:58 pm
Is Joshua gay? Sounds like a Bill Shakespeare wannabe.
Joshua
March 19th, 2010
5:16 pm
Eh I suppose it wasn’t really bad journalism. I’m just a d1ck. My old lady has been saying that for a while.
tnt
March 19th, 2010
5:26 pm
i think its time to give jermaine dye a call.
bruce
March 19th, 2010
5:44 pm
not concerned, good move to bat him lower, takes off some pressure, gives others some ABs in that role, and its still real early. This is an insightful story if in several weeks he is still not hitting.
LWells2000
March 19th, 2010
7:14 pm
McClouth’s “early chill” this spring training follows his late chill since joining us last year. I give him speed but little else. Time to seek and hire an Andruw Jones big-bat replacement if we’re serious in finishing near the top in 2010.
25-Year Braves Fan
March 19th, 2010
9:06 pm
Opening Day is almost two weeks away. It’s way too early for folks to be freaking out.
Paddy O
March 19th, 2010
10:07 pm
Commenting on player progress is constructive criticism. If YOU look at McLouth’s CAREER #ers, he is a lousy leadoff guy. If he was in the AL, he’d bat 9th. Also, Joshua – you realize Mr. Shultz is an opinion writer, correct?
Paddy O
March 19th, 2010
10:08 pm
And really, why would you trade for any major leaguer with 5 years in the books who had a below 270 average unless he slams over 35 HR a year? You don’t, unless your a schmuck like Wren. I wish Wren would stop sending his unpaid interns to write supporting comments to this site.
hal
March 19th, 2010
11:26 pm
ive had mclouth on my fantasy team for 3 years hes always been streaky whats a conncern is when he was in pitts burgh the slumps were short as soon as he got to hotlanta i noticed the difference his slumps wouldent end can you say the tp influence so many have had that happen it can no longer be a coincidence
Jeff Schultz
March 19th, 2010
11:48 pm
Joshua — It’s OK. We’re cool. Let’s just pretend we’re both idiots and start over.
Chief Pitchanono
March 19th, 2010
11:58 pm
Its too early to worry, most likely its just a slump. If not the Melky trade looks even better. I just hope that if he is a black hole in the lineup at the end of April they will go ahead a give Melky the job. They waited way too long last year to give second base to Prado. I wouldnt mind seeing what Diaz can do everyday, i think they should just go ahead and set up the platoon in center field instead.
maddog31
March 20th, 2010
12:33 am
screw it just tell wren to trade glaus,mcclouth, and hudson to boston for ellsbury and lester or bucholtz
maddog31
March 20th, 2010
12:39 am
at least it wrked that easy on xbox
CBI Cadet
March 20th, 2010
12:41 am
Way too early to worry. Damon is a pie-thrower in left and has had one of the worst arms in baseball for years. He had his best offensive year in the banbox that is the new Yankee Stadium. In McLouth, you have a younger and more talented player at this stage in their careers. He put up similar numbers in fewer games in bigger parks (Pittsburgh and Atlanta) last year. A few more Ks, but why be down on a guy who is reaching his prime? Sure, bump him down as needed, but I wouldn’t worry much about a slow start in the spring. He’ll be just fine.
GT BOYZ
March 20th, 2010
4:21 am
Great Job Schultz,
you still have a job somehow. I am almost as boggled by that as I am GT’s 24 of 25 ft’s made tonight. Both UNBEIEVABLE !
GT BOYZ
March 20th, 2010
4:26 am
Joshua,
nice big words. I had to google most of them. You are wise beyond your years, and it appears your best years are behind you….
Think about that for a second, crotch sniffer.
Jinx (formerly known as woogidy)
March 20th, 2010
12:32 pm
I think any true Braves fan would be at least a little concerned. It’s especially hard this year, because it seems he’s the only one struggling. But, at the same time, we can’t get too caught up in spring numbers. If you look at all of the projected starters, It’s not as if McCann, Glaus, and Heyward are all going to hit over .400. So, it’s unlikely Nate goes through April with an OBP under .150, so just let it play out and see what happens. But, again, we have to find someone to pick on this spring.
scott
March 20th, 2010
1:06 pm
The only chill im feeling is not Nate’s at bats but from reading this pointless article. I have totally agreed with everything jeff blauser says ITS JUST SPRING TRAINING! Even 30 at bats into the season i wouldnt start to panic yet. Maybe if its this bad 50 at bats in then you need to make some changes. Also i only said maybe. My thought is you could lead off with melky and have him in center put diaz in left full time (he deserves to play everyday anyway) and Jason Heyward in right. Omar infante can backup and give someone a day off. so really there is no need to paninc in my opinion.
ExBraves Fan
March 20th, 2010
4:16 pm
You might want too re look at this guy’s career. He is not the second coming of Mantle, May, or Griffey. He IS a lifetime .260 hitter, with only ONE season above the .260 level and that was a .276 season. All the rest have been .250 seasons. So, he is not a given to have a great or even good season. .256 seasons are not really good seasons, not in this era of big hitting players. Here is his stat page from Baseball-Reference, a very good baseball stats web site.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mclouna01.shtml
Kentavo
March 20th, 2010
6:48 pm
Braves brass obviously does not care about lead-off hitter as a legit one has not been found since Furky left. How many years has that been to find a leadoff hitter? Five? They don’t think it’s important.
Paddy O
March 20th, 2010
7:16 pm
CBI: You must be jesting. McLouth’s prime is what? a 268 average, about 153 hits, 22 doubles, 35 sb and maybe 85 runs? That is third place kind of production from a lead off man. The point is, Wren thought he could catch the Pirates on a fire sale, and traded for a guy who at best is a 7th place hitter. Generally, you find those guys in your minors. NOW, if Heyward keeps hitting, Glaus plays like he still ont he Angels, Chipper can hit 290+ and MCcann hits 315 with 95+ RBI’s, plus good 280 seasons from Escobar (who gets in Coxes dog house weekly) and Prado, AND we get at lleast 85 RBI out of Melky & Diaz, we should finish with a shot at the wildcart. A LOT OF IFFFFFFFS. Not to mention, our bullpen is iffy prior to the closer, if he stays healthy.
Paddy O
March 20th, 2010
7:18 pm
256 is good if you have over 30 HR & over 95 RBI. Otherwise, your a pinchitter, if you do it in the clutch. I do like the Hinski signing – he is a reallly good luck charm.
ExBraves Fan
March 20th, 2010
8:15 pm
Paddy O.: I will take a .285-.300 hitter, with only 15 HRs and 75 RBI over a .256 hitter with 30 & 95. The other guy is going to put the ball in play, move runners with groundouts, flyouts, etc. A .256 hitter with 30 dingers spells one thing to me, 150 strikeouts!!! A strikeout means NOTHING positive happens for the team. A wasted out. That is what one of my old coaches always said. I had rather you ground out and move up a runner than strikeout and nothing has happened except the other team has an out.
ExBraves Fan
March 20th, 2010
8:24 pm
Braves lose to Jays 7-6 on Saturday. McCan’t Get A Hit went 0-4. 1 for what now, 38 or 39???
Coach2010
March 20th, 2010
9:42 pm
You guys know all too well that Cox will give Nate every chance to dig himself out of this rut that he is in (Case in point…Reggie Sanders!). If we get into the first month of the season and he is showing no signs of improvement, he’ll either get sent to AAA to work things out, or a early season trade might transpire. Is he your prototypical leadoff hitter? No, and we haven’t had one since 2005. Yeah, its good to have a guy that can get on base and have a good OBP, BUT Cox doesn’t play enough small ball. He doesn’t run his players like he should (Not since the early 90’s), nor does he hit and run all that often. I know the Braves aren’t counting on Heyward for HUGE numbers this year, but if Spring Training is any indication on what this kid can do….Look out people! He will be the difference maker for the Braves in 2010. You know, it takes a special kind of guy to hit cars beyond the right field wall and shatter windshields and sunroofs. He has opened a ton of eyes with his plate discipline, base awareness, and fielding ability. Chipper has said that Heyward is a more rounded overall player than Andruw was when he first came up. He further stated that Heyward is the best 20 year old that he has ever seen. Sure, we have alot of what ifs, but you have to enjoy the buzz around camp right now, and team chemistry is at an all time high.
Mike J
March 20th, 2010
11:10 pm
Not to worry – our hitting coach, Pendleton, will resolve any bad habits McLouth has acquired. Remember the great job he did correcting the problems Andruw and Frenchy had at the plate? I admire Bobby Cox and the job he does with the team, but his loyalty to TP continues to hurt the team. Is it too late to bundle Melky and McLouth for a real lead-off hitter who can steal a few bases?
Rick
March 21st, 2010
7:53 am
Couldn’t agree more with maddog because mclouth hasn’t showed me much either since coming to atlanta last june. the braves should start making more blockbuster deals that would help us get further in the playoffs maybe even the world series.the braves should win it all for bobby this year ,but in order to do that they should make a couple of big trades during the season or by the trade deadline.
a smart gentleman
March 22nd, 2010
12:17 am
yeah let’s trade him before his stock plummets and we are left with another Frenchie.
Blake
March 22nd, 2010
2:15 am
I think McLouth will be fine!
Don
March 22nd, 2010
10:34 am
What do they mean -”Look at McLouths past record”. What do they mean – “Get Mclouth to returen to form”. Last season was not an off season. A .250s hitter is what he is. He has hit in the .250s of lower in all but one season in his career. Is that what we want for a leadoff hitter or for that matter for any hitter in our outfield. (To his credit, his OBA is not that bad – not good for a leadoff hitter – but good for a hitter with a .250s BA.) I agree, however, that we probably do not have a better option for centerfield on our roster.
jim
March 22nd, 2010
5:41 pm
First time I have agreed with Wren, don’t panic its early. McLouth has had good solid career so far give him some time. I do however agree that he may not be a lead-off hitter. Lead-off hitters are few and far between, you probably can’t name 5 good ones in MLB. The prototype would be a slap hitter, that didn’t strike out much and could steal bases (Brett Butler).