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
Thekingtata
March 19th, 2010
7:01 am
FIRST!!!! And start the Melkman!
Beau
March 19th, 2010
7:02 am
First
Michael Scharff
March 19th, 2010
7:02 am
First? Yes, they need a lead-off hitter badly to set the table for J-Hay and Chipper.
Mark
March 19th, 2010
7:03 am
McLouth is a professional hitter with good pop and in the prime of his career. He will work his way through the slump. He is not a protypical leadoff hitter and that concerns me. He is probably better suited at 6th in the order, so I can understand Bobby’s move. As far as leadoff goes, I would say that Yunel is probably the best option.
Herschel Talker
March 19th, 2010
7:21 am
Umm…if Wren isn’t concerned, then he’s confirming that he’s the fool we all think he is. Those numbers are scary.
lanier
March 19th, 2010
7:25 am
He was a weak link last season why expect him to change. In fact he may be one of our worst CF since 91
Shane Sikes
March 19th, 2010
7:26 am
Definitely!!!
Lead off hitter sets the table.
I do have confidence in McLouth though. He’ll come around.
Go Braves!
space monkey
March 19th, 2010
7:30 am
Use Melky. McClouth needs some time at AAA to straighten out his swing.
tom
March 19th, 2010
7:34 am
Coincides with his vision problem, needs time to adjust as did McCann. He can do it. Hope Bobby lets Melky start if Nate does not hit at all over the next 2-3 weeks. Melky can truly play the game. We can not however put up with CF play that JS gave us in the first half of 09′. LO/CF has to contribute from day one.
Yunel Asscobar
March 19th, 2010
7:40 am
Wren’s lack of concern is so reassuring. This is the same guy who thinks the Braves came out on the good end of the deal that sent Javy to NYY.
F-105 Thunderchief
March 19th, 2010
7:41 am
This is all a ploy to get fans to warm up to Milky Carrera and forget the fact they gave away Vazquez for this journeyman, another journeyman and a lottery ticket named Vizcaino.
Jimbo
March 19th, 2010
7:43 am
C’mon Jeff, give us a break. Spring training, pitchers always ahead of batters early on, cold FL weather. Crank up some meaningful controversy, not this one.
LivinInAL
March 19th, 2010
7:49 am
Move some of the balls he has hit over 4 feet and he has hits. Its Spring! Don’t worry be happy!
Tiger Woods
March 19th, 2010
8:16 am
I’m gonna spank you good when I get through pulling your hair, then ….sorry, wrong blog …
Clay
March 19th, 2010
8:23 am
So, if Heyward cools off and starts the season 1 for 31, are you nuts gonna trash him too? It happens in baseball. Anybody remember the streak Chipper got on the last 2 MONTHS last season? Like 2 for 50, with about 10 double plays? It’s spring training – the games and numbers don’t count until April!
Big Ben
March 19th, 2010
8:23 am
Hey, where’s your dorm room?
bugman
March 19th, 2010
8:25 am
Couldn’t resist!
McLouth is not LO mat. Booby’s gonna hafta juggle for the 1st Q till he can figger out whom to lean on. I’m not sure Melky is it…
greg
March 19th, 2010
8:30 am
Jeff… I am more concerned about the offense as a whole… I think we are looking at another season where they will not score enough runs… Where is the production going to come from? It is really tough to have a positive outlook on this season.
MLH
March 19th, 2010
8:32 am
The ignorance of some on this blog on the subject of baseball is comical
MLH
March 19th, 2010
8:35 am
Yes, it is really tough to have a positive outlook when you have one of the top rotations in baseball, and the number 1 prospect in baseball. Nothing at all positive about this team.
lin
March 19th, 2010
8:35 am
well i still say 3rd maybe 2nd place for braves. sorry something is going to go wrong as usual. what happen to js for center not heard much on him? they may give nm 4 wks to start but if nothing they best get js in there
JEZ
March 19th, 2010
8:40 am
Clay that was good! Thanks!
Jesse Stone
March 19th, 2010
8:41 am
Nate is not the player he is showing this Spring; neither is Melky.
tomahawkin down 75
March 19th, 2010
8:47 am
Cut your losses. Release or trade Nate. He’s had 31 AB’s to get it right…. that’s all we fans need to know. Maybe we can get a good prospect for him. Also, I heard Heyward laid off an 0-2 pitch right down the middle the other day too. Sounds like the guy is squeamish to take a cut at a good pitch for fear of getting out. Looks like it’s all downhill from here. Trade him now, before folks find out he’s a bust. Same deal with Tommy Hanson. He’s a one trick pony, and everyone in the show can hit the fastball. Deal him too, get what you can for him before his weaknesses are brought to bear. Face it folks, this whole team is falling apart 2 weeks before the beginning of the season. Holy crap the SKY IS FALLING THE SKY IS FALLING!!!!! <end sarcastic early morning coffee fueled rant on my mark…3…2…1…mark).
MLH
March 19th, 2010
8:49 am
Lin do you keep up with the braves at all? Jordan is still recovering from a broken wrist. He hasn’t even taken live batting practice yet
Brian
March 19th, 2010
8:51 am
“But if the Braves don’t have even a competent leadoff hitter this season, they’re in trouble”
With the hitters the Braves have at their disposal (McLouth, Prado, Escobar, Diaz vs. lefties) I think the chances of the Braves not having a competent leadoff hitter are slim. McLouth could be the worst hitter in the league, and the Braves would probably still contend.
DC Brave
March 19th, 2010
8:53 am
12 Ks in 31 at bats?! That is very concerning. Fair enough, guys go through 30 or 40 at bat slumps, especially in Spring. The ball just doesnt find open space. But one strike out every 2.58 at bats is not good at all. The first step to getting hits is putting the ball in play.
Im sure Nate will pick it up, but if the question is “Are you concerned?”, the answer is I am more concerned by the 12 Ks than I am the one hit.
curtis jones
March 19th, 2010
9:00 am
The Braves most effective leadoff man in ‘09 was Omar Infante. Then he got hurt. By then, the Braves had traded for McLouth, who never excelled in the role. Blame it on his vision, blame it on missing Pittsburgh, or blame it on Rio. It’s just a fact. The guy is at best, a 7-hole guy in the order who has decent range in the outfield, an average arm, and can steal a base now and then. He is in no way a championship-caliber CF or leadoff man. So the Braves are probably satisfied with him.
Jeff Schultz
March 19th, 2010
9:01 am
Interesting that we’re getting early support for Cabrera as leadoff hitter. (By the way, he hit leadoff Thursday when McLouth was dropped.)
Jeff Schultz
March 19th, 2010
9:02 am
Jimbo — breaking out the pitchers-ahead-of-the-hitters cliche? Everybody is not hitting 1-for-31.
Jeff Schultz
March 19th, 2010
9:02 am
Tiger Woods — Thank you for giving me my morning laugh.
Bob Davie
March 19th, 2010
9:03 am
This is a very , very interesting team the Braves are fielding. For sure, the most interesting in a decade to leave Dark Star for the Ted.
But, y’all are kidding yourselves if you think – on paper- this is a team that competes at the highest level in the NL. Since the game isn’t played on paper, the Braves have a shot. But , compared to the Philthies and the Rockies, this team can’t hold water and is probably in the same class as the Cubs, Cards, D-Bags, Dodgers , Giants, Mutts and Marlins.
The post-season is attainable, for sure….But this isn’t a team I’d bet your money on , let alone mine. McLouth had 1 good year in Pittsburgh. ONE. His numbers last year were pretty close to his career averages. I expect about the same from him this year; .250/20/70 with a bunch of KOs. A good 7-hole hitter for sure.
Sonny Clusters
March 19th, 2010
9:04 am
2 strikes? Take something off the swing and put the ball in play. We was telling somebody else this but they wouldn’t listen. McLouth has only been a Brave a short time but he is demonstrating he understands Bobby Ball very well. Trying to hit a three run homer batting leadoff.
Clay
March 19th, 2010
9:05 am
Mark (7:03), I’m with you on Nate. but not Escobar. You can’t lead off a guy who, if memory serves me, was the 2nd best in MLB in hitting (BA) with runners in scoring position. In other words, he is the second best clutch hitter in the game. 8 and 9 in the order won’t be on base for him at leadoff very often …
Jeff Schultz
March 19th, 2010
9:06 am
Greg — Offense obviously is the big question. To me it starts at leadoff.
Clay
March 19th, 2010
9:10 am
Hey Bob, I’ll take being in the “same class as St Louis and Dodgers and Giants.” Didn’t they all make the playoffs last year?
renegade#1
March 19th, 2010
9:12 am
It seems to me that after the first inning you have a different leadoff hitter every inning. Everybody could be considered a leadoff hitter at some point during the game and everybody should be perpared in their mind that they are a leadoff man. Hell I thought everybody was trying to get on base anyway; but have different levels of success.
Kashi
March 19th, 2010
9:12 am
DOB stop poking on Nate. You discourage fans and player before even season start. Your blog would suit better if today was a all-star game. Please go make some coffee.
Ron E.
March 19th, 2010
9:13 am
McLouth will hit his way out of it. It’s spring training. You don’t really worry about what veterans do there as long as they’re healthy. The Braves have a number of other options to lead off that get on base as much or better than McLouth (Matt Diaz for one). They might well be better off having Nate’s power in the middle of the line up anyway.
Brian
March 19th, 2010
9:15 am
Bob Davie, maybe I can understand the Phillies, but what in the world makes you think the Braves don’t stack up on paper to the Rockies? I think there are at least four teams better than the Rockies in the NL, and the Braves are one of them.
Darren in Nashville
March 19th, 2010
9:15 am
if, and thats if, McLouth continues to struggle this spring what would be the harm in starting him off in AAA…he could continue to work on his swing and once he gets hot he would provide a nice boost to the offense…Diaz, Cabrera (leadoff) and Heyward and Hinske could do the job until McLouth is ready…you must have a contingency plan if Nate stays at .032
PMC
March 19th, 2010
9:16 am
It’s not a big deal at all. It’s just a slump and it’s a preseason slump. We know what he can do. Until he breaks out of it walk, bunt, lean into a couple… do whatever to get on base and play great defense.
His OBP is pretty good and he runs bases well which is why the Braves like him at leadoff I guess. I’ve always thought he was better down in the order. The good news is that it’s not just all on him, they can use Diaz sometimes or Prado or even Escobar occasionally to set the table.
I’d be thrilled if he could simply have a high OBP, run the bases well, score runs and play a very good center field.
PMC
March 19th, 2010
9:19 am
I forgot about Infante and Melky too.
Omar is excellent in the first spot and you know he’s going to play quite a bit on this team considering the ancients we have on the corners.
Brian
March 19th, 2010
9:23 am
This whole McLouth thing is blown out of proportions for a couple reasons:
1. It’s not a Nate McLouth vs. Melky Cabrera thing. Cabrera will still start most games against right-handed pitching even if McLouth starts all the time. So more often than not, both will be in the lineup.
2. There’s not a huge difference between McLouth and the guys who would replace him. It’s not like Albert Pujols vs. Casey Kotchman. If McLouth can’t produce, Cabrera and Diaz, who wouldn’t be that much worse anyway, have the outfield covered. Prado, Cabrera, Diaz, and Escobar would all be leadoff options just as good as McLouth.
3. It’s spring training.
So, in summary, I think too big a deal is being made out of McLouth’s struggles. Most likely, it’s just a slump. But even if it’s not just a slump and he’s finished as a big league ball player, there’s really no reason to panic. I would rate McLouth around #11 on the list of most important Braves players in 2010. He’s just not that far above his “replacement level”.
timthebrave
March 19th, 2010
9:25 am
Not worried yet but I would think about hitting him further down the line to see if it takes some of the pressure off
Bobby Cox
March 19th, 2010
9:27 am
Frank is on the phone w/ Arizona, trying to bring back Kelly Johnson. That’ll solve all our problems. Can’t give up on Kelly !
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
March 19th, 2010
9:31 am
I think Nate is just trying to fill the void left by Norton’s exit…
Nick
March 19th, 2010
9:31 am
Then what do you suggest Jeff? Yunel has a lot of power that gets wasted at the top of the order. Just because the guy has a incredible OPS does not mean you waste RBI’s. Prado is the only other viable option in my opinion.
Nate will figure it out. I will be worried when the 2nd week of the season hits and he has not. Until then, this is why we have spring training…
McCann Fan
March 19th, 2010
9:35 am
McClouth will be fine. He is a very good player. However, he is not an ideal leadoff hitter, whether he is 1 for 31 in March or hitting .265 in July. He needs to be batting 7th or 8th.
The guy is valuable in many ways, but he is no leadoff hitter. Just look at his career averages by batting position. I’m pretty sure I saw a stat once where his best average was hitting 3rd and his worse was leadoff.
John
March 19th, 2010
9:40 am
I agree with Nick. Yunel is too important driving in runs at the 5 or 6 spot. I think the best option is probably Diaz or Cabrera even though they don’t have tons of speed. Prado is a decent option at 1 as well, but I see him as kind of the prototypical 2 guy. With all that being said, I think McLouth will turn it around.
Jeff Schultz
March 19th, 2010
9:43 am
Nick — I made my suggestion early in the off-season: Johnny Damon. Braves jumped on late there, then Detroit offered more than expected. Not sure what would’ve happened if they jumped on early … As for now, obviously you go into season trying McLouth and see how it starts. Ultimately, Braves project Jordan Schafer in that spot, but how far down the road is that? A few folks here have suggested Escobar. I don’t think that’s a ridiculous idea at all. Yes, he’s great with RISP. But he also gives pop at the top of the lineup and you have to make that call as to what’s more important: Leadoff or sixth (or wherever Escobar will bat). I’ve always been big on the leadoff guy.
Here’s a link to an Escobar/leadoff blog I wrote a few weeks back:
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2010/02/22/pick-the-braves-leadoff-hitter-and-why-not-escobar/
alan
March 19th, 2010
9:50 am
I’ll bet there are other fans out there who remember Josh Anderson in CF. I think wren made another of his mistakes trading him and keeping Jordan Schafer, who is a dud. McLouth is turning into another asterisk in Braves history. According to my brother who lives in NY, Melky is not the great hope of the Braves in CF either. Here goes another ho-hum season as the pitching can only do so much without runs or hits.
Tucker T
March 19th, 2010
10:05 am
Yes I am worried about Nate and no the Braves couldn’t have gotten Damon if they had been in on the bidding earlier. Boras was going to wait until late in the game regardless.
MLH
March 19th, 2010
10:11 am
Really Alan? Keep Josh Anderson? He is really tearing it up in Detroit isn’t he?
paranoiaagent0
March 19th, 2010
10:12 am
from baseball prospectus:
“[Wade] Boggs’ .415 career on-base percentage and nearly 600 doubles counted for far more than any bases he might have stolen because he was a great hitter first and a leadoff hitter second. This happy state of affairs exploited the true nature of the batting order, which is not to arrange the batters based on out-dated conventional wisdom — a speedy guy goes first, a good hit and run man bats second, your best all-around hitter goes third, your burliest power guy goes fourth, and so on. The real function of the batting order is to serve as a vehicle for distributing plate appearances. Over the course of the season, the leadoff spot will bat more often than the second spot, the second spot will bat more often than the third spot, and so on. Each spot comes to the plate roughly 20 more times than the one behind it.”
so you put prado or escobar or diaz first. it’s pretty simple. we have a number of options that would be successful if nate can’t produce.
and if glaus keeps hitting like he is, and chipper has one of his normal years, we have a good lineup. mccann is going to produce, escobar and prado will produce, heyward looks great…i don’t really see a whole lot of issues if we stay healthy.
Brian
March 19th, 2010
10:16 am
Josh Anderson??? He was one of the worst hitters in baseball last year! Worse than Schafer! And four years older.
Where do some of you people get your baseball information????
Mike S
March 19th, 2010
10:19 am
Let’s Put a little perspective on this:
Nate McClouth is playing with contacts for the first time in his career after noticing vision problems during the off-season
Last year brian McCann noticed vision problems during spring training and early april. He was fitted for glasses and eventually contacts.
Now, let’s compare McCann’s Stats as he adjusted to hitting with vision correction to McClouth’s as he adjusted:
BRian McCann April 10-30, 2009 — 2-26 .077 1K
Nate MCClouth Spring 2001 —- 1-31 .032 12K
Now the big difference, McCann only Ked once, so he was making better contact than McClouth, but the stats are strikingly similar otherwise.
But, Mcclouth also strikes out at a much higher rate than McCann and has had a lower BA than McCann, so it would be expected that his numbers would be Higher. Here is the stats to back that up
Brian McCann 2123 AB 301K .293 — 1 K every 7 AB
Nate McClouth 1812 AB 348 K .260 — 1 K every 5 AB
So, basically what it looks like is that McClouth is going through the same adjustment phase as McCann for the vision correction, but he is adjusting at a much slower rate.
If McClouth is still hittin .050 in 2 weeks, we worry, but right now, while concerned, I would not hit the hissy fit button yet.
But then, if Jeff didn’t have something to panic about and write negative columns about Georgia teams he wouldn’t have a blog would he.
coachx
March 19th, 2010
10:20 am
The Melky Cabrera trade is looking much better now.
Mike S
March 19th, 2010
10:21 am
As an aside, McCann eventually opted for Laser correction as he said he never did get comfortable with vision correction (glasses or contacts). I think McClouth seriously needs to consider the same surgery McCann had.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
March 19th, 2010
10:27 am
Move the ball over 4 feet? Thats asking a bit much!How about the 12k’s in 32 at-bats. Thats the troubling aspect, he needs to think in terms of table setting and show a little patience.
Paddy O
March 19th, 2010
10:31 am
McLouth is a career 260 hitter, where he was playing AAA ball in Pittsburgh – no pressure, no expectations. He sucks as a lead off man. If he hits 275, you’ll be lucky. I wish Nixon was still available.
N
March 19th, 2010
10:31 am
Josh Anderson. Where is he now? He started off good with Detroit but couldn’t even stay on the team the whole year. Geez, to say that was a bad deal Wren made.
Paddy O
March 19th, 2010
10:34 am
If Cox had any brains, either Prado or escobar, even Cabrera, is your leadoff guy. I guess you could let the guy we traded Frenchy for lead off – oh, wait, we released him. Bad leadership provides bad results. If the Braves don’t win 88 games witht the starting pitching we have, we need to can the moron Wren.
N
March 19th, 2010
10:35 am
Many great players have had bad spring trainings. I remember Ichiro as a rookie in Seattle started so bad, wasn’t pulling anything and Lou Piniella yelled at him to pull something so he did and went deep. A few teammates couldn’t believe it in the Majors that someone was just playing around in Spring Training as a rookie. Of course we found out that was his talent level as he went on to hit around .350 win rookie of the year and MVP in the same season.
Paddy O
March 19th, 2010
10:36 am
I did forget Diaz – he seems to be a bonafide 300 guy. But I have the impression he lumbers around the bases.
Jordan Schafer's Mama
March 19th, 2010
10:36 am
How about my boy in centerfield, hitting leadoff? He hit a healthy .204 in the regular season for Atlanta. McLouth is only hitting .032 in spring training !
N
March 19th, 2010
10:37 am
How is it bad leadership to release Church. Would you really take Church over one of the guys you have now. Come on, really??
Paddy O
March 19th, 2010
10:39 am
Jeff – you have to know your sports section stinks and Dave (The Parrott) OBrien is a lobotomy with a dictionary. Why don’t you ever post league wide stats? My last sports page, no Braves spring training stats except a few ob stats from the Parrott At least you look at a story with wisdom and a point of view. Thanks for writing!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
March 19th, 2010
10:39 am
Please tell me you just didn’t reference Ichiro? Really, who knew what to expect from him? Stud numbers in the Japan League, had to make the transition to MLB Pitching. McClouth has been around the block several times. No way to make the comparison, Apples to Oranges.
Paddy O
March 19th, 2010
10:40 am
NO, dip wad – you traded Franceur for NOTHING – that is BAD leadership!
Paddy O
March 19th, 2010
10:41 am
Your objective opinion is that Ichiro was a rookie?
MLH
March 19th, 2010
10:41 am
Like I said earlier the baseball IQ on this blog is comical
Paddy O
March 19th, 2010
10:43 am
I really wish Ted Turner started to jones for baseball. He had a great business plan.
N
March 19th, 2010
10:43 am
Absolutely I referenced Ichiro because thats what happened, everyone thought he couldn’t hit, couldn’t pull the ball. I remember Al Martin saying how unbelievable that he was doing that and then just turned it on. I never compared him to Nate but said stars have bad springs sometimes. At the time no Japanese position player had played in the majors and it wasn’t a slam dunk that he would be great over here and his early spring had Lou Piniella and everyone worried.
ASHEVILLE DAWG
March 19th, 2010
10:44 am
Oy vey, we’re already in trouble, with two weeks to go before the season starts?
bill_in_atl
March 19th, 2010
10:44 am
Diaz should start in LF and bat leadoff against every left handed starter. His numbers against LH pitching is ridiculous. Last year in 152 PA vs LH he posted .412/.464/.640 for an OPS of 1.103.
He’ll be on base a TON and runs bases fairly well. I can’t see why anyone else would be considered for that role, when lefties are starting.
That still leaves 75% of the games to find a leadoff hitter against righties. If you look at McClouth you HAVE to assume he’ll get through this spring slump and revert to what he is. His track record is plenty long enough at this point. And he seems to be the best choice to leadoff against righties. His OBPs the past two years vs. RH pitching are .368 and.371 and we all know he’s our best base stealing threat. So assuming he eventually snaps out of this funk this is really an easy choice as well.
The only other possibility seems to be Yunel and it wouldn’t be terrible if he were given the role as his career OBP vs. RH is actually higher than McClouth’s. Plus he’s got some experience hitting 1st and fared well doing it.
Melky is decent against LH and RH but doesn’t excel vs either so while I think he’ll contribute a lot I don’t see him as a good fit for the leadoff role.
In summary I suggest batting Diaz leadoff vs. LF and McClouth vs. RH. If it’s Escobar, that’s ok too.
MLH
March 19th, 2010
10:44 am
Actually trading Franceur was addition by subtraction, and it opened up a spot for Heyward. Getting anything above a bag of balls for Franceur last year had to be considered an achievement.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
March 19th, 2010
10:49 am
Ok, whatever makes sense to you and the Francouer move will be one that bites this franchise in the rear. The staff grew frustrated and gave up on him. Also the move didnt open up a spot in RF. Last I checked LF by no means has been solidified. Still a platoon, so you could have have the corner spots manned down by two local products had the Braves been patient enough.
Jesse Stone
March 19th, 2010
10:50 am
N- Look up career numbers. Church is slightly better than Melky.
N
March 19th, 2010
10:53 am
Church?? He is injury proned though and Melky is a young guy at 25.
Patient enough?? How long did you want to wait and give up on the season with Frenchy.
Left field seems solid to me, I love what Melky and Diaz bring to the table. This team looks so much better then the last few.
Jesse Stone
March 19th, 2010
10:56 am
Yeah, Melky is 25 but his numbers haven’t been improving. He’s an overrated former Yankee whose name got a lot of play in the national media.
Brian from SC
March 19th, 2010
11:01 am
Hey Jeff, how does this fact fly with your “it all starts with leadoff” thing?
The team in the NL with the lowest OBP out of the leadoff spot last year (Phillies) scored the most runs in the league.
The team with the highest OBP out of the leadoff spot (Pirates) scored the fewest runs in the league.
Paddy O
March 19th, 2010
11:04 am
MLH you just proved you baseball IQ is comical.
Bill
March 19th, 2010
11:04 am
It is spring and time to get ready. If Nate was batting .800 now would you expect him to bat .800 during the season? Lets see how it works out. There are options, but please don’t write him off yet – just as you wouldn’t offer him $10 M a year for 12 years if he was hitting .800 right now.
Paddy O
March 19th, 2010
11:05 am
Pro players from Japan are not rookies. You must be a corporate flunky.
Paddy O
March 19th, 2010
11:09 am
McLouth is a #7 hitter with speed. If he is OK, why was Frenchy not? Yea, he had a bad year and a half – but I blame that on Pendleton being inept – just ask Andrew Jones.
the crime dawg
March 19th, 2010
11:09 am
ACTUALLY if he doesnt do the job then move Prado to the one hole Jeffy, you obviously never played baseball so stick to writing. Are you even an Atlanta fan? Boo to you Jeffy.
Jeff Schultz
March 19th, 2010
11:10 am
Brian from SC — The Phillies’ lineup isn’t a fair measuring stick, and I think you know that. With what they’ve got 2-8, you could hit leadoff.
the crime dawg
March 19th, 2010
11:11 am
KUDOS TO BRIAN FROM SC, read his comment from 3/19 @ 11:01. Great article Jeffy, go write about traffic jams, your DRAMA could be used for that topic, GO BRAVES, and McClouth will be just fine. DRAMA QUEEN JEFFY!
Jeff Schultz
March 19th, 2010
11:12 am
For what it’s worth, when I put up a poll asking readers to vote on leadoff hitter before the start of spring training, these were the results: McLouth 49 percent, Prado 21, Diaz 17, Escobar 13. The poll (and blog) is still open if you want to weigh in.
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2010/02/22/pick-the-braves-leadoff-hitter-and-why-not-escobar/
Paddy O
March 19th, 2010
11:14 am
Also, if you look at players with long (12 year) careers, they will have 2 to 4 that are just bad. You have to live with it. If you are hasty (bad leadership; IE bad/fuzzy decision making), you give up on a guy too soon. If a player is older than 35, he may be starting a long decline, but can still be productive late in a career (Ted Williams). If the team had unconditionally supported Frenchy, and any Braves fan living in Atlanta should have given him their full support, he would have come around. Now, he gets to visit Atlanta 9 times a year and beat the crap out of you. Another BAD decision – he should have been traded out west or to the American league. From where I stand, Wren is novice pretender way over his head – like Drew Blickensderfer.
Paddy O
March 19th, 2010
11:15 am
crime dawg is a typical moron redneck.
MLH
March 19th, 2010
11:18 am
How is RF still a platoon if Heyward makes the team? LF would be the platoon. And they didn’t give up on Franceur, they gave him ample time to turn things around. Even sent him to the minors which he complained about
Joshua
March 19th, 2010
11:23 am
I am so tired of the irresponsible fear-mongering perpetrated by the so called journalists at AJC. I am also tired of the way the people on this board just bite into it. I would clear things up but honestly most of you are too stupid and biased to care about logic. Suffice it to say that the Braves are going to be highly competitive this year, and McClouth should not be batting lead off anyway. But you all continue to disregard the fact that even after a horrid first two months last season, the Braves still finished fifth in the league in runs scored and had one of the best run differentials in the majors. That fact right there illustrates my point that you are all oblivious to reason. So if you don’t like where we are, why don’t you just stop watching baseball, and stop posting your inane and laughable opinions on this board where you continue to perpetuate the stereo-type that southerners are in fact stupid.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
March 19th, 2010
11:26 am
What makes the move with Frenchie worse is how his production jumped w/ the Mets. If he can excel for a half season with the New York media then what was wrong in Atlanta?
Nothing can be done know but a corner OF with Heyward and Frenchie would have been nice for a decade or so.
Smuglas
March 19th, 2010
11:28 am
Reminder that Willie Mays started his career 0-24. The Giants should have released him at that point. Good thing they didn’t have blogs back then!
Joshua
March 19th, 2010
11:30 am
“From where I stand, Wren is novice pretender way over his head – like Drew Blickensderfer.”
From where I stand, Wren’s knowledge of how to run a baseball organization is exponentially greater than your own. I guess that sort of explains why he’s being paid to do so and you are not.
1. We should have a substantially better line-up this year than last (with the potential of really being scary if Heyward continues to hit the way he has been in ST), in which 7 guys have the ability to take a bad pitch to the house at any time. We have really improved our speed with the additions of Melky and McClouth and while its still not a strength imo, it also shouldn’t be a weakness for us either.
2. Our pitching is rock solid from top to bottom and front to back. Virtually no holes in the pitching staff.
3. Our defense will be above average.
4. We have plenty of money and trade-bat to make a major mid-season acquisition, *after* we have had time to see what injuries are going to do to our line-up and to determine where we need help the most, which really is far better than making the acquisition now that could end up being redundant anyway (i.e. signing a power bat like Jason Bay only to have Heyward come out of the gates like a bat out of hell.
5. We have great depth.
6. And your opinion is both irresponsible and irrelevant to reality.
jeff blauser
March 19th, 2010
11:44 am
schultz, you don’t know what you’re talking about. The only useful quote in this post is as follows: “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”
Yes, he’s struggling, but yes its only 31 at-bats into the spring…he’ll get if figured out, that’s the whole purpose of spring TRAINING…sometimes i think we’d all be better off without any media coverage during ST, because we end up with useless articles like this.
I vowed a while back not to read posts from schultz or bradley anymore, but I endulged in this one anyway, and now here i am wasting time typing about why i think it was and is a useless article.
One more thing- you say that its clear mclouth is “trying to hit” not just “working out the kinks”…wow. profound. of course he’s trying to hit, that’s how you work out the kinks…again, its spring training.
jeff blauser
March 19th, 2010
11:47 am
after reading some of the above comments, i’m very pleased to see that a few of you actually recognize that schultz has no idea what he’s talking about…great guy i’m sure, writes well, intelligent no doubt..but why the heck is he giving his assessment of a guy’s ability to hit based on 31 ST at-bats?
Joshua
March 19th, 2010
11:48 am
In five major league season, one time has McLouth batted for a .260 or better average. So why would we have him leading off anyway? Put him in the 7 or 8 hole and let him try to smack in runs.
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).
Admiral Ackbar
March 22nd, 2010
8:09 pm
It’s a trap!
Ray Steele
March 23rd, 2010
6:22 am
So what you’re saying is, “It doesn’t make sense to panic, but IT’S COMING RIGHT AT US! Run for your lives!!”
As much as I have bagged on Melky lately, this is a good reason to have him. If Natey Mac continues to not hit after the regular season starts, we have a backup plan. But that’s only after the regular season starts.
http://braveslifer.wordpress.com
Two lead off batter suggestions for Braves
March 23rd, 2010
11:23 am
Consider two names as lead off hiitters:
Nellie Fox and Ty Cobb. Either one will do well.
Problem solved.
Go Jackets
ANOTHER lead off batter suggestion for Braves
March 23rd, 2010
11:27 am
We also could throw Maury Wills name into the lead off batter mix.
This is easy,man.
Go Jackets and Go Navy!!
myra
March 24th, 2010
6:27 pm
nates boring.
Don
March 25th, 2010
10:51 am
I still do not understand so many posters referring to McLouth’s past record as being a solid offensive player. He has been a .250s hitter. He has hit in the .250s or below in all but one season in his major league career. Is this a solid major league hitter????
Paul Hewitt
March 26th, 2010
5:59 pm
The reason Nate is having trouble is the all the fault of those ajc writers and bloggers.
Ralph
March 27th, 2010
11:01 am
Infante in CF, the guy has speed, can get on base and can play center field, I think the braves are overlooking an orchard while searching for a rose.
Robert
March 27th, 2010
12:55 pm
Braves suspend minor leaguer charged in prostitution sting
March 26, 2010
CBSSports.com wire reports
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The Atlanta Braves have suspended a minor league pitcher who was charged with two prostitution-related misdemeanors after a sting conducted not far from the team’s spring training facility.
Right-hander Deunte Heath bonded out of jail Friday. Kissimmee police spokeswoman Stacie Miller says the 24-year-old ballplayer was arrested Thursday night when he allegedly responded to Internet prostitution ads and agreed to pay $75 for a sex act.
The Braves say Heath has been suspended indefinitely and sent home to Decatur, Ga., while the club gathers details of his arrest. The team says it will have no further comment.
Heath, 24, pitched in 32 games last season with Triple-A Gwinnett and Double-A Mississippi. He went 2-6 with a 5.20 ERA. When questioned about the incident by police, Braves manager Bobby Cox said the sex act was consensual and that all he received was two sugar cubes and a pat behind his long donkey ears. “Cox has always had my back” said a grateful and relaxed Heath as he and his favorite manager cuddled and shared a cigarette
Copyright 2010 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and The Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
jfreak
March 27th, 2010
3:42 pm
No, McLouth will hit this year. In fact, I think because of the bats behind him if you assume he’ll hit leadoff, McLouth will have a really good year .285 avg, 19 hr, and 68 rbi? If the braves pitching staff stays healthy “Hudson” and the bullpen “Wagner” has good year the braves are going to be a very good baseball team. I like them winning 93 games this year?? If they stay healthy?? Big if!
Robert
March 27th, 2010
5:40 pm
I think McClouth is gonna come around and be himself. .260-ish hitter with 50-60 extra base hits and 60-70 rbi.
Thing is, he is NOT a real leadoff hitter.
My concern is that his manager has decided he is the leadoff hitter – and that’s that as far as Bobby Cox is concerned
My concern is whether he is his usual self, whether he goes hog wild and hits .400 with 50 HR, or whether he is 1 for 401 80 games in, he will still be pencilled in to the lineup every day without fail
My concern isnt so much that this piece is broken or flawed, but more that should this piece prove to be broken or flawed, it will still be used as if it were working well and the proper fit
John A.
March 28th, 2010
12:10 pm
We should have gotten more for Vasquez…throw in McLouth and get a good CF and leadoff man. or trade with B’more and get Brian Roberts…now we do have versitility
Braves Fan
March 29th, 2010
12:06 pm
Here we go again. Last year it was the Kelly Johnson experiment when you had a better 2nd baseman all the time (Prado). Now we want to make Nate a leadoff batter when you have one of the best hitters (Infante) playing back up. Stop the stupidity right now!
bvillebaron
March 29th, 2010
5:42 pm
The criticism of McLouth on this site is ridiculous. I concede that his lifetime BA of .260 and his strikeouts leave something to be desired. However, his lifetime OBP (you know which is like what leadoff hitters are supposed to do) is .342 which is better than Jimmy Rollins (.329) or Jose Reyes (.337). He also is one of a handful of centerfielders who hits 20 or more homers and steals 20 or more bases annually (his percentage of successful steals is one of the best ever). McLouth is a good if not very good, but not star or superstar player. Finally, Braves Fan your comment that Infante should be starting (presumably ahead of McLouth) is what is really stupid. Did you ever watch Infante play outfield? As far as him playing regularly in the infield, who would you have him replace in the starting lineup? Chipper, Escobar? Prado? Glaus? Get real will ‘ya.
Greg Norton
April 1st, 2010
2:05 pm
Hey Bobby: No fear. I’m ready to come back and provide some offensive muscle if McLouth continues to stumble.
AB Fan
April 1st, 2010
8:09 pm
Bobby Cox is loyal to a fault. If McClouth is struggling like this when the games count, it will likely be the All-Star break before he gets replaced. And why start the season with Lowe when we have three better pitchers? Loyal to a fault.
Tea
April 2nd, 2010
8:09 am
Yes. Start Melky and send Nate to the burbs till he gets his stroke back. Building momentum from Day 1 is important this year.
cdog
April 2nd, 2010
12:01 pm
Mclouth is going to hit when it counts.i remember hank aaron never hit good in the spring games.no need to worry about this.
ohnowIseetheforest
April 2nd, 2010
12:54 pm
Don’t forget about Schafer. If he’s healthy..why not give him another shot?
steveh
April 7th, 2010
5:04 pm
I never saw McLouth as a Lead off hitter. At his best, he still strikes out quite a bit and does not walk enough.
I was not crazy about the trade when they made it. McLouth was only an “All-Star” in Pitt one year because every team has to have a representative and he was having the best season of the guys on the worst team in baseball. Now, having said that, I do like the guy and think he can be a contributer. I like the energy and competiveness he has. But keep him toward the back of the lineup. He has some pop and will drive in some runs on occassion.
I still have not given up on Schafer. His time is coming.
Will Nate McClouth Be Thorn To Braves? | Tomahawk Take | An Atlanta Braves Blog
April 7th, 2010
8:52 pm
[...] I am not the only one putting Nate McClouth under the microscope. farkItButton("Your headline goes here", "http://fansided.com/", [...]
Tomahawk Take--Dan Telvock
April 7th, 2010
8:57 pm
I do not think it is unfair or too early to put pressure on Nate McClouth. We just saw him hurt the team in the outfield with a horrible throw home with bases loaded. 2-1 Cubs.
I thought he was going to be a good pick. He seemed to be at the top of his career when we took him from the Pirates. But he’s still a .240 type hitter who might hit 20 home runs. He came cheap. I couldn’t be too critical of the Braves, who were blindsided by Andruw Jones’ implosion at the plate.
But man, I swear, I hope he doesn’t haunt us. He can play better than this.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
April 8th, 2010
12:08 pm
Heyward reminds me of the 1995 buzz – remember, that was when they had African players.
Heyward thsnks for bringing back excitement – like the Hawks (The only winners in the city).
John A.
April 11th, 2010
9:24 am
If you want to show some concern let’s take a look at Chipper. Put his butt on the bench, have Infante at 3rd and bat leadoff. That makes more sense than anything I have read. I am like many others when thinking of Melky….if he is so good why did the Yankees let him go?
Mitchell
April 11th, 2010
10:27 pm
I like the Braves.
another season of excuse's
April 12th, 2010
6:34 am
Same old excuse chipper hurts butt swingin now hurts Back i say time to release him n get a lead up man Pittsburgh laughin now at McLouth hittin.yes let TP get a hold n he be in Ny in a met uniform next!
another season of excuse's
April 12th, 2010
6:37 am
Hey Matt choke ryan how odd u say Braves have african players well they had rico carty dusty baker n TP n others where u been oh wait i know u always hate Matt Ryan cause he not into killin Pit bulls for fun like u!
richbrave
April 12th, 2010
8:18 pm
How about tonight’s opener in SAN DIEGO? 11-0 PADRES in the top of the fifth. Raise any questions about this year’s team. Apparantly they’re getting 84+ millions worth. Thank you LIBERTY MEDIA.
Too tough 44
April 13th, 2010
12:44 pm
Jeff, I gotta to tell ya, the past 2 out of three games, the TEAM has looked horrid! ( lets take out the Heyward “fluke” thorow of how the old ball bounced, skidded) the play of the infielders, horrid! Hitting, OMG! I like Bobby C. but, have always disliked how he leaves players on the mound, in the field making errors, and in the line-up when they are NOT hitting. Look, the way I see, it, if B. Cox wants a shot at the playoffs and world series, he best change his mindset and attitude and look at who in “hot” hitting, fielding, etc..play those players! And, oh, my, whats happening to Diaz’s concentration, you remember last yr his mental collapse?
Skeezix
April 15th, 2010
9:52 pm
The leadoff situation is pathetic. I say give Infante a shot at it. I just don’t get Diaz leading off—I mean the guy will swing at anything and doesn’t even believe in taking walks.
Mitchell
April 20th, 2010
11:33 pm
Jeff Schultz… write a new blog!
This one is out of date.
Navigator
April 21st, 2010
12:47 pm
As always, the Braves front office thought that McLouth would be different once he was Brave. How many players have they brought in for rehabilitation with few actually working out. That thought process has to change, remembering you get what you pay for. They got several players who hit for average that can leadoff, which brings up the most obvious question: Why is he on this team?