His name is Nate McLouth, as in, ‘Get him OUTTA here’
Nate the Great draws a bead on a fly. Note that the ball is in fact behind him. (AP photo)
It’s difficult to hit any worse than .176, but Nate McLouth has done the deed. That skinny number is what he was batting when he went on the disabled list after his noggin clashed with Jason Heyward’s knee. Since returning last week, McLouth is 1-for-15, which represents a Twiggy-like .067.
(And the hit, we should note, was a flare that dropped into right field McLouth’s first game back. That gift should offset the live drive that became a double play Sunday.)
We have seen Braves struggle over the years — Andruw Jones, Jeff Francoeur, Yunel Escobar, the legendary Greg Norton — but we have never seen an everyday Brave perform worse than this. Nate McLouth is hitting .168 on the season. He has three home runs, 14 RBIs, four stolen bases. The highest his average has climbed since April 8 is .208.
He wasn’t very good in his half-season as a Brave in 2009 — a .257 average, 11 homers, 36 RBIs — but today the Braves would take that tepid yield and be ecstatic. McLouth has been so bad for so long, starting in spring training and continuing apace, that there’s no cause to believe he is a big-league starter, or even a big-leaguer, any longer.
There were whispers around baseball that the Pirates had noted a decline in McLouth’s skills and were thrilled to unload him before the rest of the sport caught on. If so, that marks the first time in two decades the Bucs have outsmarted somebody. (Not that losing Charlie Morton was any setback.)
The hope when he returned from the DL was that McLouth might get going enough to satisfy the team’s modest requirements in center field. (The Braves don’t need Willie Mays; they just need a guy who’ll hit a little bit and play D, but McLouth, who astonishingly won a Gold Glove in 2008, isn’t A. Jones with the leather. Or the arm.) Either that, or he’d catch the eye of another team in need of an outfielder. But now the Braves are stuck.
They can’t keep running McLouth out there because he drags down the team, and they can’t trade him because nobody would want him. (Remember when having a former All-Star under contract through 2011 — and with a club option for 2012 — seemed a capital idea?) They can’t promote Jordan Schafer because he just got demoted again, and their most viable trade targets seem to be left fielders.
Unless Frank Wren can swing a trade this week for a real center fielder — B.J. Upton or Matt Kemp — the Braves’ options at the position can be boiled down to two: They can promote Gregor Blanco, who’s back yet again at Gwinnett, or make a deal for a corner outfielder and bump Heyward, who’s a classic right fielder, over to center. Neither is the optimum, but both beat the status quo.
Put simply, Gregor Blanco is a better center fielder right now than Nate McLouth. Heck, Henry Blanco might be a better center fielder than Nate McLouth. And Henry Blanco is a catcher.
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727 comments Add your comment
MyPatooti
July 26th, 2010
2:08 pm
Thanks for jumping on the train, MB. How does it feel back there in the caboose? (You do remember the car called the “caboose” don’t you? Telling my age here.) Does anyone know what the Braves stats are for RBI with the bases loaded? I know Conrad has 8 himself, and that may be the majority of them. I will go to MLB stats and see if it’s there. Will report back if so.
Rhett
July 26th, 2010
2:10 pm
@Tomahawk’n ARE YOU HIGH ON PCP? Hinske Done? Surely that is a typo…….
oldfan
July 26th, 2010
2:10 pm
The Braves were leading the National league with the best record. Why would you mess up a team by putting a guy in center who is not as good as Gregor Blanco? Nate can’t carry Gregor’s mitt right now. He may be a nice guy but we aren’t paying him for niceness. I mean it was a stretch to say Yunel was a distraction when you have the best record in the National League. Big distraction! So distracting the Braves have the best record in years even though Chipper can’t stay healthy. I remember the A’s were so distracted in the 70s they won the World Series. Come on! These are grown men. If you can no longer manage them perhaps it really is time to retire. I wouldn’t blame Gregor Blanco if he never wanted to play for the Braves again. It’s obvious to anyone that his demotion and Nate’s promotion had nothing to do with merit. If it did Gregor would be in Atlanta and Nate would be in Rome or Myrtle Beach. I guess merit based promotions and demotions only applies to certain players. I wonder what the difference is between Nate and Gregor besides Gregor outplaying Nate.
Jim
July 26th, 2010
2:10 pm
“Why not Heyward to Center and Infante or Blanco to right? And what’s going on with this Yasser Gomez they signed? I haven’t heard a single thing, maybe he still needs a visa. We need someone better than Nate.”
Yasser Gomez is 3-7 with 5 walks in four games for Mississippi so far.
Rumor Monger
July 26th, 2010
2:12 pm
I wonder if there are any personal issues that are causing McLouth’s woes.
VolGuy
July 26th, 2010
2:14 pm
Hey, Minnie. With all due respect to your “goggling”, the player nicknamed Minnie was MINOSO, not Mendoza. Minnie Minoso was a pretty good player back in the 50″s and 60’s. The Mendoza Line is named for Mario MENDOZA.
P.S. – Dump McLouth. Send him to another major league team, the Gwinnett Braves or Venus.
MB
July 26th, 2010
2:14 pm
Wrong: McClouth
Right: McLouth
Wrong: Medlin
Right: Medlen
Wrong: Henske
Right: Hinske
Wrong: Jurrgens
Right: Jurrjens
Their names are spelled correctly for you in the articles. Is it really that difficult to spell them correctly for yourself?
Regular ole Brave fan
July 26th, 2010
2:15 pm
Now I know how some of u bloggers felt watchin Francouer play last year(we always liked Jeff). I have zero confidence and zero interest in McClouth. What do u do with a stock like this market? Sell,sell,sell. Even @ a loss.
Nat's Lament
July 26th, 2010
2:16 pm
It’s hard being a baseball player… trade me to the Expos!
MB
July 26th, 2010
2:17 pm
Nate’s last name is even spelled correctly in the title of this blog. Come on, people, it’s not rocket science.
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
July 26th, 2010
2:21 pm
McLouth should be tarred and feathered, then super-glued, butt-nekkid and spread-eagle, to the outside of a space-bound rocket.
A less radical approach would be to release him.
Regular ole Brave fan
July 26th, 2010
2:21 pm
Ha ha. Sorry. I meant Nate McSouth,uh McSlouch,um…. I mean McOut.
MB
July 26th, 2010
2:24 pm
You’re hilarious. I’m dying of laughter here. Essen sie Scheisse.
O'Brien
July 26th, 2010
2:25 pm
Braves could be losing some starting pitchers in a couple years. Both JJ and Hanson are Scott boras clients. Luckily, Lowe will be of the books in a couple years.
robdawg08
July 26th, 2010
2:29 pm
Glaus is about as bad as Nate. How do these players look in the mirror getting paid millions to suck ? Troy & Nate need to be wearing ski masks to do their salary robberies. Can Brooks Conrad play 1B ? Heck, his bat is way better than Glaus.
Carolina Gent
July 26th, 2010
2:31 pm
Agree with the majorityon on McLouth, time to DFA him and replace with Blanco (Gregor, not Henry, please!) Same with KK, unless we could DL him and have him work with McDowell on command and control. Otherwise, he’s just another (McLouth) wasted roster space. Find an OF-1B type who can give Glaus a rest occasionally and give us some much-needed OF help. Would Marlon Byrd fit that bill? Could we get him without having to give up top-flight prospects?
A few other suggestions: look at having Medlen and Lowe switch places in the rotation; let Infante play more regularly, giving Prado some time off, who could possibly rest Glaus for a game here and there. Chipper, Glaus and Hinske are not everyday players right now. so a rotation of sorts using Conrad and Infante could help in Sept.
robdawg08
July 26th, 2010
2:31 pm
Have you noticed that the little playing time Blanco,Infante,and Conrad get they produce well. And the HOF manager won’t play them.
robdawg08
July 26th, 2010
2:33 pm
Nate McLousy ?
Troy Gloss ?
Rumor Monger
July 26th, 2010
2:33 pm
I think I am going to start misspelling names on purpose since it seems to upset some people so much. Jeez, it really aint the end of the world …… you obviously know who the person is referring to.
robdawg08
July 26th, 2010
2:35 pm
Carl Yastrzemski,Fernando Valenzuela,and Bo Hart are very hard names to spel..
Chris
July 26th, 2010
2:35 pm
a couple of things worth noting –
1. Everybody saying we should’ve kept Kelly & played him in the outfield. He can’t. He screwed up his arm and can’t make outfield throws. Plus he goes on month long stretches where he hits like McClouth. Have you guys all forgotten how streaky he is?
2. Everybody saying Cody Ross is a .270 20-25HR guy. He’s like a .270 12-15 HR guy. He’s got 7 or 8 after 90 games. If you want Cody Ross then be happy with Melky Cabrera. They are the same player offensively.
3. McClouth is terrible and if it weren’t so expensive I’d say non tender him.
robdawg08
July 26th, 2010
2:36 pm
Braves once had an OF named Wonderful Teriffic Mounds.
robdawg08
July 26th, 2010
2:36 pm
Well, Kelly coulda played 1B.
droopydawg
July 26th, 2010
2:37 pm
Good point Buckhead Brave. Though I think MB is just as crazy as these commenters who think we should just go get Crawford when he thinks we have a chance in hell of getting Kemp.
The Abs Man
July 26th, 2010
2:38 pm
You know what’s really sick? Even more glaringly worse than some poor late-inning Bobby Cox decisions?
You pansy-ass Atlanta media never ever ASK Cox a tough question…as in, “Bobby, so many thousands of loyal Braves’ fans want your thinking on Sunday’s last inning–WHY did you hit McLouth and pitch Chavez—two questionable moves at best when there were alternatives?…”
As in Omar Infante and anyone else in bullpen?
Why is this most obvious question–sure it would piss Cox off–ever asked?
Merlin
July 26th, 2010
2:38 pm
Byrd just signed a huge 3 year deal with the Cubs who aren’t about to trade their best player now. They will trade Lee and we should go get him. Release Glaus, DFA Mc-OUT – Yes MB I can spell his name but I choose not to. Don’t swear at me in German either. Conrad is not an every day player at this point when he plays daily good pitchers get him out. He good off the bench when pitchers are likely to throw him a fast ball instead of something with a wrinkle in it; he doesn’t recognize or hit those. With Lee and Blanco the lineup looks much more balanced than it does now.
Tommy Hanson reminds me of Kevin Millwood. Good stuff but doesn’t always know what to do with it.I suspect McDowell is tired of trying to teach him as well.
JJ is the real deal ala Smoltz. Need to keep him for a long time. Someone go kidnap SB please
ReddJonn68
July 26th, 2010
2:40 pm
Well Wren better think of something soon this team is winning with smoke & mirrors. Our outfield is to shaky for postseason play, the only sure thing we have out there is J-Hey. You don’t win pennants with a patchwork outfield.
The Abs Man
July 26th, 2010
2:42 pm
And even considering trading Kris Medlen for Cody Ross would be a bonehead move….even for Frank Wren…..young gutsy arms like Medlen don’t come along every day….he’s an athelete who understands how to pitch…
robdawg08
July 26th, 2010
2:42 pm
Derek Lee is streakier than even Glaus. Braves need a guy that can hit .300 from April thru October not a guy that goes cold for weeks.
The Abs Man
July 26th, 2010
2:43 pm
Does Chapstix come free to you Atlanta media for constantly kissing Cox’s ass instead of challenging his many late-inning tactical backfires?
Merlin
July 26th, 2010
2:45 pm
We don’t need April to October. We need August to October. Lee can do that. He’s hitting 313 this month and play well in big games. The other options are Lyle Overbay bats left goods fielder but no power. And who?
CSpin
July 26th, 2010
2:49 pm
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a double play cause so much raucus.
But I pray that was indeed the last straw for the men upstairs.
If he does go back to the minors, wow, what a deal for him. Getting paid $100,000+ per week to suck.
My View
July 26th, 2010
2:50 pm
I often wonder what goes into the thinking with guys like McOut. Surely Bobby does not think this guy is going to turn things around. It has to be about money, and that is sad. A guys salary can dictate who plays even if that guy is the worst player on the team. So SAD!!!
Luv 2 hate me
July 26th, 2010
2:56 pm
Man yesterday was the last straw when that fool had the bases loaded with 1 out and couldn’t get a sac fly. This idiot hits into a double play! I wanted to knock him unconscious again. The dude is too short with a terrible upper cut swing. How did he make it to the BIGS. Set him on fire without water. Yes that means trade him before he costs us the season!
wawel78
July 26th, 2010
2:57 pm
A source close to Derrek Lee said he will veto any trade out of Chicago. He’s out.
The phillies are not trading a hitter to the team they are chasing to make that team better. Do you people read this before you type it? I asked Mark Bowman if there was any chance one team could trade for Werth and the braves get him in another swap and he said I was dreaming.
The dodgers are tying to make a playoff run. They are not trading Kemp.
Even though Boras is the agent, the braves have control over Hanson until 2015. Count me in the group that thinks he’s slightly overrated anyways. I’m not sure I would trade him but he has several kinks in his delivery that he needs to work out.
I understand Glaus hasn’t done much since May but in reality, he leads this team in HR. He has ALWAYS been a streaky hitter. I’m not sure he’s even making 2 MIL this year so calm down.
I read one person in this blog say Melky has to go. I will assume you haven’t been watching the last month or so. He is doing really well.
ben
July 26th, 2010
2:58 pm
mclOUTh…yeah, thanks for the update. Sorry, I have been slowly getting over the Escobar trade (glad both players are playing well). Good, I’m glad to hear Medlen will be starting from here on out.
Phil
July 26th, 2010
2:58 pm
I know all you Cox lovers are riding high right now, but this is the kind of crap that will kill us come October, just as it did 14 out of 15 previous years.
Thank God this Cox’s last year.
wawel78
July 26th, 2010
3:00 pm
AND – i think I’m going to mention this in every blog until his contract is up, but how in the world does Lowe escape criticism of the fans? I’ve seen his name a few times, but man, he has been pretty bad (for the money) for 2 years now and it’s becoming obvious that he is what his #’s currently indicate – probably no better or worse.
MyPatooti
July 26th, 2010
3:01 pm
The Abs Man does have a point that needs to be discussed about the AJC writers not asking the hard questions? Anybody know the reason for this? Thought that was part of their job. MB? It would sure be good to know why he does these things, especially why he manages differently on Sundays.
JP
July 26th, 2010
3:01 pm
Speaking of under-performing Braves’ outfielders – http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/baseball/mlb/07/25/deadline.roundup/index.html
Now that’s what I call a fall from grace….
ReddJonn68
July 26th, 2010
3:03 pm
Well if Yunel’s bad attitude had teammates & fans screaming, McLouth’s lack of production has them borderline insane.
Nacho Daddy
July 26th, 2010
3:04 pm
Nate must have some “J.Edgar Hoover” pictures of Bobby… only way to explain this.
wawel78
July 26th, 2010
3:04 pm
I can’t say about this year but I recall last year that DOB was pretty tough with Bobby about why he insisted on playing Frenchy. The decision to play McLouth yesterday sucked but I don’t think Bobby thought the game would go on long enough for McLouth to make 2 bad outs.
Merlin
July 26th, 2010
3:05 pm
@ $5 million this year playing like this he can’t be traded. Mc-OUT has 6 seasons he can’t optioned. We can DFA = give him away and hope someone will give a PTBN for him. That’s all folks
ReddJonn68
July 26th, 2010
3:06 pm
Enter your comments here
wawel78
July 26th, 2010
3:06 pm
I’m ready for McLouth to be out but in the spirit of being optimistic, he did have a walk-off HR against the phillies.
Anyone else with a good memory????
Anybody……….
Nacho Daddy
July 26th, 2010
3:11 pm
wawel78, are you related to Bobby? you guys think alike.
Merlin
July 26th, 2010
3:13 pm
About Lee and a trade. He has nothing to stay in Chicago for.
Rosenthal and Morosi are reporting that friends have said Derrek Lee would waive his no-trade clause to the right team.
“Derrek Lee has remained noncommittal on the issue of his no-trade clause. But some friends of the Cubs first baseman said this week that they believe he would accept a deal to the right team.”
The Angels are a better fit but they are an AL team and changing leagues may not suit him. A first place team probably would
Dominique
July 26th, 2010
3:15 pm
I say we find a way to bring back Blanco up. He is a great team player with a good arm and can play all three positions in the outfield.
wawel78
July 26th, 2010
3:15 pm
Merlin – we’re reading conflicting reports….A source who has known Lee for years says it’s “highly doubtful” he’d waive his full no-trade to OK any deal at this stage.