I think the opening day outfield will look like
LF. Diaz, CF. McLouth, RF. Heyward.
I personally think that Heyward should be kept in AAA to start the year, but if he does anything in spring training I think the job is his. And depending on how Jordan Schafer performs in AAA to start the year, we may have a situation on hand. I just hope this team doesn’t give up on Schafer after a bad 2 months. He has a lot of talent

I guess it depends which highly regarded outfield prospect gets the nod, but a platoon of Diaz/Church in LF, McLouth in CF or RF, with Heyward or Schafer manning the remain spot respectively. That’s solid defensively and good offensively, at least.

Start the year with LF. Mclouth, CF. Schafer, RF Heyward. I expect Schafer to be healthy and have another good spring training. Heyward should be ready as well. Keep Diaz as 4th OF unless a good trade comes along. He can play either corner and McLouth can slide back to CF when needed. Church needs to go.

I don’t think Schafer starts the season with the big club, since he had no time in AAA to regain his form. It sounds like Church’s constant injuries may make him an odd man out. I think how Wren fares in picking up a stop gap outfielder will determine where Heyward starts the season. If he gets someone decent, you’ll probably see Diaz, McLouth, and Gap be the starting outfield, with Heyward pushing his way on by June. Church may stay with the team in this scenario. On the other hand, if he strikes out looking for Gap, he’ll say “we’re gonna give the kids a chance”, and then sign Garrett Anderson the next day.

The success Hanson had may actually help Heyward avoid this route, as the team may believe that it’s better to put him on the major league roster from day one (as the probably should have done with Hanson).

I actually think Hanson’s success points to the exact opposite, that they’ll go the same route with Heyward that they did with Hanson. You can make all kinds of guesses and suppositions about how Tommy might have performed in those first few months, but the fact is that with that time in AAA he was able to come out of the gate in June and dominate the Major Leagues. Once you’ve seen that strategy be so effective, it’d be stupid not to repeat it the next year.

I personally agree with the idea of Non-Tendering Church. His salary is way too high for somebody who is coming off the Bench 2 days a week when we have Diaz and a very affordable Jordan Schafer. I think Heyward will be ready. He just seems to have that talent. You can compare him to Jordan Schafer in the fact that they’re both young and relatively unexperienced, but Heyward has also torn up the Minor Leagues in a way that Schafer didn’t. I really don’t think we should get rid of Diaz, at least until it’s proven that Schafer can play everyday. Diaz is a beast. He’s without a doubt, in my mind (and im sure a lot of people on here will agree) the best platoon/part time player in the game. As much as I wanted to stone him for his baserunning mistake at the end of the year, the man plays harder than anybody we had on our team this year and does way more with less than anybody else as well. As far as 1B goes, I’m not sure what to do. LaRoche would want a multi-year deal and will most likely get it. Freddy Freeman doesn’t look as ready as Heyward and should start the season at AAA. He projects to be as good as LaRoche, if not better. So, blocking him in the minors by signing LaRoche to a multi-year deal doesn’t seem like a financially responsible idea. This has got me confused and lost, I hope that FW has a better idea than me…

I’d like Diaz to stay and get a full time starter in LF. Either that or tade him someplace where he’ll be able to start every day. the guy deserves it.

I’m not sold on McLouth though. He’s not much of a leadoff guy. I’d try to trade McLouth if possible.

I’d like to see an outfield of Diaz, Schafer and Heyward. This all hinges on Schafer being 100% healthy and returning to form.

The Braves just have a glut of lefty hitters though.

How long ago was that and what was the offer?

I personally see Nate , Jordan and a playtoon of Diaz and church or maybe if he is willing to take a drop in pay Andruw as a back up or part time starter in left field . He said he has been fielding some at 1st base and said he cant man center everyday anymore . Just saying its a thought . Forget about B Jones people ifthe Braves wanted him playing in the majors he would have been by now .

I’d like to see Diaz given a shot at LF and someone besides Nate in the leadoff position. He has speed, but he’s got to be on base to use it.

Can someone tell me more about Nate’s arm? It seemed to me a lot of times this year he just didn’t bother throwing in at times when he could have held the runner and/or make a play.