Braves 2010 Season In Review: Eric Hinske

by Jacob Peterson on Nov 11, 2010 6:00 PM EST

Normally, when the Braves sign a veteran free agent, the fans are somewhat guarded, or even skeptical. The player often has to put up a great month or two (Glaus, Saito) in order to win over the fans; those that don't have a great month never win the fans over at all (Melky).

With Eric Hinske, however, I think that waiting period was waived due to awesomeness. There's just something about the guy--maybe it's the fully tattooed back--that inspires confidence. It didn't hurt that he hit a pinch-hit RBI triple in his first at-bat in a Braves uniform, either.

The Braves' offense took off in May at right about the same time that Hinske started playing regularly. He rewarded our confidence by hitting an astonishing .339 / .406 / .679 in May. While he cooled off after that, he was still a reliable platoon starter and pinch-hitting maestro. For the year, he hit .298 / .389 / .596 (with 3 homers) as a pinch-hitter and .316 / .400 / .667 (with 5 homers in 57 AB) overall as a substitute.

Appropriately, Hinske's two best moments came as a pinch-hitter. In the last week of the season, with the Braves desperately clinging to the Wild Card, Hinske hit a 2-run, tie-breaking homer against the Marlins. The Braves would go on to win 3-2, and Hinske would describe that homer as the biggest of his career… though he would hit an even bigger one less than two weeks later.

In game 3 of the NLDS, the Braves trailed 1-0 late after a fierce pitching duel between Tim Hudson and Jonathan Sanchez. In the 8th inning, with a runner on first, Hinske lined a pitch from Sergio Romo just over the right-field wall and just inside the foul pole, putting the Braves up 2-1. (I was there, and the Ted just erupted. It was an incredible moment--easily the best one I've ever witnessed at a baseball game.)

Obviously, some events transpired in the 9th inning that prevented Hinske's homer from attaining the legendary status that it deserved. We shouldn't forget it, though, or Hinske's other contributions to the 2010 Braves.

Hinske is a free agent now, and while I would love for the Braves to re-sign him, I have no idea if that will happen. If he does move on, I'm sure he'll have no trouble winning favor with the fans of his new club. He may not be a star, but he is a great guy to have on your team.

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He did exactly what you would have hoped him to do. One of Wren’s best signings. It would seem like for sure some AL team would snap him up to play DH, but if not, it would be great if the Braves re-signed him.

by redwards95 on Nov 11, 2010 6:16 PM EST reply actions

Good writeup, I think Hinske did everything the Braves though he would and more. Good luck to him whatever happens.

by MWhitexx on Nov 11, 2010 6:18 PM EST reply actions

The 8th and 9th innings of Game 3...

was probably the biggest emotional swing I’ve ever had as a Braves fan. I was literally screaming as that ball left the yard, and then screaming once Bobby took out Kimbrel.

Hinske was great for us in 2010 and I’d love to have him back in 2011/2012 as long as he costs less than $2.5M or so.

'Terrible preview...pretty weak, didn't learn anything new. pretty sad." - mastermike

by Scott Coleman on Nov 11, 2010 6:27 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Hinske’s game 3 homer (for me at least) was the apex of the season for the Braves, and the following inning was the unfortunate roller coaster drop. The 2010 Braves for ya, I suppose

Morton hit Heyward with an offspeed pitch. Early indication is that the baseball survived the impact.

by award6 on Nov 12, 2010 3:33 PM EST up reply actions

I would love to re-sign him. He fits here in ATL.

by TCfromDubVee on Nov 11, 2010 8:17 PM EST reply actions

Yes Hinske I pray returns

Hinske was a signing that most other clubs forgot the Braves made until he would hit a game winning double, single or HR against them. We do have J. Mather but Hinske needs to be resigned by ATL. He is just to good of a fit and a great if not the best pinch hitter available in the Majors today. Only guy better at doing what Hinske does was L. Harris but Harris never had the power that Hinske had that is for sure.

Sadly unless the price is right I doubt he returns ATL seems hell-bent on acquiring an OF and unloading KK is what the Braves need to do first and free up some more cash if only $3million of his $6.67 million dollar contract.

Go Braves – I WANT HINSKE TO RETURN MR. WREN.

by Holty_Panthers_Fan on Nov 13, 2010 5:13 PM EST up reply actions

Plus, He is a clubhouse guy.

Braves should resign him.

and a good luck charm.

4 consecutive postseason appareances with 4 different team

by joshant on Nov 11, 2010 8:47 PM EST reply actions

Please re-sign Hinske. I liked what he brought to the team.

by Sparhawk on Nov 11, 2010 9:47 PM EST reply actions

I was at game 3 when Hinske hit that HR too, and I had never experienced anything like that excitement. Not at any of the football games or any other sporting event I have ever attended. It was truly something special.

by pfciv on Nov 11, 2010 10:59 PM EST reply actions

Out of all the guys that will require deals to keep

Eric Hinske’s the one I genuinely want to be retained, more than anyone else. For a team that’s sometimes a little too straight-laced, a guy like Hinske was just awesome to see lightening things up, on top of his innate ability to hit the pinch-hit home runs so well.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Nov 11, 2010 11:09 PM EST reply actions

I hope he’s back too!

by blwfish on Nov 11, 2010 11:49 PM EST reply actions

His home run celebration in the DS had a lot of MCCers riled up. They did a few photoshops of that celebration I find to be quite funny.

The birth of Jason Heyward was God’s punishment for the sins of the people in New York and Philly.

by TonyAlmeyda on Nov 12, 2010 1:00 AM EST reply actions

The Braves bench depth

was one of the keys to the success they enjoyed last year. Retaining Hinske, IMO, would be a great move toward future success for the club.

A baseball diamond is, most simply, the intersecting of four 90-foot baselines, and, most powerfully, the intersecting of seemingly random lives.

by adc62 on Nov 12, 2010 9:51 AM EST reply actions

A Good Pickup

Hope thje Braves resign him because he was a big cheerleader and he come thru on some big hits. good luck wherever he goes.

by jayball on Nov 12, 2010 11:19 AM EST reply actions

So we're all in agreement, then.

Wren: Re-sign Hinske, now! How often do all the Talking Choppers agree on something?

"Yeah, and I have an enchanted jock strap." -- Karl Karlson

by Jacob Peterson on Nov 12, 2010 11:28 AM EST reply actions

Agree wholeheartedly

This is just one of those guys that I don’t feel like the Braves can afford to lose. He did absolutely everything that was expected of him, and then took it beyond when pressed into full time duty. I would take having Hinske on the team over Burrell any day of the week and twice on Sundays. He’s got that quiet cool to his mentality, yet the skillset to be electrifying as a player and teammate. This guy is the one player that NEEDS to be re signed.

by disgruntled in atl on Nov 12, 2010 2:19 PM EST reply actions

I'd love to see Hinske back

I wonder why Bill James has such a drop off in production for Hinske next year. It’s not huge but it is significant. His platoon splits seem great for a pinch hitter.

Bring MLB to Portland.

by Dandretti on Nov 12, 2010 5:10 PM EST reply actions