Braves Announce Opening Day Lineup

by gondeee on Apr 4, 2010 2:19 PM EDT

From a David O'Brien Tweet, here is tomorrow's opening day lineup:

Melky Cabrera, LF
Martin Prado, 2B
Chipper Jones, 3B
Brian McCann, C
Troy Glaus, 1B
Yunel Escobar, SS
Jason Heyward, RF
Nate McLouth, CF
Derek Lowe, P

It's not quite how we thought the opening day lineup would look like even two weeks ago. Cabrera replaced Diaz in left field and McLouth in the leadoff spot. That might be the part of the lineup I'm currently worried most about. Of all the players in the Braves opening day lineup listed above, Melky Cabrera has the lowest on-base percentage of any of them. If historical performance is any indicator of future performance, Cabrera will not do well leading off, and we can only hope he won't be there long.

Brian McCann gets the cleanup duty. That could simply be because he's hitting everything right now, so why not hit him there. McLouth is almost a forgotten person in the eighth spot, but that could be a great spot for him to produce without pressure.

It's gonna be a great day tomorrow, and hopefully a great game.

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Comments

agree about melky

what exactly does diaz have to do to crack this lineup? given it is just one day… but i hope bobby doesn’t have it in his head that melky is the solution at leadoff

by lingsched on Apr 4, 2010 2:32 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed. Melky has looked ok in the spring but, man, Diaz deserves this.

"Spring Training is the most exciting time that can't end soon enough" - Me

by JKowalek on Apr 4, 2010 2:50 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I’ll third that. Sans Diaz though, can we at least flip Milky and McLouth? McLouth is passable as a leadoff man, Milky isn’t close.

by J-Freak on Apr 4, 2010 5:06 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Give Melky a chance...

I’d probably bat Nate first against righties, too, but Melky is a good option. His walk rates are good and he should hit for a better average, too. Plus, Nate’s power can be better served hitting behind guys like Heyward and Escobar, who should be on a lot. This can work.

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

by Jacob Peterson on Apr 4, 2010 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m not against Nate batting lower in the lineup, unless of course that means Melky is leading off. As gondeee so aptly pointed out, we made the guy with the LOWEST OBP ON THE TEAM the leadoff man. That’s a recipe for disaster, he should be buried in the 8-hole and any one of Escobar, Diaz, McLouth, or Heyward ought to lead off (yea yea I know the Heyward option will never happen, but if it did it would still be a better option than Melky).

by J-Freak on Apr 5, 2010 12:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Melky’s walk rates are so good that he has an OBP of .323 over the last 3 seasons.

by Lennox on Apr 5, 2010 7:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Come on people, take off the blinders and realize that Diaz will not start against RH pitching. Zambrano gets the start for Chicago so Diaz is in his proper place, the bench.

by homerlanding on Apr 4, 2010 9:08 PM EDT up reply actions

If we were facing a lefty, Matty'd be in there...

And Glaus would be ahead of McCann, too.

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

by Jacob Peterson on Apr 4, 2010 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe you should take the haterade down & realize Diaz is better against RHP than Milky. NOWAY should Diaz stay on the bench against EVERY rhp. That would mean him playing about 20% of the time. He is to good a hitter for that. Hopefully Cox is not that dumb.

by FitzFan on Apr 5, 2010 4:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Speak for yourself

and your Melky haterade.

It’s game 1 of 162. Diaz will start plenty, and Cox will likely be using a different lineup in May than he does today, once he sees how Melky adjust and develops into year 25, if McLouth is struggling or ready to rebound, if Glaus can hit more than singles and doubles, and on and on.

by Mr. Sanchez on Apr 5, 2010 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Confidence, Man

Methinks Melky’s being thrown in there as a vote of confidence from Bobby, akin to Derek Lowe’s situation as well.

by djvog on Apr 4, 2010 2:32 PM EDT reply actions

A bit surprising but I’ll go with it. I really like the potential the offense has, very deep no easy outs no matter who’s in there. Can’t wait for the game.

by MattyO on Apr 4, 2010 2:36 PM EDT reply actions

Id actually like to see Yunel batting 3rd

With chipper 2nd or even leadoff.

by esadb on Apr 4, 2010 2:39 PM EDT reply actions

Probably just going with Melky because

He can bat left. He’ll probably bat Melky against righties and Diaz against lefties. I would think that was probably the reason… It is interesting to see how McLouth’s awful spring has put him at the end of the lineup. I don’t think McLouth is a leadoff hitter, so this may be the best spot for him… Althought, he may not get anything to hit.

by BravesFanScout on Apr 4, 2010 2:40 PM EDT reply actions

It will be interesting to see against lefties...

…if this means Diaz leads off against lefties, this could be a good thing.

by cavebird on Apr 4, 2010 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions

That would be interesting, indeed.

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

by Jacob Peterson on Apr 4, 2010 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Melky is in LF and McCann is batting cleanup because the opposing pitcher is Carlos Zambrano, a righty.

by redwards95 on Apr 4, 2010 2:42 PM EDT reply actions

Melky has a .290/.373/.408/.781 line in 297 PA in the leadoff spot. Maybe thats where he fits? And if batting him first allows McLouth to produce better in a lineup spot he excells in then its a double improvement.

by bbxxj on Apr 4, 2010 2:44 PM EDT reply actions

this this this

I don’t think Melky should hit anywhere other than leadoff or 8th. he had a much better spring than McLouth, so he should get a shot to show off what he can do in a role he’s been very successful at before.

"(Jason Heyward) is like the Grim Reaper -- you know he's going to get you, you just don't know where or when."

by Scott Coleman on Apr 4, 2010 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions

And that outfield defense looks very good.

by bbxxj on Apr 4, 2010 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

as long as Nate’s hammy is feeling OK and he can flag down balls in CF, yes, it looks very very very good.

"(Jason Heyward) is like the Grim Reaper -- you know he's going to get you, you just don't know where or when."

by Scott Coleman on Apr 4, 2010 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree, mostly.

might drop a “very” or two

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

by Jacob Peterson on Apr 4, 2010 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Then why not put Milky in Center & Diaz in left then?

by FitzFan on Apr 5, 2010 4:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Wow! McClouth's stock has dropped...

But hey, that leaves possibility for big production at the bottom of the lineup (Escobar, Heyward, McClouth)

"That's my teammate, man... That's my quarterback"

by TurnerTheBurner on Apr 4, 2010 2:47 PM EDT reply actions

~~McClouth~~ McLouth

"(Jason Heyward) is like the Grim Reaper -- you know he's going to get you, you just don't know where or when."

by Scott Coleman on Apr 4, 2010 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Great lineup top to bottom

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

by Jacob Peterson on Apr 4, 2010 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Gotta love Rossy

Braves were all wearing T-shirts (supplied by catcher David Ross) with “153…” on front and a picture on back of Cox getting thrown out.

"(Jason Heyward) is like the Grim Reaper -- you know he's going to get you, you just don't know where or when."

by Scott Coleman on Apr 4, 2010 2:56 PM EDT reply actions

I want one after this season...

with 173 on the front.

You mark that frame an 8, and you're entering a world of pain.

by vooodooo on Apr 4, 2010 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm hoping for

162

by bravesforever16 on Apr 4, 2010 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Now that would be poetic justice.

by Mountngrown on Apr 5, 2010 8:04 AM EDT up reply actions

I'd rather see Melky leading off than McLouth

"It looks like The Hound of the Baskervilles out there." - Steve Stone
"...I'm reminded of Wuthering Heights." - Harry Caray

by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Apr 4, 2010 4:20 PM EDT reply actions

I like this lineup

Nate needs to hit, he’s not going to do it leading off.. His obp is not leadoff material. Melky has actually done very well leading off this spring.. Not sure if it’s the fact some of us like seeing Diaz striking out with that upper cut swing against righties.. Or that maybe we got a pretty descent player in the vasquez trade that you guys just can’t credit wren with yet? I like Matty and he’ll get his shots, melky
has just had a good spring.. For the sake of the team let’s get behind this guy and behind the rest of these guys, go braves!

by SidKotchman on Apr 4, 2010 4:43 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

I think we need to chill on the anti-Melkyness. Melky is what, 24 years old? I am pretty sure he is not as bad of a player as we are all making him out to be.

$10 says we love him in the leadoff spot after this season.

"My team of nine guys who hit like Albert Pujols and never ever bunt just beat your team with one Shane Victorino 472 to 3."

by justincredubil02 on Apr 4, 2010 5:03 PM EDT reply actions

Heck, I like him there now.

by John Holton on Apr 4, 2010 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions

As do I.

I would loveto see Heyward in the 2 spot, maybe later in the season.

Sheridan " Braves look dangerous this season", I agree.

by HEYJUDE on Apr 4, 2010 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed totally!

by SidKotchman on Apr 4, 2010 6:12 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I’ll pass on that bet. I don’t hate the guy, but he does not excite me as an everyday man, and even less so as a leadoff option. He’s a great option to have as a fourth outfielder due to his solid defense and the fact that his offense is not the negative of guys like FUGA and FYF, but I gotta side with gondeee on this one and hope he stay in the 1-hole for very long.

by J-Freak on Apr 4, 2010 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Lefty lineup

L, R,L,L,R,R,L,L,R

Will we see Melky move to center and Diaz in left if they bring in a lefty reliever? I might have been tempted to put Heyward at #2 vs a righty, but opening day might be too soon.

by bighop on Apr 4, 2010 6:00 PM EDT reply actions

paradiddlediddle

by Gage23 on Apr 4, 2010 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions

haha, nice

by eavchuck on Apr 5, 2010 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Looks Good to Me!

They can tweak it as they go. Let’s just get it on! GO BRAVES! Jay Hey= ROTY!

by Braves111 on Apr 4, 2010 6:28 PM EDT reply actions

Diaz got screwed...

I might be biased cause I like him but he’s always in the .280-.310 range, and McClouth is really struggling. I’d like Melky in center and Diaz in left but regardless of who they put in this lineup should really hit the ball…

by The Real Me on Apr 4, 2010 8:54 PM EDT reply actions

Diaz is a platoon player. I too thought that he should hit leadoff, until I looked at his splits. Melky has won the job for now, and to root against his success is to root against Atlanta’s success. Let’s all just hope that he thrives there. Who knows, he could be our long lost leadoff man.

"My team of nine guys who hit like Albert Pujols and never ever bunt just beat your team with one Shane Victorino 472 to 3."

by justincredubil02 on Apr 5, 2010 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions

I highly doubt he’s the long lost answer. For the good of our playoff hopes I really hope he can prove me wrong, but given his history the realist in me is screaming for Bobby to put absolutely anybody else in that spot sooner rather than later.

by J-Freak on Apr 5, 2010 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Cabrera is below average

How did he win the job? Diaz is the better player & didn’t have a horrid Spring like Nate.

by FitzFan on Apr 5, 2010 4:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Claiming he's "below average"...

is a sign that your intelligence can also be described in the same manner.

by Mr. Sanchez on Apr 5, 2010 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions

You have constantly hated on him since the day we traded for him. Perhaps YOU are the one with the blinders on…

"My team of nine guys who hit like Albert Pujols and never ever bunt just beat your team with one Shane Victorino 472 to 3."

by justincredubil02 on Apr 5, 2010 10:27 PM EDT up reply actions

The one thing the Braves may be lacking this season is a “True” leadoff hitter. I think Bobby will try several different palyers in that role, until one of them steps forward. Cabrera is a switch-hitter, so it might be better to use him there. Also, he is young and has room for improvement. My understanding of the strategy to start the season is tht Diaz, Cabrera and McLouth will be platooning in left and center field. Heyward will probably get the majority of the playing time in RF. He has shown that he can handle left handed pitching.

Let’s give them a chance and remember that we will loses some games this year. Even if we win 100, we will lose 62.

by DawgB on Apr 5, 2010 7:47 AM EDT reply actions