with chipper down for a few days, it's time to turn to diaz #2....
by ryan c on Jun 3, 2010 12:40 AM EDT
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PrintWhen Matt Diaz became a Brave, I had no idea what the organization could see in him. I'd never seen a player look so awkward swinging the baseball bat, but our organization had faith in his numbers. After getting him fitted into new contacts, a 28-year old Diaz finally got to show what he could do in the bigs. Since coming to the Braves, he's had his ups and downs but overall his numbers have been quite impressive:
.308 BA .808 OPS
The Braves, having been known for finding lightning in a bottle with players like Diaz, Infante, O'Flaherty, and Moylan, might have yet to unleash another candidate to add to that list. His name is Mitch Jones. Last year, as a member of the AAA Dodger affiliate, Mitch put up gaudy numbers: 35 HR 103 RBI 1.015 OPS. His numbers this year aren't as gaudy but he's still hitting the ball out of the park. His OPS is .820, yet he's getting on base at a career low rate of .289. With 10 homeruns, his ridiculously slow start seems to be behind him and he's finding that stroke that the Braves must have seen in the first place.
While I understand that some might disagree with bringing up Francouer minus the defense, let me say that I'm not advocating putting him in left field on a daily basis. However, traveling to LA, playing against the team that didn't give him his shot, and with Chipper riding the pine the next few days, there'd be no better time to see what Mitch Jones could do as a platoon partner with Eric Hinske. I mean...are we really going to miss Gregor Blanco?
FREE MITCH JONES! Try it for a week or 2...
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bring up Freeman
and move Glaus to 3 (if his shoulder could handle it).
by apoxonbothyourhouses on Jun 3, 2010 12:47 AM EDT reply actions
Freeman...
…is hurt himself right now, although at least the MRI was positive.
Or Hinske at 1B...
depending on if they’d rather Hinske or Glaus at 3rd, the other can handle 1st, let Melky play CF and split LF between Infante and McLouth. Then when Chipper comes back healthy, back to normal.
Puttin McLouth in Left...
Is a waste.
Why are you guys clamoring so much for roster changes for what is a day to day injury?
by DogDaysofSummer on Jun 3, 2010 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions
If McLouth is going to play
he might as well play center. I’m not enamoured by his defense but he gets to the ball with a lot less drama than Melky does.
by DeadlyWalrus on Jun 3, 2010 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree 100%
Nothing more
He has amazing power
by atlbraveschamps on Jun 3, 2010 12:48 AM EDT reply actions
I'm happy with Infante
It's hard to say what's been most impressive. The seamless jump from AA? The ability to hit for average? The ability to hit for power? The 18 walks in 111 trips to the plate? The flair for the dramatic? When you're trying to isolate the most impressive aspect of Jason Heyward's game, there's a lot to choose from, and it's only been a month and a half.
SUPERUTILITYMAN! DA DA DADA!!!!
It's deja vu all over again.
You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I'm not hungry enough to eat six.
It ain't over til it's over
-Yogi Berra
ITS A BIRD ITS A PLANE.....
NO ITS A SANDSTORM!
by DogDaysofSummer on Jun 3, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Melky's doing just fine as platoon partner with Hinske/McSlumpy.
And whoever suggested bring up Freeman is uninformed, at best. Yeah, lets call up the player WHO JUST HAD A MRI.
by DogDaysofSummer on Jun 3, 2010 12:54 AM EDT reply actions
There are many more reasons to not bring up Freeman, but that’s a rather important one, you see.
by DogDaysofSummer on Jun 3, 2010 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions
That being said, if McSlumpy ever gets his act together then maybe we can talk about Blanco being sent down for someone else.
POST MORE THINGS AS THEY POP INTO MY HEAD
by DogDaysofSummer on Jun 3, 2010 12:58 AM EDT up reply actions
To Omar's credit, we didn't "find" him
He was already a really good “super-utility man” when he was with the Tigers.
[only built for cuban linx]
infante...
was a throw in on a trade and was a career .648 ops player before he became a brave. the braves organization rejuvenated his career.
My opinion cant be wrong. It's my opinion. Those who don't like it can piss up a rope.
Um….Mitch Jones doesn’t play third base…
I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com
Mitch plays 3B, beer is free with your ticket purchase, Armando Galarraga threw a perfect game, and Cal Ripken Jr. ate Bud Selig for breakfast and became the new commissioner. All is well.
I’d like to subscribe to your newsletter.
I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com
Did you see
the same Mitch Jones i saw in ST? that swing of his is HUGE and will result in a ton of K’s.
back to my original point...
infante will be seeing regular PT for the next few days at 3rd, leaving hinske in left by his lonesome. gregor blanco, pinch running extraordinairre, should be the odd man out for the time being.
My opinion cant be wrong. It's my opinion. Those who don't like it can piss up a rope.
Oh hi Melky.....
I didn’t see you there.
by DogDaysofSummer on Jun 3, 2010 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions
MVP MVP MVP
Melky has been more than capable the last few weeks….plus he lays down a mean bunt and chops the ball into the ground for infield hits with the best of them
We have traded away great players for less than nothing and let Texierra walk away, and much much more so pray that Hayward is sent from God and that his energy can ignite the veterans and cause the younger players to hustle more and play winning baseball...
At least Mitch is RH
It seems like every OF prospect we have is LH. Give Mitch a couple of weeks while Chip spends his obligatory stint on the DL.
Hopefully...
it doesnt come to that…the DL I mean. However, Mitch deserves an opportunity somewhere. With Mclouth hitting Mclousy (cant take credit for that nickname), Melky will be seeing time in center against lefties.
Melky does deserve a little credit. He has a .771 ops since May 8th…at least he’s being average.
My opinion cant be wrong. It's my opinion. Those who don't like it can piss up a rope.
I didn’t know we had any outfield prospects
...fuck lucky charms
by VivaLosBravos on Jun 3, 2010 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Mad
Some fans make me so mad. I know McClouth has played really bad, but didnt Glaus have the same problem a month and a half ago. People are always ready to run someone out of town when they struggle. The ones calling for McClouths head are the same ones that did for Glaus and are praying for Chipper to retire. How bout this, try being a fan and then when they turn it around which I think Nate will, then you dont look like a horses rear. Be a Braves fan, not a Braves fan that acts like Mets or Philly fans. Oh and that reminds me, if you were on the whole the Vasquez for Melky trade sucks bandwagon, then you should automatically lose Melky is a stud posting privileges. You know what, The GM’s and Presidents of these ballclubs may actually know more than the couch potato nation. Maybe they actually obtained their positions because they know a little bit about baseball! That is all!
I’ve been as willing as anyone to be patient with McLouth, but you have to look at the facts. in 133 games with the Braves he’s hit just .233 with a .716 OPS. That’s not productive. The last time he did that poorly for that long was his first full season in the Majors, 4 seasons ago. He hasn’t been good as a Brave and this year he’s been terrible. They say 150 at bats, especially with regular playing time is enough to judge a guy. Well Nate has 183 plate appearances this year, and he’s played regularly, and he’s just been bad. If they had a better option I’m sure they’d used it. There’s being a fan and then there’s being ignorant to reality.
I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com
personally, I’d call it an extended slump, as opposed to “just bad”. The dude has in the past been a productive ML hitter and may be once again. obviously, he isn’t now, but he may still figure it sometime. whether that happens ooner, later, or not at all is pretty much unpredictable in my view.
There's help in AAA...
and his name is Jordan Schafer, we hope.
Eddie V
by DolphinNation on Jun 3, 2010 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions
so...
being a fan means we shouldnt voice our opinions? i know you werent talking to me because i havent blasted anyone, but complaining about the team you root for doesnt make you less of a fan. Mclouth has been bad in a braves uniform and if you think that his performance doesnt deserve some criticism, how about asking mclouth how he’s been playing.
and, about a “month and a half ago” is a big difference considering there’s about 1/4 of a season played during that span.
by the way, the people calling melky a “stud” are being sarcastic.
My opinion cant be wrong. It's my opinion. Those who don't like it can piss up a rope.
Speak for yourself...
MELKY CHOP continues to intrigue me. Plus, it’s really fun to see a fat ass barrel down the line and beat the throw on a weakly-chopped grounder.
-C
Ha...
If only Melky would learn to do the Heap triple body slam slide….
Nate’s been in the big leagues long enough to prove he can hit major league pitching but he’s really starting to look like the second coming of KJ….decent potential, zero execution. He’s always struck out a lot but sometimes he looks like Jeff Blauser staring at pitches go by like an Olsen twin looks at cupcakes. He’ll probably fulfill the KJ prophesy and hit like mad for a month or two with a new club when the Wren finally gets tired of him but I’m beginning to think trying a legit replacement is worth it. Melky’s mediocre performance so far beats the hell out of Nate’s fish out of water numbers and he’s a good enough center fielder….Bobby doesn’t put Hinske out there for his glove, afterall, and that’s been working ok so far.
by crimsonqueen9 on Jun 3, 2010 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Well
Im not saying we shouldnt as fans voice our opinions. I hate it when the fans boo certain players and when the team plays bad. I guess Im an optimist. I dont like fans that whine and boo and then want to talk about how great things are when its going well. I understand being aggrevated when the team is losing but Braves fans have more to overcome than other franchises. The general consensus is that Atlanta is a bad sports town and the fans wont support the team unless its going to the playoffs every year. Im not an Atlanta guy. I grew up like a lot of others on the east coast watching Murphy, Horner, Benedict, and those guys playing on TBS. Im mean, look at the Cubs. Now I know their fans do their fair share of whining, but they sell out every game. If the Braves hadnt won anything since 1908, how many fans would come out to see them. Thats all I was trying to say and if I was a jerk about it I didnt mean to be. Its just that I think the Braves are a class organization win or lose and the fans should try to represent that as well win or lose. Go Braves!!!
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