Eric Hinske To Return To Braves In 2012

by gondeee on Oct 31, 2011 12:04 PM EDT in Braves Related Free Agents

The Braves twitter feed just announced that the team has picked up the club option for 2012 in Eric Hinske's contract, but the team declined their option on Nate McLouth. That was what most everyone expected to happen. Hinske had an off year, but he is still a guy who could be very valuable off the bench for Atlanta.

Pinch hitting is such a temperamental art form, and players can seem to excel at it one year and stink at it the next. Hinske knows how to be a pinch hitter without letting these extremes affect him too much. He's also a great clubhouse presence, and almost worth retaining just for that.

Nate McLouth was the hitting equivalent of Mike Hampton during his time with the Braves. He likely won't be missed by anyone, especially with Bourn patrolling center next year for Atlanta.

Those are the only decisions on options the team had to worry about. The next big decision will be whether to offer arbitration to Peter Moylan, who is recovering from yet another surgery.

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Welcome Back SKE!

"Reach down in there...TURN THAT DAMN THING UP!" - Coach Paul Johnson

by TBuzz on Oct 31, 2011 12:09 PM EDT reply actions

What is the sabermetric definition of "great clubhouse presence"?

Also, how is it measured, weighed, quantified, and otherwise placed under the sabermetric microscope?
And if none of the above, how could it possibly be “worth” anything?

by fandave on Oct 31, 2011 12:43 PM EDT reply actions

It isn't directly quantifiable...

"Reach down in there...TURN THAT DAMN THING UP!" - Coach Paul Johnson

by TBuzz on Oct 31, 2011 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Great Clubhouse Presence...

helps the Braves brand.

"Reach down in there...TURN THAT DAMN THING UP!" - Coach Paul Johnson

by TBuzz on Oct 31, 2011 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Half-off at Target this week.

I’m here to kick ass and drink sweet tea, and dammit, I’m all out of sweet tea.

by TheLetter2 on Oct 31, 2011 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions

INDIANS ACQUIRE DEREK LOWE!!!!!

WOW! MLBTR

"Forget Roy Halladay or Clayton Kershaw or Cliff Lee, the NL Cy Young Award should go to O’Ventrel." - David Schoenfield, ESPN.com, 8/19/11

by carpengui on Oct 31, 2011 12:48 PM EDT reply actions

(yeah, I know – off topic… capslock key stuck… WHO CARES??)

"Forget Roy Halladay or Clayton Kershaw or Cliff Lee, the NL Cy Young Award should go to O’Ventrel." - David Schoenfield, ESPN.com, 8/19/11

by carpengui on Oct 31, 2011 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Linky?

"Reach down in there...TURN THAT DAMN THING UP!" - Coach Paul Johnson

by TBuzz on Oct 31, 2011 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

by vooodooo on Oct 31, 2011 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I kinda figured that links would be making themselves even as I was typing that!

"Forget Roy Halladay or Clayton Kershaw or Cliff Lee, the NL Cy Young Award should go to O’Ventrel." - David Schoenfield, ESPN.com, 8/19/11

by carpengui on Oct 31, 2011 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions

HELL YEAH...

it deserves caps lock…. extra 5 million to spend!

by RWH2 on Oct 31, 2011 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!!

It sucks that this will overshadow us keeping Ski, but I’m sure he’s happy to see Lowe and McSuck go too.

by CaliforniaBrave on Oct 31, 2011 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Did the Indians hire...

…Matt Millen as their new GM?

by abudefdef on Oct 31, 2011 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions

"All these guys are my good friends, and I want to go out there and battle with them," Hinske said. "I don’t want to be with any other team. I want to be with the Atlanta Braves. I want to play with Brian McCann and Chipper Jones and David Ross and Dan Uggla. These guys are my boys."

Braves.
Falcons.
Gamecocks.

by walknbalk on Oct 31, 2011 1:14 PM EDT reply actions