Nate McLouth: Atlanta Braves 2011 Player Preview

by gondeee on Mar 14, 2011 8:11 AM EDT in Community Projections

We finish up the last of the player projections for the lineup regulars with Atlanta Braves center fielder Nate McLouth. A big year from a rejuvenated "Pittsburgh Nate" would go a long way towards helping the Braves back to another postseason appearance, and could be enough to put the Braves ahead of Philadelphia.

One of the bigger shocks of the Fredi Gonzalez era is his intention to bat McLouth second in the batting order -- he's just dead-set on doing it. That's going to mean that a return to form for McLouth is even more important if the Braves are to have a successful season.

Click here for an introduction to our Fan Projections Player Preview series.

>>> Click here to fill out the Google Form for Nate McLouth's 2011 projections. Your answers can also be posted in the comments section for discussion, but will only be tallied if they are entered in the Google Form.

Nate McLouth's Baseball Reference comparable players by age (1000 equals most comparable). This is an interesting list, I'm really not sure what to make of it.

Mack Jones (971)
Dave Henderson (957)
Eric Hinske (955)
Gary Geiger (954)
Paul O'Neill (951)
Milton Bradley (951)
Michael Cuddyer (950)
Vince DiMaggio (949)
Brad Wilkerson (949)
Larry Hisle (949)

Nate McLouth Trivia Fact: Did you know that 46% of the time McLouth gets on base, he scores? Such a mark is 11th best, All-Time since 1901.

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Comments

If Nate can be a 20/20 guy with

bat lines like .270/.370/410, he would be ok in the 2 spot. I think Nate will eventually lose his spot to Heyward around May. Heyward OBP will be way to valuable in the 6 spot.

16 Division Titles, 7 NL Pennants, 1 Wild Card, 3 World Series Titles....this is the Braves.

by romone_braves91 on Mar 14, 2011 8:23 AM EDT reply actions

If he gets anywhere near that state line our lineup is going to be nuts!

The best thing about that lineup besides “Ole Larry”, everyone is young and talented.

by TCfromDubVee on Mar 14, 2011 8:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Would be a career year for Nate, which is unlikely

Even if he regains his stride, he’s shown himself to be a .250/.350 hitter at best.

How do I feel? Like f**king success - Jordan Schafer

We had the midget mafia over at second base: Me, Uggla and Conrad - Matt Young

by ATLandUNC on Mar 14, 2011 8:39 AM EDT up reply actions

My thoughts as well...

.270/.370 is just something that his career has shown he’s not doing.

Although the trivia fact was pretty interesting, especially considering he wasn’t exactly in a power packed lineup with the Pirates (although I’d assume Bay, and probably Aramis Ramirez were hitting behind him some).

http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Mar 14, 2011 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Bay and LaRoche. Mr. Power Jose Bautista had replaced Rameriz by then in Pittsburgh, but he sucked at that point. Lil’ Nate is just really smart on the basepaths. Led that team (2008) in RBI too.

I think he could reach those milestones. His first full season (2008) was his all star year. The next year he was traded to us and regressed a tad, but put up solid numbers. Last season was a mess, but he’s only 29. I’d say, given a full healthy season, Nate could every bit be a .270-.280 hitter..

Lady: What?!? How did HE get to Heaven?

GOD: Oh, he was in a different area code, so technically it wasn't cheating..

by bwellnjonesco on Mar 14, 2011 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions

If you think he can be a .250/.350 hitter, he can easily be a .270/.370 hitter. We’re talking about a few extra balls dropping in/finding holes over the course of the season.

by alxn on Mar 14, 2011 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions

I can't think of a single reason

To give McLouth 50 – 100 more PAs over the course of a season at the expense of Jason Heyward. It’s just redonkulous.

by Atlantaspike on Mar 14, 2011 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Am I the only one who had never heard of Mack Jones?

Very cool trivia fact, btw.

"If I have asthma, they won't let me scuba. And if I can’t scuba, then what’s this all been about?? What am I working toward??"

"You look like you should be married to one of the San Diego Padres."

by Doghnut on Mar 14, 2011 10:06 AM EDT reply actions

46% score rate?

Maybe Fredi knows what he’s doing batting him 2nd

"It's like winning a war...you need arms and money." Fredi G

by bighop on Mar 14, 2011 10:23 AM EDT reply actions

I don’t like the fact that Fredi is so adamant about Nate batting in the 2 hole, however I understand why he’s doing it. Nate had a horrible year last year and it was apparent that he’d lost loads of confidence. Fredi is instilling into Nate that he has the utmost confidence in him. Nate, obviously being a bit of a headcase, might have reverted back to last year’s struggles early on in Spring had Fredi had been filling out lineups with Nate batting 8th. It’s a classic example of a manager boosting self-confidence, and no matter the age of the person, it works quite often.

Now, if he goes a month without hitting, he’ll obviously have to move him.

Bubba Sparxxx: It's gettin' Uggla...IN HERE! UP IN HERE!

by ryan c on Mar 14, 2011 10:26 AM EDT reply actions

i just got my copy of the maple stree press braves annual last night in Ottawa, Ontario. Great writing, great magazine.

"To all the critiques, thank you for the motivation… because it has been an edge for me and will continue to be an edge for me" - Timmy Tebow

by David G. Little on Mar 14, 2011 10:32 AM EDT reply actions

All right. It’s a pretty funny caption.

LIVE EDT

Tape-delayed for the West Coast

by TheLetter2 on Mar 14, 2011 12:17 PM EDT reply actions

Very observant. +1

by !Vive la Francoeur! on Mar 14, 2011 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Great picture!

Even before I read the caption I thought that kid looked exactly like Lincecum! haha

by WeStillHaveBobby on Mar 14, 2011 12:39 PM EDT reply actions

.260
.340
.415
15 HR’s
55 RBI’s
22 SB’s

McCann facial hair=Epic

by heyward4prez on Mar 14, 2011 12:39 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

I would take that all day long!

by TCfromDubVee on Mar 14, 2011 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m really thinking “Nasty Nate” is gonna come ahead on it this year and make us all forget last year.

McCann facial hair=Epic

by heyward4prez on Mar 14, 2011 6:56 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

We want Pittsburgh Nate

not Nasty Nate

by CMassey on Mar 15, 2011 2:55 AM EDT up reply actions

.256/,330/.385 15 HR

I expect him to start potentially getting platooned or not getting every-day PT but regular PT near the end of the year. I expect him to be a useful piece though.

by Broccoman on Mar 14, 2011 1:08 PM EDT reply actions

300 PA, .245 / .330 / .400, 8 HR. I think he plays himself out of full-time duty pretty quickly but picks up a bit in a bench role once we’ve acquired someone else to take his place.

If he plays at a league-average level (taking into account his poor defense), we should all consider ourselves very, very lucky. Even if his hitting returns to pre-2010 levels, he really should be a left fielder, not a center fielder.

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

by Jacob Peterson on Mar 14, 2011 1:45 PM EDT reply actions

This seems pretty pessimistic for you. Is this just one of those gut feelings, or are you aiming low as to not be disappointed?

This guy wants to suck all the cubs dick can he not have an unbias some what partition reguards
by RWH2 on Apr 5, 2010 10:20 AM CDT

by justincredubil02 on Mar 14, 2011 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Question:

Is Nate seriously going to hit 2nd in the lineup? I think he’ll be alright this year, but he still needs to prove himself.

"Sports is human life in microcosm."

Howard Cosell

by GouldisGold on Mar 14, 2011 4:27 PM EDT reply actions

.273 avg.
.345 OBP
18 HR

http://tonyalmeyda.blogspot.com/

by TonyAlmeyda on Mar 14, 2011 6:44 PM EDT reply actions

It seems Fredi has the same kind of confidence in Nate as I do

Or at least he is wishful thinking? I think Nate is going to rake this year. With all the injuries behind him, and with the confidence of his manager behind him, he will be back on track. If it wasnt for all the injuries, Nate would be a very solid player to have. It seems everyone shows his stats, but those were in the early years. Nate is still coming into his prime. Here is to Nate being a late bloomer!!! c(_) cheers

by Trek on Mar 14, 2011 7:58 PM EDT reply actions