Agony In Atlanta's Three Hole: Is it Time for Chipper to be Moved Down?

We all know about Chipper Jones' recent slump.

It always seems as if hes going to break out of it tomorrow.

If not tomorrow, the next day.

And if not that, then next week.

Then it's just eventually...I mean, it's Chipper, right?

It's pretty much been this cycle for three weeks.

This wouldn't be a huge deal except for one thing: Chipper Jones is still batting third.

Now, I understand that by plugging Chipper in somewhere else, you're leaving the three-hole open to somebody that's never been used there on a regular basis before, but something's gotta give.

Chipper simply isn't setting the table for B-Mac, GA, and Escobar.

This is what I propose (keep in mind, I'm no Bobby Cox) when McLouth comes back:

1 R Matt Diaz
2 R Martin Prado
3 L Garret Anderson
4 L Brian McCann
5 R Yunel Escobar
6 L Nate McLouth
7 S Chipper Jones
8 L Adam LaRoche

I will explain this spot-by-spot.

1- As long as Captain Caveman is keeps hitting, I want him starting in right and leading off.  Period.

2- Martin Prado has flourished this season batting second and I see no reason to change that.

3- Anderson has hit well and been consistent all season.  No, he doesn't walk or hit .310, but his groundballs seem (from observation) few and far between. 

If nothing else, you could swap out Yunel and Garret, but this he just my first choice.

4- B-Mac is B-Mac is B-Mac. He is probably the best combination of power average the Braves have and is the man I want to remain in the four-hole.

5- Yunel Escobar is a run-producer, ladies and gentleman.  He doesn't have quite as much pop as McCann, so I'm leaving him to his recently-normal five-hole.

Okay, here's where some of you are going to start questioning me.

6- Remember when the Braves acquired Nate McLouth and Jerome Jurenovich asked him where he preferred to bat in the order?

Nate said the two and five holes were his preference, but that he'd bat wherever needed.

Well, I say move him to a spot where he can put his power to use and plug him into the six-hole to clean up B-Mac and Escobar.

No, his speed could not be utilized as much, but since when does Bobby Cox send runners?

7- Chipper needs to get out of his funk.

8- LaRoche?  If his hamstring is bad enough, I'd do this: put Infante at second, Prado at first, and bat Infante here. 

But, if it isn't something that's going to cost LaRoche a lot of play, then the Braves have a fine No. 8 hitter that can launch a few balls out to clean up whoever may be on in front of the pitcher.

Look, this is nothing against Chipper Jones.

Not by a long shot (as I was writing this line he put the Braves ahead of the Phillies 9-1).

I'm just saying that 4-43 (with the homer hit during the typing of this article) isn't what you need batting third going into the last month of the season in a play-off run.

Hey, maybe that homer will start something.

I mean, it's Chipper, right?