Atlanta Braves 2011: What The Lineup Should Look Like Come Opening Day
The Atlanta Braves look to improve after an impressive 2010 season.
2011 brings even more promise, with just about the same crew as last year, and one huge addition. Turner Field will be pumped up again once opening day arrives. Here's a preview at the lineup they should be looking at.
1) Martin Prado, LF
1 of 10
Martin Prado is coming off the best season of his career. He batted .310 with 15 home runs and 66 RBIs in 2010. Had he not suffered a torn oblique, he would have had even more impressive numbers.
Prado signed a one-year contract in January worth $3.1 million, which should give him an even bigger incentive to perform well if he wishes to continue getting paid on this level.
An excellent contact hitter, Prado hit 126 singles last year. He puts the ball in play and gets on often, with a career on base percentage of .356. Look for Prado to repeat these numbers this season.
2) Jason Heyward, RF
2 of 10
The beloved hometown hero Jason Heyward displayed an impressive rookie season. Despite a few injuries and hitting struggles, Heyward posted a .277 average with 18 homers and 77 RBIs.
Why will he stay in this spot in the lineup? I know many people will probably want to see him hit in the three or four spot eventually, but he is not quite ready.
Heyward hits the ball on the ground 55 percent of the time. If he wants to become the home run hitter people have foreseen him turning into, he will have to do a better job of driving the ball in the air.
J-Hey ranked fourth in the NL in OBP and walks in 2010, and this was again only as a rookie. Braves fans will continue to watch Heyward flourish as he progresses even more this season.
3) Brian McCann, C
3 of 10
I don't put McCann at this spot in the lineup with much confidence, but I feel it's a move that needs to be made.
Let's face it folks, Chipper Jones is old. He will be 39 in April.
Brian McCann needs to start hitting at the three spot. Percentages show that McCann has actually regressed the past few seasons. His batting average this past year was the worst in his career. His RBIs were down as well. Home runs are at least remaining the same, but it is quite clear that the Braves need to change things up for their All-Star catcher.
With great hitters in front and the Braves new stud hitting behind him, McCann will have to be pitched to and will step up in this spot.
.png?w=256)
4) Dan Uggla, 2B
4 of 10
Finally the Braves have acquired a much needed big bat. Although it was sad to see Omar Infante go, Braves fans will gladly take Dan Uggla's 31 homers a year. Already a solid player, he's getting considerably better. Uggla posted career highs in batting average, home runs, and RBIs in 2010.
And here's a stat Braves fans will be thrilled to see. In 45 games at Turner Field, Uggla has batted .354 and had a .399 OBP. Are you buying him now? Clearly Sun Life Stadium was not the best fit for him as he consistently put up better numbers on the road than at home. The only second baseman in history to hit 30 or more home runs in four different seasons, Atlanta will love their new power player.
5) Chipper Jones, 3B
5 of 10
He's an Atlanta legend. He's played here his entire career. Unfortunately that career is coming to an end.
Chipper will be in his 19th season in the majors—including the '94 season he did not play—and it is clear that he skills are waning. He's batted .264 and .265 the past two season—keep in mind that he is a lifetime .306 hitter—and will be coming off another major injury.
Jones tore his ACL during spring training in 1994, which is why he missed the entire season. He came back in 1995 and batted .265 while helping the Braves win their first World Series in Atlanta.
What ended his season in 2010? A torn ACL. What did he bat last season? .265. He's recovered quite well reports say, and will be back for most likely his last year. Is a repeat of 1995 inevitable? Doubtful, but I'm just throwing it out there.
6) Alex Gonzalez, SS
6 of 10
Alex Gonzalez came to the Braves last year in July. He provided a spark at times, but for the most part didn't perform as well as did in Toronto. He had 17 homers with a .259 batting average in 85 games as a Blue Jay in 2010. Yet as a Brave he hit only six homers in 72 games, and batted .240.
He has never been a consistent power hitter, and has had a lifetime batting average of a dismal .248. I'm not saying he isn't a good fit for this team. He constantly makes plays with his glove. The Braves just need him to find that power swing he had in Toronto.
7) Freddie Freeman, 1B
7 of 10
Freeman will be an interesting player to watch. In 2010 he batted .319 and hit 18 home runs with 87 RBIs. Not bad huh? However in his brief major league appearance at the end of 2010 he looked more like Kenshin Kawakami at the plate. In 24 at bats he compiled four hits.
Now I am in no way bad-mouthing him, because he is only 21 years old and has been a top prospect for several years now. It will be interesting though to see how he responds to major league pitching this year. He is a very talented player, but it may take a couple seasons for him to find his stride. Still Braves fan should be excited someone who will provide a reliable first baseman for years to come.
8) Nate McLouth, CF
8 of 10
Nate McLouth derailed in 2010. In 85 games he batted an embarassing .190—.135 against lefties—and hit just six home runs. He did provide some late game heroics, but that does not make up for his complete drop off.
A former All-Star in Pittsburgh, McLouth was sent to the minors for part of last season where he looked just as bad. He improved a little after he was recalled at the end of last year, but it was still ultimately the worst season he has ever had.
If Jordan Schafer wasn't struggling he would be able to step in and steal the starting role, but for now the Braves center field spot looks disappointing.
9) Tim Hudson, P
9 of 10
Tommy John surgery turned out to have no ill effects on Hudson for 2010. Winner of the NL Comeback Player of the Year award last season, Hudson posted his highest innings pitched total since 2003, and had the lowest ERA of his entire career. I'm honestly surprised he did not win more than 17 games.
He will be the Opening Day starter and will look to lead the Braves pitching staff for another season. His velocity has dropped some, but it has not been detrimental due to his variety of off speed pitches mixed in with tough sinking two-seamers and cutters that cause players to put the ball on the ground quite often.
As for batting, Hudson's average was higher than Nate McLouth's. I'm not sure if that's good or bad news.
Bench and Bullpen
10 of 10
The Braves bench is not very strong, but they will make due. There is a lot of young talent in the organization, so I'm not too worried about it.
Eric Hinske will return as the veteran pinch hitter and will be a reliable batter now and then.
The bullpen will be fun to watch. Also filled with young guns the Braves have a lot to look forward to as far as relief work goes. Craig Kimbrel was lights out in 21 appearances last season. He is only 22 so don't expect to see perfection, but he has a ton of talent and should provide an excellent replacement for Billy Wagner.
Scott Linebrink and George Sherrill, both new veteran additions, have displayed great stuff at times in their career, but have also been out of control here and there. The Braves will hope to see these two settle down.
Jonny Venters and Eric O'Flaherty are two young pitchers we will see a lot of. Overall the bullpen looks to be solid as long as a plague of injuries doesn't strike.
.png?w=480)
