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Post by bigdawgs on Jun 3, 2009 19:18:09 GMT -5
Braves trade for All-Star outfielder McLouth By DAVID O'BRIEN
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
The Braves continued a busy day by trading three prospects to the Pittsburgh Pirates for center fielder Nate McLouth, one day after sending struggling center fielder Jordan Schafer to Class AAA Gwinnett.
Right-hander Charlie Morton, center fielder Gorkys Hernandez and left-hander Jeff Locke are going to the Pirates in exchange for McLouth, 27, who made the National league All-Star team and won a Gold Glove in 2008 in his fourth season in the majors.
After hitting .276 with a league-high 46 doubles, 26 homers and 94 RBIs in 2008, McLouth has hit .256 with nine homers, 34 RBIs and a .349 OBP this season. He also has seven stolen bases, after stealing 23 in 2008 and 22 in 2007.
The Braves paid a big price, trading away Morton, who was 7-2 with a 2.51 ERA in 10 starts at Gwinnett, and Hernandez, 21, one of baseball’s top 100 prospects according to Baseball America.
Hernandez was batting .316 with 11 doubles, two triples, 19 RBIs and 10 stolen bases in 52 games at Class AA Mississippi, despite being one of the youngest players in that league.
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Post by tophb21 on Jun 3, 2009 19:24:09 GMT -5
Braves trade for All-Star outfielder McLouth By DAVID O'BRIEN Atlanta Journal-Constitution Wednesday, June 03, 2009 The Braves continued a busy day by trading three prospects to the Pittsburgh Pirates for center fielder Nate McLouth, one day after sending struggling center fielder Jordan Schafer to Class AAA Gwinnett. Right-hander Charlie Morton, center fielder Gorkys Hernandez and left-hander Jeff Locke are going to the Pirates in exchange for McLouth, 27, who made the National league All-Star team and won a Gold Glove in 2008 in his fourth season in the majors. After hitting .276 with a league-high 46 doubles, 26 homers and 94 RBIs in 2008, McLouth has hit .256 with nine homers, 34 RBIs and a .349 OBP this season. He also has seven stolen bases, after stealing 23 in 2008 and 22 in 2007. The Braves paid a big price, trading away Morton, who was 7-2 with a 2.51 ERA in 10 starts at Gwinnett, and Hernandez, 21, one of baseball’s top 100 prospects according to Baseball America. Hernandez was batting .316 with 11 doubles, two triples, 19 RBIs and 10 stolen bases in 52 games at Class AA Mississippi, despite being one of the youngest players in that league. I like McClouth, but I don't know that I like him enough to pay that price. Still gotta overcome the scorching hot Phillies and that's a tall order!! ;D
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Post by bigdawgs on Jun 3, 2009 19:34:41 GMT -5
Toph,
I am not sure either, but the Braves have pitching and more pitching. They absolutely have to get more punch out of their outfield. With the best starting pitching in the NL East and a bullpen that has been very good since the first two weeks, the team has to improve the lineup. This does it.
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Post by tophb21 on Jun 3, 2009 19:39:33 GMT -5
Toph, I am not sure either, but the Braves have pitching and more pitching. They absolutely have to get more punch out of their outfield. With the best starting pitching in the NL East and a bullpen that has been very good since the first two weeks, the team has to improve the lineup. This does it. It definitely will improve the lineup and to be honest even with all that pitching, you're probably right that they would have a tough time overcoming the Mets or Phils with the lineup they had prior to this trade. Not sure McClouth on his own brings them to the level that can overcome the top two, but it probably is a short term step in the right direction. BTW, where will McClouth hit in the lineup?
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Post by bigdawgs on Jun 3, 2009 19:43:50 GMT -5
toph, I don't know him that well, but maybe cleanup or 5th. The only reliable guys right now are Chipper and McCann. And of course Chipper is always a problem with his nagging injuries. Escobar will probably stay 2d. Francoeur had a huge hit last night, but unless he turns it around, well who knows.
Right now McLouth has better numbers than any Brave. My gut says he will hit behind McCann.
I worry about the Phillies. The Mets....no way. First, they are and will remain the biggest chokers around. Second, they have no clue how to beat the Braves. The mere look at that Tomahawk causes them to tremble. The Phils are a different story.
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Post by badgersballers on Jun 3, 2009 19:47:49 GMT -5
Get your NL East Stuff off of our NL Central Board!
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Post by bigdawgs on Jun 3, 2009 19:50:10 GMT -5
huh? Looks more like a ghost board. ;D ;D ;D
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Post by tophb21 on Jun 3, 2009 19:53:02 GMT -5
Get your NL East Stuff off of our NL Central Board! Yeah that would be the NL East with the reigning champs and currently one of the hottest teams in all of baseball. ;D
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Post by tophb21 on Jun 3, 2009 19:55:14 GMT -5
toph, I don't know him that well, but maybe cleanup or 5th. The only reliable guys right now are Chipper and McCann. And of course Chipper is always a problem with his nagging injuries. Escobar will probably stay 2d. Francoeur had a huge hit last night, but unless he turns it around, well who knows. Right now McLouth has better numbers than any Brave. My gut says he will hit behind McCann. I worry about the Phillies. The Mets....no way. First, they are and will remain the biggest chokers around. Second, they have no clue how to beat the Braves. The mere look at that Tomahawk causes them to tremble. The Phils are a different story. The Mets are chokers and I love it!! It sucks living in NY being a Phillies fan. I love the Braves pitching and wish the Phils had a little more, but right now the Phils might have the best middle of the order in MLB with Utley-Howard-Ibanez
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Post by bigdawgs on Jun 3, 2009 19:58:52 GMT -5
The Phillies lineup looks like an American League line up with the DH. No way the Braves can match it, but if they continue to get the pitching and they can improve that lineup they can hang in there.
What has been the problem with Lidge? He has not looked good when I have seen him this year.
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Post by tophb21 on Jun 3, 2009 20:03:22 GMT -5
The Phillies lineup looks like an American League line up with the DH. No way the Braves can match it, but if they continue to get the pitching and they can improve that lineup they can hang in there. What has been the problem with Lidge? He has not looked good when I have seen him this year. The problem with Lidge is he is reverting back to his form the year after Pujols rocked his world in the playoffs. Gotta be honest, I've been waiting for this sort of meltdown, ever since he got to Philly. He is not nearly as good as his record last year. He worries me a ton. If they could find another solid set up person, I'd rather have them look at moving Ryan Madson to the closer role just in case.
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Post by bigdawgs on Jun 3, 2009 20:08:26 GMT -5
Chipper is amazing. Last night he wins the game and now he ties up the game against the Cubbies with a long double.
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Post by badgersballers on Jun 3, 2009 20:10:37 GMT -5
Hey toph, stop acting like Big Ten Fans living in the past and all.
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Post by badgersballers on Jun 3, 2009 20:14:08 GMT -5
How many World Series does the NL EAST HAVE SINCE 1980?
Atlanta Braves only made it to the WS because they played in the HORRIBLE NL!'
NEXT.
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Post by tophb21 on Jun 3, 2009 20:15:20 GMT -5
How many World Series does the NL EAST HAVE SINCE 1980? Atlanta Braves only made it to the WS because they played in the HORRIBLE NL!' NEXT. What was that about living in the past?
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Post by tophb21 on Jun 3, 2009 20:16:32 GMT -5
Chipper is amazing. Last night he wins the game and now he ties up the game against the Cubbies with a long double. Chipper is a helluva player. Always enjoyed watching him.
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Post by bigdawgs on Jun 3, 2009 20:17:36 GMT -5
Braves, Phillies (2), Mets, Marlins (2)
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Post by tophb21 on Jun 3, 2009 20:24:45 GMT -5
Braves, Phillies (2), Mets, Marlins (2) Good work BD and by my calculations that makes it 7 for the NL East teams and 3 for the NL Central. Badgernads, Do you do your research before spouting off or are you just grasping at straws hoping that no one calls you out on your BS statements?
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Post by BTB07 on Jun 3, 2009 20:25:19 GMT -5
This is an interesting move. Three prospects seems like a lot to me. I guess the Braves are deep enough in the pitching category that they can risk selling off a few prospects for a solid hitter.
Too bad the Pirates can't keep any of their guys (Bay, McLouth, A-Ram, etc.).
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Post by tophb21 on Jun 3, 2009 20:26:51 GMT -5
This is an interesting move. Three prospects seems like a lot to me. I guess the Braves are deep enough in the pitching category that they can risk selling off a few prospects for a solid hitter. Too bad the Pirates can't keep any of their guys (Bay, McLouth, A-Ram, etc.). The Pirates are terrible at keeping anybody. It's sad. Such a nice park.
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Post by bigdawgs on Jun 3, 2009 20:38:14 GMT -5
It is. My first memories of the Pirates were when as a kid my Dad and I were listening to the AFN Atlantic Cable broadcast of the 1960 World Series and Maz parked it to win the series. From that point on I had a spot in my heart for the Bucs.
I was stationed at Leavenworth for 3 years and saw the Royals degenerate from a traditional power to an unable to compete small market team. Really frustrating. Then while at Aberdeen Proving Ground, got to watch that idiot who owns the Orioles take them down too. Except they had money....but no clue on what to do with it.
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Post by tophb21 on Jun 3, 2009 20:50:10 GMT -5
I hear you totally BD. The funny thing is I don't think that it is necessarily just a monetary issue either. Don't get me wrong, they don't have as much as the larger markets do, but that just means they have to spend it wiser and have that much better of a scouting department like the Twins, A's, Marlins and some others that I may have forgotten.
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Post by badgersballers on Jun 3, 2009 21:08:04 GMT -5
Apparently, you don't understand the Cassells impersonation.
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Post by badgersballers on Jun 3, 2009 21:08:54 GMT -5
I hear you totally BD. The funny thing is I don't think that it is necessarily just a monetary issue either. Don't get me wrong, they don't have as much as the larger markets do, but that just means they have to spend it wiser and have that much better of a scouting department like the Twins, A's, Marlins and some others that I may have forgotten. *Cough Brewers Cough*
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Post by MIZ-SIU on Jun 3, 2009 21:14:07 GMT -5
Great trade for the Braves. I am not sure how great the players they gave up were but he was the only hitter in the Pirates lineup that scared me. It must be depressing being a Pirate fan. Sorry Goose
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Post by tophb21 on Jun 3, 2009 21:27:11 GMT -5
I hear you totally BD. The funny thing is I don't think that it is necessarily just a monetary issue either. Don't get me wrong, they don't have as much as the larger markets do, but that just means they have to spend it wiser and have that much better of a scouting department like the Twins, A's, Marlins and some others that I may have forgotten. *Cough Brewers Cough* Can't have 2 decent years in the last 20 years and be considered in that category. Consistency my friend, consistency!
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Post by tophb21 on Jun 3, 2009 21:29:30 GMT -5
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Post by gobigred203 on Jun 4, 2009 0:16:25 GMT -5
Get your NL East Stuff off of our NL Central Board! Yeah that would be the NL East with the reigning champs and currently one of the hottest teams in all of baseball. ;D It's easy when you do it against the Nationals and Padres
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Post by tophb21 on Jun 4, 2009 7:47:45 GMT -5
Yeah that would be the NL East with the reigning champs and currently one of the hottest teams in all of baseball. ;D It's easy when you do it against the Nationals and Padres Well they have swept the Cards so far and took 2 of 3 from the Yanks who are on fire. We'll see how the 4 game series with Dodgers goes this weekend.
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Post by Bradimous1 on Jun 4, 2009 8:57:14 GMT -5
I think this was a great deal for the Pirates... how long could they really keep McCutchen down there, plus get three prospects.
Looks like a plus for both teams.
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