CSS Button No Image Css3Menu.com

Baseball Prospectus home
  
  
Click here to log in Click here to subscribe
<< Previous Article
Premium Article Squawking Baseball: LA... (03/04)
<< Previous Column
Premium Article BP Unfiltered: The Unt... (02/09)
Next Column >>
BP Unfiltered: The Run... (03/05)
Next Article >>
Prospectus Q&A: Jonath... (03/05)

March 5, 2010

BP Unfiltered

Braves-Pirates, 3/3

by John Perrotto

 

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. _ Some belated notes and observations from Thursday's Braves-Pirates exhibition, won 4-2 by Atlanta:
 
--I have never been around someone who has been just paroled from prison. However, I suspect they must feel like Braves center fielder Nate McLouth does after being traded from the Pirates last season.
 
"The whole atmosphere is so different," McLouth said. "Here, we're expected to win. All the emphasis is on winning. There, it always seemed to be next year and the whole atmosphere was always uptight because everyone was wondering who was going to be the next guy to get traded. It's just a different world, a better world."
 
McLouth's TAv dipped from .301 in 2008 to .287 last season. However, McLouth believes he is ready to have his best season now that he has started contact lenses.
 
"It makes a huge difference, like going from regular television to high-def," McLouth said.
 
--Braves rookie outfielder Jason Heyward went 0-for-2 but smoked a couple of more balls and has yet to swing and miss in his first three exhibition games. Braves management isn't saying Heyward will be their opening-day right fielder just yet but the probability of him beginning the season at Gwinnett is just slightly higher than me being crowned King of England next week. I keep wanting to call Heyward "Justin" and not just on Tuesday afternoons.
 
--Left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes seemingly had pitched his way out of the Braves' pitching plans. However, he was very sharp on Thursday, impressed manager Bobby Cox and seems to be putting himself in position to be the Braves' "sixth starter" should something happen to someone in their rotation.
 
--If you want a long-shot candidate to make the Braves' opening-day roster, there is left-hander Lee Hyde., who has not pitched above Class AA. Cox says he has been the biggest surprise of the spring.
 
--Pirates starter Charlie Morton walked three batters in two innings. Scouts love Morton's stuff but his performance in the major leagues or minor leagues has rarely matched the glowing reports. At 26, Morton seems to understand that now is the time to start realizing his potential.
 
"I'm getting a great opportunity here," said Morton, who is assured a spot in the Pirates' rotation. "I need to make the most of it."

John Perrotto is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
Click here to see John's other articles. You can contact John by clicking here

6 comments have been left for this article.

<< Previous Article
Premium Article Squawking Baseball: LA... (03/04)
<< Previous Column
Premium Article BP Unfiltered: The Unt... (02/09)
Next Column >>
BP Unfiltered: The Run... (03/05)
Next Article >>
Prospectus Q&A: Jonath... (03/05)

RECENTLY AT BASEBALL PROSPECTUS
Playoff Prospectus: Come Undone
BP En Espanol: Previa de la NLCS: Cubs vs. D...
Playoff Prospectus: How Did This Team Get Ma...
Playoff Prospectus: Too Slow, Too Late
Premium Article Playoff Prospectus: PECOTA Odds and ALCS Gam...
Premium Article Playoff Prospectus: PECOTA Odds and NLCS Gam...
Playoff Prospectus: NLCS Preview: Cubs vs. D...

MORE FROM MARCH 5, 2010
Fantasy Article Team Health Reports: Kansas City Royals
Fantasy Article Fantasy Focus: Draft Exercise
Prospectus Q&A: Jonathan Lucroy

MORE BY JOHN PERROTTO
2010-03-08 - BP Unfiltered: AL East musings
2010-03-07 - Premium Article On the Beat: Weekend Update
2010-03-05 - BP Unfiltered: Tigers-Astros, 3/4
2010-03-05 - BP Unfiltered: Braves-Pirates, 3/3
2010-03-03 - Premium Article On the Beat: Mid-Week Update
2010-02-28 - Premium Article On the Beat: Weekend Update
2010-02-24 - Premium Article On the Beat: Mid-Week Update
More...

MORE BP UNFILTERED
2010-03-05 - BP Unfiltered: Tigers-Astros, 3/4
2010-03-05 - BP Unfiltered: The BP 2010 Tour Continues…
2010-03-05 - BP Unfiltered: The Rundown - Daily Recaps fr...
2010-03-05 - BP Unfiltered: Braves-Pirates, 3/3
2010-02-09 - Premium Article BP Unfiltered: The Untitled Joe Sheehan Book
2007-03-08 - BP Unfiltered: YOU DOWN WIT' SGP?
More...