Braves fans ...

[MSUArrowCS]

JHey goes 2 for 4, getting on base 4 of 6 PAs tonight batting third with Chipper out. McCann has his best night in weeks, Glaus hits well again, and Hinske (!!) goes 2 for 2 and gets on base 4 of 4 all behind JHey ... how long do Larry Wayne and his .230 average continue to bat 3rd in a lineup struggling for hits (not to mention runs and wins)?

According to the AJC, Heyward was to bat 2nd tonight with Chipper 3rd (with Prado leading off). What say ye? Are we giving one of our best hitters an extra AB or taking away an RBI chance?

 

[War Machine Dawg]

Maybe moving Chipper down in the order will take some of the pressure off and help him get going. It's worth the try. Too many solid hitters on this club to be this abysmal.

 

[mstatefan88]

I would prefer Prado 1st, but the way Infante has been playing,I would like them to interchange at 1 and 2 till Yunel comes back. Chipper is no longer a 3 hole hitter, and I think that has been the case since he went crazy and hit .360 2 years ago. Once Yunel comes back, my lineup would be:

Prado 2B
Hinske LF
Heyward RF
Glaus 1B
McCann C
Chipper 3B
Escobar SS
McLouth/Diaz CF

I hate that we've paid so much money to Melky and he's been sucking it up, but I've always been a proponent of playing your best guys regardless of age, contract, experience, etc. And right now, Hinske is playing better than Melky.

 

[HighPointDawg]

I know the numbers aren't there right now but Chipper is still a good hitter and if you watch how pitchers pitch around him still you would understand why he'll always bat in the 3 or 4 spot.. Now one thing that is certain is that his power numbers are down, he is more of an on base guy, so I do wish they would consider this:

Prado 2B
Chipper
3B
Heyward RF
McCann C
Glaus 1B
Hinske/Diaz LF
Escobar SS
McLouth/Cabrera CF (just rotate weeks or something)

Hinske can't hit a LHP and we do need to keep the defense out there.

 

[MSUArrowCS]

he's just in there as a spark plug right now. He's been a bench player for a few seasons now, only started 39 games last year, and over 100 only once since 2004.<div>
</div><div>I think Heyward bats 2nd when Chipper comes back, just because that's how Bobby is, but if Chipper doesn't get a grip, I could see them swapping places *then* finally moving Chipper down if it gets to that point. I see the longer term lineup as Heyward and Chipper at 2-3, McCann and Glaus at 4-5, depending on pitcher, then Escobar, then whoever feels like hitting, something like:</div><div>
</div><div>Prado</div><div>Heyward/Jones</div><div>Jones/Heyward</div><div>McCann/Glaus</div><div>Glaus/McCann</div><div>Escobar</div><div>McLouth</div><div>Diaz/Cabrera/Hinske</div><div>
</div><div>Another scenario if none of the LF/CF options feel like hitting above the Mendoza line would be to put Infante in the mix in LF once Escobar is back. The biggest concern in the OF, in my opinion, has got to be Nate McLouth. Melky is making $3M, but McLouth is making $5M and is under contract through next year with an option for 2012. And honestly, his 2008 season looks more and more like a fluke every day.</div><div>
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