Martin Prado started at third base, left field, third base and left
field in the Braves' first four games. He's getting better at moving
back and forth from one game to the next, but he doesn't like it. And
only now is he willing to admit that worrying about covering each
position well defensively took a toll on his offense last season.
Prado
batted .182 (2 for 11) in the season-opening series against the Mets,
this after leading the Braves with 26 hits and a .356 (26 for 73)
batting average in 23 spring training games. In Monday night's 8-3 loss
to the Astros, Prado -- who moved back to third base in the sixth inning
-- was 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored.
He may get a
break soon. Third-baseman Chipper Jones is chomping at the bit to come
off the disabled list (left knee surgery). While he may not be up to
playing third base every day for a while, his availability -- even if
only as a pinch-hitter -- allows manager Fredi Gonzalez to deploy
back-up third-baseman Juan Francisco and leave Prado in the outfield.
Although
Prado prefers the infield part of his infielder-outfielder designation,
he obviously prefers being a starter more. And unless something happens
to a starting infielder, his only shot at being a regular is in left.
In
2010, the first year he had a dedicated starting position, Prado was
named an All-Star second baseman. He earned Player of the Week honors
that May for batting .367 (11 for 30) and finished ninth in the National
League MVP voting. Both Prado and the team want to see that from him
consistently. But the Braves aren't making it easy on him by yanking him
back and forth.
NOTES, QUOTES
-3B Chipper
Jones had a good pre-batting-practice workout and, depending on how he
feels in the morning, he could be activated from the 15-day disabled
list (left knee surgery) before Tuesday's game against the Astros. The
Astros honored him before Monday's game, Craig Biggio presenting him
with a Stetson so he can ride into the sunset in retirement after this
season.
-OF Matt Diaz has batted .239 (11 for 46) at Minute Maid
Park but owns Astros starting LHP J.A. Happ, hitting .533 (8 for 15)
with a home run. Manager Fredi Gonzalez is enough of a stats guy to have
Diaz start in right field over Jason Heyward. Diaz was 1 for 2 against
Happ.
-RF Jason Heyward's double in the seventh inning, which
drove in two runs, was the Braves' only hit with runners in scoring
position during the three-game Mets series. But OF Matt Diaz has batted
.533 (8 for 15) against Astros starting LHP J.A. Happ. Heyward took over
in right in the sixth inning.
-RHP Tim Hudson's next rehab start
is scheduled for Thursday, when he'll start the home opener for Class A
Rome. The goal is 65 pitches, which Hudson and pitching coach Roger
McDowell expect to take him through four innings.
-3B Juan
Francisco got the start at third base rather than INF/OF Martin Prado,
because manager Fredi Gonzalez wanted to see how he did against
left-handed pitching before 3B Chipper Jones comes off the disabled
list, which could happen as soon as Tuesday. Francisco made three
errors.
ROSTER REPORT
-3B Chipper Jones
(arthroscopic left knee surgery in March 2012) went on the 15-day
disabled list retroactive to March 26. He could be activated on April
10.
-RHP Tim Hudson (back surgery in November 2011) went on the
15-day disabled list retroactive to April 3. He hopes to be ready to
return around May 1.
-RHP Arodys Vizcaino (Tommy John surgery in
March 2012) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26. He
is expected to miss the entire season.
-RHP Anthony Varvaro (right pectoral strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26.
-LHP Robert Fish (left elbow tendinitis) on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"We're not real pretty right now,
but we'll get it going." -- Manager Fredi Gonzalez, after the Braves
committed four errors Monday night.
