Opening Day Preview: Braves vs. Cubs

BRAVES' OPENING DAY LINEUP

1. Melky Cabrera, LF (76 PA, .286/.342/.357, 0 HR, 5 RBI)
2. Martin Prado, 2B (73 PA, .383/.479/.500, 2 HR, 9 RBI)
3. Chipper Jones, 3B (55 PA, .310/.418/.452, 1 HR, 10 RBI)
4. Brian McCann, C (52 PA, .500/.577/.929, 4 HR, 16 RBI)
5. Troy Glaus, 1B (63 PA, .385/.492/.481, 0 HR, 11 RBI)
6. Yunel Escobar, SS (57 PA, .283/.333/.453, 1 HR 9 RBI)
7. Jason Heyward, RF (71 PA, .305/.423/.424, 1 HR 5 RBI)
8. Nate McLouth, CF (61 PA, .118/.217/.196, 1 HR, 4 RBI)
9. Derek Lowe, P

The spring batting stats are beside each player. I think those prove how most of the lineup was constructed. Small sample sizes, are fun, aren't they? I'd like to show you the players' number against Carlos Zambrano, Chicago's opening starter, as well.

1. Melky Cabrera, LF (None)
2. Martin Prado, 2B (3 PA, 1-2)
3. Chipper Jones, 3B (29 PA, 6-23, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 4 BB, 1 SO)
4. Brian McCann, C (12 PA, 7-12, 2B, 4 RBI 3 SO)
5. Troy Glaus, 1B (11 PA, 3-10, 2B, 2 HR, 5 BB, 1 BB, 2 SO)
6. Yunel Escobar, SS (7 PA, 0-6, BB, 2 K)
7. Jason Heyward, RF (None)
8. Nate McLouth, CF (32 PA, 5-24, 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, 7 BB, 7 SO)
9. Derek Lowe, P

The sample sizes are, naturally, even smaller. Only Chipper Jones and Nate McLouth have really faced Zambrano. Chipper has been facing him since 2002 (and not at all last year) while McLouth has been in the same division as Carlos for most of his career. Yet, every broadcast of baseball today trots out these numbers like they mean something.

A batter's career numbers against a pitcher don't really mean anything simply because batters don't face particular pitchers all that often. If Escobar gets two hits against Zambrano tonight, does that mean that he has "figured him out" after facing him for just one game apiece in 2008 and 2009?

In any case, good luck tonight, Braves, and may you plump up your small sample size stats against Zambrano. :)