http://www.yardbarker.com/rss/player/170 Recent articles about Matt Diaz en-us More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP Browse more photos » I think we can officially call the 2009 season of Atlanta Braves outfielder Matt Diaz a "breakout season." For all NL right-fielders with at least 100 plate appearances, Matt Diaz led the league in batting average and on-base percentage. He was behind six other players in slugging percentage in the NL, but he was behind only Adam LaRoche and David Ross i... Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:19:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Braves_2009_Season_in_Review_Matt_Diaz/1465036 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Braves_2009_Season_in_Review_Matt_Diaz/1465036 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Braves_2009_Season_in_Review_Matt_Diaz/1465036 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/3/83c3cfc6386f4a759173e9bf53a0666325572e50/small/PicImg_MLB_MAR_20_70bd.jpg Atlanta Braves outfielder Matt Diaz participated in a Q&A with fans on ESPN's Sports Nation. Here is a wrap of the more interesting questions and answers (some of which were asked by TC'ers). Here is a link to the entire chat. Q:  Are you rooting for the phillies or against them since they ar in your division? Matt Diaz:  It's hard to explain, but I really don't root during hte playoffs. I've invested so much emotions during the regular season, I don&... Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:27:26 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Matt_Diaz_Chat_Wrap/1410815 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Matt_Diaz_Chat_Wrap/1410815 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Matt_Diaz_Chat_Wrap/1410815 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/3/83c3cfc6386f4a759173e9bf53a0666325572e50/small/PicImg_MLB_MAR_20_70bd.jpg More photos » by Erik S. Lesser - AP Will the "hittin' fool," Matt Diaz, get a chance to break into the Atlanta Braves 2010 starting lineup? Browse more photos » With the off-season upon us it's time to look at the five most pressing issues facing the Atlanta Braves this off-season, and what some possible outcomes might be. This is the first of a five-part series of posts that will be on ... Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:36:52 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Top_5_Off_Season_Questions_for_the_Atlanta_Braves_1/1316766 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Top_5_Off_Season_Questions_for_the_Atlanta_Braves_1/1316766 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Top_5_Off_Season_Questions_for_the_Atlanta_Braves_1/1316766 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/3/83c3cfc6386f4a759173e9bf53a0666325572e50/small/PicImg_MLB_MAR_20_70bd.jpg More photos » by Gregory Smith - AP Atlanta Braves' Matt Diaz connects with a three-run home run against the Florida Marlins during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009, at Turner Field in Atlanta. Browse more photos » Hey, if over the last 18 games I told you this was only our third loss, you would probably be ecstatic. But this Braves team is at a point in their season where ev... Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:52:34 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Game_157_Recap_Marlins_5_Braves_4/1270567 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Game_157_Recap_Marlins_5_Braves_4/1270567 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Game_157_Recap_Marlins_5_Braves_4/1270567 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/3/83c3cfc6386f4a759173e9bf53a0666325572e50/small/PicImg_MLB_MAR_20_70bd.jpg After going 16-and-11 in July, the Braves improved to 17-and-11 in August. So far since the All-Star break the team is 26-and-18 (after last night's loss) -- that's not inspired baseball, but it's better than anything we've seen for the past two (maybe three) years. Hitting MVP:  The hottest bat in the entire National League is Matt Diaz, so he is surely our August hitting MVP. For the month, Diaz hit .404/.467/.681. He was second on the team with 6 homeruns and thir... Thu, 03 Sep 2009 07:58:18 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Atlanta_Braves_August_Aftermath_MVPs_and_LVPs/1103948 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Atlanta_Braves_August_Aftermath_MVPs_and_LVPs/1103948 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Atlanta_Braves_August_Aftermath_MVPs_and_LVPs/1103948 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/3/83c3cfc6386f4a759173e9bf53a0666325572e50/small/PicImg_MLB_MAR_20_70bd.jpg by Alan Diaz - AP View full size photo uploaded September 2, 2009 The rain delay for this game lasted as long as the game did, but I'm sure the 12 fans who were left in the stands by the time the game started at 10pm enjoyed the game. They were all no doubt there to see the return of the Braves' Tim Hudson to the mound -- and a successful return it was. Timmy worked his way into trouble in the first inning by allowing back-to-... Wed, 02 Sep 2009 07:57:48 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Game_132_Recap_Braves_4_Marlins_3/1097903 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Game_132_Recap_Braves_4_Marlins_3/1097903 by Gregory Smith - AP View full size photo uploaded September 1, 2009 Here is an interesting stat on that crazy hittin' fool, Matt Diaz:  ...he has the highest career batting average at .417 (55-for-132) of any player with at least 100 career at-bats vs. the Marlins and his .423 average (30-for-71) is the highest of any player with at least 75 plate appearances at Land Shark Stadium. Here is what Diaz is done in August: ... Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:11:50 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Open_Thread_91_Braves_at_Marlins/1095022 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Open_Thread_91_Braves_at_Marlins/1095022 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Open_Thread_91_Braves_at_Marlins/1095022 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/3/83c3cfc6386f4a759173e9bf53a0666325572e50/small/PicImg_MLB_MAR_20_70bd.jpg More photos » by Alan Diaz - AP Browse more photos » That's about how I expected this game to go. The Braves get no-hit through 5 and two-thirds, then we come back and get 3 two-out RBIs and take the lead for good. Pretty much a typical Braves win this year -- we look completely over matched offensively and then somehow wake up and play some baseball. Marlins starter Josh Johnson had complete command of the game th... Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:57:16 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Game_131_Recap_Braves_5_Marlins_1/1089973 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Game_131_Recap_Braves_5_Marlins_1/1089973 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Game_131_Recap_Braves_5_Marlins_1/1089973 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/3/83c3cfc6386f4a759173e9bf53a0666325572e50/small/PicImg_MLB_MAR_20_70bd.jpg More photos » by Nick Wass - AP Matt Diaz is 16 for his last 22 and has hit .392 with a 1.031 OPS against left handed pitching this year. Browse more photos » Derek Low will take the mound for Atlanta tonight and he's coming off of two less than stellar starts. His last time out he was relieved after allowing 3 runs in 5 innings, which was a major improvement over the game before where had allowed 8 ru... Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:00:11 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Open_Thread_829_Braves_Phillies/1079177 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Open_Thread_829_Braves_Phillies/1079177 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Open_Thread_829_Braves_Phillies/1079177 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/3/83c3cfc6386f4a759173e9bf53a0666325572e50/small/PicImg_MLB_MAR_20_70bd.jpg More photos » by Keith Birmingham - AP The Atlanta Braves' Matt Diaz is hitting leadoff tonight. Browse more photos » Let's see if Kenshin Kawakami can bring his A-game when he's not facing an opponents ace. Heck, let's just hope the Braves can score enough runs even if Kawa only has his B-game. Look who is hitting leadoff!!! Interesting. Lineup San Diego Padres @ Atlanta Braves 08... Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:18:33 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Open_Thread_826_Padres_at_Braves/1050300 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Open_Thread_826_Padres_at_Braves/1050300 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Open_Thread_826_Padres_at_Braves/1050300 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/3/83c3cfc6386f4a759173e9bf53a0666325572e50/small/PicImg_MLB_MAR_20_70bd.jpg The Atlanta Braves came back in the 8th inning to score two runs, beating the Florida Marlins 7-5 and winning the three game series 2 to 1. Since losing a series to the Philadelphia Phillies, the Braves have won every series  since then. Tonight’s hero was Matt Diaz, who hit a triple and four hits, and [...] Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:53:54 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Atlanta_Braves_Beat_Florida_Marlins_7_5/1033068 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Atlanta_Braves_Beat_Florida_Marlins_7_5/1033068 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Atlanta_Braves_Beat_Florida_Marlins_7_5/1033068 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/3/83c3cfc6386f4a759173e9bf53a0666325572e50/small/PicImg_MLB_MAR_20_70bd.jpg More photos » by Gregory Smith - AP Browse more photos » Yesterday, when I was on my way out of Turner Field, I walked past this plastered drunk college guy, stumbling by, absolutely annihilated.  This is not an uncommon occurrence at the Ted, but it was this guy's shirt that caught my attention; in the most non-descript lettering, on a plain red shirt were the words: "matt diaz ** rules" Now t... Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:28:37 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Game_116_Recap_Braves_4_Phillies_3/992738 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Game_116_Recap_Braves_4_Phillies_3/992738 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Game_116_Recap_Braves_4_Phillies_3/992738 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/3/83c3cfc6386f4a759173e9bf53a0666325572e50/small/PicImg_MLB_MAR_20_70bd.jpg More photos » by Keith Birmingham - AP Atlanta Braves' Matt Diaz shakes hands with third base coach Adam LaRoche (22) after hitting a solo homerun against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a baseball game on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009, in Los Angeles, Calif. Browse more photos » You had to have a good feeling about winning the series and ending the west coast road trip on a positive note with Ja... Sun, 09 Aug 2009 19:08:32 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Game_112_Recap_Braves_8_Dodgers_2/959552 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Game_112_Recap_Braves_8_Dodgers_2/959552 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Game_112_Recap_Braves_8_Dodgers_2/959552 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/3/83c3cfc6386f4a759173e9bf53a0666325572e50/small/PicImg_MLB_MAR_20_70bd.jpg