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Here's a good article about Nate from Scout.com:
Perhaps no Pirates player is more excited about the start of spring training than Nate McLouth.
McLouth will have a chance to compete for the starting center field/leadoff job with rookie Braves.scout.com/a.z?s=248&p=8&c=1&nid=3589555">Nyjer Morgan and Chris Duffy, who figures to be no more of a dark horse in this derby as he is recovering from shoulder surgery performed last August.
While manager John Russell isn't handicapping the competition, it would seem McLouth rates as the morning-line favorite. He is coming off a solid 2007, his second full season in the major leagues, as he hit .258 with 13 home runs, a team-high 22 stolen bases in 23 attempts and a solid .351 on-base percentage in 137 games and 382 plate appearances.
"I feel like I'm ready to play every day in the major leagues," McLouth said. "Certainly, I'm not the most objective person in the world about the subject, but I felt I proved to myself last season that I can be a regular. I felt that when I got the chance to play regularly that I was consistent on a day-in and day-out basis."
McLouth was a bench player two years ago and for the first half of last season until Duffy sprained his ankle in late June and went on the disabled list. McLouth got the opportunity to play regularly in July and August before Morgan got a September call-up and hit .299 with seven steals and a .359 on-base percentage in 28 games.
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