Richard Hidalgo - MLB Comeback Player of the Year

[UTweezer]

It's nice to see Hidalgo doing so well. Batting .323, hit two 4-baggers tonight.

He seems to be finally back on track. With Bagwell and Biggio in fast decline mode, we need Hidalgo to become the man.

Berkman, Hidalgo, Ensberg, Lane, Buck, Dotel, Miller, Oswalt, Hernandez, Redding are the future.

[DaDakota]

I want to see Buck and Lane playing now..

GRRR

DD

[Stevierebel]

Me too.

Double GRRR. Atleast if Ausmus is not back next year, the Astros could have proof of having a catcher good enough to take his place.

[Groogrux]

Ausmus more than makes up for his offensive shortcomings with his glove. I'm pretty sure Buck isn't on his level yet, defensively (and he's not exactly tearing up AAA pitching, either).

As far as Lane, you do understand that Drayton's running a business, don't you? That would make the benching of Biggio nearly impossible due to the casual fan's response to it.

Plus, Biggio's having a decent year at the plate. Not sure if Lane would be that much of an improvement at this point there. He'll be here soon enough. Bringing him up won't make the difference in whether we go to the playoffs or not.

[tierre_brown]

We'll just have to see if Hidalgo can keep this up for 2 consecutive years next season. But I'm glad he came to play this year.

[Roc Paint]

Like I said in another thread. I believe something lit a fire under his ass. And lets just say, he now sees the light because of it.

[bobrek]

Originally posted by DaDakota
I want to see Buck and Lane playing now..

GRRR

DD

Buck broke his right hand. He was hitting around .265 with 2 home runs. He may be done for the season.

[Baqui99]

Hidalgo's hitting the ball really well right now. He's fixed that huge hole in his swing which caused him to get under just about everything last year - resulting in lots of shallow popups.

I don't really have a problem with Ausmus at the bottom of the order. He seems to work well with our pitching staff, and is a gold-glove catcher. Jeff Bagwell, however, has been worthless this year. He swings for the fences every time up there, and is having a very hard time driving in runs.

[spence99]

Yes, Hidalgo has been playing better this year. But he still isn't near where he was 3 years ago. His average is good, but he isn't hitting for nearly as much power or driving in runs. At the halfway point, he was on pace for 22HR's and 72RBI's for the year. Yes his average is good, but he needs to get those RBI's up. But hopefully he will. He drove in 3 last night with a couple of homers, so let's hope he keeps it up.

[Groogrux]

Baqui99, I'm in agreement about Bagwell, however, I think last night was the beginning to the end of his slump. He didn't break out in a hitting way, but he took two key walks that helped us to victory.

Just a gut feeling though.

[LAfadeaway33]

Originally posted by spence99
Yes, Hidalgo has been playing better this year. But he still isn't near where he was 3 years ago. His average is good, but he isn't hitting for nearly as much power or driving in runs. At the halfway point, he was on pace for 22HR's and 72RBI's for the year. Yes his average is good, but he needs to get those RBI's up. But hopefully he will. He drove in 3 last night with a couple of homers, so let's hope he keeps it up. He was hitting from the 4 spot for much of 2000 (or whatever year it was he played awesome ball) where as now he's hitting from the 6 spot.

[Lil Francis]

Originally posted by Stevierebel
Me too.

Double GRRR. Atleast if Ausmus is not back next year, the Astros could have proof of having a catcher good enough to take his place. It would be nice to have a catcher who could atleast hit 10 homers in a season. I can't remember the last time a catcher for the Astros hit double figures in homers.

[BigM]

Originally posted by Lil Francis
It would be nice to have a catcher who could atleast hit 10 homers in a season. I can't remember the last time a catcher for the Astros hit double figures in homers.


mitch melusky? i think he did but he was a headcase.

[Groogrux]

Originally posted by Lil Francis
It would be nice to have a catcher who could atleast hit 10 homers in a season. I can't remember the last time a catcher for the Astros hit double figures in homers.

Wouldn't be nicer than having a gold glove catcher, IMO.

[MadMax]

when my lineup has names like kent, bagwell, berkman and hidalgo (and recently, ensberg) i'm not really concerned about whether or not my catcher can hit the long ball.

of course, chicks dig the long ball.

[Bogey]

Although I was really impressed with Hernandez early on(who wouldn't be), I really think he is going to be injury plagued his whole career.

Is Ensberg considered a rookie this year, or did he play enough last year?

[bobrek]

Originally posted by Bogey
Although I was really impressed with Hernandez early on(who wouldn't be), I really think he is going to be injury plagued his whole career.

Is Ensberg considered a rookie this year, or did he play enough last year?

He played a bit too much last year.

[Kam]

Didn't somebody on the bbs predict Richard Hildago to be MLB comeback player of the year?

[Buck Turgidson]

Originally posted by spence99
His average is good, but he isn't hitting for nearly as much power or driving in runs...
You do realize he's missed about a dozen games due to injury, right? Also, the only player on the team with a higher SLG% or OB% is Morgan Ensberg.

I understand your point about him not being back to 2000 levels (not many players EVER have years like he did), but in no way, shape, or form can you criticize his production at the plate this year. Don't pay so much attention to raw numbers, they're way too dependent on things he has no control over.

[Lil Francis]

Originally posted by Rocketman95
Wouldn't be nicer than having a gold glove catcher, IMO. I would rather a catcher who had a decent glove and an outstanding bat like Posada. Aumus is batting 200 with 2 homers. Im sure our catcher in single A can do that. We have to upgrade that position next season.

[tierre_brown]

Posada doesn't have an outstanding bat. And with a young rotation like ours, it's better to have an experienced defensive catcher who can handle some of their mistakes.

[BigM]

as bad as ausmus is swinging right now, i wouldn't trade him straight up for another catcher. maybe pudge. his value to the pitchers as basically an on-field manager is that important. plus he's the best defensive catcher in baseball.

[Buck Turgidson]

Originally posted by Lil Francis
I would rather a catcher who had a decent glove and an outstanding bat like Posada. Aumus is batting 200 with 2 homers. Im sure our catcher in single A can do that. We have to upgrade that position next season.
Fantacrap.

[deepellumrocket]

Originally posted by Buck Turgidson
Fantacrap.

Fanta, Fanta, Don't you wanna?

[Drewdog]

Originally posted by UTweezer
Berkman, Hidalgo, Ensberg, Lane, Buck, Dotel, Miller, Oswalt, Hernandez, Redding are the future.

Keeping them all together on our team is an ENTIRELY different story.

Drayton should learn something from newbie Houstonian Patrick Ewing:

You make more.... so freaking spend more!!!

[Lil Francis]

Originally posted by tierre_brown
Posada doesn't have an outstanding bat. And with a young rotation like ours, it's better to have an experienced defensive catcher who can handle some of their mistakes. Its outstanding for a catcher. He can hit 25homers and drive in 90+ RBIs. Plus he is a switch hitter.

[Greg M]

Buck didn't hit all that well in AA, not terribly either. Many felt due to his age and lack of power he should have repeated AA at least to start the season. Instead he was promoted to New Orleans right out of spring, probably because Ausmus and Zaun will be free agents. Offensively he has struggled. It's a shame he broke his hand. He needs all of the ABs possible to work on his swing.

Lane on the other hand has nothing to learn in AAA. It's a shame Hunter is on the roster over him.

Oh and the organization views Hector Gimenez as the catcher of the future.