Blum and Ensberg gotta be in that lineup!!!

[Jauquinsux]

I know that Geoff Blum extended his hitting streak to 16 games today and Morgan Ensberg is the teams co-leader in homeruns. I was shocked to see that Ensberg wasnt in the line up tonight. He just had 3 days off!! Blum is our utility infielder...Play him at SS (Even though Everett's bat is coming around.) If the astros make the playoffs it'll be interesting to see Jimy's Line up card...the bat of Blum or the glove of Everett. Thats all I got.

[JPM0016]

how about no. Adam Everett is a better shortstop. There is a thread that was talking about this. Everyone knows Jimy Williams, Geoff Blum will still get plenty of playing time.

[JayZ750]

Defense is severly underrated. The Astros, generally, have been a pretty good defensive team this year, and, imo, that helps win games. For that reason, Everett needs to be in there. Blum should be playing, though, but as a somewhat regular utility man - I don't see why he can't sub in at nearly any position on the field (other than pitcher, catcher and maybe center)??

[Puedlfor]

Blum's bat isn't good enough that we stretch the limits of his defensive abilities to stick him in the lineup, regardless of cost. Everett is no great maestro with the stick, but (Everett's D - Blum's D) >>> (Blum's O - Everett's O)

[MadMax]

preventing/saving runs from scoring for the other team is equally important as scoring runs for your team.

[ima_drummer2k]

Originally posted by MadMax
preventing/saving runs from scoring for the other team is equally important as scoring runs for your team.
If not more important.

[Buck Turgidson]

For the love of all that is good and holy, can we stop this insanity, or at least post it in the fantasy forum where it belongs.

[Mr. Clutch]

Originally posted by Puedlfor
Blum's bat isn't good enough that we stretch the limits of his defensive abilities to stick him in the lineup, regardless of cost. Everett is no great maestro with the stick, but (Everett's D - Blum's D) >>> (Blum's O - Everett's O)


Yeah, but it was Ensberg on the bench last night.
Ensberg's O >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Everett's O

I think Everett and Blum should platoon SS, with Everett getting most of the playing time. Blum should play when resting Lance, Hidalgo, and Kent.

There's no way Ensberg should ever be on the bench!

[MadMax]

Originally posted by Mr. Clutch
Yeah, but it was Ensberg on the bench last night.
Ensberg's O >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Everett's O

I think Everett and Blum should platoon SS, with Everett getting most of the playing time. Blum should play when resting Lance, Hidalgo, and Kent.

There's no way Ensberg should ever be on the bench!

blum should be on the bench...as a utility guy and pinch hitter. but i wouldn't remove a legitimate everyday SS, something few teams really have (and the astros have RARELY had in their history), for a guy like Geoff Blum.

[bobrek]

There is not a single manager in the entire major leagues who would regularly platoon Blum and Everett. It's not going to happen. If Everett went down for the season, Blum would not be the everyday replacement.

Where were all of the folks who think Blum should platoon with Everett 2 weeks ago? Blum is currently on a nice hitting streak. That doesn't justify him splitting time with the Astros best defensive infielder.

[Puedlfor]

Yeah, but it was Ensberg on the bench last night.
Ensberg's O >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Everett's O



I know, but I can't control our whack-job of a manager. Engsberg should be ann everyday player, because he's mashing it.

But Blum isn't a great hitter, and there's no reason to try and jimy him into a lineup spot for the sake of his anemic bat.

Blum's a solid utility player off the bench - good for pinch hitting and relieving the corner infielders and outfielders and giving them a rest day now and again. But he shouldn't be getting any kind of platooning action, and he shouldn't be starting anywhere.

[RIET]

Originally posted by Puedlfor
I know, but I can't control our whack-job of a manager. Engsberg should be ann everyday player, because he's mashing it.

But Blum isn't a great hitter, and there's no reason to try and jimy him into a lineup spot for the sake of his anemic bat.

Blum's a solid utility player off the bench - good for pinch hitting and relieving the corner infielders and outfielders and giving them a rest day now and again. But he shouldn't be getting any kind of platooning action, and he shouldn't be starting anywhere.


In Jimy Williams defense, Blum has been on fire. He played a hunch and it paid off.

I think Blum is starting for Kent tonight.

[JPM0016]

normally an injured player returns they will

play 1 game
take a day off

play 2 games
take a day off

play 3 games
take a day off

then after that they are ready to go

Richard Hidalgo followed this pattern earlier in the year

[bobrek]

Originally posted by JPM0016
normally an injured player returns they will

play 1 game
take a day off

play 2 games
take a day off

play 3 games
take a day off

then after that they are ready to go

Richard Hidalgo followed this pattern earlier in the year
Not true about Hidalgo. After coming off the disabled list he played a game, sat a game and then played 9 games (all starts) before sitting out again.

[codell]

Ensberg on the bench 2 days in a row. Hmmmmmmm.

[DVauthrin]

Supposedly there are rumors of an Ensberg for Kris Benson deal in the works.

I like Benson a lot, but the pirates won't get that much for him. They'll settle for less.

[JPM0016]

i don't buy any Kris Benson for Ensberg deals. It doesn't make sense for the astros really. Their pitching is a lot better and you don't trade a guy making the league minimum who has 17 home runs and a 300 batting average.

my bad Bobrek, i remember hearing Bill Brown talk about Hidalgo returning to the lineup and he said that Jimy was going to follow that pattern but apparently he didn't need to follow it.

[bobrek]

Originally posted by JPM0016


my bad Bobrek, i remember hearing Bill Brown talk about Hidalgo returning to the lineup and he said that Jimy was going to follow that pattern but apparently he didn't need to follow it.

No problem. I had also heard that they were going to sit Kent tonight, but apparently that planned changed. It's hard to sit a veteran once they feel healthy.

[bobrek]

Originally posted by codell
Ensberg on the bench 2 days in a row. Hmmmmmmm.

I suspect he'll be back in the lineup now that Blum's hitting streak is over. It was perplexing why they brought Hunter up to pinch hit Thursday night instead of Ensberg.

[haven]

...and Blum sucks even w/the hitting streak. He doesn't walk, doesn't hit for power, and I can't tell that he's much better than Ensberg w/the glove.

What on earth does Jimy Williams see in him? Ensberg is having a much better season, yet the preference goes to the old guy who's been mediocre his entire year. It isn't just that Ensberg has played better - he's been an entirely different kind of player. If he had the at-bats, Ensberg's a probable all-star. Blum has been below average over the season.

It's frustrating :(.

[Bassfly]

but with everett getting hit by a pitch and having a bruised hand, i would expect to see blum starting at ss this afternoon.

[NIKEstrad]

Originally posted by haven
...and Blum sucks even w/the hitting streak. He doesn't walk, doesn't hit for power, and I can't tell that he's much better than Ensberg w/the glove.

I think Blum has the better glove...and a cannon arm to boot. Not to say Ensberg is bad defensively, but I think Blum is a plus defensive player and Ensberg is more on the adequate side.

The only question with Ensberg is, where do you hit him? I'd prefer him down in the batting order in a run producing slot, but who else could hit 2nd? If Hidalgo wasn't red hot, I'd consider moving him (high OBP), and if Everett ups his BA a bit, he becomes a prototypical #2. Too bad Auto-Out Ausmus can't hit the ball.

I think Brad Ausmus' BA is now higher than Adam Dunn's...I don't understand how a hitter like Dunn can be teetering at .200.

Props to Jimy last night for actually saving one of the big 3. Now Dotel can pitch today on a day of rest, rather than perhaps having all 3 of them go 3 consecutive days.

[bobrek]

Originally posted by Bassfly
but with everett getting hit by a pitch and having a bruised hand, i would expect to see blum starting at ss this afternoon.

If Everett is unable to play, you will see Bruntlett playing SS.

[Groogrux]

Originally posted by DVauthrin
Supposedly there are rumors of an Ensberg for Kris Benson deal in the works.

I like Benson a lot, but the pirates won't get that much for him. They'll settle for less.

Ya think? Hunsicker's not an idiot, this trade will never go down.

[bobrek]

Originally posted by Rocketman95
Ya think? Hunsicker's not an idiot, this trade will never go down.

Especially conisdering the Pirates third baseman (Ramirez) is a decent player and is a year or so younger than Ensberg. Ensberg is also cheap and will continue to be cheap for a couple more years. Benson is currently making over 4 million a year.

I don't know who would start that rumor.

[Puedlfor]

Probably the same person who started the Ramirez/Lofton to Chicago for Kelton and Cruz trade rumor.

And I would imagine the Pirates would like to move Ramirez off of third base eventually, because he's an atrocious fielder.

[Mr. Clutch]

Another homerun for Ensberg- 18 now.

This is getting ridiculous. There is no way this guy should be platooning with Geoff Blum of all people. Maybe if we had Troy Glaus or Scott Rolen we should platoon Ensberg. So what if Geoff provides marginally more defense? It's not as important ss or right field.

Yeah, I do think it's dumb to put Blum at SS, but it's also dumb to not put a prime time hitter like Ensberg in there. Just platoon Blum all over the field.

Side note- Bruntlett looks a little shaky at ss.

[Dirt]

haven,
You really think Ensberg would've/deserved to make the All Star team over Rolen+Lowell?

[Puedlfor]

Originally posted by Dirt
haven,
You really think Ensberg would've/deserved to make the All Star team over Rolen+Lowell?

Look at the numbers he put up. They were some of the best for any hitters regardless of position in the National League. He should certainly have been in the discussion with Rolen and Lowell.

And he certainly deserved it over Boone.

[Dirt]

I did look at his #'s and even with his missed games [Rolen has missed some games as well],I doubt his #'s would be as good as Rolens or Lowells.I did forget about Boone making the All Star team though.

[bobrek]

Originally posted by Puedlfor
Look at the numbers he put up. They were some of the best for any hitters regardless of position in the National League. He should certainly have been in the discussion with Rolen and Lowell.

And he certainly deserved it over Boone.

Unfortunately Boone was the Reds lone representative. A bunch of players deserved it over Boone.

[Puedlfor]

Surprised that wasn't Dunn then - I knew there was a story behind that.

re : Lowell and Rolen - Lowell has all of those homers, and Rolen has his sparkling defense - but Engsberg gets on base at a superior clip to them both, and slugs it better than both.

[haven]

dirt:

Yeah, it's not even close to be honest.

Lowell as an OPS of .937. Rolen's is .930.

Ensberg's is a whopping 1.038. While I suspect that his #'s might not be quite so high with a larger sample size, that's still spectacular. And I doubt it would be that much lower if he'd gotten some extra playing time.

While I doubt it will continue indefinitely, Ensberg's currently batting like a Hall of Fame 3rd Basman. MVP #'s.

I don't see why he's not being given a fair shake. Over 200 at-bats, he's put up some of the best #'s in the league. And he's being made to platoon with a career bench-warmer.

It's craziness.