http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/sports/4472209.html Infielder Mike Lamb and the Houston Astros agreed Monday to a $2.7 million, one-year contract and picked up a $1 million raise. Lamb hit .307 with 12 home runs and 45 RBIs in 126 games last season, his third in Houston. The 31-year-old was acquired from the New York Yankees in March 2004, less than two months after the Yankees got him in a deal with Texas and planned to put him at third base. He became expendable when the Yankees traded for Alex Rodriguez, Lamb's teammate the previous three years with the Rangers. Lamb is a career .280 hitter with 57 homers and 273 RBIs in seven seasons. He can earn $300,000 in performance bonuses: $100,000 each for 500, 550 and 600 plate appearances.
good signing. I hope they don't let Ensberg have the leash of Lane this year. I'd much rather quickly hand the starting job to Lamb and allow him to prove he can keep up a 300 avg for the year.
Good deal. Without knowing if 2005 or 2006 Ensberg will be around, the combination of Lamb and Loretta makes for great insurance. I wonder if the Yanks wish they had him back? A-Rod puts up the huge numbers and all...along with the huge headache that seems to follow him everywhere. Especially since Lamb has been hitting well and doesn't play that much worse defensively than A-Rod. Then again, you can never predict how someone will play for the Yankees. It seems there is no greater pressure in baseball.
Dang it....couldn't they find an african American to play his position? SHEESH !!! Just kidding...good signing. DD
Only in NY can they turn one of the greatest baseball talents in this day and age, and the reigning MVP, into a percieved "head-case" because he didn't seem to come thru in the small sample of at bats of their playoffs (meanwhile, forgetting about how their pitchers got absolutely BOMBED, or how the other high priced players in their lineup faltered). If Bagwell/Biggio played in NY, and had similiar playoff performances as they did in Houston, they would have been traded for junk at a moment's notice. But, in Houston... they're allowed to finish their careers (rightly), and appreciated for what they brought to the game.
The 'they' in NYC is the competitive tabloid media and their permeation of the market. Everything is biggerbetterbadder in New York New York. If Yanks wanted to trade A-Rod for Lamb? Bye-bye Lamb. Yanks have actually morphed into a smart and well-run organization. More the shame.
Yep, corresponding with Cashman's increased control of the roster/payroll. Any bets on how long that will last?
Oh, I agree... its all a function of their awful media. And, I also agree that they've wised up... otherwise they likely would have traded A-rod this off-season out of panic.
I may have to become a Brian hatah since I'm such a Yankee hatah...but, seriously, what will Steinbrenner's 'kid' be like when he replaces the irreplacable (sic) Boss?
