Yankees and Red Sox = Dump Trucks Astros = Nissan Pickup It's nice to think we may have a chance at signing him, but the reality is he will probably get a contract worth atleast 30 million more then the Astros offer him from the Yankees or BoSox.
Beltran is single handedly keeping the Astros in the game. He seems to be the only Astro hitting. What's up with Raul Chavez?
When you consider everything Beltran brings to the table, speed, defense, and a little power, its hard to argue against him.
Beltran is batting .282 compared to Berkman's .315 Beltran has an on base percentage of .371 compared to Berkman's .469 Beltran has an OPS .901 compared to Berkman's 1.074 Beltran is barring .323 with runners in scoring position (not counting his games as an astro) and Berkman is batting .375 Beltran has 38 walks and 44 Strike outs compared to Berkman's 66 walks against 46 strike outs. Beltran is slugging .531 against Berkman's .605 Beltran is clearly the better baserunner when it comes to stolen bases and speed, and also the better defender. Berkman isn't as good, but his defense is underrated. I don't think it's that hard to argue against Beltran being the best player on the team right now. I'm not saying Beltran is not the best player, but it would be pretty easy to make a case that Berkman was better or as good as Beltran.
Beltran is already making his mark here in Houston. That was one hell of a catch he made today to rob the Rangers of a HR. That was just sweet! What made it even sweeter was when the Ranger's anouncers Screamed "AND HE DIDN'T GET IT! IT's GONE!", and then they had to eat the crow after beltran stood back up with the ball in his glove. He also scored our only run today IIRC. It's nice to have him on the team. NOw all we need is a 7 game winning streak to bring us back into the mix. Let's go Stros!!! We have won 6 of 10 games since I have started watching again. Gotta keep this up! Go Stros!
It will most likely be on the ESPN and MLB site later today. It was the play of the day today on BaseBall tonight. Let's go Stros! It was a tremendous catch.
Thats one of the greatest catches I have ever seen an Astro make in the outfield. I can't remember the last time an Astro robbed someone of a homer.
great catch and great pitching from Roy today... but the lack of hitting is REALLY starting to become problematic. It doesn't help when I'm watching Hidalgo swing the bat with authority (like he's been instructed to by Don Baylor... a great coach... hmmm), and hitting 450+ft homeruns off Mike Mussina to dead center in Yankee Stadium. This team needs to start slugging the ball... they've been a single-hitting team almost all year.
Yeah, I can't recall ever seeing a catach like that being made by an Astro. I am happy we finally have an awesome outfeilder this season. (Not Sayign Bigg and Berkman aren't great.) There was also a nice catch made at the end of the game for the final out by Biggio. He robbed the guy of extra bases. I have to agree with ya Nick, the offense is really starting to get scary, in the bad way. I mean, come on. Sure we won today, but you can't expect our pitchers to shut every team out. Scoring one run was pathetic. Because of the fact that we scored 7 runs yesterday, the game seemed to be that much more entertaining. I mean, I was yellign so loud and jumping up and down everytime we scored etc. I was just heart broken when we lost it. Our guys really need to get their act together, the pitching has been fine, our hitting has been MIA. Damn I hate this keyboard, I wish my internet would start workign on my pc again. Well, I am just glad we didn't fall 8 games below the Cardinals who killed KC today.
Cards are playing over their heads right now. They are a well balanced team. Going to be tough to beat them at this pace.
I dunno... but he just hit ANOTHER MAMMOTH BLAST off Mussina. Just looking at his eyes, his focus, the way he's fouling off borderline pitches... arrgh... how frustrated the Astros front-office must be right now. Sad thing is, I could see Ensberg, Lane, and any other astro having a similiar slump going to another team and allofasudden turning it on. What is it about the Houston clubhouse that makes them all more succeptible to these slumps... is it the laid back media, the laid back clubhouse, the "bandwagoning" fans (who don't really get on you that much if you lose), the inept hitting coach (ding ding).... what is it?!?
Im starting to jump on the new hitting coach bandwagon. Its not really an insult to Spillman. Sometimes change is good and it takes a different approach to get your hitters going. Lets get a new pitching coach while we are at it. The struggles of Miller is the biggest red flag IMO. Why is this guy, who was not known as a high BB pitcher, all of the sudden one of the wildest guys in the league??? Something is up with his mechancs obviously, and our pitching coach needs to figure it out pretty darn quick.
Well, I'm pretty sure the entire staff will be dismissed quite quickly if this season doesn't gets turned around... Its funny that Spillman and Hooten were called up in 2000 to replace McGraw and Ruhle (when the Astros were having that diastrous year), and somehow survived the transition to Jimy Williams as well. Nobody would even consider these as horrible reactionary moves if they occured... they've had a good 4 year run, where they've a.) not really made any players better, and b.) seen former players go on to become much more confident and consistent in their craft (Ward, Hidalgo, Lugo... even Everett had to get personal schooling from Gaetti to become serviceable). As far as Wade is concerned, he's just now confirming the greatest fear that everybody in this organization has always had about him... his mechanics will be his undoing. Every pitcher gets more and more wear on their shoulder as the years go on, but its good mechanics that keep their velocity and control spot on... if you don't have the mechanics in place, your arm will eventually break from the strain. I don't believe Wade is seriously hurt at all... but if he were to be, it would not be a fluke of nature... its totally based on his awful mechanics.
Nick, re: Miller's mechanics What specifically are you seeing?? Miller's stride and arm motions have always been freaky to me. Seems so effortless, yet, hes always up in the 90s on his good days. Makes you wonder how fast he would be if he took a fulls stride.
Defnitely... He's never really "thrown" the ball. He's always sort of short-armed it and kinda "shot-putted" it from his elbow and forearm, which makes it all the more remarkable that he's able to throw a hard curveball, let alone a mid-90's fastball. I always read about how he'd have serious arm and shoulder problems when he first came into the majors, but those reports died down as long as he was having success. Now, I just fear that it may be too late to ever get his mechanics turned around, and the Astros just have to pray that he'll be able to somehow magically find his control again, or else we'll be seeing a plethora of games like his last one. Its kinda like the guy who can learn how to play darts blindfolded and with one arm tied behind his back... he can still be good, but if something is slightly off, he'll be terribly inconsistent. With Miller, there are so many factors that go into his windup and motion... if any of them are off, he's immediately gonna struggle with his velocity and control. Then again... the unorthodox worked for Bagwell, so we'll see. Man... the Yankees hitting is damn good.
Wade's inconsistancy is why I am a big proponent for trading him. If the Astros could get a nice position prospect or a big power pitching prospect (the latter may be unlikely) for him, I would be overwhelmed.
