With Kent out, and Vizcaino now lost for 4-6 weeks, you think Biggio will be back at 2nd? Where is Jason Lane anyhow? He should be in the outfield.
Nope. From www.astros.com: The Astros are calling up infielder Eric Bruntlett from Triple-A New Orleans. Bruntlett played 28 games at second and 44 at shortstop for the Zephyrs, while hitting .265 with two home runs, 27 RBIs and 45 runs in 74 games. Bruntlett, a 2000 ninth-round pick out of Stanford, is expected to be in uniform in time for the game this afternoon at Arizona. Link I may be mistaken, but I believe they're hoping Kent will be ready by Friday.
Who should Lane replace? The Astros outfield has been pretty good. Hidalgo's over .300 and has been great at stifling other team's running games. Biggio has been solid in CF and has been hitting around .275. Berkman has been the Astros best hitter since late April. Lane was out for a while with an abdominal strain, but he is playing again. Biggio will not return to 2nd unless there is an emergency. The Astros are committed to him plaing CF. In addition, Kent is expected to return this weekend.
As much as I love Biggio, his defense in CF is average at best. The past 6 games I have seen about 5 balls go over his head. He seems to get a late break on the ball. There was one ball in the 6-7 loss that he just lost in the lights. Last night a ball just short of the deep CF wall and he jumps and misses it. I think they need Hunter back there. He has the speed to cover CF. Biggio has a good stick, but damn his defense is getting worse. I hope he adapts better as the season progresses.
Isn't it Lane > Biggio > Bruntlett ? Biggio is not playing well in CF lately. Why bring up a rookie when you have a veteran 2nd base guy? This is ridiculous.
Very simple, Kent is expected to be playing this weekend. Bruntlett will be the backup 2B and SS as Vizcaino was. Unless Kent and the Astros are lying, this is the same wrist problem Kent has had in the past and was not DL'ed. In addition, Lane has been hurt and has not played any CF since returning to the New Orleans lineup on June 17th.
RM95, We don't, but he is definitly younger and faster, and probably has as good a bat...but he is very ready for the Major Leagues. DD
Yes, he is definitely younger. Faster? Maybe, but if so only marginally. Lane is not a very good CF; he's a born & bred corner OF. Putting him in CF now, especially in the BUS half the time, is simply not an option.
Lane has to be a better interview, ya know, than Craig. Lane would most probably hit better than Biggio and from what I hear he is slightly better of an OF than Berkman but like Lance and Craig he has 1B...errr....LF arm. In a perfect world I would start him over Biggio but we don't live in a perfect world. Biggio is an icon and will play near every day until he hits like Ausmus.
Biggio has a rag arm, just slightly less then Luis Gonzales...Berks is average and Hidalgo....probably the best in the major leagues. I think it is time to rotate Lane in and spell our outfield a bit....Biggio is getting up there...and may be time for him to become a partime player. DD
Does anyone think it might be worth playing Biggio at shortstop? I'm not trying to knock Everette, just tossing it out as a suggestion.
Absolutely not. Everett's an amazing defensive fielder and has shown this month that he's not too bad at the plate either.
