I don't think Huff is a bad player, but he's hitting .240. Neither he nor Ensberg is exactly having a stellar season. At least Ensberg has been a member of the team for several seasons and has a high ceiling, as seen last year when he was one of the keys to our first-ever World Series. Since he's already under contract and since Huff isn't a significant improvement over Ensberg (based on this season's production), I'd let Huff go and spend my free agency dollars elsewhere.
Wish there weren't so many questin marks on this team heading into the postseason. Will Pettite resign? If Pettite comes back, will Roger give it a go for one more? With Backe gone, who replaces him? Hirsch has himself a spot most likely, but who do you trust more: Sampson, Albers, Buchholz, Wandy? Will Lidge ever be able to get back to form? Does Nieve warrant getting more late-inning action? Sign Huff or keep Ensberg? Is it wise to keep both? Does Ensberg bounce back? Is he in fact too weak mentally? What about Lane? His value has sunk so low he's probably worth next to nill but he really has no place on this team anymore. What about Lamb? His glove is really what hurts him, so should he be the utility off the bench (instead of Palmeiro)? Does the team have a suitable replacement for Ausmus in the farm system or should they shop outside the organization for help. Should Ausmus move to the backup catcher/bench coach role next season? Should the club resign Biggio? That of course is a yes, but how much time should he get in relation to Burke? Is Luke Scott once answer to the outfield or is he just another Lane or Ensberg (I think no..but who knows) About the only definites right now are Berkman and Oswalt...and to a lesser extent Everett, Willy T and Bidge. Oh yeah, and that Bagwell will retire.
Well, in support of Huff, he did come over from the AL, so he does have to get familiar with NL pitching. Seems hitters generally have a rough transition between leagues than pitchers...at least from the AL to the NL.
I hate day games, because I always have to miss them. I wish I could have been there for Roger's potential last start. When he signed with AStros three seasons ago, i never in wildest dreams thought that he would be as dominating as he was. Think about it, when Clemens signed how many of you really thought that he would win the cy-young, then come back with an even better season (he should one last year if it werent for the offense) and come back this year again and prove that he is still one of the top pitchers in game. For me, the time Clemens was here was magical, I always remember it, I will tell my children about it, and I for one am damn glad I got to see a living legend pitch. Roger, if this is it, THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!!
Agreed. Rocket has truly been amazing. Exceeding all expectations any of us would've ever dreamed. My only regret is what happens if Rocket doesnt get injured in game 1 of last years WS? White Sux overall were better than us but not "sweep" better. Oh well. Thanks Roger for everything. It was one helluva ride.
You know what I am going to do? I am going to stop looking at numbers, thinking about next season and just sit back and enjoy the rest of the season. The part of me that is just simply a baseball fan wants to just relax, accept what can't be changed and worry about changing things a little before Spring training starts. I'm going to chill.
I know that this is probably not the the right thread for this, but thinking back about Roger's tenure here, hatemavsforlife brought up a good point. What if roger had not gotten hurt last year in the Series? The question I always ponder is that if Pettitte was not hurt in 04, I think the Astros would have won the World Series. As constructed, the 04 Astros were the best baseball team (better than 98) this city has had. Just imagine, Pettite starting those playoff games instead of Munro.
Remember the beginning of the year when Everett and Ausmus were hitting .290 - .300 and we had the best record. I was so amazingly excited.
Yup, I remember telling my wife before the season started was all I wanted was for the Astros to get off to a fast start for a change. Well I got my wish, and that was all I got.
I wouldn't say we wouldn't have down-right won the World Series, but at least we wouldn't have bended over like St. Louis did. Still, them's the breaks. Just like if Nolan Ryan didn't collapse in game 5 in 1980 or if we won that 16 inning game in 1986 and had Mike Scott pitching Game 7...
hmmmm..i don't know. i think that 98 team was the best team in astros history. i think that's the best team i've ever seen. the way they were playing down the stretch of that season...they were sick. i think that's the best i've seen. in my opinion, of course.
Yep, not even that close. Yesterday's game was great. Never seen 27ish thousand people make that much noise. Nice standing-o & curtain call for Roger.
No kidding. 3 legit MVP candidates - Biggio/Bags/Alou, D.Bell with a *great* year, Carl Everett, Spiers/Berry combining for .290/17 HR/90+ RBI at 3rd.... Their rotation and bullpen were seriously good too. Just a sick team.
I could have sworn they said it would be open when I was driving in. I am thankful I kept myself contained with just one beer instead of 1 every inning, lol.
And yet somehow Unit lost twice in the playoffs, once to Sterling Hitchcock. Bags and Biggio (and Alou and Bell and Everett) did nothing in the playoffs (again), Wags blew a save, and King Leyritz was all the offense the Pads needed.
