They're gonna have nights like this, but for the most part the offense has gotten the job done this season. It's been far better than last season at this point. Not to mention the team's 6-game losing streak was largely due to poor performances from our starters.
They've struggled against sinker-ball pitchers all year... but the offense is still far better/consistent than it was last year. If they're still going to make moves, they need to get a lefty-specialist, and another veteran starter (in case one of the youngins hits a rough patch). There's not many offensive players available that are better overall baseball players than the ones we already got (Everett's defense warrants everyday play, and Lane/Wilson will be about average for your 5th-6th guys by the end of the year).
I understand that a team can't every night, but I still think that our lineup has too many all-or-nothing hitters. Assuming you can't (or won't) trade for a true star who can hit for average and power, I think that Lane needs to be benched for Burke. Burke is a rally starter, Lane is a rally killer. Ensberg-Wilson-Lane as your 4-5-6? Not nearly consistent enough.
I agree, Lane has a lot of power but he is absolutely horrible with RISP. I still think Luke Scott could be a good player and Charlton Jimerson continues to make major strides this year. If Lane doesn't show signs of improvement, Burke and Lamb need to replace him with a platoon.
On Lane, the guy has 8 HRs, but only 16 RBIs. Let's say he hits 30 HRs this year, but only has 60 RBIs. Is that enough from a RF on a contending team? Probably not. I think you'd like your RF to get 80 RBIs at least.
They're not of course. I was just saying that, what if he (roughly) stays on that 2:1 ratio? I'm just trying to say that, while Lane might hit a lot of HRs this year, that doesn't necessarily make him an adequate RF on a contending team. Good power doesn't necessarily translate into adequate production.
Well, the fact that he has a guy with a horrible OBP hitting directly in front of him may have something to do with that as well. Look... its no big mystery that the Astros offense will only go as far as Lance and Morgan (and to some extent Biggio and Ausmus) take them. When Lance AND Morgan both hit well, the team is on fire. When only one of them is hitting (usually Lance), somebody else on the team has to step up. The key to the offensive rennasiance this year has been Ausmus... that sort of production out of the 7th spot in the lineup is quite a luxury to have. In the end, with the pitching this team is capable of(but not yet really shown), if they continue to hit at the current pace, they'll be more than ok... they'll be in first place.
You'd like to think he could get that high this year, but he's looked awful so far. The league has a way of figuring guys out.
The movement Cook had on his pitches was pretty nasty. That, with the wide zone that the ump was giving, is going to lead to a bad offensive game for the Astros.
Is there really a discussion going on regarding Lane's offensive production, with RBI's as the measure of choice? Good to know that we are evaluating players using statistics that are largely irrelevant. There is nothing for Purpura to change in the offense. He's comitted to Lane, he's comitted to Wilson by signing him IMO. Ideally, he could find a lefty power bat to stick at first base or in the outfield, but I doubt that will happen. What I can see happening, is if Lane and Wilson continue their struggles, we could see Lamb at 1B, or Burke in LF, or both. I think this team is a playoff team, everybody needs to chill out. Roger will come back, Backe will come back, thus adding depth to the pen. The main problem I see with alot of our (right handed)hitters is an inability to protect the outer half of the plate against right handed pitchers.
WOW! Now this is the Andy we've been waiting for this season. Astros FIRST complete game shutout of the season. On a 3 hitter. WHOOOOOP!!!!!
I was suprised at the amount of "concern" for Andy... frankly, he's the ONE Astro pitcher (including Roy) that I would never worry about, unless he was hurt. The guy just knows how to pitch.
