Shannon Stewart has only played 1 game in CF in the past 4 years. Also, they would have probably had to trade Lane and a prospect to get him for probably just one year.
if they could they should trade hidalgo in the off-season to yankees, sign carlos beltran w/ the money they would be giving hidalgo, and put lane in right field w/ biggio becoming the 4th outfield, top pinch hitter, and back-up 2nd basemen.
well...his bat isn't nearly as anemic as one Brad Ausmus' having said that...no way he moves back behind the plate. he hasn't played that position for about 13 years.
While you don't lose on offense with replacing Brad, every walk and single would become a triple. JK would have to put up a toll booth at 2nd. Agreed on Beltran. He would be a very nice addition in CF. Move him to leadoff with nearly 40% OBS, 30+ SBs, 20+ HRs and has cut down on the K's.
As far as the position. I don't think it would be hard to become a catcher again. I don't know about his arm tho'. But I think the instincts on how to be a catcher and the muscles of a catcher would be back in one summer. We will never see it happen. But it sure would be interesting and all the planets have aligned for it to happen.
if Hidalgo is traded the Astros aren't signing Carlos Beltran. Drayton will take that money and use it for the raises Berkman, Oswalt, Miller, and Dotel will get next year.
All I'm sayin' is that if you re-sign someone for the purpose of playing them, and staying classy, keeping a fan fave... then be even more classy and live up to your organizations word. We by no means will be ultimately hurt by remaining true to our word. No, I do mind if we lose. It's not okay. Biggio is still the king of the "two out rally" if you ask me.
Unfortunately, not even the Yankees will be willing to trade for Hidalgo. Biggio's contract reduces after this season and that money could go to Berkman. Oswalt and Miller have one year contracts. Negotiations with them should be interesting since neither have been great. Will Drayton pay big money for a setup guy....Dot or Wags will have to go. Lidge becomes the setup man.
Oswalt and Miller will go to arbitration and make a lot more money. I'm sure they get a minimum of 3 million bucks a piece
Why not? Hidalgo has arguably the best OF arm in the NL and is having a fine offensive season. The Yankees could certainly afford to take on his salary and they have a problem in RF (Karim Garcia, Ruben Sierra, David Dellucci, Juan Rivera).
Biggio may not be the leadoff man that he once was, but the fact is he is one of the leaders in the dugout. He's a veteran who has stayed with Houston his whole career. People respect him. Plus, as bad as he's been doing, he's always a threat to steal a base or hit a 2-run HR into the Crawford boxes (like tonight against the Scrubbies!). He brings to the team heart and hustle and motivation. I can't imagine not seeing his dirtied up batting helmet out there.
the question is: bench biggio but who are you going to replace him with? merced? lane? i don't think so.
Lane would be a better choice if you ask me...put him in left and move Berkman to center....or play Lane in center. More speed better arm, more power and can lay off the outside slider..... Biggio's time has passed. DD
To me, in a game where playoff participation is never a given and playoff success is extremely rare, there's something to be said for loyalty. I have no problem with them continuing to play Biggio has I feel that his performance in the field and at the plate has not sunk to the level where you throw his past contributions and loyalty out the window. I think other players notice this and it's a positive clubhouse influence. I believe that benching him at this point would not only be a publicity blunder, but also a possible clubhouse one as well. Now, I would be in favor of possibly moving him out of the top spot in the lineup, even though I'm not sure who we'd put there.
