Moises Alou is underappreciated in Houston...and it is a shame

IF Alou could return to the Alou of a few years ago, I would agree. He's an outstanding batter.

BUT, with the injuries he's had over the past two, going on three seasons, he's really not worth it. It's not his fault -- but he's struggled. Yes, he can still bat, and he can make it around the bases. He can't play on a consistent basishaving missed a lot of games. When he does play he can't turn, bend, or dive quickly to make a play. I've seen him give up a lot of hits & bases because he couldn't get to the ball quickly. It's been better since they moved him to RF, but...

As far as pay for value, this year he is making $5.25 million -- making him the 5th highest paid player on the team, behind Biggio, Bagwell, Reynolds, and Lima. Excluding 4-6 (Wagner, Ausmus, Hidalgo) he makes more than any two of the remaining players combined.

For that money this year, the Astros have gotten exactly one game, one at bat, resulting in one out. Last season he barely made 126 games, and put up great batting numbers, with horrible defense and baserunning.

If he can play, he can be awesome. If he can't, we're better off with our outfielders that can hit, and field, and have the potential to hit in the clutch.

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Stay Cool...

[This message has been edited by dc sports (edited April 19, 2001).]

 

Currently he is cheap for his production, but as dc sports correctly pointed out, he is prone to injury. Expanding on that a bit, in the last 2 seasons plus 14 games, he has played in 127 out of a possible 338 games. Using those numbers, he is no longer cheap. I think Alou is a great hitter when healthy, but he is a mediocre (at best) defensive outfielder. The lone opportunity he has had to be a "clutch" performer for the Astros (i.e. come up big in the postseason) he failed along with the rest of the hitters. Who can also forget the missed flyball in the deciding game against the Padres with Johnson on the mound. It is hard for the Astros to risk the big bucks on a player who has been physically able to perform in less than 50% of their games the past 2 years.

All that being said, if he gets and stays healthy this year, I would be inclined to offer him a decent contract but certainly nothing of the magnitude of Biggio's or Bagwell's. Depending on where the Astros are positioned this summer will determine if Alou gets traded or not.

By the way, check the New Orleans box scores, Ginter is playing the outfield.

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While Alou had one of the greatest seasons in Astros history last year, he's only been a healthy Astro for very little time. Bagwell is clearly the best hitter in the history of this organization.

The feelings people have about Alou stem from his injuries and the fact he NEVER came to Houston to root on the team that was paying him close to $7 million that year while they fought for the playoffs. He just seemed unappreciative and less than a team player. Plus the rumors about his little treadmill accident actually occuring on water skis with a bunch of girls who weren't his wife didn't help his cause!! No dispute that he's a great hitter....but Houstonians typically like their players to at least act like they care.

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