So Adam Everett will help replace Lugo's production? Everett bats close to .180 with no power. Lugo was hitting .260 with 7 HRs. I don't think Everett can carry Lugo's batting helmet to him...much less expect to replace him.
I believe he said Viz/Everett. You can't really argue that Vizcaino's hitting numbers aren't better than Lugo's. Everett would just be a good defensive replacement, I think.
He hit .180 in a grand total of 44 AB's over 18 games. Not exactly consistent playing time or a large enough sample to draw any conclusions from. Is Jose Vizcaino a power hitter? Lugo slugged a whopping .388 this year, Viz's SLG% is .387. I simply said that a Viz/Everett combo should be able to duplicate Lugo's offensive production, which is actually quite mediocre, with little dropoff in the field. Face it, none of the 3 are really desirable as top of the order hitters.
When Everett plays you have an easy out in his spot. I don't think we can have that during a pennant chase.
Again, Lugo reached base less than 1/3 of the time. How is that not "an easy out"? Given consistent playing time I think AE can duplicate, if not exceed, that. Lugo could have been a great leadoff or #2 hitter, but his plate discipline & bat control were absolutely horrible (he was on pace for 100+ K's vs. <40 BBs). You can make productive outs from the 2-hole - sac bunt, hitting behind the runner, assuming you've got a leadoff guy getting on regularly - but you usually can't from the leadoff spot. One thing AE has shown consistently in his minor league time is patience at the plate. This is good. Very good. Viz is the same way, except he rarely walks because he makes such good contact (and he swings at just about everything). I just cannot see how either, but especially a combination of the 2, is a significant offensive dropoff from Lugo. You're right. As a rookie given very inconsistent playing time, he was erratic. However, he is widely regarded by those who know better than we do as a top-flight guy with the glove. And his minor league trackrecord bears that out. Again, Lugo's defense improved this year because he began making the routine plays routine, not an adventure. His range is still subpar for a big-league SS, and his timing & accuracy on the 6-4 DP throw was spotty. He handled the routine plays this year, thus his FLD% is up & his error total down. But he also has poor instincts, makes bad breaks on the ball and thus gets to fewer balls than most SS's, which gives him fewer chances to make those errors. Check his total chances & range factor, they're at or near the bottom of all MLB shortstops. He was good with the glove this year, a drastic improvement over last season, but he was nowhere near an elite level.
I saw the replay, and Lugo was showing a lazy bunt stance and Woods blasted a 98 mph fastball at his head. Lugo was lucky he is not in surgery ofr a broken face today. there is no doubt Woods threw at his head and I expect a fine coming very soon. Lugo said Woods called him to apologize, but he didn't want to do much except kck his a$$.
It's about 1/3 of the time more than AE. I suppose AE will hit .260 and have 7HRs. Just like Daryle Ward will hot 40 HRs by the end of the season...get real. That is good. But it's also on the MINOR league level. He's still a rookie and he started the year as our primary SS...not exactly inconsistent. When exactly did I annoint Lugo as the next coming of Ozzie Smith? I didn't. The truth is that at this point he is much better all around than Everett. I'm not saying that Everett will not become a serviceable SS. But based on his major league stats, we can't afford him to get significant playing time during a pennant chase. BTW Everett's big knock has always been "all glove...no bat." Lugo was, is and always will be a much better offensive player.
Vizcaino can easily match what Lugo did at the plate. Everett will be better than Lugo (most likely) in the field, and if he is not, then I think Vizcaino can at least match Lugo fielding-wise. This doesn't really effect the Astros everyday lineup much, but it does shorten the bench.
I agree that Viz is a suitable replacement. where this really hurts us is giving Blum a few days off at 3rd. Normally it would be Viz to spell him. That is not an option now because Everett is not a suitable replacement at this point in time.
Lugo OBP - .322 AE OBP - .308 When did I say Ward will hit 40 by the end of this season? When did I say I care how many HR's Everett hits? A patient hitter is a patient hitter, on either level. When evaluating a hitter, teams look less at raw numbers and more on what kind of hitter a guy is. It's ridiculous to expect a free-swinger to suddenly develop discipline, just as it's equally ridiculous to expect a patient hitter to become Rob Deer. A guy will not completely change his hitting style just because he's facing better competition. Is AE going to suddenly think he's Jose Hernandez? 44 AB's over 18 games in 2 different stints with the club is pretty much the epitome of inconsistent. What in the world are you basing this on, Lugo's .330 career OBP in 1200+ AB's versus 47 career AB's by Everett? All we want out of any of the SS's is good defense & an acceptable OBP. Can AE get on base at equal to or better than a 32% clip? I think he can, you seem to think not. Can AE play better defense than Lugo? I think he can, you think not. Let's just agree to disagree on this one & let it be.
Bad news - Lugo's done for the season. He had surgery to repair his broken left forearm today; Adam Everett was recalled to take his place on the roster. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news/fanball/20020814/fanball-astroslugohasseasone.html
