If Burke had the arm to play SS, do you think there's a flying pig's chance in hell that he would haved moved to LF or 2B?
My thoughts too. Sign me up. Huff would be perfect. He's 29 and he's got pop. He would be similar to the 2005 Ensberg, except that he can deliver consistently (2005 not withstanding) year in, year out. Sign Roger or a strong pitcher. If Roger doesn't sign, this move can be to get a younger (AJ Burnett), since our time horizon would be further out than if we load for bear with Roger. Roger is the highest reward, but I'm not too sure we can retool enough to go after it all in 2006 without really hindering our future. I'd ask Backe to pretend that every game is the World Series. Bags to retire. You were the man 5! Tradeable assets - Zeke package for Huff? Maybe the d'rays execs didn't stay up until the 14th inning of Game 3. Line-Up: 1. Taveras CF 2. Biggio 2b Burke (2007) 3. Berkman 1B 4. Ensberg 3B 5. Huff LF PERFECT! Poor man's Dunn, even at $6.75M 6. Lane RF 7. Ausmus C 8. Everett SS Weak stick - I don't think they'll trade him though - he's a stand up guy and can carry that which Biggio and Bags have worked their entire careers establishing - the class of the Astros. Pipe dream: Furcal would be on my list too, but I don't think we'll have the funds to do it - something about a Taveras, Furcal, Berkman, Ensberg, Huff, Lane, Biggio, Ausmus - gets me pumped up. I'll have to run the numbers to see if this is viable, but it's the back of the napkin approach that I would start with.
It has been mentioned on sports radio numerous times, that the Astros internally dont believe that burke can be a major league ss. He came up as a short stop but the Astros converted him.
Would it really hurt to give him some PT during spring training just to make sure? To my knowledge, he hasn't played there since his days at Tennessee.
Any package for Huff is going to involve Patton, Spence, Einartson, et al. The asking price is going to start at the top pitching or top positional prospect in the organization. That was the deal at the deadline, and it won't change until the deadline before he's a free agent.
ok..i played a fair amount of baseball...and here's what i don't understand. how can someone be an All-American SS...and not be able to play SS at the pro level. I mean, if he doesnt' have the arm to make the throw now, how would he have been able to do it back then??? it's not like the distances are different at the pro level. i seriously don't get it. i've never heard anyone b**** about his range...just his arm. if they complained about range, i might get it. but arm??? he either could make the throw or he couldn't...apparently he could make it well enough to play SS for a major university for quite some time.
I agree. I dont understand the arm crap either. It isnt like its 3B where you really do have to have a cannon sometimes. I keep thinking, why play him in the outfield if he really has such a crappy arm.
They should at the very least check him out at SS during spring training...there's no harm in that...hell the competition could be good for Everett and might help to strive to improve his bat....this assuming we dont go get a better offensive ss though (but really theres basically Furcal and thats it).
Ditto !! I think this was their "public" reason, but they probably thought that Burke could replace an aging Biggio, I don't think they had any idea that Biggio stopping the leg kick would make him such a productive hitter this late in his career. I can not fathom them not giving him a look at SS in Winter ball, or at least some in Spring training. DD
Burke is a much better athlete than someone like Eckstein. Burke could handle SS no problem. The reason they haven't tried him there is that Everett has been entrenched there. But considering his lack of production I think it's time to open up the job to competition in spring training.
I'd include Einertson in a heartbeat, the guy was dreadful at low A ball last year. Do you have a link to show that the starting price was that high at the deadline? I read alot about him late in July and never saw that. I'm not doubting you, just haven't heard that. BTW, it's Hunter Pence. EDIT: Just saw that Huff will be entering the final year of his contract this season. All the more reason for the D-Rays to be trading hiim.
Umm, this simply isn't true. Everett was not entrenched there when the Astros drafted Burke and converted him to a 2B. The Astros have said, multiple times, that they do not believe Burke is a MLB-quality SS. He was fine in college becuase when you bat 0.400 with power, exceptions are made. That's not the case at the MLB level. Athleticism is not the issue.
I would guess that at the pro level you might have to have a stronger arm in order to get the speedier/more athletic players that you will face when compared to the ones in college
Maybe Burke was the best SS on HIS TEAM IN COLLEGE, as far as arm strength, range, etc. If Burke doesn't have a strong enough arm after making a play in the hole between 3rd and SS, then it's useless to have range if you can't get the guy out on the throw. When you consider how hard it is to find good SS, I am sure the Astros thought it'd be wise to try him out there and in that process, he proved to not be worthy. Do you guys really think the Astros are that dumb to draft a college SS with their #1 pick and move him to 2B for no reason at all?
it also might make the organization look a bit silly looking to replace their shortstop of the future with a guy who has been converted into a utility player. Everett's confidence could have been completely blown. Confidence and humility aside, this off season, the stros will publically look at all of the options out there (including sitting everett). Remember, three to four years ago, everett was going to save the franchise. call me silly if you will, just an opinion.
sounds good in theory..but honestly, i see just as fast or faster guys playing college baseball than pro baseball.
I'm no Astros fan but Everett's hitting has been a concern forever. It was always the question with him.
