We would never know unless they played him a few games a SS so we can see for ourself. All I know is that Burke would not have been able to turn that double play in game 4 of the NLCS.
While I certainly agree that range is an issue with Burke, arm is *definitely* more important for SS than for LF. For instance--even in his prime--would you play Biggio at SS? Hell no. You can "float" a ball in from LF or CF and get a few assists if you have a noodle for an arm, but at SS and 3B, when the plays are "bang-bang" and you have a half a second to zip the ball 90-105 feet across the diamond--off-balance at times--you need a GUN for an arm.
If Clemens retires, let Ausmus walk. Let Lamb and Viz walk. That frees up about 24M. Sign Piazza to catcher-discount 2 yr. deal(6M per). Sign Paul Byrd to 3 yr. deal(7M per). Sign Neifi Perex to 2 yr. deal. Move Astacio to long relief. Taveras-CF Biggio-2B Berkman-LF Piazza-C Ensberg-3B Bagwell-1B Lane-RF Everett-SS N. Perez Palmeiro Burke Bruntlett Scott Chavez or Quintero Oswalt Petitte Byrd Backe Rodriguez Wheeler Qualls Lidge Springer Gallo Astacio In 2007, Burke takes over 2B for Biggio. Berkman moves to 1B, sign big hitting OF with Bagwell's money. Sign Beckett with Petitte's money.
1. Ausmus isn't likely going anywhere, Clemens on not. Oswalt and Pettitte have both also said that prefer Ausmus to anyone else. Given that Pettitte had a career year and Oswalt was pretty damn close, Ausmus isn't likely to move. 2. What possible reason do you want Neifi Perez on your bench for? Bruntlett is a far better backup SS and has far more flexibility. And Perez is maybe the worst hitter in all of baseball.
2 Holes at the bottom of the lineup is a big offensive problem. I think mgmt has Everett entrenched as the SS. Only way to upgrade offensively is at catcher. Petitte will only be there 1 more year. I think Roy would be just as effective with anybody at catcher. Perez had a better year at SS offensively than Everett. Signing him for about the same as Viz at least lets Everett know there's somebody on the bench that could possibly take away playing time. If the cubs dont re-sign Nomar, they're left without a SS assuming they cant sign Furcal.
I agree with your first point - the team is in a bit of a quandry on how to improve offensively. I do think there's another solution - move Everett and get a legit offensive SS. As for Neifi, he had two bizarre good months this year. Outside of that, his OPS for the last 5 years has been in the 0.500-0.600 range, I believe. He's actually *worse* than Everett, if that's possible.
I was saying you put Piazza in that bandbox and I guarantee he hits 28 HRs. How many did Ausmus hit? You hit Piazza cleanup and Ensberg gets more pitches to hit. You hit Piazza 5th and Lane sees more pitches. I hate Piazza and anything Mets-related, but if you can sign him to a 6-7M deal, incentive laden so that he plays 120-130 games that's a potential solution for the Astros anemic offense. I'm sure Purpura would love to sign Furcal and trade for Dunn, but neither one of those will happen.
Perez was just a suggestion. Utility Mid-Inf to take Viz's place. Same cost, younger, little downside that could leave a big rival with a hole at SS. The only other upgrades to Everett are Furcal and Nomar. Nomar has too much downside/overpriced. Furcal isnt realistic
In NY media he's implied that he would give up money to a team that lets him catch. I dont think you're sacrificing too much defensively vs. Ausmus outside of familiarity of staff, pitch calling. Offensively you're adding 20+ HRs and the big thing IMO is Ensberg or Lane seeing more pitches.
I'm not convinced Furcal isn't realistic. Partly because we don't know the Clemens/Bagwell situations, but also because this team was built to be able to handle an additional $17MM in payroll from Beltran over the next 7 years. They didn't spend that on anyone else, so it should be available in some form or another. But yeah, outside of him, and I have no idea where he wants to play, I don't know of any good SS options out there except by trade.
I look at the Beltran offer as situational. Meaning, the offer was made after his great postseason, but since he declined it I dont think Drayton committed to spending that money in the future. I think Rocket signed his deal after the Beltran situation(Could be wrong), so if Beltran signed with the Astros, Rockets 18M wouldnt have been there to offer. Also even though I like Furcal much more than Piazza, I still dont think it's a realistic fit. 1) What happens to Everett. He won't ride the bench in Houston. 2)You really havent gained anything offensively--overloaded at the top. Do you move Taveras to 8th? Biggio to the bottom of the order? Furcal to 3rd? Basically you've got what you had in the playoffs magnified--more stranded speedsters. If you're gonna trade for a SS(which will be hard due to lack of depth on FA market) you're gonna have to move Everett. No team is gonna give you fair value for what he contributes defensively after his postseason. I think the Astros value pitching and defense, making Everett entrenched at SS--so you work around his offensive liability.
Couldn't be more wrong. Even at Ausmus's age, Piazza can't (and never could) carry Ausmus's jock defensively. The Mess even tried moving him to 1B because he sucks so hard. Catching is more than throwing to 2nd. Dude *sucks* as a receiver behind the plate. Sucks. Hard. Now, if he adds 70-80 RBI and 30 dingers, *maybe* it's worth it, but I don't see it. Piazza hans't aged gracefully, can't play enough games at C to stay in the lineup, and probably won't ever hit 35+ dingers again. That, and if you move him to 1B to keep his stick in the lineup for 20-30 games you're not gaining much as you'll be pulling out Berkman or Bagwell. In short, Piazza is a one-trick pony and the Astros don't need him.
I disagree. I think Beltran was an exception that Drayton was willing to make. Kind of like if you skip a year of college and think that with the money saved from not going your dad will buy you a new car, when in actuality had you gone to college, you would have gotten a loan.
I strongly disagree with you. Whether or not their contracts this year are making up for it, do you really think Kent, Pettite, and Clemens would have considered Houston unless they had lived here (or near here in Kent's case)? Like you said, Pettite's deal was backloaded to the jump this year - do you really think he would have considered coming on that contract structure unless he lived here? Roger's $18million salary last year is irrelevant - it was a follow up and payback. There was no agreement or even expectation that he would return another year and get such a huge raise. Do you really think he would have signed for $5mill/yr anywhere else? History tells us that after Drabeck/Swindell, the Astros won't be adding any premiere free agents unless it is under special circumstances.
What this season has shown is that a team is not simply a sum of all its parts. You can't just measure all the statistics to come up with whether the team would be better or not. You have to look at the intangibles of a player, and the Astros pitchers, to a man, want Ausmus behind the plate. Why? Who knows, but it's how it is. Besides which, Piazza is on his last legs. He is an injury waiting to happen.
he started in 50% of the games...several of which were due to injuries to Berkman, Ensberg and Willie....i just dont think you can say a guy is streaky who is not an everyday player
