Good signing. It's short-term (Kent, while in his prime, is also 34), strengthens the order considerably, and addresses a need, whether it be Kent at 3B or Biggio possibly playing CF, perhaps. Seems tailor-made to me.
boo. Kent is a clubhouse cancer. I hope he doesn't pop too many wheelies this offseason. so the Astros have added a slugger? oooh. there's something they haven't tried before. at least they didn't make that unconscionable trade of Hernandez for Payton. Centerfielder, please. . .
Great pick up. Now we have a more veteran infield that won't have as many errors. I just hope Lugo pick up where he left off last season.
The term club house/team cancer has been thrown around a bit on this bbs. Doesn't cancer hurt the body, so a team cancer would hurt the team. Kent popping a wheely on a motorcycle only hurt his arm. This team did make it to the World Series you know. I'm glad we've got Kent.
Kent is a clubhouse cancer because why? Because he can't get along with Barry Bonds, the most arrogant baseball player in the majors? Because Kent resents the special treatment Bonds gets like having his own personal recliner in the locker room? I'll take my chances. I think the whole "clubhouse cancer" label is thrown around too often. How do we know what really goes on behind closed doors? Let me name a couple other guys who were supposed to be "clubhouse cancers" before they came to the Rockets: 1. Mo Taylor -- publicly complained about Clippers managment and the effort of his team mates 2. Eddie Griffin -- got in fistfights with with people on his own team Now, say what you will about their inconsistent play on the court, but I think both Mo and Eddie are stand-up guys. My point? That you put Jeff Kent in an Astros clubhouse run by unselfish, old-school baseball players without earrings like Bagwell and Biggio, and I think he'll be pretty happy. Hell, look at Carl Everett. He was a pretty good citizen in Houston. As soon as he went to Boston and Texas he lost all his marbles.
He was just as disliked in New York and Toronto. Kent apparently is a hard guy to get along with but if anyone can get along with him it's the Astros. Mixing Kent with Jimy Williams might be interesting though.
And another thing. The Astros needed another slugger. We didn't get the production from third base or from Ward or Hidalgo that we hoped for last year, and there were major stretches where the offense had power outages. Add that to questions about Bagwell's shoulder, and you need another big stick. If Ward had put up 40HRs like everyone was predicting him to once he got the full time job, then we wouldn't need Kent. If Morgan Ensberg had put up 20 HRs like everyone predicted him to, then we wouldn't need Kent. If Hidalgo had put up numbers like he did before he got fat, then we wouldn't need Kent. But none of those things happened. I agree we need a productive center fielder real bad. And we need some more pitching (especially a lefty in the bullpen). That's why I hope we're not done dealing. But it's hard to argue we didn't need another big stick unless you think Ward or Hidalgo are going to have career years.
holy **** i'm stunned. but being the pessimist that I am, I have to wonder about his attitude (fight with Bonds, not reporting his injury in a timely manner and blaming it on allegedly falling off his truck while washing it) and how much of his stats can be attributed to being protected by Bonds. other than that, SWEET!
To echo DaDa's sentiment on the pitching: Here's to hoping that Hernandez stays healty and regains his form. If so, LOOK OUT!
I was worried too, but then I thought about it, and if he can hit .300+, have 30+ HRs and 100+ RBI, I think I will be fine with him. I almost hope he brings a little spark or spice to the locker room, they need a little kick in the @$$!
It may surprise you to learn (it certainly did me), that the Astros 3B position LED all national League teams in OPS (on base + slugging percentage), so in that respect, the Astros received great production (comparatively speaking) from their 3B platoon.
It doesn't surprise me since I already knew that statistic. In my opinion, that reflects the poor state of third basemen in the NL not the excellence of our rotating Ensberg/Blum/Loretta platoon.
our pitching was solid last year...our offense was the weaker of the two...we just improved that. we go out there and sign probably the biggest name on the free agent market and there are still complaints. geez, you guys need to get it over with and just move up north to officially become yankees.
I remember that link when you posted it and it was an interesting article. Now that I look back on it I am even more excited because the Giants were #1 in the ML at 2nd base. IMO I think that makes Blum expendable and he should have suitors. Hopefully we can move him for some pitching help maybe a package for a good starter or straight up for a quality arm for the pen. CK
i'm betting biggio would welcome a move to the OF...a lot easier on the body. plus, he knows kent adds a huge stick to the lineup. man...there are a lot of glass half empty folks here...lighten up and enjoy it...it's not everyday your baseball team make a huge signing like this!
Damn they merged the thread while I was typing this: Actually I think Biggio would welcome a move anywhere if it meant improving the team. He's just like that . But I think unless the astros make a move with Hidalgo or Ward, Kent goes to 3B. I think i would really like to see them package Ward or Hidalfo with Blum and see what they can get in a starter or a reliever + CF. And by no means is Hernandez worth Payton so if that is the trade I would give an emphatic no to it. CK
http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2002/1218/1478962.html YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JARED, eat your words buddy!!!!!!!!!!!!! I called it! Good job Stros!
