That was against the Pirates with Sampson on the mound. There were at least 4 plays that AE makes that all contributed to runs. It cost the Astros the game. My completely unofficial (as I've only seen about 2/3 of the action) count of Everett Runs Saved On Defense (ERSOD) is 9. There's RBIs in that there glove. I'm all for getting Loretta more starts. Do it at 3rd.
How does that affect his VORP? Have you measured Loretta's Value Under Replacement Adam Everett At ShortStop (VURAEASS)?
it seems like the people that are arguing for everett to be benched either: a) believe he'll hit .190 all year or b) refuse to read the fielding argument to understand that loretta will actually get less chances because of his inferior range in comparison I think we can safely assume, though, that everett won't be benched anytime soon for loretta unless he is hitting below .200 come August or something.
I'm so happy that the vast majority of y'all are behind a computer screen during the games and not making out the lineup card in the dugout.
There's a reason why we're where we are, and they're where they are. Only thing that worries me about AE is his back. He took the needle a while ago, hope he can grind through that, wouldn't shock me at all if that's what's bothering him at the plate right now. Funny how 2 weeks ago, AE was hitting .275 with a .370ish OBP and nobody was complaining. Much like nobody is complaining about Ausmus right now. Adam Everett is, apparently, not allowed to go into a 2 week slump. The fickleness of Joe Schmoe Sportsfan is never to be underestimated.
One other point, for all the peeps who've been screaming about AE & Ausmus killing this offense from the bottom of the order: For the better part of April, you watched AE & Brad hit way over their heads. The Astros could not score runs at all. Middle of the order wasn't hitting, top of the order wasn't getting on. Funny how the past week or so, the top of the order's getting on, and the middle of the order's knocking the crap out of the ball, and the Stros are scoring runs. There's a lesson in this somewhere.
I don't know that Loretta is the answer, but you can't keep running a sub .200 hitter out there. Maybe give Burke another shot at short, although who knows if he will hit. How about Loretta on Wandy or Woody days when less ground balls are hit and we probably will need more runs to win? I also think it is idiotic to keep Lamb and Loretta on the bench at the expense of "deer in the spotlight" Ensberg who continues to strike out looking. At the very least, switch him and Biggio in the order so you can take advantage of his walks. Biggio can still hit doubles and he also can bunt and is more difficult to turn double plays on.
Sensitive? Not really. Aware that this isn't Xbox baseball, and appreciative of the value of, and inter-dependence between, pitching & defense? Absolutely. Interested in seeing the Astros put the best *team* on the field? Yup. Aware that offense out of the bottom of the lineup isn't going to make or break *this Astros team as it is constructed*? You betcha. But sensitive? Nope.
And some of you are so dense that you don't realize that Adam's an everyday player for his glove... not his bat. And he just happens to play the most important defensive position on the team... and his backup just happens to be an awful fielder at that position.
No kidding. It's like we haven't had this same damn discussion for the past umpteen Astros seasons. Wow...Adam Everett & Brad Ausmus aren't good hitters? Really? I hadn't noticed. Your keen insight has truly bowled me over. Kudos.
look, some of you guys don't realize that this thread was started about someone who doesn't understand the role of a defensive SS and the impact a 7 hitter has on this team. those are the s e n s i t i v e o n e s.
i'm just laughing that everett defenders won't say it. i've already stated that i like him, just calling it like i see it. again, not questioning your logic, your baseball knowledge, or your passionate desire for the astros to win more games. just think it would make your position stronger if you just admitted that he is a terrible hitter.
Who's said any different? All we are arguing is that whatever improvements in batting the team would obtain by starting someone other than Everett will be greatly outweighed by the decrease in the defensive ability of that player. And, as evidenced by the team's recent success, that the hitting ability of the guy in the seven spot isn't that important to the success of the team as long as the guys ahead of him are hitting like they should. Reading comprehension, it's fun!
Not sure when that's ever really been denied. I haven't told anybody recently that the sky's blue & beer is delicious, either. But it would also be nice if his detractors admitted that whoever is hitting at the bottom of the lineup isn't the cause of, or solution to, the problems that plagued the Astros the first month of the season.
