Link to article <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Lance Berkman says he is retiring: "I'm excited about to be honest with you. I think it's going to be great."</p>— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/statuses/428642825517801472">January 29, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> He may have won a 'chip with the Cards, but he'll always be an Astro in my book. Arguably the best hitter the Astros the past decade. Who can forget the grand slam he had in '05?
Best post-season Astro hitter of all-time, for sure. In fact, argument can be made for most clutch Astro ever.
I have no love for the ALstros and can't stand Jim Crane but I do salute Berkman. He was truly an amazing player during his time here during the good old days when the team was winning and in the National League with no DH.
Not 100% sure the stats back this up or not but I agree 100%. Berkman was amazing during the good times. I was a huge fan from the late 70's until the American League move(note:I will not root for or watch an American League team) and can't remember a better clutch hitter. The stats may not back this up but the eye test does!!
i hope Lance comes on as a hitting coach or assistant. I can understand being mad at Crane, though I disagree. I think he's made the best of the situation he inherited. However, not sure why the hard feelings for the AL move. I didnt like the move, and I still dont, but it wasnt the Astros decision. The MLB strong handed us, so I dont see how you can hold it against Crane or the organization.
Lance Berkman is the paragon for all gentle giant Texans out there. Sure he might get a heart attack by age 50, but damn he had a good attitude while getting to that point. Fun guy, we should retire his number.
That game 4 vs the braves in 2005 was the best baseball game I ever attended, probably sports event I've been to.
Congrats on a fabulous career, Lance. One of the Astros' best and most popular players of all time. I'd love to see Lance coaching alongside Wayne Graham at Rice.
Jeez... sure he was never ripped, but he wasn't John Kruk out there. Played just about as many games in the OF (with some being in CF) as he did at 1B. He was the Big Puma in every sense of the word.
Definitely one of the Astros greats. Good for him that he won one before he retired. Sucks that it was with the Cards.
It would be nice if they'd do one of those 1-day contracts so he could officially retire as an Astro.
At one time, he claimed he wanted to coach for UT-Austin instead for some reason...but I'd love to see him stick around town in some capacity.
Grew up watching the Big Puma! Glad he was able to win a 'ship...but he is forever a Astro in my book.
Berkman was a championship level talent. He rose to the occasion. He was an outstanding post season hitter - The Best Astros post season hitter. The Rest of the killer B's usually bowed under pressure of the post season. Bagwell might be the best Astros offensive player and Biggio might be the best overall Astros player; but they did their damage mostly in the regular season. Berkman was CLUTCH!!! I'm glad that Berkman got himself a World Series Ring, it was well deserved.
I quit watching baseball altogether! I only check out the Astro's part of this forum for CSN updates and noticed the Berkman thread.
I hate the DH rule so much I have given up baseball. I can't root for another team so I will not watch baseball until the Stros hopefully one day move back to the league that does not have the DH rule.
