I don't get it. Everyone's saying it's a rush , rush , rush. Yet, do we not DESPERATELY need offense? What else would you do instead, make a trade with all the VALUABLE commodities we have for hitters/pitchers?
i think what we desperately need is for the hitters in this lineup to hit like they're capable of hitting. particularly, #17.
I'd say be a little more patient. I'm with Max, it does reek of desperation, but I won't lie and say I'm very pumped about tonight.
I'm confused. I thought the Astros were cheap, and that there was no way he'd get called up before June 1? I also thought they brought their players along far too slowly and would never bring up a player after less than a month at AAA (and not even a year removed from class A)? What gives?
Oh, another thing: Shut the hell up, Lance Berkman. Hit the damn ball, keep your damn head in the game, and shut your damn mouth.
Lance Berkman doesn't see it that way. He thinks benching Burke is a "horrible move." "I think Hunter Pence deserves to play in the big leagues," Berkman said. "He's got a bright future. I think he's very talented, and I don't object to them calling him up to try to spark us. But I think it's unfair to Chris. I think it sends the wrong message to the team that there's something drastic that needs to be fixed. I don't like it. If you're going to put Chris Burke on the bench, I think it's a horrible move." Berkman doesn't think a 22-game sampling is enough. "You have to let a guy settle in a little bit," he said. "Look at me, I'm hitting .200. Does that mean I'm going to end up hitting .230? Absolutely not. "As an organization, you have to identify your talent and say, 'We believe in this guy,' and then give him a chance to play. Seventy at-bats is not a chance. That's a very, very small sliver of the season. "Nothing against Hunter. I think he deserves to be here. I think he's going to do great when he gets a chance. But then my question is, what if Hunter comes up and struggles after 60 or 70 at-bats? Then you've got two guys thinking, 'What's going on here -- do I belong in this organization?' and that sort of thing. I don't think that's the right move, putting Chris on the bench." http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/...t_id=1934364&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou
that's a pretty fair point he makes, honestly. and i know it's one that's a bit loaded with emotion as burke and berkman are really close friends. hard to be objective about close friends. i certainly can't be.
The Chronicle's fan blogger would like to see Berkman back in RF, Lamb at 1st, and Loretta at SS. If that lineup wouldn't hit, you'd have to pack it in for the season. I tend to agree, though I'd favor Loretta at 3rd and leaving Everett as SS. Biggio / Burke - 2nd Loretta - 3rd Berkman - RF Lee - LF Pence - CF Lamb - 1st Ausmus - C Everett - SS I don't particularly care what happens to Ensberg. Was he ever that much better than Chris Truby?
Contrast that with Burke's "I stunk. I blame myself." Lance wants to be a leader of this team. b****ing to the media when things don't go well, when you're a large part of why things aren't going well, instead of keeping things in-house, is not leadership.
Yes. I'm not sure Truby even approached an .800 OPS, if my memory serves me correct, much less the .900 or so Ensberg has averaged the last couple years.
yeah, you're absoultely right. i agree. i'm not saying i agree with the way he went about it...just that i can understand it.
FJ, I wouldn't go to Chip Baily looking for enlightenment. Loretta is in no way, shape, or form an everyday SS. On a team chock full of groundball pitchers, he'd be a disaster. I have no idea if he can play a respectable 3B, haven't seen much of him there. I'm with you on a Lamb getting more PT, but I'd do it at 3rd, especially against RHP. Defense will suffer, but sometimes you have to settle. Mo's one of the few Astros who's done well against LHP. Lee-Pence-Berkman in the OF would be the worst defensive OF in baseball. Maybe in the last decade plus. Would be nice if the last Savior of the Stros, Luke Scott, would start hitting.
Yeah, they're buddies & all, took Lee out for pancakes, very nice. I understand it too, especially coming from Lance. Seems very little of Jeff Bagwell rubbed off on him.
Also, Berkman's praise of Pence notwithstanding, doesn't this put juuuuuuuust a little more pressure on the kid? Doesn't he have enough of that already, with the masses screaming that he's "the answer"? I'll shut up now.
