BREAKING NEWS: Biggio and Astros agree to 1 year new contract.

You can make a pretty compelling argument for Burke without being pre-emptive. However good you want to say Biggio is, after the All-Star break, Burke was better in every core category (avg, obp, slg, ops). He was better in the runs categories, not as good in the RBI category, but he also batted in the 7/8 spot in the lineup as opposed to 1/2 so it is hard to compare all of those secondary stats.

The argument would be that over the second half of the season, Burke was the better player, he's young and likely to improve, and Biggio is old and likely to diminish. So who'd be expected to be the better player next year? <I>If you believe Burke's improvement was not a fluke</I> and <I>if you believe Biggio's decline is representative of what to expect next year</I>, then if you want to win now, you play Burke.

I don't know what I agree with it, and I think loyalty has some value, but the argument for Burke is not nearly as unreasonable as people are making it out to be. Here are the post-ASB numbers:

AVG:
Burke - 0.270
Biggio - 0.237

OBP:
Burke - 0.335
Biggio - 0.294

SLG:
Burke - 0.446
Biggio - 0.434

OPS:
Burke - 0.781
Biggio - 0.729

 

Major, how does Burke compare to Everett post All star break?

DD

 

Honestly, looking at what he did with 440 ABs this year, it's not enough of an upgrade to convince me to bench AE's glove.

 

Biggio has been better for the first half for several seasons now. So, even your argument above can be construed as pre-emptive since you would start the first half based on numbers from the second half.

I still say run Bidge out there until he shows you, or until he decides himself, that he is done.

 

Everett's, post all-star-break, have been absolutely terrible and substantially worse than any other starter, I believe. That said, I don't think the Astros would consider moving Burke to SS. From everything I've heard, the organization doesn't believe Burke can play SS, for whatever reason.

 

I have heard that too, but sometimes those decisions are based upon who is already playing SS in the organization.

I am just not convinced that Adam Everett should be playing SS at the major league level...defensively he is awesome, but his bat is just....well bad.

Biggio only needs 205 hits to make 3000...that is a solid year and another 1/3 away from it....and I want to see him make it wearing the Astros uniform.

DD

 

Biggio now has 604 career doubles, 12th all time and 2 away from 10th all time.

Welcome back Bigg

 

2795. He needs 205 - possible but highly unlikely in one year. He'd have to essentially have a career year.

 

A 1 year deal. That's not bad that it expires just after his 65th birthday.

 

Sorry I didn't answer your question. I don't think they should change the lineup now, i.e. play Burke in the playoffs. I just would like them to start planning for the future, not just with biggio.

 

Don't get me wrong I'm not for pulling Bidge anytime soon and IMO he should be starting through the playoffs and barring a severe decline next season. All I'm saying is that Pgabriel IMO has a valid points and there have been examples of teams that have stuck with aging stars at the expense of grooming young talent, I'm thinking the Celtics of the 90's.

 

I wouldn't want the Astros to make that mistake with Biggio or Bagwell, but I don't think they're there yet. Now, if Bagwell can't get the head of the bat around on a 92MPH heater late next spring, it may (sadly) be time. Biggio just doesn't look done yet.

 

Either way you'll have to get baggy some ABs unless he simply retires and insurance takes over his 18 million dollar salary for next season.

 

If anything, I'd say that shows Biggio needs more time off in the second half as the grind of the season clearly starts to slow him down. So I wouldn't be against giving him more days off in the second half, and giving Burke more time there, thereby slowly giving Burke more experience/development in that role while keeping Biggio fresh and producing at a high clip. But Biggio is still the better player. He has the veteran leadership. And in clutch situations, I'd trust Biggio over Burke every time (at this point in Burke's career). The Phillies game and this past Cubs series is proof of that.

 

Biggio's bat is still useful - but the guy is getting up there in age. I thought Burke could produce, but wow he sucked.

Biggio's August and September numbers were down from what he'd produced earlier in the year, I think this is the third year in a row that's happened. I'm pretty sure Sept '03 was good, but other than that. I don't claim to be an expert - but Biggio is getting up there in age, and I can't help but think that Biggio's numbers decline in part because of his age - I don't think he can play 150+ games and keep up a consistent level of performance. I believe that if Burke could spell him at times - alleviate the wear and tear a bit - maybe Biggio could keep hitting well throughout the season.

 

They need a definitive answer on Bagwell before the season starts. Once he takes the field or takes that first at bat, as I understand things, insurance won't pay squat.

 

I'd like to see where he ranks on the road versus other 2Bs. Anyone have those stats?