I'm sick of thinking about the Texans this weekend, so let's switch gears. Is it a mistake for Garner to keep running Everett out there every day when Burke is breaking out? The division looks really, really strong this year, and I think the Astros need every edge they can get. I don't think they can afford to keep Burke on the bench.
I am going to vote for Everett, but only if he has a +.260 average, if he dips below that, I go Burke. Oh, hell, I am gonna go Burke, because I know no one else will. DD
The real question is, should Biggio keep on getting consistent starts on the road if he can't keep his average above .100 away from MMP?
Sorry but this is seriously a no-brainer. If you saw those two games Burke filled in for Everett this weekend then it becomes obvious that Everett is your starting SS. You need run savers just as much as run producers, and Everett (and Ausmus) save runs when they are on the field. But then Everett has also been driving in runs so far this season. Plus Burke is your most valuable weapon coming off the bench. His time will come as a starter, but that time isn't now.
I would also start seeing him play some CF away from MMP (where willy is more valuable, given the big CF). Willy's bat, while he's no longer settling for the bunt single, is still devoid of any pop whatsoever. And his RBI's have come on bloop singles, or dribblers up the middle (and he's had far more RBI situations than Burke, but Burke has outproduced him in that area).
See why is there such a huge dropoff in his average between home and road? Any reasons I can come up with (short porch, home crowd, comfortable setting, etc) just doesn't seem to explain why there's such a huge disparity. It's not like this is Coors we're talking about. In any case, I'd agree more with getting Burke more starts at 2b (on the road) then at SS (unless Everett is injured).
I have no clue... for some reason, Biggios sees that porch/wall at MMP, and just finds a way to make contact with that ball and pull it every single time. On the road, he swings and misses like crazy... no contact at all. I know it will improve, given his career numbers, but if he would be able to hit as well on the road as he does at home... forget about still being good at 40, he'd be the best hitting 2B in all of baseball. I guess its more of a testament to how amazing he is at home, rather than how horrible he is ont he road... but whatever it is, its a big part of why this team is just so much better at MMP.
I've been concerned about this as well. I saw his splits a year and a half ago and they didn't look so hot.
Willy T had some gap doubles last year that I remember watching--but I suppose those may be the exception and not the rule. They were pretty hits, too (if that counts for anything).
Yeah, no kidding. I wonder if everyone that's moaning about Burke not starting at SS would fill cyberspace with whining about AE coming in to pitch hit in those late critical situations?
Everet now hitting a scolding .243 and dropping. Burke is hitting .400 Kind of makes it a lot closer, don't ya think? At least get Burkes bat in the lineup, you can't have 4 easy outs like Everett, Lane, Wison, and pitcher and expect to win. DD
If you saw him in the first game at Cincy, where he got many balls hit his way, you'd notice just how far away he is from being merely an average SS (let alone the elite one that Adam is). The offense is in a funk primarily because Biggio can't hit on the road, and Ensberg has been horrendous since the Dodgers series... two guys who have to be consistent despite the rest of the lineup (and btw, Lane isn't an "automatic" out... see HR total and OBP). If its going to be a close game... I'd rather have Everett's defense and Burke's bat off the bench, than vice versa. Also, when Burke does play... it should be as a platoon for Wilson or Biggio. Guys who are comfortable that they can make plays at their position, are going to end up hitting better in those games (over the long run) as well.
Frankly, I'm surprised the vote isn't a little closer. I don't think that many people here understand how the Astros' offense is still deeply flawed, mostly because they got off to a hot start (Everett included). But I believe that start was a fluke. I'll probably post this question again in 6 weeks - I'm betting the results will be much different. But no matter what, I wouldn't expect the Astros to make a change until it was too late to matter. Vets like Everett always get the benefit of the doubt, even if they've never hit in their life. It's very much like trying to unseat an incumbent politician - you almost have to wait for them to @#$% something up on their own. But for me, I'm tired of watching the Astros play 7 on 8 when it comes to batting orders, especially given that the rest of their lineup runs hot and cold.
