And he wasn't pushed out by ungrateful fans and management either. If Biggio gets injured, I'm sure Burke will start his Gehrig-esque career. Not to mention, he's not a Hall of Famer like the player most Astros fans want to push out.
Sorry, I was just trying to drive my point home, wasn't meant to be towards just you... I see that since we've come up with valid points to keep Biggio playing that there hasn't been much Biggio bashing since.
Oh, so we shouldn't push out Hall of Famers? Those who want to get rid of hall of fame players are "ungrateful"? You use that word alot, btw. Let's see if the shoe fits. Yea, I can't believe he would say horrible stuff like that! Or start up the lynch mob, one of the two. Oh yea, I can see where Barkley was more deserving of loyalty than Dream. Maybe you were just a big fan of the Fab 5? Ah, well maybe you're just a big fan of the team. Oh yea, brilliant thinking! Maybe you are just anti-Olajuwon. A Kobe for Hakeem trade got this response. And then this quip. Noooo, you're not ungrateful. But how can you reconcile this thought process with Biggio? Ah, so Hakeem didn't endear himself to you, but Biggio did. That sounds, fair, I mean what did Dream do for this city? And you think that PR should be a reason to keep starting Biggio? Oh wait. So Biggio would make a good bench guy! Damn, maybe we aren't that far apart on the issue after all.
Wow, you need a new job Sam. Maybe a move out of Corpus would be good for you. I guess I should have been clearer. When I call Biggio a HOF, he's also one that's shown nothing but loyalty to Houston and the Astros franchise, not to mention giving no reason as to why people wouldn't want him on our team. He's not Willie Met out there. From what I recall of Hakeem's last year or so here, he was horrible outside of the one stretch late in his last year as a Rocket. Not to mention he'd already had problems with management before that. He was Willie Met at that point. But, I'm not going to argue about something from 5 years ago. I apparently am not as bored as you are.
Not quite. If you want to compare Hakeem in his last year here to Biggio now, it only helps my argument. Maybe when Biggio demands to have a bigger role on the team when his skills have obviously merited retierement, then we'll talk. I'm not even sure why he posted the last two quotes about Biggio. They're not even relevant to the discussion.
Actually I'm home sick with the flu and a fever today. Thanks for your concern though. I'm going back to bed now, so feel free to comment on any other aspects of my life (family, girlfriend, house, choice of automobile) that you wish. Since you have 20k posts and I have 5k, maybe you're the one who needs a job? As for the issue, my point is that you think that Biggio walks on water, you always have. But when Hakeem was here, you loved to talk crap about him, because you personally didn't like him. And now, you throw out monikers like "ungrateful" about people who disagree with you about players that you personally like, but others might not. Your and others' Hakeem bashing disgusted me, back in the day. Frankly, you're a hypocrite in my book. Ever think that your opinion isn't the only one that matters?
I personally didn't like Dream? That's news to me. I've always thought he was my favorite basketball player of all-time (which probably sparked my angry posts five years ago). Thanks for clearing that up for me. When Biggio turns into Hakeem in his last year here, and I'm still defending him, then you can call me a hypocrite. So, should I go back and find instances of you defending Hakeem five years ago and post them here? Then call you a hypocrite? Hope you feel better.
You can't compare Biggio in his current state to Hakeem's last year with the Rockets... because Biggio is still maintaining his career averages. The fact that you bring it up simply makes you look like you are grasping for anything to prove your point. There are no valid reasons that Burke should get the nod over Biggio. Biggio has proven year after year that he can maintain a good average, hit decent home runs, steal a few bases and play good defense (especially in the infield). Meanwhile, back at band camp Burke has done nothing to earn a spot. I'm sorry Biggio didn't blow out his knee at a church function or that the Mets didn't outbid us for him. The other two rookies that are starting are doing so because there were no other proven players ahead of them at their positions, meanwhile you have a Hall of Famer with good numbers sitting at second base in front of Burke. If Biggio gets hurt, or his production begins to slide Burke will get his shot, but his limited time in the big leagues hasn't helped his cause at all, if anything it's hurt him. 2 for 19 with a crucial failed bunt attempt isn't exactly making his case. Is he a better player then one that is 2 for 19, sure but it is HIS job to EARN the spot with the few shots he gets... and to date he hasn't done it.
I just look at it this way. Say Biggio hits .275 with 15 homers and 70 rbis...those are good stats. But are they that much better than what a younger, faster, better defensive player Burke would put up? I think Burke is a .265 15 homers and 70 rbi guy now.....based on Minor league play....and he might be much better than that. Biggio is too old to be a consistent every day infielder, he does not have the arm or the range anymore. However, what if he played outfield one day, 3rd base another, 2nd base another..etc..etc...and you could still get him in the game for 3/4s of the time, this would allow us to develop all the young talent and still get Biggio his at bats? Thoughts? DD™
You don't know for sure that Burke will be that productive, but history tells us that Biggio will be. Like it or not baseball is also a game that relies heavily on respect and numbers and that's worth a lot more in most people's eyes. I think Biggio has earned his spot, and until the rookie can knowingly out perform him Biggio should be the starter. You have to also look at it from the big perspective as well. We are already starting two rookies on an everyday basis (not even considering Astascio), and will continue to do so until Berkman comes back... If we start three rookies PLUS have a rookie starting pitcher in the rotation you can pretty much kiss the season goodbye. You can't have that many rookies playing and succeed, you just can't. Burke will get at least 20-30 starts this season which is plenty to get some development time in, and him being with the big league squad he'll learn greatly from the likes of Biggio, Bagwell and Clemens. If by the middle of the season he is hitting at an insane clip then you can reevaluate his status. However, with the numbers we currently have for them he doesn't deserve the spot.
This is absolutely ridiculous. You simply do not take a player out of the lineup who produces like Biggio does. You just don't. You particularly don't when he's been a HOFer who has spent his entire career with your franchise, taking less money to stay here...but even aside from that, on sheer production, you don't replace a guy with those numbers batting toward the top of the lineup with the uncertainty of a rookie. You don't do it last year with Jeff freaking Kent. You don't do it this year with Craig Biggio. Sorry, Chris. If Craig falls apart, you'll get your shot. But there is no way in hell you can make a good argument for taking Biggio's bat out of this lineup right now. Honestly, I can't believe we're even having this discussion. Particularly so early in the season.
Wasn't Chris Burke a Short Stop in college? I think Everett is a great defender, but if he's only going to hit slightly better than Tim Bogar, that just makes him, well, slightly better than Tim Bogar. I say if Everett doesn't start hitting, we need to give Burke a chance at SS.
Even though Burke may be a good hitter... he'd have to be light years ahead of Everett w/ the bat (which I don't think he is) to off-set what Adam can give you defensively. I say this with full confidence - Everett would have won the NL gold glove last year had he not gotten hurt. Additionally, his defense would have made a difference in the playoffs with those countless balls that snuck up the middle b/c of the lack of our infield range w/ Kent and Viz. Hell... he already made a difference in just the first two games... getting to a couple of balls up the middle that I was positive they would have been base-hits had Viz been there (IN fact, I had already thought they were base hits, till I saw Everett sneak in there at the last second). SS defense is one of the most important defensive positions a pitcher can have behind him... and its not like we're a stellar defensive team to begin with. Finally, I don't think we're as bad an offensive team as everyone here is clamoring for. We're not good enough to get 15 hits a game like we did on Wednesday (even though most of those hits were singles)... but we're not completely inept either. We'll be fine... but for now, pitching and defense is going to win more games for us than our offense... and thus, we need to keep those as strong as possible.
he sure did....his inability to get the ball to second to make the 3rd out enabled Edmonds to come up and doink on into the left field seats
come on...he was off-balance on that throw...he fielded it deep in the hole with a runner already going. he had to throw the ball in mid-air.
Yeah, he was a SS in college. I heard something recently on 610 though where they were saying that Burke did not have the defensive skills to play short stop at the major league level. Apparently the Astros thought he could when they drafted him, and were dissapointed to find out later that he couldn't handle it.
my point is stop making this guy out to be Ozzie Smith in the field...he is a solid fielder...nothing more, nothing less. If he can't hit the damn ball, I am sure we wouldn't suffer beyond belief without him in the field
