But it did save us from 10 months of whining as to why those guys weren't playing more if Kent was at 2B and Biggio was in LF. I guess us sunshiners have to pick our poison.
Kent's option at 7m or whatever could have been picked up. We didn't have to outbid anyone. It's not about Kent though. As said, Biggio's doing fine at 2B. The problem is that we were counting on the combination of several questionable factors for early run production, and they haven't come through for us. 1) Morgan Ensberg hits for OK average, but he's not the run producer we saw in 2003. 2) Bagwell is slumping early and hasn't been able to produce the power this lineup needs. 3) Left field, a key run producing position on any team, has been a black hole of suck for the Stros. Biggio filled a big hole left at 2B, but left one almost as big in left. 4) Adam Everett was expected to become a leadoff man (for some reason) but has really struggled with the expectations. 5) The hopes for an early return by Berkman haven't been met. Berk should still fill the OF hole left by Biggio when he's healthy. But this lineup still is looking at 3 other disappointments. The return of 1 player, even of Berkman's stature, won't be a panacea.
Everett seems to be playing a lot better lately, as has the team as a whole from a hitting standpoint. Berkman's return is right about where most people thought he'd be coming back. I think adding his bat to an already improving offense will help more than you think. I bet we see Bagwell sitting a little more to get Lamb more playing time as well. We're obviously not doing great right now, but I still think we can be a team fighting for the playoffs a couple of months from now.
At this point, I think if you give me a lineup with Lamb at LF, and Berkman at 1st base, vs. a lineup of Berkman in LF and Bagwell at 1B... i'll take even money that the FORMER is going to outproduce the latter.
He's hitting a little better now, he's also been moved out of the leadoff spot. Adam really needs to learn how to make better contact, it's ridiculous for a .250 slap hitter to be on pace for 125 Ks. He's never going to be a big time run scorer or producer, but I'd like to see him improve his discipline. But on terms of our problems so far this season, power production from the 3 and 4 spots has been the major sticking point, but lack of hitting from the leadoff position has been 1A. Willy hasn't exactly lit it up hitting first either.
Can't help but think that resigning Kent would've stopped a serious effort at Beltran. In hindsight, we got played by Beltran - but at the time, we needed to free up big money to resign him, and we had plausible replacements for Kent who were much cheaper.
Didn't have to outbid anyone for Kent, we had his option. Didn't have to give him 8.5 for two years. Could have had him for I think it was 9 mil for one year.
no question........i'd even go as far to say that if Bags could outproduce Ensberg (which is a big question mark), then Bags could play 1b...Lamb 3b.....Berk LF and trade Morgan.
HA! That's probably directed towards me since we had that conversation several times. I was right last year - after a tremendous first-half, Biggio finished with a decidedly mediocre offensive season, was the worst defensive player in the league at two different positions, and cost Jason Lane a year of playing time. I foresee pretty much the same thing happening this year.
^^^ Hit enter too soon. Same thing happening means that Biggio will have a decent first-half and a poor second-half, and while he may not be as bad a 2B as he is an OF, he's still pretty poor. Obviously, it will be very difficult for the Stros to screw Lane this year, but I'm sure if they get creative they can find a way.
Really? The Biggio who had his best BA since 2001, scored 100 runs, 47--forty-seven--doubles, 24 bombs, and 187 hits? "Decidedly mediocre"??? Pardon me while I peel my laughing ass off the floor. Do you check facts before you post this drivel? His weaknesses--too few walks, too many K's (94), and OBP a little too low--but those didn't keep him from scoring runs, and that is a leadoff hitter's job. How's Bidge going to cost Jason Lane a year of playing time? Does Lane play 2B? Also, if he wants PT, he should consider some degree of consistency. To date, he's been DWII minus the breakout season off the bench. Also, how was Bidge the worst outfielder? 13th if FPCT for all outfielders isn't bad. Are you going by the nine errors? To me, DW is a far worse outfielder--unless he was at 1B last year. I think you're just b****ing about it for the sake of b****ing. Is it because you're delusional about lack of production, or because you're a bitter Jason Lane fan? About what?
Who's DW? Biggio was a subpar outfielder not because of the errors, or even his range. His deficiency was that his arm was easily the worst OF arm in baseball, and guys routinely took the extra base on him. Highlighted in the LCS. But you know all this already.
Worst arm in the league, granted. Worst outfielder? Subpar indeed, but not so sure about "worst at two positions". But the point was that the other poster was whining with points that weren't really defensible. DW is Dayle Ward. Lane has all the potential DW has, but has produced only what DW produced--minus that season where DW banged like 21 off the bench.
I'm with you on Biggio's D. He wasn't the worst OF, and he isn't the worst 2B. I wouldn't call his D a plus at either position, but there are worse starting at both LF and 2B. And Ward deserved a chance to start after the 21 homer outburst. He didn't do anything with the opportunity, and was justifiably replaced. He was also a ****** who was a terrible defender. Jason Lane also deserves a chance to start this season. Will he produce? I think he will, but if he doesn't, then he also deserves to be sent packing. Just because one outfielder flames out doesn't mean the next one will, though. Give him the opportunity and then sit back and see what he does with it. I think his offense and defense have been OK so far. He's on pace for .275/25/80, which makes him about an average starting ML outfielder. I don't see him flaming out DW style. (Ward's doing OK with the Pirates this year, btw).
