Been checking out a few sites and reading some articles, and I keep seeing the same thing over and over: Check out these two players and their 2003 stats: Player.....Age....ABs....Hits....HRs....RBI....BB....K....Ave.....SLG....OPS X......... ...26......588....166....29.....101....62...89...282.....514....864 Y.............28......385....112....25......60.....48...60...291.....530....907 If we extend Player Y's stats to match Player X's number of at bats, you get 171 hits, 38 HR, and 91 RBI's. In addition, Player X has a BB/K ratio of 1:1.44, and Player Y's BB/K ratio is 1:1.25. Yet Player X is being touted as the best 3rd baseman in baseball, and Player Y, while noted as a good player, is not getting anywhere near the publicity Player X does. Granted, this does not take defense into account, and X is a great defensive 3B, but Y is not a liability in the field. Player X is Eric Chavez, Player Y is Morgan Ensberg.
Pitchers will be more "aware" of player Y's weakneses this year as well. Player X has put up those numbers consistently for a few years now, player Y hasn't even played full-time for one season yet. I hope Ensberg is the real deal. Pitchers will make their adjustments and Ensberg will have to make his. Time will tell.
I agree that Ensberg still must prove himself over a full season. My point is two-fold: I think Ensberg is underrated, and Chavez is overhyped.
Most Houston athletes have always been underated. Calvin Murphy Moses Malone (until he went to Philly) Hakeem (until we won championship) J.R. Richard (if he played in NY he would be mentioned with the greats of all-time) Jeff Bagwell (see J. R. Richard) to name a few.
What a shame. I remember the beginning of the 1980 season, when a three game series with the Astros had their opponents facing J.R. Richard's fastball, Joe Niekro's knuckler, and Nolan Ryan's fastball in order. Talk about throwing off a hitter's timing!!
Yeah, I remember reading about the 1979 Pirates (We are Family), who won the World Series that year. Stargell and Parker both said the toughest staff they faced all year was that Astros staff. After facing J.R., Joe and Nolan in a 3 game series, most of the Pirate hitters would be in a slump for a week after facing them.
Behad, are you equating Ensberg's #s at MMP with Chavez's #s in Oakland, a much less hitter-friendly park? Here are some interesting statistics: --------------------------------- Ensberg At Home: .351 BA, .448 OBP, .665 SLG, 1.113 OPS Road: .234 BA, .304 OBP, .401 SLG, .705 OPS Before Allstar Game: .312 BA, .418 OBP, .613 SLG, 1.041 OPS After Allstar Game: .269 BA, .330 OBP, .441 SLG, .771 OPS --------------------------------- Chavez has nearly identical home/road splits. I like Morgan Ensberg as the Stros 3B, and hope he succeeds this season. But he hasn't proven he can play well in a full-time role, hasn't proven he can maintain a high level of production for an entire season, and hasn't proven he can hit on the road. Until he demonstrates those qualities, he's not going to be mentioned in the same breath as Eric Chavez. Right now he's still more of a question mark than an answer. The baseball landscape is littered with players who had a good half-season, it's maintaining consistancy year after year like Chavez has (starting in 2000 when he was 22) that makes a player a star.
