i'm totally aware of that difference. i'm not saying every LF could go in and be a SS. not saying that at all. i'm saying i saw burke make throws that make me believe his arm isn't nearly the issue that it was made to be earlier. from what purpura said, apparently he saw the same thing.
you saw him range far to his right, stop a lined shot and toss a rocket across the baseball field to nab a speedy leadoff guy while he was playing LF? i don't know what pupura said, or what it is he's seen, but if the guy could play SS... he'd be playing SS. they would have given him extensive looks. to think he can no,w all of sudden, seems like a pipedream, like those long ago "bagwell back to third" machinations. hope i'm wrong - i think burke needs to play everyday and preferably in the INF.
ric -- what you're saying is that nothing ever changes. or that scouts never get it wrong the first time. those are the assumptions in your post. If craig biggio could play 2B, he would be doing so by now. but he's a catcher. i haven't seen burke play SS. no, i haven't. he was an all-american at Tennessee playing SS, though. a decision was made very early in his pro career to track him to 2B. there was no room at the inn, so he became a leftfielder. i'm saying it's worth giving him a harder look at SS. purpura said he saw some things from burke in long toss and playing LF that lead him to believe he could come in and play SS if need be. the sole issue has been arm. i've never heard anyone say burke doesn't have the range for SS...merely that he doesn't have the arm for it. there is a HUGE difference between what i'm saying and the "bagwell to 3rd" stuff. HUGE difference.
not really. what i AM saying is that there's never been any question about his bat, so knowing he was likely blocked at 2nd, if they thought he could play SS, they would have given him a look. same goes for 3rd base, the outfield, catcher.... if they haven't and just amde 4-year old assumptions, then they've failed in his developement. but bringing up biggio (and me bagwell) is relevant in that this team has always been creative about getting great players into the line-up. so why do they have no working knowledge of what else burke could do? especially last year when AE was hurt? what did TP actually say, because there's a tremendous difference between playing SS in a pinch and playing it everyday. he could probably do it once a month, sure. i understand that. and throwing the ball from the OF isn't relevant to your ability to gun a guy down from deep short. or throw a ball running at a different angle to the bag. or throw from your knees. or while being upended. it's just night and day and i don't understand what you or TP saw that would make you think he could play SS on a daily basis. please elaborate.
Except maybe they were simply more concerned about replacing Biggio. Up until last year, the expectation was that Biggio would be done by now, and that 2B would be open. They also had Everett as their SS of the future. Maybe now they are re-evaluating both of those thoughts.
valid point. but again, all i'm really asking MM is to tell us what he's seen in burke from LF that would lead him to believe he could play SS on a regular basis, considering the positions are so radically different.
I have nothing useful to add to this conversation other than the fact that I hope A.E. isnt in the lineup next year. Even if that means that Im playing SS. Everett sucks. Like Beltran.
Wait, I DID see something! http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASAp...t_id=1271020&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou 11/21/2005 1:43 PM ET Astros mailbag: Offseason musings Beat writer Alyson Footer answers fans' questions By Alyson Footer / MLB.com If the Astros were to trade Adam Everett (which I think would be a mistake) would they consider moving Chris Burke to shortstop? Do you think that he could play short on a daily basis? -- Jon H., Spanish Fork, Utah I've heard varying stories on that subject, but it's my understanding that Burke can indeed play short. He was a shortstop in college, but once he began his pro career, the Astros felt his arm was better suited to play second base. That said, they also believe his experience making throws from left field this year helped his arm strength. If Everett were to be dealt, and I have no factual evidence to believe that they're shopping him, Burke would be an option to take over at short. But I think they'd rather see him back in left.
If you think Taveras will have a .405 OBP next season, you are higher than a kite. Taveras needs to have a good full season of getting on base for me to think much of him.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2241012 The race is down to the Braves, Cubs, and Dodgers. Looks like AE stays at SS for the time being... although there could be an opening Atlanta shortly
In all this talk for a SS, what could possibly be wrong with getting Nomar? It ain't like he's demanding $50g's
i wasn't talking about a full season, i was talking about the playoffs. he was great during the playoffs and i think that will help in his confidence and work towards this next season. he had a very good rookie season and i think he'll get even better next year. i'd rather keep him for cheap in center than bring in furcal for a ton of money and similar batting skills.
except when you sign nomar you either have the joy of watching 1/2 hour at bats with him adjusting his batting gloves after every pitch, or him sitting on the bench blowing kisses to mia hamm out with an injury. i dont' like either option.
i'd go to a game at mmp just to see mia hamm across the aisle. That alone would be the best reason for signing Nomar. Get R' Done!
The Dodgers have offered Furcal 3/39 million. Thats 13 mil per year. Those guys are nuts. http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/NASAp...t_id=1275064&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl
