after everything bagwell has done for this franchise and all the pain and heartache involved in getting to this point, we have to let him DH and thus get in a world series game. whatever incremental value could possibly be gained from using lamb is not enough to offset giving bagwell his chance. it would be like the bears playing the 85 super bowl again and still not giving payton a touchdown as opposed to the refrigerator. there are just some things in sports that should be done, and this is one of them. now where does he hit? b/c of his walks i almost would like him 2nd but taveras isn't useful down in the order so that's out. i think i'd put him in front of lane to give ensberg a little extra protection and b/c putting him 6th would really waste his ability to walk as no one would care about putting him on in front of ausmus, everett, and burke (though those guys have come through lately, no one fears them).
Hey NJRocket, I've known Enos a long time. He's a good guy. You should get him to sign your ball! As for me, I practically grew up in the Astrodome. Saw Nolan's no-hitter when I was 5 and spent many a late night watching the 'Stros come from behind in the late innings. My grandmother had season tickets for 30 years and refused to leave the game until the last out was made. She's a fat lady and she likes to sing....what can I say??? I'm glad she's still alive at 90 yrs. old to finally see the 'Stros make the World Series. Come on ASTROS let's beat the sox off of Chicago!!! Woohoo!!!
I just don't see how Lamb is such a huge upgrade over Bagwell. Dude is *mashing* in BP, had key pressure hits and RBI's off the bench in the stretch run, and of course is a Hall of Famer. If he were taking bad cuts and looking out of sync up there it'd be a different story. But while right now he's no Berkman he's certainly just as legitimate a power threat as Lamb or Burke and a much greater threat to get on base or advance a runner.
Mashing in BP is differnet though.....I mean, pitchers hit HRs in BP. I dont see him as a power threat like Lamb...Burke perhaps...but regardless, Lamb has been hot...as has Burke. Id love to see Bags succeed and get a chance to play...but just not sure if its the team's best interest. Actually...i would have loved to see a 7 run lead in the 9th last night and let him play 1st to be on the field for the last out.
I understand this, but Bagwell has already demonstrated that he's a far cry from either Lamb or a pitcher.
I agreed with your take in the other thread... have Lamb be the DH against Contreras, and have Baggy be the DH against Buhrle. Also, its not a given that Taveras will be our everyday CF. Just like games 3, 4 and 5, Burke may get the nod there... and thus Baggy AND Lamb could be in the lineup against Contreras. I know hits will be at a premium against Jose... and I'd be willing to sacrafice some defense with Lamb at 1st, and Berkman in left, in order to get more punch in the lineup against a power righty (which Willy does NOT hit too well).
Houston its ALL SYSTEMS GO!!!!! Anybody else not sleep last night? LOL This has truly been a magical year and I don't really care how many games it takes so long as the Astros win four of them... GO ASTROS!!!
Sandberg's analyses continue to amuse me. He has consistently underrated Garner as a manager. He's underrated our starting rotation (you can't get more big-game than Pettite, Clemens and Oswalt). And his "intangibles" are a riot. Both rotations will be rested and ready to go for the Series. Only difference is the Sox will have to shake off a little more rust. How bout this: Pitching: Astros (like I said, you can't get more big-game than our three) Offense: Even Defense: Even Bullpen: Astros (we got one of the best in the league and they won't be fighting off any rust) Manager: Even Intangibles: Astros (people have been overlooking the undeniable resilience of this team all year) It's gonna be a close series, and I don't wanna predict either way. But I will say this... I feel a lot more confident heading into this series than I did against the Cards.
I like the Astros in 6. Two very small reasons being that the White Sox have Blum, who sucks as a hitter and Carl Everett, a free swinger who won't do anything against our pitchers. The White Sox really took advantage of the Angels fragile bullpen, and we all know the Astros bullpen has balls of steel.
