I like the move but only if this is a true competition for the RF/CF jobs. If Pence only has to perform better than, and not have to have a big red "S" on his chest to win the competition. Be Fair. If Hidalgo does not cut it then cut him. Don't expect that Hidalgo is going to suddenly become something he really never was by keeping him on the roster and leaving Pence to waste time in the minors.
3 months of production does not earn you a starting job guaranteed, sorry. Scott has to prove last year was no fluke, just like Lane had the opportunity to do last year and failed(and will be off the team more than likely). And Hidalgo has had good results at the MLB level before. Right now Purpura is hedging his bets if scott flops, and at worst, hidalgo could be the RH power bat off the bench like lamb is for lefties, if he proves his worth in ST. This is a no risk, high reward move. You could either have a great RH bench bat, a great RF platoon with scott/hidalgo, or a RF option completely if scott regresses and hidalgo shows he can still play. If he shows he can't play, he gets cut, or accepts a minor league assignment. And your credibility was shot by saying the Loretta deal is a mistake. It's a one year, small money deal for a guy happy to be a super utility player. And a guy with a career .299 avg, who has experience in that role and will help spell bidge at 2b. A bench in the NL is very important, and with loretta and lamb and OP, the astros have one of the best now. Also again, what if ensberg falls on his face. You then have the option of a Lamb/Loretta platoon. Your argument was that money should go to a 4th starter. Um, 2.5 mil won't hinder that pursuit if they want that route. Furthermore, the Astros feel and I don't blame them, that guys like sampson, albers, nieve can be the 4-5 spots over signing guys like ohka. I agree with them. I personally really liked what I saw from nieve as a starter last year, and think he can put up comparable numbers to the 4th starters on the market or even better ones.
I like the idea of him coming back...but it will mean that Luke is the odd guy out since there's no way he can play CF.... then again,i guess if Doggy ends up being able to contribute, he will platoon w/ Scott in RF...i guess that means Lane would be the odd guy out
I think that is best case scenario...especially if Scott gets off to a slow start. I'd do anything at this point to get Lane off of this team.
The people complaining about Hidalgo taking playing time away from Scott would be the same people complaining if Scott had a dropoff, and the Astros had no viable alternatives. Its also the same people who complained last year about Ensberg's drop-off and Lane's drop-off. You have to have options, people... especially when this team is full of "unknowns." Scott is an unknown... he's a 28 year old unknown who has yet to put together a full season. Richard Hidalgo is a 31 year old unknown... who used to be good. Scott will be given all the opportunities in the world to win the job outright... but if he falters, its not the worst thing in the world to see if a former major leaguer has a chance to turn it around.
Rafer's got his competition... JLIII. Maybe V-Span needs some easier competition... his 2 fouls in garbage time really made me think he's the second-coming of Steve Nash.
Once Scott has been around the league a couple of more times, his O numbers will likely go down when opposing pitchers figure out how to best pitch to him. Add in the fact that Scott appears to be a streak hitter, RF may likely be a platoon situation next season. Platoon with Lane or Hidlago? Neither excites. Hidalgo does have a cannon for a arm, which makes him a late inning defensive replacement. Thus, Hidalgo by a nose and Lane is set free to see if he can get his career jump started somewhere else.
It's a 'free' signing, a 'free' look', so why worry? (Even if 'doggie' is too well known?) BTW - should your last line not have read, "who once was good once"?
