Assuming that Ward doesnt ever find his power or average again (Kind of like we tend to think of Hidalgo) Is it worth it to keep him over Hidalgo. Yuck his outfield play is just plain Terrible. No masking it.
I would say keep Ward because his contract is cheaper and he would be easier to trade if the right deal came along.
Yeah but if their offensive output is going to be similar with Hidalgo still putting up more HR's and being a capable OFer with a good arm, at very least he isnt going to lose you a game. Tonight Ward is looking like he is very much going to at some point cost us this game. Dude is just lost out there.
I say you keep Ward. Hidalgo is owed $22MM over the next 2 years. Get rid of him and you can add some real talent elsewhere. Get rid of Ward and you need a cheap replacement. Ideally, we can use Ward as the 4th outfielder / pinch-hitting specialist as we have the last several years.
Can the Astros get Alou back? That would be my alternative. Sure Alou is only good for 100 games a season but, he would still be more productive than Ward or Hidalgo.
I honestly would rather see them not make the playoffs at all this year over making it and then losing again in the first round to the Braves because of no hitting in the clutch. It gets rather tiring and annoying to see us do well in the regular season & then choke big time when it really matters.
WARD SUCKS. HIDALGO SUCKS. MERCED'S HAMSTRING SUCKS. LUGO'S ARM SUCKS. i feel the same way sorta; they shouldn't go into the playoffs like this. i would LOVE to see them in the playoffs to have another chance at the damn braves. pitching is fine, but i dont wanna see them going in with 3 or 4 guys who werent even with the team when the season started: loretta, lane, gordon, and so on. its not like i have anything against them, but its not the real astros. the teams missing their heart and soul; they need another bill spiers. anyway, did anyone hear about drayton thinkin bout gettin hampton or clemens next year....wouldnt that be something....
I just want to know what the hell Gordon was thinking on that pickoff attempt. He looks over his shoulder and no one is even twitching towards second. He turns and still not so much as a movement and he still tosses the ball into centerfield. And damnit...why the hell did Biggio get sent from third on that shallow pop to Right field against Drews strong arm? YUCK YUCK YUCK.
