Hunter Pence vs Chris Burke vs Craig Biggio vs Uncle Drayton vs Fat Boy

you guys should be happy that we have these options to argue over regarding cf/2b/and if needed ss... my main concern, which i haven't seen mentioned is catcher. we're still stuck with ausmus

 

I wish he could be a split-time catcher.. but especially with the young pitchers, he could be integral to bringing them along this year if Roger doens't come back.

 

The Braves have an established history of bringing up top prospects and throwing them into the lineup. It's not a recent phenomenon.

 

Since it is "very common", who are some of these AA players who make the jump? McCann is one. Who else?

 

The plan was layed out at some point last season...

1. Biggio is going to play another season in his quest for 3,000 hits. We can't let him go elsewhere and get the milestone because it would be a huge media blitz for a midmarket team. Also would sell a lot of tix.

2. We have to play Burke full time next season to see what he can do but with Biggio at 2nd we have to find a spot for Burke.

3. Luke Scott looks like the real deal. Let's give him an entire season to see what he can do.

4. Pence is ready to make the jump but for at least the first few months let's get him some at bats in the minors and then call him up at mid season.

Add Lee to the mix and your OF is set for next season. Stros are just moving according to the plan. Even if Lane faltered Pence was going to be sent down anyways. They want him to see more pitches in AAA rather than have him ride the pine at the big leagues.

 

I like this plan.......GO ASTROS !!!

DD

 

I thought you said like 3 posts up (of yours) that potential doesn't mean crap?

Burke has WON the job. For now.

 

Hanley Ramirez
Justin Verlander
Nick Markakis
Jeff Francoeur
Ryan Zimmerman
Josh Johnson

 

For every Brian McCann, there is a Jeff Francouer.

Langerhans, Giles & LaRoche didn't stick in the bigs until age 25. Betemit was 23, but he signed at age 15 & spent 8 years in the minors.

But, again, comparing players' development arcs is silly. All players progress at their own pace.

 

Willy Taveras
Matt Albers

What's your point?

 

So, with the exception of Francoeur, the other players have one thing in common - they were brought up to play with pretty crummy teams.

The Astros have been so successful for the better part of the last 13 years, they have seldom had the opportunity or the need to progress players quickly through their farm system.

I'd much rather watch a team that is fighting for the playoffs late into September every year, than have to restock their major league roster with prospects every couple of years.

 

We were 12th out of 16 teams in runs scored last year. I'd say we had a need. The performances from Wilson and Lane last year were pathetic. Putting Pence in left field for two/three weeks last year could have changed the whole season around.

I don't see what teams were crummy outside of Baltimore. The Tigers went to the series, The Nationals and Marlins both played in a much tougher division and won 71 and 78 games respectively. The 'Stros only won 82 games in a terrible division.

 

Hanley Ramirez and Justin Verlander regarded as prospects on par with Taveras and Albers? That's an excellent rebuttal.

The point is that special talents can skip AAA and be successful right away.

 

While I agree that Pence belongs in the bigs, I disagree completely with your assessment of Burke.

Burke has shown that he is a bona fide major league talent. Good things happen when he is in the game and he is really clutch. Anybody else recall the 18th inning against the Braves?

My ideal would be to have Scott, Pence, and Lee in the outfield. But since Biggio, who is having a nice spring, is chasing 3,000, that leaves Burke in the outfield rather than 2B.

In short, I do not think it is a totally unreasonable baseball move to have a somewhat proven Burke instead of a totally unproven Pence.

 

What happens if Biggio goes down after a few weeks with a torn ACL or rotator cuff and is out for the rest of the year? Does that set us back another year?

Or does it set us forward this year and then back the next?

Or what happens if he pulls a Bagwell and tries to rehab his shoulder for the rest of the year, it fails and then has surgery? Is he our starting 2nd baseman in 3 years?

Does he get a contract extension?

He has to get 3,000 hits with us and you can't trade or cut the guy if you have a statue of him at the ballpark. I have no idea.....

Can we at least put him back at catcher now every once in awhile for offense if he's healthy so we don't have to change channels when Everett, Ausmus, and the pitcher are due up in the same inning?

We don't have to worry about prolonging his career anymore. That's why we moved him to 2nd base in the last century.

 

The Braves argument is silly; If I'm not mistaken the Astros BEAT the mighty Braves in the playoffs in '04 and '05 and finished with a better record than them in '06 (though they did play spoiler this past season).

This organization has a pretty good track record the past decade...and especially the past few seasons. So it's kind of hard to argue against that success; yeah the team still doesn't have a WS ring...but they've still been a lot of fun to watch.

Also, if I recall, Purp and Gar did play the young kids the past few seasons...they got us to the WS but not quite over that final hump...so the team's sprinkling in a few veterans and established players this year and people have a problem with that? If this team's trying to get to the playoffs, I'd rather go with guys who have proven themselves at the big league level first than go with just "potential."

 

You know I'm starting to think everyone's problems would be solved if the Astros were in the American League and had that DH.

 

But then Woody Williams and Jason Jennings would be wasted.

 

If "solving" the Astros' problems means adopting a gimmick where you let players play half a game, those problems shouldn't be solved. Give me the National League any day. The American League can keep their gimmicks.