If Pettite and Clemens are not going to be here, I would prefer that Ausmus move to a backup role at best. I don't think we can afford 3 easy outs in the lineup with him Everett and the pitcher. Adam at least is a great defensive player, Ausmus calls a great game but he can do that from the bench. Let's get a decent offensive catcher who has more than a noodle for an arm. DD
Oswalt loves Ausmus as well... in fact, looking at the years he's been caught by Ausmus (2001, 2002, second half of 2005, 2006) vs. the ones he hasn't, there is a distinct difference (especially if you look at 2005... where he was first caught by Chavez, and switched to Ausmus). I wouldn't mess with that combo. Woody Williams probably won't benefit from Ausmus as much as Pettite/Clemens since he already knows the NL hitters pretty well (and has pitched well in this ballpark before). Hirsh/Albers are a toss-up. They haven't had time to develop the necessary chemistry with Brad, but then again they could use extra guidance when they get into hairy situations. The key for the offense is that Scott doesn't have a huge drop-off, and Ensberg hits somewhere in-between his awful last year, and his MVP-like 2005. If those two things happen, this team will have enough offense to survive Taveras, Biggio, Everett, and Ausmus. Hell, even if we have an average offensive catcher, we still wouldn't have enough to overcome an Ensberg slump or a Scott drop-off (and the affore-mentioned other black holes). And finally... if this team can't get suitable replacements for Pettite/Clemens besides Woody, Albers, and Hirsh... next season won't be very promising anyways.
I'll buy that. I have no beef with him either ... except for his featherweight hitting which costs us as many games (if not more) than he helps us win. I'm with you. I'm ready to move on whenever the Stros are ready. I won't cry when the Ausmus era ends, although I like him as a person.
it will be a happy day when the pitcher's spot is no longer the strongest bat at the end of the lineup.
I agree with the reasoning. IF no Pettite/Clemens, then move him to the backup role. 2 games a week is fine. If they're back, it'd still be nice to have him catch Oswalt, Pettite, and then Clemens when he gets back...and have someone young developing (good hitter, crappy fielder) for the other 40% of games. Not that they grow on trees. But shoot, even Phil Nevin in his younger days would have fit that bill.
It's a shame Johnny Estrada got traded already - I had kind of high hopes for him, and he was the best-looking option overall in the trade market by far, IMO.
Oh man that is the saddest statement but so true... hahahaha any time that bottom of the order is up I take a break.. Cook some food, go read the paper,surf the net..
I think carrying 4 feeble bats in the lineup is too much to ask. However, I'd bet that Biggio gets off to his typical hot start (before the inevitable late-season swoon), and then is replaced in the lineup in the 2nd half after his 3000th hit. I'd also venture that Taveras and Ausmus both are at risk of losing their lineup spots if they continue to produce poorly - Taveras to Burke, Ausmus to Quintero. Quintero had a solid season in AAA, hit .300 and played good defense, and looked good in the majors in brief action. Ausmus's contribution to the pitching staff is overrated and his arm/bat are shot. Roger and Andy love him, but did he produce results for any of our young pitchers? Hirsch, for instance, looked bad last year in the majors, despite doing great in AAA. Brad's gonna make a great coach/manager someday soon, but he's a very mediocre player.
You do realize that Ausmus won a gold glove for this last year right? Catcher is not suppose to be an offensive position. I realize he is still below average for a catcher but the Astros have the 2nd lowest ERA in the last 2 years. Don't you think that the guy that Hall of Famers like Clemens and Pettitte praise has something to do with it? Ausmus costs us runs on offense but saves runs on defense.
He may have won a Golden Glove, but I dont think he was deserving of it. He is great at calling games but he cant throw ANYONE out at second. If Clemens and Pettie come back, it will be fine for him to catch those 2 and Roy, but I would like to see someone else cath for the younger guys and Woody. If Pettite and Clemens dont come back, Ausmus should only catching for Roy and maybe another pitcher or two.
But haven't you guys heard the latest trend? Apparently Gold Gloves are completely meaningless. Just ask the guy on the Vernon Wells thread who thinks Everett is better than Vizquel EVER was. Ever.
He led the national league in games plaid and fielding % This doesn't take into account how many wild pitches he's saved.
Yes he won a gold glove in arguably the WEAKEST year for catchers in many years. Did he win the silver slugger for catchers? Because I would take a silver slugger winner over a gold glover every year...... Ausmus can catch, and call a good game....not much else. There are better options. DD
Shhhhhhhh... Saying that "GG's were meaningless" is what the other guy said. Not me. The guy .. the one who said Everett was better than Vizquel was, EVER. The guy who wants good defense, & yet says that GG's are meaningless. I was making fun of that other guy.
Thanks for that fresh take, the likes of which has never been heard here before. I am so enlightened. And, if you think that a) throwing runners out is all there is to catcher defense, or b) Ausmus was poor, average, or mediocre this season ...you don't know much about catcher defense. But yeah, nobody else in all the NL has three poor hitters at the bottom of the lineup. Everyone else in the NL was better because of their 7, 8, and 9 hitters. Gotcha.
Are there? No, seriously. There are better catchers, especially when offense is considered. But how many of them are options for the Astros? Come on, present an actual option the Astros have. Of course there are better catchers. But how can one be gotten, and at what cost? What do we have to give up to get him? In other words, can you propose a solution rather than this ridiculously redundant and repetitive moaning which gets repeated over and over again ad nausem? Does ANYONE, when discussing Ausmus, have something fresher than, "wish we had Molina" or "three automatic outs" or "the GG is meaningless"? (and yes, the GG is meaningless)
Forget what Clemens and Pettitt want. Ausmus should not be a full-time starter. In fact, he shouldn't have been signed to that 2 year contract. Get a live body back there who can hit better than a pitcher and can throw runners out. We cannot afford to have Biggio, Everett and Ausmus all batting full-time again. It's like driving a car with one of the tires always flat.
