Reading the articles in the paper the last couple of days, how Mo Alou invited a bunch of Astros to his house for dinner...how he screwed around in the clubhouse after losing to them 2 days ago...makes me realize that Mo was the best. Everybody always ranked on him about lack of hustle...all b/s. Best hitter ever. I don't care that he's hitting .240 this year. He belongs in the brick red and black jerseys. Mo for President. hoopgod13's fav baseball players of all time: 1. Jeff Bagwell 2. Moises Alou 3. Craig Biggio Remember the Alou-mo!!!
Does anybody remember what they say about one set of hands clapping? Seriously man, Alou is a fastball hitter who is losing his reflexes in his late 30s. The fastball instinct is about gone. I hate to say it, but he's pretty much done.
wow!! a convert!! i think i said those very words to you when you were telling me how goofy the astros were for letting him go. i stand by that statement....mo was a great fastball hitter...the instincts simply aren't there anymore.
Alou batted .350+ two years ago, and .330 last year. He was leading the league in batting average at the ASB last year. Yeah, he's having a bad season -- missing all of spring training and the first few weeks didn't help -- but unless instincts disappear overnight, I don't think he's really "lost" anything. Just a bad year, I think. He was as good as ever the last two years.
Well, I think he started going down hill around August of last year...so I don't know if it's totally inconceivable that he has lost some of his instincts. I'm glad we aren't paying him $9 million.
When the fastball insticts go, they go quickly. Think back and remember all the fastball hitters that went from really good to really average really quick. Max-- Yeah you were right. That's why I talk sports with you. You are one of the 3 most knowledgable guys I know. I rank first, of course.
When the fastball insticts go, they go quickly. Think back and remember all the fastball hitters that went from really good to really average really quick. On the other hand, look at all the people that were written off who were just having bad seasons. One easy example is Vinny Castilla. Obviously, he was never a Mo Alou, but everyone thought he was just old and had lost his bat speed -- he was a fastball hitter. Turned out he was just in a bad situation.
So has Vinny lost his bat speed this season? He's certainly worse -- he <I>is</I> getting older. He's still not nearly as bad has he was in Tampa Bay. My point is that you don't just "lose it" all in one year for the most part (barring some type of crippling injury). Is Mo going to be as good as he once was? Probably not. Is he really as bad as he looks right now? Probably not. Is he worth $9MM? Depends on if you're Steinbrenner or McLane. Also depends on how much you believe in lineup protection (ask Jeff Kent how much better it is batting in front of Barry Bonds ). With lineup protection, it's more a mental thing - the fear of having to face the player due to his reputation. Ward and Blum don't have the same presence as Alou and Castilla.
Alou... was always terrific until August. Then he lost his bat. Maybe we should use him and Ward as a platoon... Alou hits until July 20th, Ward hits after that...
Haven-- That was classic. I think you're right. Although that wouldn't have worked out too well this year. At least Alou didn't "fall off a treadmill."
