Let Jeff Bagwell have 1 at bat on the last home game. More symbolic and no matter what happens fans can give him an ovation. What a moment that would be to hear his name announced 1 more time over the PA and stepping up to bat. Of course it will never happen because it would blow the chances of getting paid on the insurance policy.
I don't know what you need to "find out" about Luke Scott. On a team that gets shut out every other day, he's averaging .382 with a .700 slugging percentage. Who else do you want to start at LF? What boggles my mind is how he was still sitting on the bench when they had some semblance of playoff hopes. Just another on a long list of baffling decisions by Phil Garner this season.
Luke Scott better be an every day player next year. He makes Jason Lane look like a Double AA player at the plate.
yeah i agree that's probably the most mind-boggling thing i've seen this year. leave luke scott in against lefties and let's see if he can hit them.
That is what I think...even though you are making a funny...Jason is too good for AAA and not good enough for the major leagues....at best a fill in 4th outfielder, spot starter type. DD
No arguments here. I wouldn't be unhappy at all with an OF of Lee, Taveras and Scott with Lane coming off the bench.
Bright spots this year: 1) If Lance keeps this up for ten years, he's a HOFer. 2) Luke Scott. Can he do it in April? 3) Roger Clemens--what a treat it's been to watch that for three years. 4) Roy Oswalt. If he keeps this up for ten years, he's a HOFer. 5) Dan Wheeler. I'm not too worried about finding a closer next season, just competent middle relief. His second half ERA is 0.72!! 6) Trever Miller and Russ Springer performed well in their roles--as long as no one expects them to be a 2003 Lidge or a 2003 Dotel, this will do for next year. 7) Willie T came out from being benched and earned his spot admirably. He hit the ball, he stole bases, he handled the bat like a pro. Can he do it in April? Biggest disappointments this year: **) Didn't make the playoffs. Won't even break even. 1) Lidge 2) Preston Wilson 3) Morgan Ensberg 4) Craig Biggio 5) Jason Lane 6) Aubrey Huff Someone fill in the holes if I've missed the obvious--that was a "top of the head" list. If PW and Bidge play like they've played over their careers, and if Morgan doesn't go on the rag all season long, we could have absorbed Lane's attrition. That, and Aubrey Huff came over here and became the 2nd coming of Morgan Ensberg. HUGE disappointment for a so-called midseason "spark". Beltran came over and didn't do much until October, but even that was more than what Huff contributed.
there are a ton of "ifs"...but adding wilson AND huff to this lineup should have been enough, given their past performance. ensberg absolutely fell off a cliff. i think if those factors had turned the other way, we'd be talking about our first round playoff matchup. obviously that's just ifs and guesses...but those are my thoughts.
I can't argue with that...A little needed offense going the right way just didn't happen when it should have...
All the offensive woes aside, I actually believe this team makes the postseason if the bullpen perfomed as usual. Lidge not only hurt us in games, he hurt the team's morale by losing all those games late. Combine that with Qualls giving up a ton of runs in close games and the team just didn't have the right chemistry this year. DD
I wonder if we can sign Torii Hunter? I'd rather see a good center fielder acquisition than a corner outfielder. Taveras just doesn't do enough. He doesn't walk enough and he doesn't steal enough to be productive in this already weak hitting lineup. Hunter is like 31 so a 4 year contract would get him to 35/36 at 8-10 mil per? 07 Lineup? 2b Burke 3b Ensberg 1B Berkman LF Scott CF Hunter RF Pence or *gulp* Lane? SS Everett C Ausmus or FA
Not to mention the horrendous starts by Wandy, Bucholz, and other young guys. And we kept pitching them over and over again. I can't for the life of me understand why Wandy was called up to pitch again this season after doing horrible in AAA as well. Didn't Sampson and even Albers to an extent earn more chances than Wandy this season? There were many games where we were done in the 1st or 2nd inning with no chance of coming back because of those two. Oh well let's hope Garner will not make the same mistake next year. A guy like Hirsch should be given many chances next year as well as Sampson and maybe Albers. If they have three or four awful starts in a row changes have to be made. You can not keep putting them out there every 5th day.
I still want Soriano. I say we sign him, then put Burke in at SS. What Burke gives up at SS compared to Everett, Soriano more than makes up defensively. Plus you get all that offense. Then if Carlos Lee wants to come here, it will have to be on our terms. Willy Burke Soriano Berkman Ensberg Scott Huff/Pence ABA (anybody but Ausmus) Then we sign one quality starting pitcher, and convince Pettite to re-sign a modest deal. Or we've got Everett, Lane, plus prospects to be able to make a trade with.
soriano is AWFUL defensively as a 2B. awful. i'll be shocked if any team ever signs him to start in the infield ever again.
