Garner would never have the cajones, but I think batting Ensberg 2nd and moving Bidge to 6th in the lineup would dramatically improve our run production. Ensberg has a much better on-base percentage. Bidge still hits a good number of doubles and homers. He doesn't walk much, but why have Ensberg on base with walks so much with the mighty Everett/Ausmus duo up next. Burke Ensberg Berkman Lee Scott Bidge Everett Ausmus (ugh) Better hitter than Ausmus (pitcher)
I dont like it. it would almost be like 4 autoatic outs in a row at the bottem of the linup. I think if Ensberg stays at 6, the linup will get more production. It spreads out the batters a little more
I'm too lazy to look up the stats but I think Bidge had a better batting average, more homers, and definately more doubles than Ensberg. They both strike out too much. What you would be giving up is walks. My point is that so what if Bidge doesn't get on base as much. 8 times out of 10 times Everette or Ausmus would leave Ensberg stranded. You don't need a 6 hitter that leaves his bat on his shoulder, especially when you have such light hitters coming up next. Ensberg's walks would be very valuable in front of Berkman and Lee. Too often last year Berkman was up with no one on base thanks to Biggio and Taveres' horrible on-base pct.
True, but I'm bored with all the David Carr sucks, Tracy McGrady walks on water retreads, maybe I should get back to work.
1 of 2 things will happen with Ensberg this year: he returns to some semblance of his '05 aggressive self; or he reprises his '06 unwillingness to hit the damn ball. Either way, he most likely won't be hitting 2nd. He'll be in the middle of the order, or he won't be playing for Houston.
You're probably right. I just get sick of the fact that conventional wisdom always seems to rule the day in baseball. I think Ensberg's crappy numbers from last year would still probably be pretty good compared to other two hitters if you look at on-base pct and power numbers. They would certainly be better than bidges. I think we need more base runners in front of Lance and Lee as opposed to in front of Everette and Ausmus.
Burke Bidge Berkman Lee Scott/Doggy MO Ever Aus P or Burke Lamb Berkman Lee Scott/Doggy Bidge Ever Aus P
You drop Bidge to 6th with Everett behind him he'll never get a pitch to hit which means the hunt for 3000 drags on which means another Burke in center for longer...
Bidge will be moved to the bench if he does his annual tank job. Hopefully he gets 3000 before running out of gas so Garner can sit him down and try to win games. By August, Bidge will have no business at all batting on the road unless he's the 3rd pinch hitter.
That's pretty much exactly where he'll be when he's in the starting lineup. He's perfect for the spot...contact hitter with a lot of doubles.
It would never happen?? It already did happen last year throughout most of the second half of the season (when the team was playing better). Bidge in the 6th spot is no worse than anybody else on this team who's a candidate for there. He could bat in the 2nd spot, but you'd be asking him to do more of moving the runner over and NOT striking out (instead of just flat-out hitting... which he'd get to do more of in the 6th spot). I find it funny that some are arguing about not having "4 automatic outs" as a reason for not wanting him in the 6th spot... so instead you want him to bat further up (in a more important position)???? Doesn't make much sense... but the reality is that he's a below average hitter who still has some pop, and has average speed. On a great hitting team, he'd be batting 7th-8th. On ours, he can bat 6th.
Here's my Opening Day lineup: Burke Everett Berkman Lee MoBerg Scott Biggio Ausmus Like you said, it'll never happen.
Opening Day lineup.... Burke/ CF to be named later Ensberg Berkman Lee Scott CF to be named later/ Burke Everett Ausmus Pitcher There are quite a lot of CFs that bat better than I expect Biggio to bat this season. Getting rid of Taveras (who I think may become a okay/good player if he was sent to the minors to learn to hit) was a decent start to cutting down the outs. Of Biggio, Everett, and Ausmus; Biggio would be the easiest to replace without a losing much defensively. I've got a lot of faith in Oswalt if the Astros can get him in the postseason with a good offense and a sidekick. JJ may be that sidekick. Clemens could be that sidekick.
