Morgan has not earned the right to hurt the team in favor of his ego. Move him down. In the last 30 days his SLG percentage is lower than his OBP. That's pathetic. Morgan Ensberg= rally killer.
He was batting 6th during the winning streak... and batted 3rd today because of Garner not playing Lamb against the lefty. I'm actually against the changing of lineups EVERYDAY, depending on the pitcher. I would stick with having Biggio, Burke, Lamb, and Berkman all near the top of the lineup... and fill in the rest as you please. As long as those four stay consistent, the offense will be fine.
Morgan Ensberg is a POOR'S MAN Richard Hidalgo Richard Hidalgo G HR RBI SO BA. OBP. SLG. 1999 Hou 108 15 56 73 .227 .328 .420 2000 Hou 153 44 122 110 .314 .391 .636 2001 Hou 146 19 80 107 .275 .356 .455 2002 Hou 114 15 48 85 .235 .319 .415 2003 Hou 141 28 88 104 .309 .385 .572 Morgan Ensberg 2003 Hou 127 25 60 60 .291 .377 .530 2004 Hou 131 10 66 46 .275 .330 .411 2005 Hou 150 36 101 119 .283 .388 .557 2006 Hou 77 18 43 66 .236 .394 .502
Morgan Ensberg's OBP is .394. A .400 OBP is damn good. I agree he should be hitting better, but to say he is hurting the team is r****ded. The only player on the team with a better OBP is Lance Berkman.
A very close third in RBIs on the team. What the hell do you want from this guy? If we are going to talk trash about batting, atleast start with ausmus, everett etc.
Ensberg has been just killing us in key situations the last two months. A sacrifice fly would be nice if you could happen to manage that Morgan.
The team doesn't rely on Ausmus and Everett to drive in runs. You're right though, five RBIs in the last month from the guy that's supposed to be your 2nd best RBI man is awesome. I like Ensberg and I'm sure he'll come around. When he gets his swing goofed up though he shouldn't be batting third in the lineup.
Ok...Like everyone else I was deluded by Brad Ausmuses good start. But with his hit today he is now 1 for SUMMER. I was at least marginally encouraged that Garner was willing to hit for Ausmus tonight, something that would NEVER happen under previous managers (Dierk even had a schpiel in his bio about how he hated to hit for Ausmus because Brad was so popular and "relished the chance to come through in the clutch") Course it would be a moot point if Lidge was still halfway effective since he is too much of a titty baby to pitch to anyone but Officer Ausmus. I am sorry...I like Brad and Adam and Jason. But besides Berkman there just isn't enough firepower in this lineup to carry three, count em three, autoouts starting and thats besides the pitcher. Can't wait til Backe gets back...at least he will make the bottom of the order a tiny bit dangerous once a week.
I like Ensberg. He carried us last year when Berkman was out. I can't believe I am saying this...but give the man some time.
No one here can disagree that he just needs time to work things out. But, does he have to do it in the 3 hole? Why not hitting back in his more comfortable 4th spot or even 5th until he works it out? Him hitting 3rd last night was a killer. When you hit 3rd and have a man on 3rd base with 1 out, you should not be taking pitches down the middle. It is his job to drive runners home in that situation, not set up a potential double play by taking a walk. He possibly could have easily won or tied the game for us last night by being more agressive.
Ensberg's problem is that he appears to be going to the plate with the intention of getting a walk. He is letting too many good pitches go by. He works the count and draws lots of walks, but the Astros need him to be more agressive. When he was up with Biggio on 3rd and one out in the 7th, he did not swing until it was 3-2. He let a very hittable pitch go for strike 1. He needs to be told in no uncertain terms that he is an RBI guy. It is O.K. to go down swinging from time to time. Jump on the good pitches and take hacks at the pitches barely off the corner.
those guys bat at the bottom of the order. they're not expected to drive in runs like ensberg is. on one hand...ensberg is doing a great job of getting on base. he's got like a .390 obp last i looked. but on the other hand...the team needs him driving in runs if he's gonna bat in that position of the order. he's not doing that. and by the way...THIS IS A DIRECT EXAMPLE OF WHY THE OVER-RELIANCE ON OBP NUMBERS IS RIDICULOUS. thanks again, billy.
but work out what? he's essentially had four scorching months (may-july, '05; april '06) over a 3.5 year career. otherwise, he's been pretty pedestrian. expecting guys like ensberg to just turn on some switch as if the guy's a consistent threat aside from this slump is asking too much. more and more, the astreick moves closer to his success when discussing his exceptions. i think he's an average player who sprinkled in a few decent runs.
I have it on pretty good authority that he has like a wicked sick VORP. So there's no problem here. BTW...Ensberg cannot be sent to the minors without clearing waivers. Learn the fricken rules already, people.
I'm not a huge Ensberg fan, but you're understating him a bit. He had 3 great months of 0.950+ OPS in 2003 as well, and his August last year was pretty damn good as well. So half of 2003, 2/3rds of 2005, and one month this year. Consider that 2003 was his first full year and 2004 he was supposedly injured the whole year, and there's a lot of potential there. Whether he can consistently reach that is a different story, but he's shown to be more than just an average player. He had the best 3B numbers of anyone in the NL last year, I believe.
Thanks for the gallon of coffee I just spit onto my monitor and key-board. Maybe the best sentance I've read in a long time. Good work people!
