Dear Craig, First of all, thanks for pretty much making me look bad in these last four games of the season. You stunk last year vs Milwaukee, but you stepped up this time and because of you doing damage at the top of the order, the Astros completed the best run at the playoffs in their history. I think you deserve MOST of the credit for this surge because you got on base a lot, and when you get on base, it stirs up the rest of the hitters. But my biggest beef with you is how you suddenly shut it down offensively in the post-season. This is the main reason why I have taken a minority position and criticized you over the years in this great BBS we have. Overall, you have been a great player, a good hitter, but I can't call you a winner because you are 7 for 54 with 1 RBI in the biggest games in Astros history. You have failed miserably when the games mattered the most, yet the majority of Astros fans are so nice that they let this deplorable result slide. If you did this as a Yankee, you would be gone by now. I'm still skeptical Craig. Skeptical because the playoffs are a different ballgame. I don't completely believe in you. And I'm am not going to be fooled into believing you are going to change your ways at the plate this series just because you had a hell of a homestand to get the Astros into the party. You've had great regular seasons in the past, only to choke in the playoffs. Why should I believe this year will be any different? Against the Braves, Padres, Braves and Braves in past playoffs, you have been the best at killing rallies, and when you lead off an inning, you are the best at never getting on base. In the 2001 playoffs, you only got on base as the lead off hitter (in any inning) one time. In Game 2, with runners on first and third in the bottom of the fifth and 2 out and the Astros trailing 1-0, you hit a measly groundout to second to kill the rally. We can’t have that this time. Just can’t. In the 1999 playoffs, you went 2 for 18 with one walk and 5 Ks. That’s right, 2 more strikeouts than times on base in the whole series. In the 1997 Playoffs, you went 1 for 12. This kind of effort only puts pressure on the other hitters and makes them swing for the fences more since their leadoff hitter can’t get on base. Jim Rome said it best today, Craig. He said this tremendous run by your team doesn’t mean jack unless the Astros WIN this series vs the Braves, and it all starts with you. I realize this is a different Astros team, but that is what everybody said in 2001 as well. But ultimately, you are going to have to get on base more often in order for the entire offense to excel in post-season ballgames. As a leadoff hitter, this is your job, and if you don't do it, it makes it harder for the rest of the hitters because as a pitcher, it is easier to pitch to guys like Beltran, Bagwell, Berkman and Kent without baserunners on. And when you come up to the plate with runners in scoring position, I don’t want to see you strike out or hit sharply into a 6-4-3. Or hit a shallow pop fly that can’t advance a runner. In Game 2 of the 1998 NLDS, vs San Diego, you went 1 for 3 with 2 walks, and the Astros won the game. Unfortunately this has not been the norm, and we need that to change this time around. Surprisingly, you are going to get another chance against the Braves. You get another chance to help accomplish something the Astros have never done. And this time, you aren’t facing Maddux, Glavine and Millwood, your facing lesser quality pitchers in Wright and Thomson. What more could you want Craig? Are you going to step up and play like the regular season Biggio? Or will it be the same old tired, disgusting, heart-breaking story? If it’s the latter, please let Garner know so he can make the appropriate changes to the lineup card because I am SICK and TIRED of these chokejobs and so are the rest of us Astros fans. Craig, as Kenny Smith once said, the regular season is where you make your Name, the playoffs is where you make your Fame. You’re getting one more shot, time to make the most of it, although I'm not sure you will. JBII
How about a rant for Bagwell now too. Luckily these guys don't have to carry the whole load anymore. Berkman, Ensberg, and Beltran can help carry us now.
I thought about that. But in the 2001 playoffs, Bagwell did pretty well, going 3 for 7, with 5 walks. That's a .429 average and a .667 OBP.
The concept I disagree with...this run doesn't mean anything unless the Astros win the championship. That's a pile of crap. The last month has been among the most fun in Houston sports history. We've witnessed a comeback that has only been beaten by the freaking 1951 NY Giants. Unreal. Whether we win or lose in the playoffs, that was a HUGE accomplishment that breathed life back into a franchise that everyone was writing off. That is not wasted effort.
Bagwell's playoff problems have always been lack of support. When you're the one huge bat in the line-up and you can't count on anyone else to get on base, you tend to try extra hard, and since you're not getting pitched too, it's not a good combo. The 2001 playoffs saw a more relaxed Bagwell just taking the walks they were giving him and swinging at good pitches.
Agreed. As I stated in a previous post, the Astros have essentially won 7 consecutive playoff elimination games to get to this point. I am quite confident this is their year as I will be in Korea for the vast majority of the playoffs and will not have the opportunity to watch their games .
God, this is ridiculous. You make it sound like he's sucked on purpose or something. Furthermore, it is completely asinine for you to approach this as if Biggio is completely clueless of his failings in the post season. Who do you think is most bothered by the poor playoff performances, you or him? This is the perfect approach to the post season, why should we all be pumped up and in full HOMER mode? Why should we all be sporting the sh*t out of our astros gear, even at work? Clearly, the best way to have fun and support our team is to write them letters telling them that we have little or no faith in them and that we'll be pleasently surprised if they succeed. Complaining about the playoffs is reserved for when they are over and not before they start. Now, I want to know who is with me? Who's ready to bleed brick, sand, black, gold, and whatever the hell else is on there? Who's ready to bleed orange and blue for old times sake? Who's still got a little rainbow in their system? Who's ready to watch the games with their buddies? Who's ready to turn their children into ultimate fans? Who's ready to say an extra prayer at church for the good guys? Who's ready to make deals with God (Lord I'll do more for charity and come to church more often and swear off p*rn if the Astros can win this thing)? Who's ready to skip class to watch or attend the games? Who's leaving work early? Who's letting their employees leave early? Who's ready to add to this list?
It's not at all surprising to me that you would be a jackass. The bottom line is if you asked the experts before the season how many wins it would take for someone to grab the NL Central, the vast majority would've said anywhere from 90-95 games. No one had any idea that the Cardinals would be that dominant.
35-10 is far from mediocrity. of course i want them to win in the playoffs. but if they don't, it doesn't diminish that accomplishment. by the way...biggio is killing us...this team should be broken up...kent should be on the bench...beltran should be traded. keep up the great work, gunn.
That's not being a jackass. Being content with just making it to the postseason and not winning a series is settling for mediocrity.
Finishing the season 35-10 is excellent, and it's all well and good, but if Atlanta knocks them out in the first round, all your regular season numbers are worthless. Just the same with the Cardinals, they were proclaimed as the best team in baseball virtually the whole season, but their regular season accomplishments won't mean **** if they get bounced by the Dodgers. You can bet you ass that regular season credits are diminished by ultra-poor postseason performances. ...and yes I counted them out, like I said before "several times", but don't act like you didn't either. You're no saint, chump.
you know what, gunn...not even your miserable self in this message board can get me down right now. 35-10...second best comeback in MLB history. i'll take it. if they lose, i'll be disappointed...again. but it won't diminish the fact they resurrected this season. it won't dmiinish the fact that my team played meaningful games after being left for dead, and came up HUGE in those meaningful games. look at it however you want to. i'll approach it differently.
i think Gunn has a man crush on Max. Its the only way to explain his fascination with everything he says.
You hit the nail right on the head Odell. Go back to fantasizing about you and max getting a beer and hanging out after work, that way you can revel in your agreement.
