holy crap, me too! love that guy. i'd be good with getting a look at Francis, provided it doesn't cost much. we can move him to the 2.
I think id rather see us give Sanchez a shot to develop at SS....i think he can be a stud (sans the power)
I like what I saw from Sanchez last year but I don't think he could be an everyday shortstop. He is a better option than Tommy Manzella but who isn't? I think Sanchez could be a solid utility player. But if you can’t find out a clear upgrade at a reasonable price, I am okay with Sanchez at short.
Sanchez showed a good bat but honestly the guy has poor range, extremely slow, weak arm and NO POWER.
Put Sanchez at short and Keppinger at second and you get the slowest, least rangiest middle infield since ever. Add in a skillet-handed kid at 3rd and a lardass in left and the pitching staff might mutiny.
I guess I am way off...i actually thought Sanchez had a couple decent defensive games....anyway....I think the lardass in LF will be our lardass at 1B for many games
I agree. I would really like to have Sanchez on the bench. And I think team speed is something that needs to be addressed this offseason. Besides Pence and Bourne, we have nobody on the team with plus speed. Who's the third fastest guy? Keppinger?
@jcrasnick: Webb, Jeff Francis & Chris Young attracting interest as comeback bets on 1-yr deals. Webb a potential fallback for Twins if Pavano leaves Chris Young is intriguing and if the Stros are looking into Francis, I'm sure they have looked into Young.
Carlos Lee might be faster than Jeff Keppinger. Pence is fast, he just has trouble running in a straight line. Unless there's a glass door around, then he'll run straight into that mofo.
Speed actually isn't that important to offensive value in baseball. You have to be really incredible, like one of the top baserunners in the game, to make a big difference with your legs (see: Bourn, Michael). Of course, it does make a difference on defense, especially at certain positions, but it's just one factor of defensive ability (for instance shortstops who are really good despite being slow because they have incredible instincts). I think the team's biggest problem is that they don't get on base. Following that, they don't hit for power. A distant third is team defense, and waaay back in the list of "problems the Astros have" is baserunning.
speed /= good baserunning, ask Glen Barker good baserunning is incredibly important, ask Jeremy Giambi
Yes, I know you can be a good baserunner with less speed. No, good baserunning is not "incredibly important" relative to other aspects of offensive performance. Yes, it helps, but in terms of offensive value, on-base percentage >>> slugging percentage >>>>> stolen bases/taking extra bases in non-hit situations.
Young came up with the Rangers and pitched pretty well in 2005, of course made his name in SD but the guy has pedigree and it would only be a 1-yr deal. I will also assume since his injury that he might have added a pitch or two but that's only an assumption.
