"Offense is fickle. It comes and goes. Pitching and defense wins games." -- Lance Berkman. sig worthy.
You definitely can't have ALL pitching, and zero hitting... but if you had to choose one that wins you more games, its PITCHING PITCHING PITCHING. Lance knows that their lineup is what is is... even with Carlos Lee (they still will have to pick-up Taveras, Biggio, Everett, and Ausmus more often than not). Hell, their lineup was SOLID in 2004, and their inconsistency was still a huge issue in winning ball games (as was the non-existant playoff hitting from 1997-2001).
Lance just said it...how many teams have slugged their way to a World Series title without good pitching?? I can name a few teams off my head who advanced to or won a World Series who were mediocre offensive teams...but great pitching teams. I can't name the inverse of that.
great point. 1998 was the best offense, in my mind, the Astros ever threw out there. they went out in the first round. Lance said it...offense is fickle. Good pitching is steady.
I dont disagree....but think about this... say we dont give Lee the 100 mill.....lets say we re-sign Clemens for 1/2 a year and Pettitte and add Woody. we re-sign Huff and shop ensberg Do we make the playoffs with the same batting lineup as we had last year even tho that starting in July we have a rotation of Rocket, AP, Woody, Roy and Hirsh?? Im not so sure...certainly our pitching staff would be as solid as last year (if not more so)...who knows...
Interesting. The Indians won 86 games that year but advanced to the WS. They were an amazing defensive team, though. Defense up the middle during the mid-90's in Cleveland was fantastic. They lost the World Series that year to the Marlins. Can you think of a team like that which WON the World Series???
OK...the Cardinals are talking to Barry Bonds???!!!! I can't see Barry being a good fit in St. Louis!
thing is that a lot of times, your offense can carry you TO the playoffs...but it takes a pitcher or 2 getting hot in mid sept to carry u thru....like Weaver and Suppan did this past year
I'm just saying you need a balance. The Astros offense last year was worse than mediocre for a great deal of the season.
it was in 2005, too. when they won the pennant. it was much better in 1998. when they were ousted in the first round.
As solid as last year? I'm worried that there will be a fall off for andy, rocket, and woody. Lance might be right, having a rockstar group of pitchers might be better than a few guys who can hit. Right now, we have none of the above and won't have any rockstars unless we can get a trade going (cause andy isn't that rockstar . . . he's solid, but you don't go into a game thinking we got this in the bag - the way you do when roy's pitching). Taking a look at the Central . . . everyone is adding pitchers and hitters while we have added a hitter (+ woody). Last year's team wouldn't be in the hunt for the central this year, and i'm thinking this year's team might not either.
well, i was considering that we wouldnt have to shuffle wandy, zeke, etc in and out of the lineup unless there was an injury or special circumstance
everyone is adding pitchers in the Central?? who?? Ted Lilly??? please. comparing adding him and the 'stros adding Woody is a wash. oh..and the Cubs signed Kerry Wood. weeeeeee. did the cards add a pitcher i'm unaware of???..because at last check, they're trying to convert 2 of their bullpen guys to starters.
check the chron.....LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The Astros are set to announce the acquisition of Jon Garland from the Chicago White Sox in a trade that will bolster the starting rotation and place him behind ace righthander Roy Oswalt. The deal was close, according to Tal Smith, the Astros’ president of baseball operations. It will be announced shortly at Walt Disney's Swan and Dolphin Resort this morning
