I don't want to jinx anything, but I'm holding my breath, hoping for the best, and expecting the worst!
The guy I'd be interested in seeing inserted into the rotation is Patton, but Backe might suffice. Oswalt Jennings (pray that he turns it around) Rodriguez (pray that he starts more at home than on the road) Williams Backe/Patton/Sampson (pray that one of these three is the surprise "addition" post 9/1). The offense is showing signs (at times) of turning it on. If Pence can come back from his wrist injury, suddenly, the everyday lineup looks pretty good: Biggio/Burke/Loretta - 2B Pence - CF Berkman - 1B Lee - LF Wigginton - 3B Scott - RF Everett - SS Ausmus/Munson - C
He's just started swing a bat and hitting off of a tee. It's going to be a couple of weeks at best. If they somehow win some games on the road and stay within 7-8 games back, maybe, just maybe, they get in the race when Pence gets back. It's going to take a further decline of the Cubs and Brewers, along with the hope that the Cards don't go on a tear as well.
He is hitting .222 with the Astros with 3 RBI. One came in a 12-3 loss, one was the 5th run in a 5-2 win and the other was the 2nd run (on an SF) in a 6-5 loss.
Ty Wigginton is hitting .296 with the Astros... Not .222, where you got that number from, I have no idea. Now he does only have 3 RBIs in 10 games. But he also has scored 7 runs. 3 runs in the 12-11 win over Atlanta 2 runs in the 8-2 win over Florida, a key part in both 3 run innings. 1 run in the 2-1 win over the Cubs. He has certainly made an impact. But it's been on the scoring end more than the RBI end. Although IMO moving the runners over is just as important as knocking them in. And that is truly where I see him making an impact.
You are correct about the average, I missed the two July games (i.e. he's hitting .222 in August). The poster I responded to mentioned RBI not runs scored, and he does only have 3 RBI.
