Yea, I realize he had an excellent second half last season after a poor start last year. I guess the question is whether you believe that, after moving to 2nd in the batting order, you'd be more likely to see the Ausmus of the last 5 months or the Ausmus who played the previous 12 seasons. I'd be inclined to bet against him keeping up this pace, since his best season was .275 / 9 / 54, and came 6 years ago. Oh, and after Piazza, he's the oldest starting catcher in the major leagues. All those years behind the plate tend to take a toll.
But if he doesn't continue to perform, you can just move him back. There's not a lot of risk in trying it - it's not as though our offense is in a great groove that you don't want to mess with. And for what its worth, Ausmus made some mechanical changes in his swing this year w/ the help of Gaetti, so there may be a legit reason he's hitting better - who knows, though.
Well, you have a point there, it can't get much worse than the last few days. But you didn't state your opinion as to whether he would keep up his torrid pace, or revert back to his career numbers. I'm of the opinion that you didn't do so because you don't have much confidence in Ausmus's improvement being a permanent change.
WERD! I have no care in the world about his stupid homeruns. If we could have taken at least 2 of the 3, & he passes Ruth* I'd have been cool with it. Goodbye to that travelling freakshow. I hope we don't have to play them again all year long, for they have our number. * = you know what that means
Since I don't know the mechanics of his swing or what he changed, I have no idea whether his plate success would be temporary or not.
Ausmus is a pleasant surprise. Hope he keeps it going. My concerns with this offense are whatshisface ... Lane, & Wilson. Wilson is playing his way into free agency again, & Lane, I'm ready to give up on TOTALLY. I like his numbers from last year well enough, but do you honestly think that Burke can't do as well? The effort I saw from Lane in the outfield during the SF series was HORENDOUS! Charlie Hustle he ain't! HE is the one that would be better suited coming off of the bench, or packaged in a deal for some badly needed relief help. Burke MUST, no if's and's or but's about it it, be inserted as an EVERYday player, upon his return. He must! He's proven too valuable to keep on the bench during his prime years. You guys agree, right? He can replace one of three guys - Wilson, Lane, or Everett. Take your pick. I don't really care at this point. Though if I'd have my say, I pick LANE!
Even if Brad reverts to his career averages in the 2 spot, despite being ultra-consistent with a new approach over the past 5+ months... his career OBP is STILL better than Willy T, or any other current contenders to bat 2nd. I just want guys on base so that our only current two threats to drive in runs (Lance and Morgan) will have somebody to drive in. Willy's not going to draw walks, and he seems to try to hit everything to RF... even pitches that are inside that he should try and pull down the line (or maybe he's trying to hit it down the line, and he's just late every time on the swing).
I'm with you there, somewhat. I'd hoped Willy would find some plate discipline, but he's not showing improvement offensively to date this season. He's never going to be a power threat, but it'd be nice to get fewer Ks and more walks out of the 2 spot. He does have speed, though. That's one reason I'd like to see us find a place in the lineup, somewhere, for Burke. He's built to hit first or second. And after Biggio, we've got nobody else we can say that about.
Actually, Biggio isn't really "built" to hit lead-off... not anymore. He still has the job by reputation, and he's still an above average hitter... but you'd like a little better OBP, a little less strikeouts, and a little more potential to steal out of your lead-off hitter. I agree that Burke could potentially be a top-of-the-order guy in the future, but he won't get that opportunity any time soon unless Biggio mysteriously retires soon, or the club decides to convert him to CF and replace Willy T (an idea that I really really really want them to think about, if Willy doesn't show much improvement by the end of this year).
Sure, Biggio isn't a traditional leadoff hitter... and he never was. He's always struck out too much, and his power is somewhat wasted in the leadoff spot. But he's going to go down as one of the greatest leadoff hitters ever, maybe 2nd after Henderson. I'd love a speedy OBP machine leading off, but since we don't have one Biggio works just fine for me. I'm comfortable with him there, and we had our best success last year when we moved him back to that position in the lineup. And I'd like to see Burke get a shot in CF, although I'm not sure he's got the arm or the range or the outfield instincts. But if Biggio handled it for a full season, perhaps Burke could fill in there for awhile too.
1st time since their innaugural season Stros gave up 10+ runs in 3 straight games; Getting outscored 34-5 in a 3 game series is biggest run differential in any 3 game series in team history; Every game was over by the 4th inning, if not before; Stros hit .196 for the series (19-97); Stros w/ RISP: .125 (3-24); 3 singles, 2BB, 1 Sac, 1 GIDP, 2 RBI No starting pitcher finished the 4th inning; Starters' ERA was 16.88 for the series; Starters walked 14 and struck out 5 in 10 2/3 innings; Stros allowed 6 unearned runs; This was the worst series beatdown in franchise history. Almost unbelievable.
