Flat out lie. We had "viable" replacements for all of them. (But I guess you can spin viable 600 different ways to suit your point.) Call up Hirsh, close with Qualls or Wheeler, lead off with Burke, for starters.
you can definitely distinguish between an ensberg and a berkman. if you do not agree with this, you are not an astros fan.
Subjective? You think it's subjective to observe that Ensberg watched a fastball go right across the heart of the plate? Seriously, you need to understand that that is quite objective. So is a drop of the hands in the swing. So is pitch selection. Perhaps you can't see those things? That wouldn't make it "subjective". You can choose math, and I'll choose both. Logic employs all of the facts available to it, not simply the ones that support one's opinion. True logic would embrace the facts that come from both, not simply from "math".
Wrong. He's only been slumping for 2 months, he was scorching the ball in April. It's no longer a slump over the course of a full season, imo. I guess you pull the plug on his season if this continues into mid-August, from a management perspective.
Damn, just because you disagree now you're calling out someone's character. You're taking this too seriously, man. We're all Astros fans; we all agree on that. Hell no. Let that guy develop. If he's not Roy O, then he'll be Wade Miller or Carlos Hernandez. Or Tim Redding. Or Kirk Saaaaaarlooooos. I'd rather not stunt his development by slamming him in the pen or running him up here before he's ready.
One of several reasons why keeping him in the lineup and moving him up to #2 is one of the better ideas in this thread (at least where Mo is concerned; then you have to find a place for Lamb or Burke).
I don't think that's true. Ausmus' OBP the second half of last season was around .380 and he hovered around .280 in batting average starting in the latter part of June. There was a striking correlation last season in our W/L record and whether we had two automatic outs in the lineup (Everett, Ausmus) or just one (Everett). The same could be said thus far this season.
I'm not saying we should have called up Hirsh, I'm presenting that as a viable alternate option because Major said we had no options for the rotation.
Well, I think the Reds just positioned themselves to get Tejada....they just traded Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez to the Nationals for a couple of relievers and Royce Clayton...they have a hole at SS now.
how about batting ensberg lead-off, and giving biggio ensbergs spot in the line-up? At least Bidge has the nuts to swing at a low-90s fastball down the heart of the plate.
The Astros are too conservative when it comes to calling guys up. I'm not advocating it this instance, just making a general observation.
What's up with this "fastball over the middle of the plate" fascination. Anybody here a former ML hitter? Isn't that the end all criteria for having any cred? Maybe he was sitting on a breaking ball, maybe he wanted to work the count in his favor. Think Ensberg is the only one that doesn't swing on "hittable" pitches?
But I disagree that it's viable. If you damage Hirsh by running him up here early, not only does he not help much this year but he could be worthless beyond this year--much like the injury cases, head cases, or lost talents I listed above.
Oh please, that is so disingenuous. You are well aware that the point is he has done it WAY more frequently than what you would want from an RBI producer in the heart of your lineup.
