Just because I know how much it would piss everyone off, I'm going to predict that once they move Willy to the first spot in the order, the Astros go into a mini-slump, if not a full blown one. Just seems like the sort of thing that would happen to us.
That's what I'm thinking now too. Baseballers are so superstitious that I wouldn't expect a drastic change in the lineup until we go into a mini-slump. If/when that happens and Taveras is still getting good wood on the ball and Everett's not, I'm guessing that's when we'll see a change.
It's still early, but Willie Taveras looks like he could be provide the speed in the OF and on the bases that we lost in the Lofton deal and that never developed in Brian Hunter. He's got the potential to be special.
Off Topic but if up to him Garner would probably pitch Lidge 200+ innings. 5-2 lead, day game after night, 3rd appearance in 3 days? Lidge has a history of injuries which was the reason he switched from starter to reliever. If Garner continues to go with this type of strategy and Lidge breaks down late in the season, Garner should be fired.
Adam is not the proto-type lead-off hitter...Having said that, the season is young, but why wouldn't you try Taveras...
Taveras is the prototypical leadoff hitter either. He has a lot of pop for a leadoff hitter, and he doesn't walk all that much... I think part of Garner's logic in putting him in the 8 hole is to get him adjust to TAKING pitches because he'll see a lot of junk, which will help him draw walks when he makes the switch to leadoff.
I see what you're getting at. I don't know if it was the innings that caused Lidge's injuries, nobody can prove that. If so, every starter would be injured. But 1 thing is certain, he hasn't been injured since switching over and is now the best closer in the game. However, i think Lidge can handle the extra innings because he used to be a starter. He reminds me of Byung Yung Kim<SP> of the Diamondbacks. The guy used to be a starter so he was able to pitch relief whenever he wanted to. He would evern beg to pitch when he wasn't needed. I don't remember Wagner ever pitching 2 innings, that's what i love about Lidge. Smoltz would also pitch 2 innings often and not complain, probably since he used to start. I do think Dusty Baker is risking the careers of Prior and Wood pitching them 500 innings a year. Those 2 haven't had 1 healthy year together(which is good for us!) But if someone needs to be fired over Lidge's innings, it should be Purpura. He made no move in the offseason to get a set up man for Lidge. Halfway through the season when our pitchers can't go deep in the ball games, the bullpen is really going to hurt us. If i'm Garner, i'll keep pitching Lidge untill the front office gets the message we need a good setup man. Plus, garner has to use what's given to him. It's not like they acquired anyone else in the offseason. They were willing to spend 100 million dollars and couldn't pick up some real bullpen help.
I don't think Taveras has much pop which is why he doesn't walk much. Pitchers challenge him with fastballs down in the count because he's more likely to get to extra bases on a walk than a fastball on the outer or inner third of the plate.
