lol… True, though a good amount did turn to the juice, I still think they were very good even without the juice. Much like Barry Bonds, as Bonds was an MVP level player with and before the juice. Now be if those players were stiffs without the juice. Finley, Gonzales were great contact players. Caminiti was great even back then, he was nearing all star before the juicy juice. So, I think those guys would have been excellent 5, 6, and 7th hitters; who would not have needed the juice to excel at those spots.
well before the juice the lineup was essentially 1. Biggio 2. Finley 3. Bags 4. Anthony 5. Caminiti 6 gonzo 7-8 trash this lineup proved to be slightly better than average. Caminiti, finley, and Gonzo had MUCH better seasons after they went elsewhere and started juicing up. They were like different players at that point.
Well, they didn't have that lineup...so it is a moot point. Playing "Astros could have had...so and so" is dumb. Trailblazers could have had Jordan (Rockets too...with Drexler!), but It didn't happen. Why bother? Fun? please. Depressing, more like it.
What about trading away Curt Schilling for a pitcher who would never even wear an Astros uniform? Can you imagine putting him in a rotation with Harnish and Kile Portugal and Drabeck Hampton and Reynolds Johnson ( Arizona prelude) And finally. Lima Time !!!
I still think that it's crazy to think the 1991 Astros lost 97 games with: Biggio, Bagwell, Caminiti, Gonzo, Finley, Lofton Harnisch, Portugal, Kile, DeShaies, Schilling, and Mike Scott All on that team for at least part of the season.
nevin came up a couple of years later and he wasn’t really ready to produce yet. He was a late bloomer of sorts.
Isn't that an even bigger point in favor of Jeter? I realize it's not the NFL or NBA where you draft a player and put him immediately on a roster. But in 1992 didn't they expect 3B and 1B to be covered for several years but not have a SS?
I watched that whole season. They lost a lot but you could tell they were gonna get better. That was a scrappy team. The next year they won 81 games. I was very excited about 1993 with the signings of Drabek and Swindell plus Eric Anthony at cleanup (we were desperate for a cleanup hitter) but alas, all 3 really underperformed. The fans were geeked about the ‘93 season and were then very disappointed. I guess it cost Art Howe his job.
I wonder if Jeter makes the HOF if we draft him. He wouldn't have spent his whole career here. He likely wouldn't have won a ring here. His defense was never good. He benefited a ton being in NY.
All the ragging on Jeter’s defense has ironically made him underrated. The man was still an offensive force at shortstop, 70+ career bWAR doesn’t lie.
I kept hoping those 90's teams could break through. It always seemed like as good as we were, STL, The Mets or the Braves were always better. Especially in the playoffs.
I agree, his stats are HOF worthy. But if HOU drafts him, he has to deal with the cavernous dome and if he doesnt get rings, does he get the GOAT SS love he gets today? Being a lifetime yankee was the best case scenario for his legacy.
