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So, this gives Garner options with four players at three positions:
Ensberg's day off:
A: Lamb plays first, Huff plays third, Berkman plays right
Lamb's day off:
B: Berkman plays first, Ensberg plays third, Huff plays right
Berkman's day off:
C: Lamb plays first, Ensberg plays third, Huff plays right
Huff's day off:
D. Lamb plays first, Ensberg plays third, Berkman plays right
All of these also keep Lamb away from third base.
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So, this gives Garner options with four players at three positions:
A: Lamb plays first, Huff plays third, Berkman plays right
B: Berkman plays first, Ensberg plays third, Huff plays right
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So, this gives Garner options with four players at three positions:
Ensberg's day off:
A: Lamb plays first, Huff plays third, Berkman plays right
Lamb's day off:
B: Berkman plays first, Ensberg plays third, Huff plays right
Berkman's day off:
C: Lamb plays first, Ensberg plays third, Huff plays right
Huff's day off:
D. Lamb plays first, Ensberg plays third, Berkman plays right
All of these also keep Lamb away from third base.
Hopefully this is the move that puts Burke back in the 2 hole.
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FWIW, it appears that a few teams have inquired about Ensberg's availability this morning.
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FWIW, it appears that a few teams have inquired about Ensberg's availability this morning.
----vs. Left---- ---vs. Right----In 2003-2005:
Player Avg OBP Slg Avg OBP Slg
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Huff .232 .303 .319 .304 .367 .522
Lamb .294 .351 .529 .351 .395 .565
----vs. Left---- ---vs. Right----Career:
Player Avg OBP Slg Avg OBP Slg
----------------------------------------------
Huff .293 .337 .450 .289 .356 .517
Lamb .248 .300 .436 .253 .312 .443
----vs. Left---- ---vs. Right----
Player Avg OBP Slg Avg OBP Slg
----------------------------------------------
Huff .278 .326 .425 .291 .349 .499
Lamb .267 .336 .404 .284 .335 .432
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if Scott was looking for a sign that he has no future in Houston, it came this morning.
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good news, if that means that TP is still tweaking.
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if Scott was looking for a sign that he has no future in Houston, it came this morning.
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All of these also keep Lamb away from third base.
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good news, if that means that TP is still tweaking.
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good news, if that means that TP is still tweaking.
Count Purpula confirmed in the after-PC-interview with the 610 idiots (idiots today based on the fact that one of them was longing for a Ricky Gutierrez type at shortstop) that he was still shopping and he has received several inquiries since the deal was completed last night.
If you can convince someone that Ensberg is just hurt and his production will come back with a little rest, surely there's some GM stupid enough to buy that.
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if Scott was looking for a sign that he has no future in Houston, it came this morning.
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I'm not sold on the idea that Scott is better than a super AAA hitter. But then he's only had 89 plate appearances in the majors.
If he keeps mashing down there, however, maybe he makes better bait.
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When asked if he was excited about playing in the AAA All-Star game, Scott replied, "Not really, to tell the truth; I'd rather rest."
I'm guessing he's weary of his position in the organization -- being aware he is not in the plans. Is he of no trade value? Seems that some ML team could use his bat, he might be worth some prospects.
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When asked if he was excited about playing in the AAA All-Star game, Scott replied, "Not really, to tell the truth; I'd rather rest."
I'm guessing he's weary of his position in the organization -- being aware he is not in the plans. Is he of no trade value? Seems that some ML team could use his bat, he might be worth some prospects.
I'm certainly no GM (armchair or otherwise), but I would think that Scott's numbers and potential would be worth a competent reliever from either a club in rebuilding mode or a contender who's short an OF.
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if Scott was looking for a sign that he has no future in Houston, it came this morning.
Someone is bound to cry about the brutal honesty involved that statement, which has become obvious to anyone paying attention. The obvious being in light of all the offensive struggles for the Astros and Scott leading his AAA league in HRs he never got a call up. Go figure....
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Luke Scott, Wandy Rodriquez and a low level prospect for Craig Wilson and Damaso Marte. Ooooh, I feel so dirty, like the 2002 Chicago Cubs dirty.
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If you can convince someone that Ensberg is just hurt and his production will come back with a little rest, surely there's some GM stupid enough to buy that.
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if Scott was looking for a sign that he has no future in Houston, it came this morning.
Someone is bound to cry about the brutal honesty involved that statement, which has become obvious to anyone paying attention. The obvious being in light of all the offensive struggles for the Astros and Scott leading his AAA league in HRs he never got a call up. Go figure....
Does anyone have any insight into why this is? Do the Astros feel that Luke will never figure out major league pitching? Or is it just that his cup of coffee tainted him in the Astros' view?
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If you can convince someone that Ensberg is just hurt and his production will come back with a little rest, surely there's some GM stupid enough to buy that.
Count me as one of the stupid ones, then. I don't think it's a coincidence that his slumps always coincide with an injury.
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A couple of things here. No ill-will against Ensberg, but his slumps coincide with an injury and an ass load of batting stances to compensate for the injury. Stanceapalooza goes on for at least a month after each injury. Which prolongs the slump, which can cause other injuries, which leads to more different stances/approaches, which prolongs the slump, which can cause other injuries...
My impression is that he thinks too much, and definitely thinks he's smarter than his coaches. Right now his stances are changing pitch-to-pitch and I doubt very seriously that Gaetti has told him to do that.
It's not his production that bothers me, it's all the crap you have to deal with watching him between production.
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I agree with this. Ensberg can be very frustrating to watch, and he certainly overthinks. He ought to be more like Lenny Dykstra ("Who's pitching? Steve Carlton? Fuck him"). But there's no doubt the guy can rake, and, when he's on, he's one of the best third basemen in the league. To get rid of him would be a huge mistake, imo.
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if Scott was looking for a sign that he has no future in Houston, it came this morning.
Someone is bound to cry about the brutal honesty involved that statement, which has become obvious to anyone paying attention. The obvious being in light of all the offensive struggles for the Astros and Scott leading his AAA league in HRs he never got a call up. Go figure....
Does anyone have any insight into why this is? Do the Astros feel that Luke will never figure out major league pitching? Or is it just that his cup of coffee tainted him in the Astros' view?
I would focus on the 2 stints he got last year combined with the fact that the hitting approach he displayed that led to the callup, to begin with, disappeared during actual games that counted. IMO, 2 things can be taken from that: 1. He was mashing against pitchers at less than their peak. 2. That when he finally faced game time situations, he regressed to a swing from the ass, I don't know what's coming approach.
Either way, his poutiness, as has been mentioned here and somewhat confirmed by his comments about playing in the AAA All-Star game (the "I'd rather rest" response), may have rubbed some in the Astros organization, those favoring strong work ethic and positive attitude (character traits, if you will) in addition to AAA success, the wrong way.
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How about his patent inability or unwillingness to realize his approach should be as a middle-of-the-order guy who's supposed to drive in runs, period? Even when he was perfectly healthy last year he drove me crazy watching him take so many called-third strikes.
Clearly, his problems are not strictly injury-related.
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My impression is that he thinks too much, and definitely thinks he's smarter than his coaches. Right now his stances are changing pitch-to-pitch and I doubt very seriously that Gaetti has told him to do that.
It's not his production that bothers me, it's all the crap you have to deal with watching him between production.
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How about his patent inability or unwillingness to realize his approach should be as a middle-of-the-order guy who's supposed to drive in runs, period? Even when he was perfectly healthy last year he drove me crazy watching him take so many called-third strikes.
Clearly, his problems are not strictly injury-related.
Bingo, this is my peeve. It's almost like he is obsessed with his OBP, where he should just hit the damn ball.
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I didn't think the Astros had this move in them. I was expecting them to make a trade for Roberto Petagine.
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I didn't see it in NYCU or in the TZ, but what is Huff's contract status?
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I think his success is related to his refusal to swing at bad pitches. He has a history, though, of denying injuries ... he apparently sees this a as a good thing (No excuses, sir) but it *does* affect everything from his stance to his power to his willingness to be aggressive at the plate. When he is healthy. he either hits a ton or at least misses with an appropriate level of aggression. If you look at his extended periods of mediocrity, it almost always turns out after the fact that he was hurt and refused to admit it.
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I didn't see it in NYCU or in the TZ, but what is Huff's contract status?
FA at the end of the year, will cost the Astros a little over $1 million for the remainder of the season.
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I didn't see it in NYCU or in the TZ, but what is Huff's contract status?
FA at the end of the year, will cost the Astros a little over $1 million for the remainder of the season.
So the Astros gave up Zobrist and Talbot for 1/2 season of Huff plus first shot at a future contract with him/possible arb leading to a contract or likely a first and second round draft pick from the team signing him. If Huff hits well this looks to be a winner deal.
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I think the Astros will end up paying roughly $1.6 million to Huff.
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This is an outstanding deal. Purpura kept all the big assets the team has and acquired a guy with the ability to be a middle of the order hitter who can play 1b-3b-RF/LF.
I was calling for the addition of Huff before last year and they got him without parting with any top level prospects.
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The next big issue is, if Huff plays well, who is his agent? If it's anyone other than Satan, a.k.a. Scott Boras, the Astros should have a better than fair chance of re-signing Huff. Not to get too far ahead of the process.
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good news, if that means that TP is still tweaking.
Count Purpula confirmed in the after-PC-interview with the 610 idiots (idiots today based on the fact that one of them was longing for a Ricky Gutierrez type at shortstop) that he was still shopping and he has received several inquiries since the deal was completed last night.
If you can convince someone that Ensberg is just hurt and his production will come back with a little rest, surely there's some GM stupid enough to buy that.