Ken Rosenthal's thoughts on Biggio/Burke

[JaneDoe]

"You've got to love the aggressiveness of Astros rookie center fielder Hunter Pence, unorthodox though he may be. "He's a stronger, faster, more athletic Eric Byrnes — goofy and spastic in an athletic way," one rival executive says. "He can play center field and hit for power even though he chokes up like Bucky Dent.""

And...

"How weird is this? The Astros need second baseman Craig Biggio to reach 3,000 hits as quickly as possible so that they can give Chris Burke more playing time at second and gauge his trade value before the July 31 non-waiver deadline.
Biggio, 41, is averaging a hit per game, putting him on pace to pass the milestone by the end of June. Burke, 27, still looms as Biggio's successor; the Astros will move him only if they get a significant return."

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6834288

[JimR]

"You've got to love the aggressiveness of Astros rookie center fielder Hunter Pence, unorthodox though he may be. "He's a stronger, faster, more athletic Eric Byrnes — goofy and spastic in an athletic way," one rival executive says. "He can play center field and hit for power even though he chokes up like Bucky Dent.""

And...

"How weird is this? The Astros need second baseman Craig Biggio to reach 3,000 hits as quickly as possible so that they can give Chris Burke more playing time at second and gauge his trade value before the July 31 non-waiver deadline.
Biggio, 41, is averaging a hit per game, putting him on pace to pass the milestone by the end of June. Burke, 27, still looms as Biggio's successor; the Astros will move him only if they get a significant return."

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6834288

oh, really? Burke has started all of TWO games at 2B at RR. he is playing LF and CF and batting under .170. if the Astros have a plan for Burke, it is not discernible.

[MikeyBoy]

I think it's presumptuous to assume Biggio's role changes much after he reaches 3,000 hits, at least I haven't seen this openly stated by the team?

[ASTROCREEP]

"You've got to love the aggressiveness of Astros rookie center fielder Hunter Pence, unorthodox though he may be. "He's a stronger, faster, more athletic Eric Byrnes — goofy and spastic in an athletic way," one rival executive says. "He can play center field and hit for power even though he chokes up like Bucky Dent.""

And...

"How weird is this? The Astros need second baseman Craig Biggio to reach 3,000 hits as quickly as possible so that they can give Chris Burke more playing time at second and gauge his trade value before the July 31 non-waiver deadline.
Biggio, 41, is averaging a hit per game, putting him on pace to pass the milestone by the end of June. Burke, 27, still looms as Biggio's successor; the Astros will move him only if they get a significant return."




http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6834288

We have an All-Star second basemen, playing the part of a utility man. Is he signed for next year? I mean Loretta ofcourse.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

oh, really? Burke has started all of TWO games at 2B at RR. he is playing LF and CF and batting under .170. if the Astros have a plan for Burke, it is not discernible.

Since the drafted the guy, the Astros have never had a well thought out plan for Burke. Their expectations were seemingly based on the guy's offensive potential and an unfounded belief he could be plugged in anywhere, like 2nd base, and be a competent fielder... and Biggio wasn't getting any younger. They've since properly scrapped their sort of initial plan for Burke (to be the Astros future 2nd baseman) in order to accommodate Biggio. Rightly so, since Burke, in limited opportunity has never really *beaten out* Biggio for the right to start at 2nd base. Now they're in salvage mode. The college shortstop had been counted on to be versitile to be moved around a bit without it fucking up his offense but the opposite was/is the case. I was hoping he'd tear up AAA pitching, or he'd at least be able to look good hitting at AAA, or perhaps maybe not suck offensively at AAA. I'll always cherish the memory of that 18th inning homer but at this point my Burke expectations are close to zero.

I think it's presumptuous to assume Biggio's role changes much after he reaches 3,000 hits, at least I haven't seen this openly stated by the team?

I'll be more than ready for Chris Burke to replace Biggio at 2nd just a soon as Burke proves he can out hit Biggio--he hasn't come close yet.

[Limey]

I'll be more than ready for Chris Burke to replace Biggio at 2nd just a soon as Burke proves he can out hit Biggio--he hasn't come close yet.

The difference in hits needs to be the net of hits hit, and hits allowed.  Biggio is getting worse by the day in the field.

Of course, none of this address the question of who leads off as and when Biggio loses the starting role.  I see no one else who is even remotely qualified to do it.

[Alkie]

Of course, none of this address the question of who leads off as and when Biggio loses the starting role.  I see no one else who is even remotely qualified to do it.

I got news for you...no one in that role is qualified NOW.  Bidge has an OBP of .290 this season.  That's not just bad for a lead off guy, that's bad for your 7-hole hitter.

[Jacksonian]

I got news for you...no one in that role is qualified NOW.  Bidge has an OBP of .290 this season.  That's not just bad for a lead off guy, that's bad for your 7-hole hitter.

Loretta's about as close as the Astros have.

[toddthebod]

The difference in hits needs to be the net of hits hit, and hits allowed.  Biggio is getting worse by the day in the field.

Generally, I agree with you, but I did like his reaction time on the double play where he was covering second for the steal and got the throw away very quickly.  While it was happening, I was scared that he was going to be taken out hard.

[JackAstro]

Generally, I agree with you, but I did like his reaction time on the double play where he was covering second for the steal and got the throw away very quickly.  While it was happening, I was scared that he was going to be taken out hard.

It was a quick release, but he should have been taken out on that play. Luckily, the runner fucked up.