Lineup for Tonight

[homer]

How bout this?

1 Bruntlett SS
2 Pence CF
3 Berkman 1B
4 Lee LF
5 Lamb DH
6 Loretta 2B
7 Scott RF
8 Ausmus/Munson C
9 Ensberg 3B

Leadoff is questonable. Not sure who to put there.

Biggio can sit until Friday.

[Noe]

How bout this?

1 Bruntlett SS
2 Pence CF
3 Berkman 1B
4 Lee LF
5 Lamb DH
6 Loretta 2B
7 Scott RF
8 Ausmus/Munson C
9 Ensberg 3B

Leadoff is questonable. Not sure who to put there.

Biggio can sit until Friday.

I suspect that you can replace Bruntlett in the 9 spot and move Biggio back to leadoff and sit MoBerg tonight.  Move Loretta to third or first and Mike Lamb to wherever Loretta isn't playing.  Or move Berkman to first and DH Loretta tonight.

Either way, to insert Bruntlett into short doesn't necessarily mean benching Biggio for tonight in Garner's mind (I would think).  MoBerg may be the odd man out tonight if they want better defense at short.

[MRaup]

How bout this?

1 Bruntlett SS
2 Pence CF
3 Berkman 1B
4 Lee LF
5 Lamb DH
6 Loretta 2B
7 Scott RF
8 Ausmus/Munson C
9 Ensberg 3B

Leadoff is questonable. Not sure who to put there.

Biggio can sit until Friday.

Howsabout...

Pence     CF
Loretta   2B
Berkman  1B
Lee         LF
Lamb       DH
Scott      RF
Ensberg   3B
Ausmus   C
Bruntlett SS

[homer]

Howsabout...

Pence     CF
Loretta   2B
Berkman  1B
Lee         LF
Lamb       DH
Scott      RF
Ensberg   3B
Ausmus   C
Bruntlett SS

I'd flip Ausmus and Ensberg. But yeah, I guess that is what I was trying to get to.

[VirtualBob]

I'd flip Ausmus and Ensberg. But yeah, I guess that is what I was trying to get to.

I like it ... Lamb at his natural defensive position.

[homer]

I like it ... Lamb at his natural defensive position.

If Lamb could play LF, I'd like it even better.

[VirtualBob]

If Lamb could play LF, I'd like it even better.

Didn't they try something like that in ST last year?  I know it was rumored (at least) but apparently a sudden onset of sanity disrupted the plans.

[homer]

[El Vendo will] likely play the field over the next five interleague games as manager Phil Garner has Craig Biggio and Carlos Lee share the DH role.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/4900875.html

In that case, Ensberg rides the pine.

Biggio     DH
Pence     CF
Berkman  1B
Lee         LF
Lamb       3B
Loretta   2B
Scott      RF
Ausmus   C
Bruntlett SS

[ValpoCory]

Right.  How many night games has Biggio not started this year?  Maybe a couple.   I bet Biggio starts the night games on this trip.

[ASTROCREEP]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/4900875.html

In that case, Ensberg rides the pine.

Biggio     DH
Pence     CF
Berkman  1B
Lee         LF
Lamb       3B
Loretta   2B
Scott      RF
Ausmus   C
Bruntlett SS

THE ANGELS SPECIAL, (trying to stop those gazelles on the bases)
Bruntlett   LF
Loretta     SS
Berkman   1st
Lee          DH
Lamb        3b
Pence       CF
Scott        RF
Biggio        2nd
Ausmus     C

(Pence and Loretta swappable)

[Foghorn]

How about this...

1  Someone who gets on base
2  Pence
3  Berkman
4  Lee
5  Someone to drive in runs
6  Someone to drive in runs
7  Someone to drive in runs
8  Someone with above average speed, baserunning and defensive ability
9  Ausmus

[Noe]

THE ANGELS SPECIAL, (trying to stop those gazelles on the bases)
Bruntlett   LF
Loretta     SS
Berkman   1st
Lee          DH
Lamb        3b
Pence       CF
Scott        RF
Biggio        2nd
Ausmus     C

(Pence and Loretta swappable)

The Angels don't change their approach on the bases just because you change the outfielder.  They're going to run on anybody.

[ASTROCREEP]

The Angels don't change their approach on the bases just because you change the outfielder.  They're going to run on anybody.

Maybe they will think twice, if Bruntlett gets to a ball quickly and makes a strong throw.

[ValpoCory]

THE ANGELS SPECIAL, (trying to stop those gazelles on the bases)
Bruntlett   LF
Loretta     SS
Berkman   1st
Lee          DH
Lamb        3b
Pence       CF
Scott        RF
Biggio        2nd
Ausmus     C

That's the 1988 special, with Bidge in the 8 hole.  Usually right in front of Nolan.

[Noe]

Maybe they will think twice, if Bruntlett gets to a ball quickly and makes a strong throw.

I doubt it.  Baseball players don't think, they play.

[MusicMan]

I doubt it.  Baseball players don't think, they play.

With the exception of Jason Lane and Morgan Ensberg.

[TenThirty]

THE ANGELS SPECIAL, (trying to stop those gazelles on the bases)
Bruntlett   LF
Loretta     SS
Berkman   1st
Lee          DH
Lamb        3b
Pence       CF
Scott        RF
Biggio        2nd
Ausmus     C

(Pence and Loretta swappable)

Pence at SS is definitely the answer.

[Matt]

I was hoping for more playing time for Ensberg so that maybe, hopefully he gets left in Anaheim.  He didn't help that last night though.

[Limey]

THE ANGELS SPECIAL, (trying to stop those gazelles on the bases)
Bruntlett   LF
Loretta     SS
Berkman   1st
Lee          DH
Lamb        3b
Pence       CF
Scott        RF
Biggio        2nd
Ausmus     C

(Pence and Loretta swappable)

I like Lee as DH.  He should be, for every inter-league game the Astros play.

I'd prefer Bruntlett at SS, Loretta at 3rd, Lamb at 1st and Berkman in LF.

[Fredia]

How about this...

1  Someone who gets on base
2  Pence
3  Berkman
4  Lee
5  Someone to drive in runs
6  Someone to drive in runs
7  Someone to drive in runs
8  Someone with above average speed, baserunning and defensive ability
9  Ausmus

brillant now go out and find above said palyers

[MRaup]

I was hoping for more playing time for Ensberg so that maybe, hopefully he gets left in Anaheim.  He didn't help that last night though.

Scrubby bastard. Hitting rockets right at people with the bases loaded...

[Matt]

Scrubby bastard. Hitting rockets right at people with the bases loaded...

Well no he didn't have a bad game last night I was just hoping for a 3 night offensive explosion from him that has the Angels drooling enough to take him.

[Limey]

Well no he didn't have a bad game last night I was just hoping for a 3 night offensive explosion from him that has the Angels drooling enough to take him.

What do you think they'd do?  Bump everyone over one and dump Aybar?

[Matt]

I'm hoping they'd dump Aybar right on the Astros.

[MusicMan]

What do you think they'd do?  Bump everyone over one and dump Aybar?

Hell, Aybar for Ensberg would have me dancing in the streets.

[Noe]

Well no he didn't have a bad game last night I was just hoping for a 3 night offensive explosion from him that has the Angels drooling enough to take him.

Chone Figgins couldn't do anything wrong last night, even when he did something wrong last night.  There is no way in heck that a third sacker is supposed to play off the line with the bases loaded and the game on the line like that... unless Figgins thought to himself ("I need to forget protecting against a double... I need to get to a playable DP ground ball or a ball hit in the hole to limit the damage").  When he was playing a normal 3rd base position, maybe a little bit in to try to turn a DP, I was shocked.  I expected him to be standing over by the line.

Shows what I know... nuthin', that's what, nada!

[homer]

Chone Figgins couldn't do anything wrong last night, even when he did something wrong last night.  There is no way in heck that a third sacker is supposed to play off the line with the bases loaded and the game on the line like that... unless Figgins thought to himself ("I need to forget protecting against a double... I need to get to a playable DP ground ball or a ball hit in the hole to limit the damage").  When he was playing a normal 3rd base position, maybe a little bit in to try to turn a DP, I was shocked.  I expected him to be standing over by the line.

Shows what I know... nuthin', that's what, nada!

I wondered why he wasn't guarding the line myself.

[Matt]

I wondered why he wasn't guarding the line myself.

Because he's not a third baseman.  He comes up with some good plays from time to time but overall he's mediocre there.

[WulawHorn]

I knew that the ensberg out was the end of that inning. As much as I love bidge I assigned about a 100% certainty of a K against K-rod.  No way Bidge hits that slider. I was just hoping that maybe he'd come inside and plunk craig. I got a little bit excited at 2-0, but no luck on a give away from the halos.

[homer]

Because he's not a third baseman.  He comes up with some good plays from time to time but overall he's mediocre there.

I would think that kind of positioning comes from Scioscia. Maybe not.

[MikeyBoy]

I would think that kind of positioning comes from Scioscia. Maybe not.

The bases were loaded with one out, the Angels were thinking double play, not guarding the line.

[Matt]

I would think that kind of positioning comes from Scioscia. Maybe not.

That could have been too but I have seen enough of Figgins at third to notice his positioning being odd at times.

[Matt]

Hell, Aybar for Ensberg would have me dancing in the streets.

Me too.  The Angels already have a whole bucket full of good, young middle infielders. 

[Noe]

The bases were loaded with one out, the Angels were thinking double play, not guarding the line.

That's what I thought later as well.  But that either shows the keen, I'm not going by the book managerial move by Soscia that worked or Figgins being out of position because he just thought he could turn two in this situation.  Usually though, in that situation, the third baseman is playing up to throw home for the DP chance, not where Figgins was located.

[JimR]

That's what I thought later as well.  But that either shows the keen, I'm not going by the book managerial move by Soscia that worked or Figgins being out of position because he just thought he could turn two in this situation.  Usually though, in that situation, the third baseman is playing up to throw home for the DP chance, not where Figgins was located.

not every manager believes in guarding the lines in the late innings. many believe you'll make more outs off the bag.

[Noe]

not every manager believes in guarding the lines in the late innings. many believe you'll make more outs off the bag.

Cool.  I thought most managers would work by the book and guard the line.  Explains that one to me well.  All I could think was the Angels were set up for the DP possibility and Figgins was in the right spot to catch MoBerg's liner.

[JimR]

Cool.  I thought most managers would work by the book and guard the line.  Explains that one to me well.  All I could think was the Angels were set up for the DP possibility and Figgins was in the right spot to catch MoBerg's liner.

i do not know which "book" the LAAs go by, but i do know there is a difference of opinion.

[ASTROCREEP]

I like Lee as DH.  He should be, for every inter-league game the Astros play.

I'd prefer Bruntlett at SS, Loretta at 3rd, Lamb at 1st and Berkman in LF.

I was watching "Small talk with Lance", or whatever it's called, and he was talking about his first ML at bat, he hit into a double play, but he looked damn quick (and trim) trying to beat the the throw. I'd prefer that Lance in LF too.

So whats the deal, did his knee injury prevent him from getting into proper shape? It's not like he's 38 or anything.