The Kent/Burke pinwheel
June 16, 2004
I'd do everything possible to create room for second baseman Chris Burke, outfielder Willy Taveras and one or two others.
... They also should ask second baseman Jeff Kent to waive his no-trade clause....
Some have said it's silly to even consider trading Kent because he's productive and because Burke can't possibly be better.
That thinking is correct. But it might be the right thing to do anyway....
the veterans called a team meeting to encourage one another to keep going. That's an absolute necessity.
The LinkJuly 3, 2004
....One thing Williams has always done better than almost any other big-league manager is bring young players along at the right pace. He begins by putting them in positions that maximize their chances to succeed and then allows them to build their confidence....
When others want the kids benched or demoted, he sticks with them. He resisted more than once this season when some wanted Lamb on the field against every right-handed starter....
The LinkJuly 15, 2004
Williams did not fail as a manager because he was incompetent. He failed because his players failed him.
The Astros did not fire him because they believed he was the problem. They fired him because they didn't know what else to do.
Congratulations, boys.
Proud of yourselves?
Do you know how many times your former manager resisted internal pressure to make changes? Do you know how many times he kept playing you when others in the organization wanted your rears on the bench?
He resisted pressure to bench Craig Biggio last season. He did the same with Ausmus, Ensberg, Bagwell and maybe others this season.
Got some bad news for you, boys. The new guy won't be as patient....
Don't be surprised if Raul Chavez gets more playing time at catcher. Don't be surprised if Jason Lane or Mike Lamb get playing time at first.
The Link8/9/2004
Kent reminded the Astros again this weekend why his signing after the 2002 season was a terrible mistake. Including a no-trade clause made it even worse.
His arrival forced Craig Biggio to move to the outfield, which blocked Jason Lane's path to the big leagues. Now, Kent's presence is keeping Chris Burke in the minors.
The LinkJuly 9, 2005,
Kent signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers a few weeks later after Astros owner Drayton McLane bungled negotiations. Kent returned to Minute Maid Park as a former Astro on Friday night. ...
The Astros were perfect for Kent. What he found in Houston was a clubhouse that also cared about just one thing ? winning.
The LinkJune 6, 2005,
When scouting reports get around, inexperienced players will have their weaknesses exploited. Some of them will adjust. Some will be seeking employment elsewhere.
If Lane had been surrounded by Carlos Beltran, Jeff Kent and Jeff Bagwell, his problems wouldn't have been so noticeable. Instead, he was being asked to produce like a 10-year veteran.
The LinkJune 8, 2005
I believe McLane mishandled those negotiations last winter. First, he declined to pick up Kent's $9 million option for 2005. Then he offered Kent a deal that would have been worth more money.
I told him bringing Kent back should have been a no-brainer. He was the National League's best player at his position and a probable future Hall of Famer.
The LinkAug. 18, 2005,
The Astros began their turnaround when Lane and Chris Burke began playing every day. They were at their best when Mike Lamb and Orlando Palmeiro were sharing time with Lane and Burke.
Things have changed.
Lamb is hitting .179 this month and is 2-for-20 since Aug. 3.
Burke also has gone into a deep sleep, hitting .109 since July 23. He's going to have to earn his way back while splitting time with Palmeiro.
This is not last year's lineup. That one had three guys ? Kent, Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio ? with their Hall of Fame tickets punched. That lineup carried the Astros when the pitching was thin.
The Link