Lugo's replacement at SS for the D-Rays?

[Greg D]

None other than Ben Zobrist.

"The (Lugo) trade was part of an eventful day as the Rays also called up B.J. Upton to take over at third base and Ben Zobrist, who was acquired last month in the Aubrey Huff deal, to replace Lugo at shortstop."

The Link

[the KEG]

Good for him.  He looked pretty good from what little I saw him play this spring and seemed like a pretty good guy as well.  Of course, not like he has a long way to go in terms of character replacing Lugo or others in their system even.

[astro pete]

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Of course, not like he has a long way to go in terms of character replacing Lugo or others in their system even.

He also doesn't have a long way to go to match those offensive numbers thus far put up by Mr. Aubrey Huff.

[juliogotay]

I think alot of people underestimate this guy. I don't know if he is a major league starting SS but he looks like a very solid offensive player.

[jaklewein]

0-4 with a K tonight...Zobrist that is.

[Twoniner]

  Verlander tends to be tougher than most AA pitchers.

[ybbodeus]

What were the terms of Lugo's departure here?  Was he released or traded?

[Desperado]

IIRC, released because of the domestic violence issue..

[ybbodeus]

I recalled why; I just couldn't recall HOW.  Thanks.

[Andyzipp]

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IIRC, released because of the domestic violence issue..

Kind of.  The domestic violence allegations (IIRC, he did slam his wife's head on a car hood, but she dropped the charges and claimed that lugo made a lot mon....er...claimed it was a big misunderstanding.) were the last straw, but Hunsicker had already made his mind up to dump Lugo, was actively shopping him, had no takers and was going to DFA him.

[BUWebguy]

Why had Hunsicker already made up his mind -- based on talent, or something else?

[Limey]

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Why had Hunsicker already made up his mind -- based on talent, or something else?

Talent, or lack thereof.  He was supposed to hit enough to outweigh his poor defense.  He wasn't, and I seem to remember a couple of occasions where his arm/glove directly blew Astros' wins.  He was getting booed quite frequently for his poor defense.

[pravata]

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Why had Hunsicker already made up his mind -- based on talent, or something else?

Hunsicker had a call in radio show at the time.  About a week before the incident occured Hunsicker was talking about how the team needed better defense.  His option for shortstop on the 25 was Vizcaino and he didn't consider him a starter.  He did say, even the day they released Lugo, that there were baseball reasons for the move.

[strosrays]

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Why had Hunsicker already made up his mind -- based on talent, or something else?

Hunsicker had a call in radio show at the time.  About a week before the incident occured Hunsicker was talking about how the team needed better defense.  His option for shortstop on the 25 was Vizcaino and he didn't consider him a starter.  He did say, even the day they released Lugo, that there were baseball reasons for the move.

Which some people flatly refused to believe.  

One of the most recently successful franchises in baseball gets rid of their starting SS only because they have reservations about his private life.  And, the hugely successful businessman and owner of the franchise is a Bible-thumping Baptist who puts his personal moral beliefs above all else in making his business decisions.

It's simple, really.  Some of us were too dense to get it.

[pravata]

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Why had Hunsicker already made up his mind -- based on talent, or something else?

Hunsicker had a call in radio show at the time.  About a week before the incident occured Hunsicker was talking about how the team needed better defense.  His option for shortstop on the 25 was Vizcaino and he didn't consider him a starter.  He did say, even the day they released Lugo, that there were baseball reasons for the move.

Which some people flatly refused to believe.  

One of the most recently successful franchises in baseball gets rid of their starting SS only because they have reservations about his private life.  And, the hugely successful businessman and owner of the franchise is a Bible-thumping Baptist who puts his personal moral beliefs above all else in making his business decisions.

It's simple, really.  Some of us were too dense to get it.

Who am I fooling.  I only heard it directly from Hunsicker.  Not like it was some guy, whose name you'd all know if I said it, heard it from some other guy.  But as we know, everyone lies.

[BudGirl]

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Why had Hunsicker already made up his mind -- based on talent, or something else?

Hunsicker had a call in radio show at the time.  About a week before the incident occured Hunsicker was talking about how the team needed better defense.  His option for shortstop on the 25 was Vizcaino and he didn't consider him a starter.  He did say, even the day they released Lugo, that there were baseball reasons for the move.

Which some people flatly refused to believe.  

One of the most recently successful franchises in baseball gets rid of their starting SS only because they have reservations about his private life.  And, the hugely successful businessman and owner of the franchise is a Bible-thumping Baptist who puts his personal moral beliefs above all else in making his business decisions.

It's simple, really.  Some of us were too dense to get it.

Who am I fooling.  I only heard it directly from Hunsicker.  Not like it was some guy, whose name you'd all know if I said it, heard it from some other guy.  But as we know, everyone lies.

Justice doesn't, but McLane does.

[pravata]

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Why had Hunsicker already made up his mind -- based on talent, or something else?

Hunsicker had a call in radio show at the time.  About a week before the incident occured Hunsicker was talking about how the team needed better defense.  His option for shortstop on the 25 was Vizcaino and he didn't consider him a starter.  He did say, even the day they released Lugo, that there were baseball reasons for the move.

Which some people flatly refused to believe.  

One of the most recently successful franchises in baseball gets rid of their starting SS only because they have reservations about his private life.  And, the hugely successful businessman and owner of the franchise is a Bible-thumping Baptist who puts his personal moral beliefs above all else in making his business decisions.

It's simple, really.  Some of us were too dense to get it.

Who am I fooling.  I only heard it directly from Hunsicker.  Not like it was some guy, whose name you'd all know if I said it, heard it from some other guy.  But as we know, everyone lies.

Justice doesn't, but McLane does.

Right, I love people who have a snit when their credibility is questioned yet find questioning others second nature.

[Ty in Tampa]

Ben looked like a AA shortstop in his debut last night. It'll take him a while to get used to the turf they have at the Trop.

As an aside, he looks alot like Zach Braff.

[Outlawscotty]

After all, Lugo was the ATL's best SS in 2001.

[ybbodeus]

Distantly related to the subject of stroray's LoveBaptists rant.  

Say Hun and "the Baptist" keep Lugo around, despite the police reports.  Few months go by and the domestic problems escalate; Lugo pops her good, this time closing the hood on her head and puts her in the hospital.  What liability might the organization have in the event the wife sues saying they KNEW their player (her husband) had a violent side, and they did nothing about it?  

A reach, I know, but what about it?

[JimR]

ridiculous.

[HudsonHawk]

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Say Hun and "the Baptist" keep Lugo around, despite the police reports.  Few months go by and the domestic problems escalate; Lugo pops her good, this time closing the hood on her head and puts her in the hospital.  What liability might the organization have in the event the wife sues saying they KNEW their player (her husband) had a violent side, and they did nothing about it?  

A reach, I know, but what about it?

I'm assuming this is a just a really lame joke.  But in case it's not.... how the fuck can your employer be legally responsible for what you do at home?

[benzobfan]

What about a homer, double, sac bunt with 3 RBIs against the Sox.  Still living in Russia?

[benzobfan]

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0-4 with a K tonight...Zobrist that is.

What about a homer, double, and sac bunt for 3 RBI against the Sox?  Still living in Russia?  You don't know what you let go...

[pravata]

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0-4 with a K tonight...Zobrist that is.

What about a homer, double, and sac bunt for 3 RBI against the Sox?  Still living in Russia?  You don't know what you let go...

2 posts, you must be excited.  What's your point.

[austro]

For some reason, people seem to believe that only lousy players are involved in trades.  But if you want to get a quality player (which I believe Huff is and will be, his slow start as an Astro notwithstanding), you probably have to give up somebody who may also turn out to be a quality player.  That's the nature of the business.

So why does some noob come running in here and show his ass after his new guy hits a homer?  Zobrist is unlikely to be the next A-Rod.  I don't get it.  Be glad you got a young guy who may contribute, and move on.

[pravata]

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For some reason, people seem to believe that only lousy players are involved in trades.  But if you want to get a quality player (which I believe Huff is and will be, his slow start as an Astro notwithstanding), you probably have to give up somebody who may also turn out to be a quality player.  That's the nature of the business.

So why does some noob come running in here and show his ass after his new guy hits a homer?  Zobrist is unlikely to be the next A-Rod.  I don't get it.  Be glad you got a young guy who may contribute, and move on.

Exactly.  Also, the Astros traded for Huff for this season.  I don't think Zobrist and Talbot were going to help this season.

[JimR]

BS, FI.