By Breedlove
Editor’s note – This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com on May 30, 2000.
This is the first installment of a six part Breedlove series evaluating the 2000 Astros.
Catcher:
Mitch Meluskey (.273/.364/.545, 7/28) and Tony Eusebio (.217/.360/.319, 1/8) have shared the load so far, with Meluskey getting the edge in playing time. Tough Tony is quickly becoming the highest paid coach on this team. Meluskey turns 27 after this season, so Bleach is entering the best five to six year stretch most Major Leaguers enjoy. Maybe by the end of it he’ll be throwing runners out, but even now he’s got a lot of people around here asking “Brad who?” — a few have actually come to understand the Paul Bake-sale.
First Base:
Wow. What does it feel like to bat like this (.298/.427/.586, 12/35) and have it considered sub-par? Jeffrey Robert Bagwell, ju da maign. They’re always saying “so-and-so makes it look easy.” Well, Bags gets full props for being the only superstar who makes it look hard. He shows up every single day, and there’s never any question that he has to work at it. That’s why we love him. Todd Helton has replaced him as the best first baseman nobody knows about, but he’ll just keep doing what he always does.
Second Base:
Craig Biggio (.256/.406/.335, 1/16) is finally declining. Or is he? That .406 OBP is pretty gaudy, and he has 8 steals without being caught yet. He’s not going to get you 40+ anymore, but he’s as effective as he’s ever been on the bases. Last season, foolish mortals doubted Craig’s ability to turn it around and he absolutely exploded around the All-Star break in recognition of missing the game. Now Biggio’s slugging is what’s got everyone concerned — he slid to .457 last year after back-to-back seasons over .500, despite assaulting the all time doubles record by never taking a triple. This season he’s moved into Enron and only has one tater on the year. Where did his power go? Who knows, other than that he’s seeing about one fastball a week, but don’t bet against this guy having a great second half. Expect his average and slugging to improve significantly, especially now that there’s no confusion for some 6 to 8 weeks over who’s batting where.
Third Base:
In 1996, Ken Caminiti won the MVP award by maintaining these numbers (.326/.408/.621, 40/130). He’s suffered a parade of injuries since then — at least one deer-related — and has only put it together in flashes. But now that the sun is setting on a proud career, he’s at it again (.325/.448/.643, 13/39), and he’s been almost stable throwing to first. They don’t come any tougher than Caminiti; it’s been alleged that opposing shortstops rush to the locker room to change their shorts after he’s come barreling in on them trying to turn the double play. And there’s nobody better when the chips are down. I wouldn’t say he has a one-track mind, but it’s no Union Station either. Maybe that’s why the guy simply does not get distracted or cheated in tense situations.
Shortstop:
Where have you gone Ricky Gutierrez? This spot was an absolute black hole for the first month of the season. Everyone can love a slick-fielding shortstop that just manages to hit enough. But Tim Bogar has not been slick, and he’s being out-hit by way too many pitching staffs. Enter Bill Spiers, wunderkind utility man having his best season in a long while (.279/.355/.378, 1/17) and getting more timely hits than Bogar has hits. Unfortunately there’s no way he can continue to play every game. He’s getting all the starts against righties and subbing when he doesn’t start, he’s now on pace for more at-bats than he’s had in any season of his career. That’s without Caminiti missing significant time yet. With the trade of Russ Johnson, it looks as though Julio Lugo will get some time at short (and Keith Ginter is likely Biggio’s backup from New Orleans next year.)
The infield for the Astros has been more than solid, and actually looks to stay that way as the season progresses. Bagwell will step it up a little, Biggio a lot. Meluskey will get better defensively, though his power numbers will decline a bit, and the position as a whole will improve just by having him out there more often. The two big questions for the rest of this season are Caminiti’s ever-present health concerns and just what will happen at short. Spiers’ back will keep him from playing so much, so Bogar clearly needs to improve and Lugo may be an important factor. But the Astros biggest concerns on the infield revolve around whether they’ll have a third baseman in 2001 and 2002 and whether not making the playoffs will piss Bags off enough that he decides to test free agency.
Next stop, the outfield.