So I was thinking, when Berkman returns .. Will Garner simply put Berkman 4th in the lineup and just slide down Lane to 5th and everyone else 6th-9th. Or can there be an interesting change regarding Jeff Bagwell and his pride ?
I mean look guys, Bagwell is a 6th hitter in our lineup, and I feel he should be open to the idea of sliding down in the order for the better of the team.
I would love to see Taveras, Biggio, Lane, Berkman, Ensberg, Bagwell, Everett, Ausmus, Pitcher .. My thinking is simply this .. if Taveras gets on base, and has a good on base percentage, and he can steal a base. It would work well with Biggio batting 2nd because we would likely have more successful hit and run situations, or possible rbi chance with Biggio. Lane at the 3 spot is good because he can hit for average and power.
Berkman hitting cleanup is a no brainer obviously. Ensberg hitting 5th is good because I got a feeling even he can probably hit for a better average, on base percentage, as well as slug just as good if not better than Bagwell during the course of this season. And well Bagwell at 6th is still valuable to the lineup. Maybe he can draw walks to start rally's at the bottom of the order.
I mean guys, Bagwell is probably going to hit 24 or so homeruns this season. His days of hitting 30 are probably over. I mean hech, Bagwell hit like 27 homeruns last season which to put it into perspecive, was only 3 more than Biggio who had 24 ... and so far this season I believe Biggio has 2 just like Bagwell ( yeah yeah it's only April but still ).
My point is, Astros may have 4 or 5 players which will either, hit as many homeruns, hit for higher average, have a better on base percentage, or slug just as good if not better than Bagwell. I think it is time people stop defending Bagwell based on his past and realize he is a 6th hitter in our lineup once Berkman comes back.
Now with all this said, I hope Bagwell hits 3 homeruns tonight vs Pirates and goes 5-5 so I can eat some crow. I would gladly eat crow and stop being on Bagwell's case if he can heat up with the bat. But fact is for the money Bagwell makes this season, he should be putting up Albert Pujols type numbers with the bat. Not Craig Biggio type numbers.
I realize we gave Bagwell this big contract back in 2000 when he was putting up Pujols-like numbers .. but yeah, I guess we can live with 2 more years of Bagwell and his declining hitting and arthritis shoulder. But I am not so sure we can with him hitting 3rd in lineup, if 6th in the order then I think we can. I mean hech, remember we once had Vinny Castilla hitting 6th in 2001 ... and I think Castilla that season would have been better than Bagwell this season.
I already know Chandler, Bob Mundon, Amy, and the like will read this and immediatly disagree because of their fierce passion and loyalty for little Jeffrey Bagwell .. but I know some of you have to at least agree with some of what I say.
I mean look guys, Bagwell is a 6th hitter in our lineup, and I feel he should be open to the idea of sliding down in the order for the better of the team.
I would love to see Taveras, Biggio, Lane, Berkman, Ensberg, Bagwell, Everett, Ausmus, Pitcher .. My thinking is simply this .. if Taveras gets on base, and has a good on base percentage, and he can steal a base. It would work well with Biggio batting 2nd because we would likely have more successful hit and run situations, or possible rbi chance with Biggio. Lane at the 3 spot is good because he can hit for average and power.
Berkman hitting cleanup is a no brainer obviously. Ensberg hitting 5th is good because I got a feeling even he can probably hit for a better average, on base percentage, as well as slug just as good if not better than Bagwell during the course of this season. And well Bagwell at 6th is still valuable to the lineup. Maybe he can draw walks to start rally's at the bottom of the order.
I mean guys, Bagwell is probably going to hit 24 or so homeruns this season. His days of hitting 30 are probably over. I mean hech, Bagwell hit like 27 homeruns last season which to put it into perspecive, was only 3 more than Biggio who had 24 ... and so far this season I believe Biggio has 2 just like Bagwell ( yeah yeah it's only April but still ).
My point is, Astros may have 4 or 5 players which will either, hit as many homeruns, hit for higher average, have a better on base percentage, or slug just as good if not better than Bagwell. I think it is time people stop defending Bagwell based on his past and realize he is a 6th hitter in our lineup once Berkman comes back.
Now with all this said, I hope Bagwell hits 3 homeruns tonight vs Pirates and goes 5-5 so I can eat some crow. I would gladly eat crow and stop being on Bagwell's case if he can heat up with the bat. But fact is for the money Bagwell makes this season, he should be putting up Albert Pujols type numbers with the bat. Not Craig Biggio type numbers.
I realize we gave Bagwell this big contract back in 2000 when he was putting up Pujols-like numbers .. but yeah, I guess we can live with 2 more years of Bagwell and his declining hitting and arthritis shoulder. But I am not so sure we can with him hitting 3rd in lineup, if 6th in the order then I think we can. I mean hech, remember we once had Vinny Castilla hitting 6th in 2001 ... and I think Castilla that season would have been better than Bagwell this season.
I already know Chandler, Bob Mundon, Amy, and the like will read this and immediatly disagree because of their fierce passion and loyalty for little Jeffrey Bagwell .. but I know some of you have to at least agree with some of what I say.
