Feels Like '89 Back In The Dome
The Lastros are back and in a big way. As the losing streak reaches double digits, disgruntled fans everywhere claim to hold the magic wand to fix the team.
Well, folks, that wand does not exist. Nothing can really fix the team. However, I do believe it's not as bad as this streak indicates. With the sad state of the NL Central, the Astros are still in the mix. Who could believe that with a 10 game losing streak a team could be within 7 games of first place?
But back to the streak. Manager Phil Garner has been juggling his lineup way too much. Players cannot get a comfortable rhythm and there is a lot of criticism in the locker room about them not knowing their roles. While I think their role should be to simply hit the ball, I do understand their concerns. Garner needs to commit to a group of players and play them. Play them everyday. The streak will eventually end and you will gain a fair assessment of what they can and cannot do. You can make wholesale changes in the offseason.
The easy decisions are to keep Lee in LF, Berkman at 1B, Pence in CF. Beyond that there are question marks. My thinking is to stay with what got you here. Plug in Ausmus at C, Biggio at 2B, Everett at SS and Ensberg at 3B. RF has been a cancer this year. Lane and Scott both started well but Phil has seemingly flipped a coin when deciding whom to start. As a result, both now suck. They need to figure out which player they think has more potential and play him consistently until the All Star break. I really don't care which one it is.
After the break come the decisions. Biggio should be close to reaching 3,000. Once it comes and goes he will understand that he is reduced to a bench player. Chris Burke will be the starter with Biggio getting spot starts at home only.
Ensberg will likely continue to change his stance at the plate so his production will probably continue to mirror Everett's. I'd play Loretta there and hope for the best. Lamb is still a liability despite the yearly "Lamb's made defensive improvements" spring training article the Chronicle runs. He needs to stay on the bench.
I'm a big believer in defense up the middle. As a result, Adam Everett continues to start at SS. Also because there is no other viable option. No one else can field the position.
The Lane/Scott debate really doesn't matter. I've never thought much of either. I'd continue to give solid playing time to one and simply ride it out.
Finally, Brad Ausmus continues to get older and his defense continues to get worse. He's not much better but at least Humberto Quintero can throw out a base runner. Giving Ausmus more days off will keep him fresher for the end of the year.
I predict the Astros will again make the second half push. But they won't have quite enough in the tank and will finish a handful of games behind the Brewers.
I'll post an offseason plan for the team next.
Well, folks, that wand does not exist. Nothing can really fix the team. However, I do believe it's not as bad as this streak indicates. With the sad state of the NL Central, the Astros are still in the mix. Who could believe that with a 10 game losing streak a team could be within 7 games of first place?
But back to the streak. Manager Phil Garner has been juggling his lineup way too much. Players cannot get a comfortable rhythm and there is a lot of criticism in the locker room about them not knowing their roles. While I think their role should be to simply hit the ball, I do understand their concerns. Garner needs to commit to a group of players and play them. Play them everyday. The streak will eventually end and you will gain a fair assessment of what they can and cannot do. You can make wholesale changes in the offseason.
The easy decisions are to keep Lee in LF, Berkman at 1B, Pence in CF. Beyond that there are question marks. My thinking is to stay with what got you here. Plug in Ausmus at C, Biggio at 2B, Everett at SS and Ensberg at 3B. RF has been a cancer this year. Lane and Scott both started well but Phil has seemingly flipped a coin when deciding whom to start. As a result, both now suck. They need to figure out which player they think has more potential and play him consistently until the All Star break. I really don't care which one it is.
After the break come the decisions. Biggio should be close to reaching 3,000. Once it comes and goes he will understand that he is reduced to a bench player. Chris Burke will be the starter with Biggio getting spot starts at home only.
Ensberg will likely continue to change his stance at the plate so his production will probably continue to mirror Everett's. I'd play Loretta there and hope for the best. Lamb is still a liability despite the yearly "Lamb's made defensive improvements" spring training article the Chronicle runs. He needs to stay on the bench.
I'm a big believer in defense up the middle. As a result, Adam Everett continues to start at SS. Also because there is no other viable option. No one else can field the position.
The Lane/Scott debate really doesn't matter. I've never thought much of either. I'd continue to give solid playing time to one and simply ride it out.
Finally, Brad Ausmus continues to get older and his defense continues to get worse. He's not much better but at least Humberto Quintero can throw out a base runner. Giving Ausmus more days off will keep him fresher for the end of the year.
I predict the Astros will again make the second half push. But they won't have quite enough in the tank and will finish a handful of games behind the Brewers.
I'll post an offseason plan for the team next.
posted by christopher at 8:34 AM
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