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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 24, 2006
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How long do we keep throwing this guy out there? I love his speed, and his defense is a blessing in centerfield. However, his .190 batting average is really starting to hurt. Instead of setting the table, he seems to be striking out way too much for a leadoff hitter. And other times, he seems to be flying out, which makes no sense for a guy who has the speed to beat out ground-balls.
We need to get the guy on base! That's where he's effective. A single can turn into a double with his legs. I'm all for leaving him out there while we are clicking in other spots in the lineup. There is just going to be a time where we need his bat to be on queue with the rest of the team.
What do you do? Do you keep throwing him out there? Do you bench him for a couple games? Do you send him to AAA to work out some kinks? Or do we drop him in the lineup?
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Nov 12, 2007
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houstros - you do bring up some good points. I do know one thing, you don't bench him. I think you either just keep him in there and try to work the kinks out up here in Houston, or you send him to Round Rock to work out the kinks. Since the offense is clicking so well, and Lance is having a MVP years so far, I think you keep him up here. Plus his defense is soooo nice.
But I agree with you, why is he swinging for the fence. He pops up too much, and strikes out almost twice each night. I think he should just bunt, bunt, bunt until they are basically right up on him at home plate, lol. He needs to work on not trying to always smash the ball.
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 22, 2008
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yeah, if this guy could consistantly bunt well he would have so many infield hits, probably more than Ichiro Suzuki.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 24, 2006
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He reminds me of Willie Mays Hayes from Major League. Comes into camp slugging home runs and the manager yells at him to start hitting ground balls and beating them out.
I just think that Bourn needs to work on getting on base...anyway he can. He's most effective when he can get on first and steal second...it allows the Astros to manufacture runs rather than just rely on the middle of the lineup to get hits. That's crucial when you are facing a good pitcher. (Kind of like Lincecum today for the 'Stros)
The leadoff hitter doesn't need to hit home runs, he just needs to get on base. And he can't be hitting .190 either. All of these 0-4's are killing us. The only team with a big home run leadoff guy is the Cubs, and that's because they are stupid enough to put Soriano, a legitimate middle-of-the-order guy at the top of the order.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Mar 8, 2008
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good point about sending him Round Rock. I think they should just be patient with him. His defense saves runs, and with the pitching staff we have we need that. We can handle his lack of offense for now because we have such a strong lineup.
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Dec 21, 2007
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The runs he isnt scoring he is keeping off the board in center. I don't care if he gets a hit the rest of the year ! We are a long way from Round Rock. We are in second place in the Central looking hard at the Cubs. Leave this alone.
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Reputation:89
Level:All-Star
Since:Mar 25, 2008
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absolutely agree, he helps our mediocre pitching staff so much and all we need is quality starts from our rotation with how strong our lineup is
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 25, 2006
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Didn't they get Willie Mays Hayes to start leaning into pitches to get on base?
We can pay a royalty to the Estate of Coach Buttermaker(Walter Matthau) for coming up with the original idea in The Bad News Bears. I can still remember Rudy Stein(frizzy hair & glasses) pleading, "I don't want to do it again coach. It hurts!!" as Matthau slams another scotch and water(minus the water).
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Reputation:79
Level:Pro
Since:Dec 12, 2006
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Bourn is a disappointment. And i had high hopes for Josh Anderson, but we pretty much gave him away for Oscar Villarreal.
I liked most of the moves we did this offseason, but imagine if we still had Brad Lidge and Josh Anderson rather than Michael Bourn and Oscar Villarreal
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 30, 2006
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I can't agree with you, Firestormer. Anderson is where Bourn is, struggling in the his first stint in the show, only playing through it in the Braves AAA club. That's a wash, and I like the potential with Bourn, his speed is remarkable. With the way the club is going, we have the luxury of letting hit his stride with the big club. As far as Lidge is concerned, he is a pennant killer, cruising along when the games don't matter and turning into a head case when the season is on the line. Had he hit a skid Valverde hit earlier (and he did last year), he would've blown ten games (and he did last year) before they took the ball from him (and they did last year). For a bunch of guys just starting to come together as a team, the Astros are doing much better that I would've dreamed. This is cool just like it is, second place and sighting in on the Cubs.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 22, 2006
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houstros: " What do you do? Do you keep throwing him out there? Do you bench him for a couple games? Do you send him to AAA to work out some kinks? Or do we drop him in the lineup?"
... you've gotta be kidding me with the benching thing. Even if for just a couple of games.
Benching him means the only way he'll get to practice his ABs is as a pinch-hitter.
A pinch-hitter! Meaning he isn't playing defense in the bulk of the innings of a game.
What is Bourn BEST at, even with all these criticisms we're laying on him?
A) stealing bases
B) catching balls in center field
Putting him on the bench eliminates B altogether with him not playing defense, and it severely limits A even MORESO than his .190 average is.
BTW, he HAD gotten over .200, he's just slipped back down below it.
Bourn's problem is that he's left-handed.
All his ground balls are going to 1B and 2B, where he's getting thrown out by an inch or two.
If he could just start GOING THE OTHER WAY with his groundouts... boom, many of them would turn into infield singles. I agree that we don't need all these liners and fly balls from him, yes. But what ground balls he DOES hit need to be hit up the middle or to the left side of the field... and gently. Then he can leg out some infield singles.
Drag bunts and bunts of all sorts would be great, too.
That's why of all the options, only two make sense:
Leaving it alone.
Dropping him in the lineup.
Imagine using him to bunt batting 8th (or 9th) late in a game with the pitcher's spot being a pinch-hit anyway... he can move the runners over and possible beat out the throw, anyway. Then with him on 1st and say a runner on 3rd that he moved over from 2nd... 2nd base is open for him to steal...
And all while Matsui/Pence are on deck and soon after will be BLT.
Bourn can do it. We have to be patient with him. This team is 10-2 in the past 12 games. Why all the negativity? I'm tired of hearing it on the postgame call-in show on 740 KTRH, too. Some drunk-sounding countrified old man called in today questioning Cooper's managerial decisions. Aside from not playing Tejada today, Coop didn't do ANYTHING wrong today.
OUR TEAM IS A WINNER. Let's start acting like winning fans, callers... sheesh.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 22, 2006
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TheKansasComet: "The runs he isnt scoring he is keeping off the board in center. I don't care if he gets a hit the rest of the year ! We are a long way from Round Rock. We are in second place in the Central looking hard at the Cubs. Leave this alone."
AMEN.
I couldn't have said it better. Seriously, I just tried to, but you said it much shorter and sweeter than is possible for a longwinded fellow such as myself. BEAUTIFULLY PUT!
Leave it alone. At the VERY MOST, change the order of the lineup a bit. BUT DO NOT CHANGE THE CONTENTS OF IT. No benching Bourn, no sending him down to AAA.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Apr 6, 2008
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i agree with most of these posts.. you gotta keep throwing him out there..jeez is only 40 games into rookie season.. maybe, MAYBE you drop him to the bottom of the lineup..but i really think you shouldnt mess with the current chemistry...its working fellas..we are winning.. dont touch it.. i think he is starting to hit the ball better.. and not looking like such an imbecile on the big hooks...(SOMETIMES)
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Jun 19, 2007
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Yea I agree that we should leave Bourne where he is. He's only a rookie. He needs as many ABs as he could possibly get to develop. I understand he's struggling at the plate right now. Be patient! At least he can still use his speed to play defense. But being said, he needs to adjust his game somewhat, like many of you already pointed out. He really needs to learn how to bunt and get on base that way like Willy did. I think this has more to do with the hitting coach. Anyway, I understand you fans are frustrated. I am too but in a long run, leaving him in the game will benefit the Astros and benefit himself.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 27, 2006
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Agreed, Gfox. If anything, move him to the back of the order. But let's give him some time to work his swing out. Maybe give him days off against tough lefties and let him get his reps in against soft-throwing righties instead. But the only way he's going to get his bat going is by giving him regular playing time.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 2 | |
