Friday, June 10, 2005

After taking 2 out of 3 from the Mets in NY (a road series win??), it is clear what the Astros need to do:

SIGN JOSH PHELPS!

The former Baseball Prospectus cover boy has had a rough few years, and was released a few days ago by the Devil Rays (from great prospect to being released by the D-Rays....ouch). However, he was hitting .266 / .328 / .424, which isn't all that bad, and he has a career 857 OPS against lefties. My preference would be to move Berkman back to LF (his natural position), and platoon Todd Self and Phelps at 1B (their natural positions). This makes Chris Burke a backup again, but I'm sure Garner can give Berkman, Lane, Biggio, and our 1B platoon the occasional day off to play Burke. Heck, I wouldn't mind seeing a Burke / Lane / Berkman OF, though it would be rough defensively. It's looking more and more to me that Taveras is overmatched my major-league pitching.

Anyway, Phelps is only 27, he's cheap, and he can rake against lefties. What's not to like?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

PHELPS IS OK BUT I THINK THE ASTROS NEED SOME LEADERSHIP FROM THE TOP. THEY SIGNED ROGER CLEMENS SON, WHAT DOES THAT SIGNAL? THAT ROGER WANTS TO PLAY NEXT YEAR? I THINK AT SOME POINT THEY NEED TO THINK ABOUT TRYING TO WIN RATHER THAN HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL COME WATCH THREE OLD FUTURE HALL OF FAMERS IN THEIR LAST YEARS.BAGWELL, BIGGIO, AND CLEMENS CAN HELP A GOOD TEAM GET OVER THE TOP BUT THEY CAN NOT CARRY THE ASTROS. BURKE SHOULD BE AT SECOND BASE.

Anonymous said...

I wonder if Phelps is holding out for a major league job or if he would go to Round Rock.

Anonymous said...

Berkman is a firstbaseman we put in the outfield because of bagwell

Anonymous said...

LANE HIT ANOTHER HOME RUN. MAYBE ,IF THEY LEFT HIM ALONE HE MIGHT DO THIS ALL YEAR. HOW CAN YOU PLAY IF EVERY TIME YOU STRIKE OUT YOU WIND UP ON THE BENCH. HECK , THEY HAVE PUT UP WITH AUSMUS FOR ALL THESE YEARS.