Has Garner totally lost it or what? He has Biggio batting first
although he is mired in an 0-28 slump (now 0-29). This makes absoltely
no sense to me. Also, Garner starts Ensberg and Lane again although
they haven't done hardly anything in the second half of the season.
Why is Huff playing today against a LHP and yesterday he did not start
against a lefty?

Garner appeared to manage great last year only because the bullpen was
solid and Lane and Ensberg had career years. However, this year he was
faced with adversity and his questionable managerial decisions have
probably cost the Astros 8-10 wins.

David233 wrote:


That presumes, David, that Garner ever had "it" -- whatever "it" is. He
never had a winning season as a manager before this gig came along; in
fairness, he had some very bad teams to work with, but it's not like
this one is nearly as lacking in talent as the Brewers and Tigers were.


They're trying to chip Biggio's way into the 3000 hit club. It won't
happen -- and Burke can't take over for good at 2B -- until Biggio gets
that 3000th hit.


That's the case regardless of managers. Teams loaded with
productive talent usually win enough games to make the playoffs. Teams
that lack it -- having deficiencies in either pitching or
offense or both -- have a harder time. The Astros' struggles this year
aren't due to coaching but to glaring deficiencies in offensive
production and, to a lesser degree, relief pitching.


I don't think managers are ultimately that responsible for winning or
losing, and the Astros' anemic offensive production -- regardless who's
playing on any given day -- has cost them a lot more than 8-10 games.

Correction...


The next sentence should've read:

Biggio -- not Burke -- will continue to play 2B regularly until he gets
his 3000th hit.

Which means that this will continue to be a major weak link in the
offense next season until the All-Star break. I am a big fan of Biggio
but how can McLane and Purpura justify NOT putting the best lineup on
the field only for the express purpose of seeing Biggio get his 3,000
hits. If Biggio is hitting .280 I'm all for having him in the lineup
everyday, but, if he's hitting .230 how can management justify playing
him everyday? Baseball I thought was a team sport and you play the
guys who give you best opportunity to win. Big quandry for Mclane and
Purpura.

chico chupacabra wrote:

David233 wrote:


Because the run for Biggio's 3000th hit will mean more butts in seats,
especially if he gets hot now at the end of this season and can start
off on a tear in April and May -- when attendance is lower than later in
the season when fan interest is highest.


$$$$$$$$$$

Not just the money they pay him, but the money he brings in from fans at
games, licensed memorabilia, etc. How many people are wearing Chris
Burke jerseys at games?


No, it's a big money-making enterprise. Whatever McLane says about being
a champion can be interpreted two different ways:
1. on the field, where the team wins games; or
2. off the field, where the team earns money.

The two points aren't mutually exclusive, but how many players get 3000
hits in their careers, much less spend their entire careers with one
team? That's something they can sell throughout next season even if the
team sucks.

I won't begrudge them their profits, I just hope they use some of it
on other players to make up for Biggio's declining production.