July 12, 2006
Off in a Huff
The Astros received Aubrey Huff from the Devil Rays in exchange for two minor-leaguers. The Trop was a pretty neutral park for Huff, so the Astros are getting a player with an okay OBA and an okay slugging percentage. He gives them flexiblity as he can play third, first and right. Lane goes to minors and Ensberg will get less playing time.
I hope this isn't a long term move with Ensberg and Huff. I assume Morgan is still recovering from his injury. A healthy Endsberg is a better player than Huff, and I'm not sure a hurt Ensberg isn't a better player.
The Devil Rays get pitcher Mitch Talbot, whose strength is his control (but he's developed into a strikeout pitcher this year), and Ben Zorbist, who has a great OBA and hits lots of doubles. There's lots of upside for the Devil Rays in this deal.
Posted by David Pinto at
11:51 AM
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A hurt Ensberg has been doing nothing but walking for the last month. We need a guy that will drive in runs and protect Berkman. Ensberg is no threat at all to drive in runs at this point.
I do agree that a healthy Ensberg is better than Huff, and that this isn't a long term solution, unless another deal is on the horizon.
Ensberg is too streaky. Maybe this move pushes him into getting his head on straight. And Lane is just lost this year. The Astros will miss his defense, but their real need is on offense. I hope this move doesn't mean more OF time for Berkman.
I am a season ticket holder to the Corpus Christi Hooks - Tampa got two good players. Zobrist is an adequate fielding SS, has an excellent eye at the plate, hits from both sides for avg., and has some pop. Talbot has improved over the season and has become a quality starter (albeit at the AA level.) Both have ML potential.
Exactly how many second-order preference position players can one team have? Burke is shifted from his preferred position at 2nd to to CF or LF to make room for Biggio, Berkman gets stuck in the OF a quarter of the time to get Lamb's bat in the lineup. Now they have a guy who can play 4 positions, but isn't good enough to displace the guy who plays the position he plays the most, and so will likely have to spend the majority of his time in the OF rather than 3B. Can there be a coherent strategy to this?
If he plays at 3B, I don't see this as a great move. Ensberg is a scary hitter when healthy, and even now is still better than Huff.
If they are smart, they will put him in the OF and dump Taveras. He might be fast, but what good is speed if you never get on base?
Nice move for Tampa. I think they need to improve their pitching...their offense only scores about 4.3 RPG, but their pitchers are allowing around 4.8. Get that down, then you can sign some offense over the winter because the offensive players will know they can have a shot at winning. Plus, you could then probably sign a quality proven starter easier too.
This move definitely gives the astros some flexibility. Ensberg has been slumping lately, though he has still been getting on base. I'd way rather have him in the lineup against righties than strikeout king Preston Wilson. I think it's obvious... against a righty starter, start Ensberg at 3rd, Lamb at 1st, Berkman in right and Huff in left. Vs a southpaw, Wilson in left, Lane in right Berkman at 1st, and ensberg still at 3rd. And what's with sending Lane to the minors and wasting a roster spot on Orlando Palmeiro? He may be left-handed, but even Lane has hit better against righties.
In response to JeremyR. Huff has been red hot for the last month, and Morgan has been below the mendoza line for that same time period.
A healthy Ensberg is better than Huff, but Ensberg right now is not only worse than Huff, he's worse than most major leaguers.