Great News (finally!!!!!)
Lance Berkman just signed a six year contract worth around a total of $85 million with an option.
If yall remember, he was runner up to Barry Bonds for the MVP in 2001. Look at his stats
Year Ag Tm Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG TB SH SF IBB HBP GDP
+——+—+—-+—-+—-+—+–+—+—-+—+–+—+—+—–+—–+—–+—-+—+—+—+—+—+
1999 23 HOU NL 34 93 10 22 2 0 4 15 5 1 12 21 .237 .321 .387 36 0 1 0 0 2
2000 24 HOU NL 114 353 76 105 28 1 21 67 6 2 56 73 .297 .388 .561 198 0 7 1 1 6
2001 25 HOU NL 156 577 110 191 55 5 34 126 7 9 92 121 .331 .430 .620 358 0 6 5 13 8
2002 26 HOU NL 158 578 106 169 35 2 42 128 8 4 107 118 .292 .405 .578 334 0 3 20 4 10
2003 27 HOU NL 153 538 110 155 35 6 25 93 5 3 107 108 .288 .412 .515 277 1 3 13 9 10
2004 28 HOU NL 160 544 104 172 40 3 30 106 9 7 127 101 .316 .450 .566 308 0 6 14 10 10
+——+—+—-+—-+—-+—+–+—+—-+—+–+—+—+—–+—–+—–+—-+—+—+—+—+—+
6 Seasons 775 2683 516 814 195 17 156 535 40 26 501 542 .303 .416 .563
In conclusion -
1) he’s a great hitter – hits for average and power. OPS has been in the top 10 in the NL since 2000.
2) he has a great batting eye – 100 walks a year, almost as many walks as Ks
3) not too many GIDP – about 10/year
4) not a good base stealer 40/66 (60%) – and, though it doesn’t show up in the stats, sometimes makes really DUMB mistakes on the basepaths and gets himself out
5) fielding – he did his best, believe it or not, in center and his worst in right last year. He is around league average, pretty good arm, no spectacular plays.
It is true that he is getting a long term contract at age 29, but remember that in two years, Bagwell will retire and Lance will play first, his original position.
Last, but not least, those intangibles. Lance is a local boy (and we LOVE our homies) and a fan favorite and he WANTS to play his entire career here (unlike Other People Whose Name We Will Not Say who we hope chokes up there in the limelight he wanted so bad.) Lance is supposed to be a nice guy and a good teammate and supportive of younger players and given the fact that Bagwell/Biggio/Ausmus will be gone soon, we will need someone to be team “leader.”
Tags: Houston Astros, MLB
I agree, Lance is an outstanding player. Great signing, don’t let this guy go.. Wh, may I ask though, do you wish to choke? LoL. For some reason that person isnt coming to me, so please fill me in
Lisa—Seems to me that I remember the Other Person Whose Name You Will Not Say wanted to stay in Orange Juice Yard. When I was in Kansas City, I was always worried about being traded for five years. When I was traded to Houston, it was not a good feeling. I didn’t want to go through that anymore. I would not sign without a no-trade clause. I was looking for stability. The Mets said they would give me that stability. That does not sound like a man who does not “want” to stay in one place.
We all squawk about players who just team-hop and where’s the loyalty among royalty. All of that rot. But show us a player who does not want to team hop, who wants stability, and we . . . all squawk about players Whose Names We Will Not Say But Whom We Think Chased The Limelight.
Somehow, I think you simply cannot chase what already found you. Or have we forgotten that He Whose Name We Will Not Mention was the second most remarked part of the 2004 postseason, while it happened, and all around the nation, behind only the Idiots overtaking the Emperors before savouring their five and twenty Redbirds baked in a pie?
Not that locking down Lance Berkman is a terrible idea. How soon did you say Jeff Bagwell will start counting down his ticket to Cooperstown?
—Jeff
This is a well thought out and considered argument. Thanks,
Way to go Lance you really earned your 85 million in the 7th inning tonight. you make more money in 1 inning than I can make all my life . If you have a bad night you say shucks . I am an electrician if I have a bad night I can kill someone. Tell me why the desparity in the pay’. William DeLeon