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Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Sports Justice: Lance Berkman: No power, no hits, no playoffs

Richard Justice: No guru, no method, no research teacher

There was a time back in May or June when we were talking up Lance Berkman as the National League’s first Triple Crown Winner in 71 years. Haven’t head that talk in awhile, have you?

When the Astros needed him most, Berkman disappeared. He produced nothing. Zip. Zilch.

He hit 22 home runs in his first 346 ABs, but just six in in his last 242. Some of that can be attributed to losing Carlos Lee as protection. He drew 44 walks in his first 346 plate appearances, 53 in his last 300.

Until about a week ago, he was still drawing walks, but now with the Astros desperate for victories, with the offense having disappeared, Berkman may have expanded the strike zone a bit.

Anyway, he’s 2 for 29 since Hurricane Ike. Wasn’t it enough that dirty rotten Bud Selig ruined our season? Why did he have to ruin our best player, too? It’s not just Berkman. The Astros are hitting .190 since Ike, and while there are slumps up and down the lineup, the focus always will be on the best player.

Wasn’t the protected Berkman slumping just before Lee got hurt?

Repoz Posted: September 24, 2008 at 04:24 PM | 14 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
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1. A triple short of the cycle

Posted: September 24, 2008 at 04:38 PM (#2952958)

Berkman leads the team in games played as has an OPS+ of 160 (versus career OPS+ is 148). And he's 16/20 in stolen bases, for good measure. That's a freakin' GREAT season.

2. Al Kaline Trio Posted: September 24, 2008 at 04:41 PM (#2952963)

But they only needed him now!

3. HGH Positive Posted: September 24, 2008 at 04:42 PM (#2952966)

That's a freakin' GREAT season.

I don't think he's arguing that, he's stating that when the Astros were making a playoff push Berkman had blown his load in the first half already.

4. Steve Treder Posted: September 24, 2008 at 04:45 PM (#2952978)

I don't think he's arguing that, he's stating that when the Astros were making a playoff push Berkman had blown his load in the first half already.

And if Berkman had slumped in the first half instead, and then come on strong in September, but since the Astros were hopelessly out of it there would be no serious playoff push to be made, would that have made Berkman's season better?

5. TVerik, AKA Snoopy Snoopy Poop Dog Posted: September 24, 2008 at 04:54 PM (#2952989)

I haven't seen this here, but I think the Astros are making too much of the "injustice" from Hurricane Ike. Yes, that may have been a bad decision, but a good team must play through bad decisions. It's not like the Supreme Court awarded the Wild Card to George W Bush.

6. Jose Canusee Posted: September 24, 2008 at 04:57 PM (#2952993)

Wasn’t it enough that dirty rotten Bud Selig ruined our season?

I didn't know Bud controlled the weather. He should have just ordered a thunderstorm rather than decree a tied All-Star Game.

7. SouthSideRyan Posted: September 24, 2008 at 05:05 PM (#2953005)

haven't seen this here, but I think the Astros are making too much of the "injustice" from Hurricane Ike.

Your internet been down the past couple weeks?

8. The Bones McCoy of THT Posted: September 24, 2008 at 05:13 PM (#2953018)

I didn't know Bud controlled the weather. He should have just ordered a thunderstorm rather than decree a tied All-Star Game.

He probably did just that in his drawers when the managers explained the situation to him. His continental breakfast became an incontinental one.

Best Regards

John

9. Quiet Flows the Don Taussig Avenger (Edmundo)

Posted: September 24, 2008 at 05:22 PM (#2953028)

And if Berkman had slumped in the first half instead, and then come on strong in September, but since the Astros were hopelessly out of it there would be no serious playoff push to be made, would that have made Berkman's season better?
Geesh, of course. He'd be in the MVP discussion with Delgado and Howard. Whoever's team makes the playoffs becomes the winner!

10. HGH Positive Posted: September 24, 2008 at 05:46 PM (#2953052)

what #9 said

11. Walt Davis Posted: September 24, 2008 at 07:07 PM (#2953172)

Exactly. Truly great players know the three ways to help their team are:

1. Surroound yourself with good teammates
2. Slump early
3. Produce late

Berkman didn't get one single step right. That kid will never learn.

12. Guy LeDouche Posted: September 24, 2008 at 07:28 PM (#2953204)

Chipper Jones hit a home run on opening day. He was on pace for 162! But the little choker only has 21 now. What a piece of crap that guy is.

13. sunnyday2 Posted: September 24, 2008 at 07:36 PM (#2953217)

I don't see any argument for an MVP other than Berk or Pujols. If Pujols deserves it (and I haven't made up my mind), it's because he had a better year. And maybe that's because he had a better September. Still the award is for the whole year, and they're the only 2 guys close.

14. Leroy Kincaid Posted: September 24, 2008 at 10:49 PM (#2953413)

If they reduced the season to just September then the last week of the month would've been the only one that "really counted".

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Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Sports Justice: Lance Berkman: No power, no hits, no playoffs

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