I know were in the middle of the NFL season and baseball does not start for five months, but living in Houston and being an Astros fan makes this of the utmost importance. Now knowing Houston fans, they are going to go crazy when they hear that Lance Berkman has signed with a team in the NL Central that is not the Astros. And once they get over this, they will say, “well at least tell me it was not with the Cardinals.” Then they are going to find out that indeed Lance Berkman has signed with the Cardinals. One year, eight million dollars.
I am sure when Houston fans heard this they fell into coma. Give them about a month and they will wake. To every crazy, emotional Houston fan there are two teams that are off limits when it comes to former Astros signing with them: Atlanta and St. Louis. They got over when Roy Oswalt got traded to the Phillies. And they were even fine with Berkman being traded to the Yankees last year, because and I remember, one of my Astros craved friends saying, “at least it was not the Braves or Cardinals.” People are going to be asking how Lance Berkman knowingly signed with the team that tormented him for the last decade. How can he change in the same locker room as Albert Pujols, who is the only sole reason that Lance Berkman is not a household name—having overshadowed him since he came into the league and on top of it all, is responsible for the second most devastating moment in Houston sports history (just behind the Buffalo Bills incident of which we no longer speak...) I know you have lots of questions Astros fans and I know you have a lot of built up frustration—epecially with what is going on with the Rockets and Texans. But I am here to say do not fret. I am here to disconnect you emotionally from Lance Berkman. I am here to tell you to applaud like crazy when the Cardinals visit. And I am here to tell you why we do not want Lance Berkman on our team.
Some people are going to ask why I would not want a future Hall of Famer on my team. And do not get me wrong, Lance Berkman will be in the Hall of Fame. But the fact of the matter is that the Houston Astros right now have one of the youngest teams in the league. They are trying to gel as a team and finally...FIANLLY!!!!! the Astros have cut those huge, awful contracts with aged players save for Carlos Lee (who I personally do not mind at first base). You know that if Berkman came back to the Astros he would be making twice what the Cardinals are paying.
The Astros are saving money by not resigning him and I really do believe that we are in the Carl Crawford sweepstakes because of the money we saved by getting rid of Oswalt and Berkman, because Crawford is from here and knows Michael Bourn well. Frankly put, the Astros have no room for a 34 year old first basemen who can barely hit from the right side anymore and is defensively not the same as he used to be. I do not care who it is. For this team right now I would not even want a 34 year old Jeff Bagwell. This team is young and is on the rise. So what if the face of the Astros' last decade will be here ten times a year wearing red. Big deal. It was a business decision for him and if anyone knows how to get him out, it is the Astros.
So I am here to say once again it is going to be OK Houston. Calm down. Try again to separate yourself from the emotion and what the Astros need right now. Right now we need to rally around our youth, give them our money and hope to God that Carl Crawford wants to take a hometown discount. But, Crawford or no Crawford, if you are selling Astros stock, I am buying.
I say, who cares. The Astros seemed to start getting their crap together once Oswalt and Berkman left anyway. Let the young bloods find their groove and watch them destroy the Cards every game. Might not be next season but our Astros will become powerful once again.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to have a 34 year old Craig Biggio on the team though.
Well put Jesse, but I'll still be cheering for my Cardinals against the Astros.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, get of the Crawford train. He isn't coming here. Although it would be cool to have 2 out fielders and 7 in the infield.
ReplyDeleteThis is a kick in the knee. He could have gone somewhere that actually needed a 1st baseman. He is too old/slow to play in the outfield.