Baseball Historians

Baseball Prospectus wrote up a very informative player profile on Morgan Ensberg today.  I expect Ensberg to bounce back in 2007 and it looks like BP does as well.  Good stuff and I particularly enjoyed the hit charts. 

The Astros finished up their arbitration eligible signings all at one time when the came to one year agreements with third baseman Morgan Ensberg, shortstop Adam Everett and outfielder Jason Lane.  Ensberg had a pretty tough and injury filled season in 2006 after a breakout campaign in 2005.  Everett is the best fielding shortstop in [...]

MLB.com beat writer Alyson Footer recently answered her readers’ questions in a mailbag column.  The first question she addresses is about arbitration (and how a guy like Brad Lidge can get a raise).  She gives a brief yet informative explanation of how arbitration works as well as going into the issues a particular player can bring [...]

The Astros signed Brad Lidge to a one year, $5.35 million deal and in the process, avoided arbitration with the closer.  Lidge had a pretty poor season last year and now that he’ll be making closer money, the Astros should expect something more in line with 2005 season.  Regardless, you don’t see too many relievers [...]

This has been bugging me for quite some time.  On the one hand, it’s almost blasphemous to talk negatively about one of the greatest pitchers of all time, Roger Clemens.  On the other hand, with the Astros narrowing the division lead late in the season to a game and half behind the Cards, you have [...]

Richard Hidalgo is coming home.  After being traded to the Mets and sitting out the 2006 season, Hidalgo will be invited to spring training with a chance to win a job in Houston where he put together his best seasons.  He hasn’t played for the Astros since he was traded to the Mets in 2004 [...]

There’s no doubt that the Astros top pick in 2005, Brian Bogusevic, has been a disappointment.  In his first full season last year, he was knocked around to the tune of a 4.65 ERA between split squad and Low A.  And this is definitely a guy who’s not playing over his head because he was 22 [...]

The Astros solidified their bullpen today when they re-signed right handed set up man Dan Wheeler to a one year, $2.1 million deal.  Wheeler filled in for Brad Lidge on occasion and showed he could handle the closer role.  In the last two seasons, he’s pitched in at least 70 games and thrown at least [...]