The Astros season rides on this

[pburghpen51]

While there are a lot of decisions to be made regarding the team. The most important question is....Why isn't Charlton Jimerson starting in centerfield yet? I've witnessed first hand the might of his lumber. When will he be belting out goners and notching up golden sombreros at the Juice Box?>>Forward to Phil.

[lamearm]

Looked at his strikeout numbers or on base percentage lately...Might be a clue there why he is still down on the farm...

[PopTop]

:laugh Our season 'rides on this?"

Heard a rumor he might be odd man out if a move had to be made on the 40-man right now. So if our season hinges on him, we're in BIG trouble.

[pburghpen51]

Don't doubt Jimerson. I looked at his strikeouts, but let's focus on the upside here. I saw the guy strikeout four times in a row in Corpus Christi with the Hooks and then hit the game-winning HR in the bottom of the 11th inning. His bat is magic. The guy breathes HRs, but that's about all he does. On a more realistic note, any centerfielder is better than the least clutch player in baseball-- Willy Taveras. The guy doesn't hit anything but singles that barely skim over the second baseman's glove. He's fast but so is every other centerfielder. He was a liability and the team's OBP should go up without him. Who's going to be out in centerfield now, Burke? That won't last for long, they'll need a guy who can cover ground. The Astros pitching always capitalizes on good defense bc pitching is a delicate art in a bandbox.

[EvanAparra]

First of all, is this just a big joke? Like the guy campaigning for John Buck for MVP?


The guy breathes HRs, but that's about all he does.

He's not even all that good at that either.

He was a liability and the team's OBP should go up without him.

Not if Jimerson is out there. His career OBP in the minors is .300. Last year, it was .287. Abysmal.

[PopTop]

Hey, don't get me wrong. I'd love to see Jimerson come into spring and have a great showing, earn the starting CF job, bat .260 or so with an OPS around .800 and play solid defense in center. But if I was a betting man - - And I am ;) - - I wouldn't bank on that happening. The guy will be 28 before the end of the regular season and has never shown much inclination to improving his weaknesses at the plate. You can put up with some holes with someone cracking 30+ taters per season, and in my opinion Chris Burke is not the answer as our regular CF. But then, I don't think Jimerson is either.

Hope I eat crow on this, but let's pretend I'm from Missouri: Show me.

[lamearm]

While I don't think Burke is the answer to the cf question, I'd rather see him out there than Jimerson.

[AstrosFan]

But guys, Jimersons OPS+ last year was 183.

If Jimerson is as bad at getting on base as you describe, I'd hate to see the season riding on his bat.

[PopTop]

AF, if Jimerson could post a 1.100+ OPS over the course of more than six plate appearances, I'd be very impressed. If he had done that in, say, 75-100 AB, we'd already be counting on him to play a significant role this season. But give him 100 AB and I strongly suspect that OPS would plummet while his 50% K/AB rate would hover about the same.

[EvanAparra]

PT, i'm guessing AF was being very sarcastic.

[Dalkowski110]

"First of all, is this just a big joke? Like the guy campaigning for John Buck for MVP?"

The John Buck guy was awfully convincing to be joking around...