Michael Bourn: An Elite Source of Speed?

[The_Natural]

What do you guys think of Bourn right now?

Jason Bourn is a stud and faster then Michael.



Sorry, I couldn't resist. Try to trade him if you have him.

Pick up Casilla or Span if you need some speed.

[SpecialFNK]

this from rotoworld..

Michael Bourn will sit in favor of Darin Erstad for the foreseeable future, manager Cecil Cooper said Friday.
The completely ridiculous thing is that Bourn either hits leadoff or he's not good enough to play. It's like it's never occured to Cooper that maybe he should have been hitting seventh or eighth all along. The Astros might as well go back to Bourn for the final two months, as it's very unlikely that they'll put themselves back into contention in the NL Central. Going to Erstad could be an attempt to showcase him, though Erstad probably looks better the less he plays.

id like to say, Astros manager Cecil Cooper, is an IDIOT!
as it says, why is it that when Bourn plays he has to bat leadoff? obviously Cooper knows there is the option to bat Bourn lower because hes done it before, but maybe he is clueless as to just how well Bourn has done in the 7th spot- .361 AVG/ .378 OBP/
i wish i could smack Cooper upside the head with a frying pan.
i would also like to add this is the same man who continously gives Blum starts at 3B over Wigginton.
i dont think its a stretch that Cooper gets fired after the season, but couldnt it be done during the season??
as the quote also says, the Astros might as well give the job back to Bourn, because its not like they are even close to contending. i would also like to throw out Bourn's stats from the 2nd half last season- (31 games) .324 AVG/ .375 OBP/

[kab21]

Don't use 40 PA sample sizes and try to show that Bourn would be a better hitter if he's batting in the 7th spot during the 2nd half.

At the pro level where you bat in the lineup shouldn't make you a drastically different hitter (slight effect based on who is batting ahead/behind). Batting 7th or 8th is not the cure to Bourn's problem. But Cooper is an idiot for continually batting Bourn leadoff because he's fast. Sadly I'm cursed with the same issue cheering for the Twins with Mr. Excitement (Gomez) in the leadoff spot. ugh.

[DbacksRback]

An elite source of suck

[Leena]

So, who should the Astros bat leadoff? Pence is struggling this year. Matsui? Erstad? Bourn isn't looking that bad now.

[SpecialFNK]

Matsui should bat leadoff. he should have been batting leadoff before, and then maybe use Bourn in the 2 spot or down at 6/7 where he has had some success.
Matsui had 3 walks tonight, and does have .343 OBP this season.

those who know, who is the better defender.. Bourn or Erstad?

i hope Erstad has a bunch of 0 fors like he did tonight, or maybe he gets injured again like he has in recent past ..then the Astros will be forced to put Bourn back in CF and this time Matsui will be having success in the leadoff spot and maybe Coopers lightbulb will go off in his head and he will get a clue that he can bat Bourn somewhere other than the leadoff spot for an extended period of time.

[buffalobillsrul2002]

Im pretty sure Bourn's a much better defender than Erstad... He was a pretty good LF last year in Philly from what I recall.... Also, Erstad had been playing pretty well up until this little stretch here when he's been playing full-time... Sadly, he just might not be a full-time player anymore... maybe Cooper realizes that and puts Bourn back in....

[Inukchuk]

So, who should the Astros bat leadoff? Pence is struggling this year. Matsui? Erstad? Bourn isn't looking that bad now.

Get Berkman up there. Now there's an elite source of speed. And they really can't pitch around him, either.

[kab21]

So, who should the Astros bat leadoff? Pence is struggling this year. Matsui? Erstad? Bourn isn't looking that bad now.

Anybody that has a higher OBP than .278 should bat leadoff. If need be bat Matsui leadoff and slide everyone up a spot and then put Bourn at 9th which keeps everyone the same distance from the pitcher (or bat Bourn 8th). Each of the teams better hitters would get an additional 20 or so PA's per season.

It makes zero sense to bat your worst hitter first even if he is fast.

[Super Manny]

It seems that some think Bourn will return to the starting lineup shortly (albeit at a lower spot in the order), while others feel that his play has firmly entrenched his spot on the bench. With this said, is Bourn worth a speculative pickup for teams seeking stolen bases...?

(The Bourn owner in my money league, who happens to be the roto leader in steals, just dropped him.)