Phillie watchers had their first opportunity to see the new, improved Michael Bourn last week and contemplate what might have been.
We've looked at the Bourn-Brad Lidge deal on a couple of occasions this year. In the immediate aftermath of last season's world championship, it appeared to be one of the best in Philadelphia baseball history - the reliever was the single player most responsible for the team's success.
Then earlier this season we took a second look. At that point, Lidge was struggling and Bourn was hitting .300 and his Astros were serious playoff contenders. Now as the season winds down, we take a third look.
Lidge is no longer just struggling - he has melted down in one of the most dramatic falls from grace since Adam and Eve. Charlie Manuel gets edgy just talking about it.
Meanwhile, while Houston has become a footnote in the National League race, Bourn continues to hit over .290 with 50 plus stolen bases. So at least based on this year's production, Bourn has outshown Lidge by several light years. Bourn has been the Astros' MVP, Lidge a Phillies' Pandora's box and migraine headache for Manuel.
But a little perspective. After watching the former Phillie up close last week, it is clear that he has not remade himself into a potent batsman; he is still a work in progress. Of his 150-odd hits, more than a third of them are either the result of bunts or are of the infield variety. He is on pace to strike out close to 140 times, a whopping total for a leadoff man with three home runs. And if Bourn were still a Phillie, where would he play?
But let your imagination run wild. Michael Bourn's game begins and ends with speed - it was decisive in a couple of the Astros' wins over the Phils in Houston. If Bourn was the regular left fielder in Philadelphia in tandem with Victorino and Werth, it would constitute one of the fastest outfields in major league history. Add Jimmy Rollins, and Davey Lopes would have a world class 400m relay team to wreak havoc on the bases. The home team would have a remarkable combination of speed and power.
Would Bourn's speed offset the loss of Ibanez' power? Probably not. Would it be easy to design a lineup to incorporate Rollins, Victorino and Bourn effectively? Heck no. Could Michael Bourn ever be as valuable as Lidge was in 2008? Almost inconceivable.
But the Phillies sure would be fun to watch.
(Note: This blog will be changing its name to "fannotes@blogspot.com")
Showing posts with label Michael Bourn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michael Bourn. Show all posts
Friday, September 11, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Brad Lidge vs Michael Bourn
The acquisition of Brad Lidge from the Astros has, to date, been one of the best trades in Phillies history, as no other player was more responsible for last year's championship season. And the cost appeared minimal - Mike Costanzo, Geoff Geary and Michael Bourn. Costanzo, a career minor leaguer, is now in the Orioles' system. Geary had a so-so 2008. This year he had an ERA of more than 8 when he went on the DL with tendinitis. Recently he came off the DL and was immediately optioned to the minors.
That leaves Bourn and this is where it gets a little more interesting. Bourn never got many swings with Philadelphia, serving primarily as a utility player and pinch-runner. In his one full year with the Phils, in 2007, he batted .277 in just over 100 at bats. Last year, in 467 at bats with his new team, the Houston center fielder hit only .229 and he didn't give the coaching staff much reason to believe that he was a long-range solution to the their needs in the outfield.
But in 2009, through June 21, he is hitting .300 with 15 doubles, 5 triples and 24 stolen bases. The Astros started the season miserably and were 8 games under .500 at the end of May. But currently they are only 3 games under .500 and are only 5 games out of first place in the rugged National League Central Division.
And Michael Bourn has played a key role in this revival. According to Houston manager Cecil Cooper, quoted in the Houston Chronicle, Bourn is the team's MVP: "... he's played terrific baseball really from opening day. He's been very consistent, and he's played great defense. He's done what we've needed him to do from the top of the lineup. He's been huge all year."
In the meantime of course, Lidge has been a shadow of last year's self, whether due to knee problems, mechanics, post-World Series syndrome, or all of the above. He is expected to return to form and for now he still has to be considered part of one of the most successful transactions in Philly baseball history, perhaps second only to obtaining Steve Carlton in the notorious Carlton-Rick Wise trade. But for the first three months of the '09 campaign at least, Bourn is out-producing Lidge. It should be added that Eric Bruntlett, the other half of the Lidge package, who was so valuable last year in a utility role, has made a much smaller contribution this year, although this is mainly because Raul Ibanez doesn't need defensive help the way Pat Burrell did.
Is Bourn an emerging star? Is he capable of being an impact player in Texas the way Lidge was in Philadelphia? It's way too early to tell. But the career of Michael Bourn bears watching.
That leaves Bourn and this is where it gets a little more interesting. Bourn never got many swings with Philadelphia, serving primarily as a utility player and pinch-runner. In his one full year with the Phils, in 2007, he batted .277 in just over 100 at bats. Last year, in 467 at bats with his new team, the Houston center fielder hit only .229 and he didn't give the coaching staff much reason to believe that he was a long-range solution to the their needs in the outfield.
But in 2009, through June 21, he is hitting .300 with 15 doubles, 5 triples and 24 stolen bases. The Astros started the season miserably and were 8 games under .500 at the end of May. But currently they are only 3 games under .500 and are only 5 games out of first place in the rugged National League Central Division.
And Michael Bourn has played a key role in this revival. According to Houston manager Cecil Cooper, quoted in the Houston Chronicle, Bourn is the team's MVP: "... he's played terrific baseball really from opening day. He's been very consistent, and he's played great defense. He's done what we've needed him to do from the top of the lineup. He's been huge all year."
In the meantime of course, Lidge has been a shadow of last year's self, whether due to knee problems, mechanics, post-World Series syndrome, or all of the above. He is expected to return to form and for now he still has to be considered part of one of the most successful transactions in Philly baseball history, perhaps second only to obtaining Steve Carlton in the notorious Carlton-Rick Wise trade. But for the first three months of the '09 campaign at least, Bourn is out-producing Lidge. It should be added that Eric Bruntlett, the other half of the Lidge package, who was so valuable last year in a utility role, has made a much smaller contribution this year, although this is mainly because Raul Ibanez doesn't need defensive help the way Pat Burrell did.
Is Bourn an emerging star? Is he capable of being an impact player in Texas the way Lidge was in Philadelphia? It's way too early to tell. But the career of Michael Bourn bears watching.
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