Hunter Pence
by StickRat on Oct 9, 2009 4:13 PM CDT
10 comments
Hello Crawfish Boxers. I've hardly ever posted here, but a topic came up at another board and I wanted to get the Houston perspective on the issue. 'Tis the season where the baseball world inevitably starts talking possible trades. Of course, par for that course is one team's fanbase coveting another team's fan favorite, with the former deluding themselves into believing the player can be had. If there's one thing I've always respected about Astros fans, it's that they embrace their likeable heroes.
So, I'm looking for a point-blank perspective of Hunter Pence. The impression I've gotten is that he is one of the biggest fan faves to come along since Craig Biggio. I'll pose the question bluntly, so please take it with a grain of salt. I'm really just trying to prove a point. Thanks.
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i dont think they would
but if they got a great deal then i guess they would
by EveryHoustonTeamRox! on Oct 9, 2009 4:26 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Hunter Pence is a fan favorite and we’ve got an owner who (someone correct me if I’m wrong) relies on the Face of the Franchise player thing to put butts in seats. Currently, we’ve got Berkman and Oswalt holding that title, and I think they’re grooming Pence for a similar role once those two are no longer in baseball.
Ed Wade is probably not terribly attached to Pence, but the Face of the Franchise thing means he’d probably have to get approval from owner Drayton McLane to move him. I don’t see Ed Wade going to McLane with a potential trade unless (1) we get some solid pitching talent in return, and (2) Wade can point to whoever we get in return for Hunter and say he can be the new Face of the Franchise in the next 2 or 3 years.
by AstroAndy on Oct 9, 2009 4:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I could see it happening, but probably not this season.
I doubt they’ll even actively seek it out, but if somebody comes to them with an incredible offer or something, sure… there’s always a price.
However, we do have a good amount of outfield depth coming up in the system; the story may be different in a year or two when kids like Jon Gaston and T.J. Steele are knocking on the door.
by OremLK on Oct 9, 2009 5:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think a Pence trade is out of the question. But I think it is fairly unlikely. I think there is a fair amount of division among fans, and possibly among Astros’ front office types, about what kind of future to expect from Pence. Is he a future Richard Hidalgo or a future Jeff Bagwell, for instance? Pence has enough weak links to go along with his strengths that you could argue either side of that. On top of that, Pence is probably most the valuable feasible trading piece available to the Astros. So, if the Astros really wanted to make a big trade, they might have to consider Pence.
On the other hand, Pence is young and relatively cheap, which is something the Astros need. And Pence’s enthusiasm and all-out play makes him popular with the fan base, which means that he is popular with Drayton McLane too.
by clack on Oct 9, 2009 5:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
What is Pence's ceiling really?
Does he become a gold glover, hit .300 with 30 homers/20 steals a year?
Remember to retire Fin's number, Mark.
by jonthefon on Oct 9, 2009 5:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
People can disagree on that. Personally, I think that Pence can achieve those numbers at some point in his career (even though the 20 steals may be accompanied with being thrown out 20 times, unless he learns the art of the SB better). I think the more significant question is whether he achieves that in one peak season, or achieves it consistently for many years. The former is the Hidalgo example, and the latter is the Bagwell example. Pence is close to a gold glover already, but probably won’t get the hardware until he becomes a bigger name.
by clack on Oct 9, 2009 6:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Right now, that's what I think
he can do consistently in his prime.
Remember to retire Fin's number, Mark.
by jonthefon on Oct 9, 2009 9:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, Pence is already gold glove material.
What hurts him is that he has to compete with center fielders, and that he’s going to be consistently in Bourn’s shadow defensively as long as he plays in Houston.
His hitting down the road will depend on whether he can improve his plate discipline and smooth out some of the rough edges. He showed some signs of working on that by laying off sliders late this season. I think he can make the adjustments he needs to.
by OremLK on Oct 9, 2009 9:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not opposed...
to trading Hunter at some point, but it shouldn’t be after this season unless the price is ridiculously good, which I don’t expect. His performance in the second half was disappointing. His unconventional batting stance and general goofiness are really part of why he’s a fan favorite in Houston, but I don’t see those things translating to popularity in a city where he wasn’t in the farm system and a huge performer as a rookie after a ridiculously amazing spring training.
In other words, I think he’s going to have to establish himself as a real proven commodity before he would draw all that much in a trade.
by BTastros on Oct 12, 2009 1:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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