I worked for the Astros part of the time that Lance was on the Astros. He isn't kidding. I have posted it on here before but Lance was without question the laziest player on the team. He was always grumpy and did very little. The only positive thing I can say is that he did stretch for 5 minutes before the game and every once in awhile he would take BP. He was also usually the last player to show up before a home game. He used to run his mouth complaining about PED users (among other things) and I remember someone saying that Lance doesn't take PED's because it requires too much work. He was the most talented non pitcher I was around when I was working for the Astros. He had the most raw power and was a better natural hitter than the two Hall of Famers. He also was faster than people realize, the few times he would lose weight, he was one of the faster guys in drills (the few times he bothered to do drills). I don't think much of him as a player. He could and should have been a Hall of Famer. His effort just was really bad. FWIW almost all the guys worked very hard. Bagwell and Biggio both did, and NO ONE worked as hard as Clemens and Pettite. Those guys were at the stadium on the field 4-5 hours before the game running and throwing and discussing the team they were going to play.
There's a reason Lance got called "Twinkie" and opposing fans threw him snacks in the OF. Guy could rake. He should have been a HOFer, but he just didn't care enough. Oh well.
Honestly it is worse than you think. I am not kidding when I say the guy did nothing except complain. Extremely entitled and prone to sulk unless Baggy counseled him. I think fans think because he went to Rice and stayed out of criminal trouble that he was a hard worker and great teammate. Not from what I witnessed or overheard.
Mmmm....I got to know/see the late career Lance at 2nd Baptist a couple of times, when I was there for reunions (not sure if I've mentioned this but I'll mention it until I die: I made out with his wife on several non-consecutive occasions in 5th/6th grade). I'm not a big fan, but it's hard not to love the guy. He's like Houston John Kruk.
The greatest ballplayer of all time was by all accounts a lazy slob as well. I don't think I've heard anybody rave about his work ethic, but he was a great, great ballplayer even if that was still an underachievement for his immense hitting ability. And he's pretty much Houston through and through, which people love.
Fans think he was a tremendous ball player, which he was. In his prime, as good as any hitter ever to play here. Even better if you factor in his playoff numbers. Lack of longevity, likely due to work ethic, curtailed his HOF chances... but Astros fans got to witness him playing at that level for the years he was here, which goes a long way towards why he is still embraced locally (moreso than Bagwell).
I don't think any of us mistook Lance for a hard worker (in fact it was a sore spot after he got in shape to be a Cardinal). The one that you've always mentioned perception and reality differing on is Ausmus.
Porter is too old school to put in a lefthander as catcher. Not sure why there has been a bias against lefthanders at catching, but I'm guessing Porter has it.
Catchers throw to 1B as well. Plays at the plate would seem to favor lefties as they could "accidentally" block the plate easier while making a catch.
Talking about stolen bases, easier for a RHC to get in throwing position. Catchers want to catch the ball in front of the plate, every good throw to the plate for a LHC would have him reaching back across his body for the tag. Every throw up the 3B line would have him backhanding the ball and that also makes the tag harder.
Catcher would not have to backhand catches at the plate. Their body would be in 3B base path with glove in front of plate. Much easier for them to block plate once they catch the ball as they just drop down. Ability to block plate would outweigh slightly tougher throw to 3B on steals. Granted, would need lefty catcher to be tough like catchers back in the day. On throwing to 1st, much easier for a lefty on bunts and to keep runners at 1st close to bag.
Ask Benny Distefano if you don't believe me. And their body can't be in the base path until they catch the ball, so I'm not sure where you're suggesting they set up to take throws.
Apparently we need to start tracking the retired, well known Astro, Dwight Gooden....our own Dwight Gooden
