The Astros signed utilityman David Newhan to a minor-league contract with an invitation to Spring Training yesterday.
And then of course the Chronicle's bulletin boards exploded with mean and hateful things. As do all bulletin boards - except this one, the home of clean, God-fearing, upright Astros fans who read blogs "The Right Way."
I'm not sure why everyone is panicking. Newhan hit .260 last year in a limited role (and .283 at home, mind you) - better than more than one regular starter - and is a lefty, and will provide some experience and competition for the younger guys coming up. Like Saccomanno, Johnson, Sutton, etc. He's got some pop. 9 of his 27 hits last year were for extra bases. No, he doesn't walk, but if you're a pinch-hitter, it doesn't pay to be too terribly patient.
When he was at second base, Newhan had a line of .304/.333./.449. When he led off the inning, which he did 29 times, he hit .448.
Jeesh, it's like everytime the Astros sign someone not named Manny Ramirez or Ben Sheets, everybody gets all bent out of shape...
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
