As of Monday, though, it hadn’t gotten bad enough that manager Jimy Williams was ready to junk the team’s biggest offseason move and bring former all-star second baseman Craig Biggio in from center field.
“We went through a lot of preparation for Biggio to play center field,” Williams said. “Certainly he has played second base. We know that. We’ve brought up a couple more infielders right now because we’re going to leave him in center field.”
But Williams said he might later reconsider moving Biggio.
“For the rest of the season, we’ll leave that door open.”
Williams has been scrambling since Jeff Kent went on the disabled list with tendinitis in his left wrist last month and was replaced by Jose Vizcaino, who broke a bone in his right forearm on June 24 and is out for possibly eight weeks following surgery.
He’s now filling the position with Geoff Blum and rookie Eric Bruntlett, who started two games during a weekend series with the Texas Rangers, but is still seeking his first major league hit.
“Vizcaino helped us with Kent out and now Jose’s out, so we go to another level and use our farm system,” Williams said.
Biggio has the same attitude he had when the Astros made the starting move to acquire free agent Kent in the offseason to play second base, with Biggio going to center field.
“Obviously I went out to center field for a reason,” Biggio said. “To help the team is what it’s all about, so whatever Jimy wants to do I’m willing to help out. We lost two second basemen so that speaks for itself. If that’s going to help the club, I’ll do it.”
Bruntlett hit fly balls in his first major league at-bat on Friday as a pinch-hitter against the Rangers, two innings after Dave Matranga homered in his first major league at-bat. Bruntlett is still awaiting his first major league hit.
“I’m not real worried about it right now. The ball’s going to fall in there pretty soon for me,” Bruntlett said. “I think everyone understands that two games isn’t really much of a judge on anybody, so I’ll just keep going out there.”
Blum has been sharing third base duties with Morgan Ensberg.
“We’re fortunate to have someone of his caliber who can play all four of those (infield) spots,” Williams said. “He’s played second, third and short now. He’s an outstanding athlete.”
