have the Astros ever had a solid offensive shortstop?

[Blackout]

before Miggy did they ever have ANYBODY good at SS with the bat??

[Steve Jeltz]

Dennis Menke drove in over 90 runs in 1969 and 1970.

Before being beaned by the Met's Mike Torrez in 1984, Dickie Thon posted a 20 homer, 79 RBI season in 1983. If Thon is never beaned, who knows what type of player he bcomes.

Other than Menke and Thon, the Astros have never had a SS with a good bat.

[houfan]

Menke had a solid bat those two seasons for Houston, but he didn't have the range for shortstop. He caught what he got to, but they felt they had a need for better defense at that position. That's why they made the trade for Metzger, which really began the tradition of good glove/little-to-no pop with bat at short.

[Bobby_Ayala]

Andujar Cedeno.:

[Iron Jaw]

Sonny Jackson had an excellent season (singles hitter) for the Astros in 1966, hitting .292 with 174 base hits. He stole 49 bases that season (making up for his lack of extra base hits).

But, Jackson faded to .237 the next season and was traded to the Braves in 1968 (along with Chuck Harrison) for Denis Menke and Denny Lemaster.

[HDH]

You mean other than Miguel Tejada?

In 1984, Dickie Thon was talked about in the same sentence with the new breed of SS along with Robin Yount and Cal Ripken. Thon was an excellent hitter and a scrappy player. Before he ws beaned by Mike Torrez in 1974, he was "the SS" in the NL.

Other than that, I think Denis Menke was an offensive minded, yet poor defensive SS in the 1960s. Julio Lugo was offensive minded but, the team dumped him after he beat up women.

[houfan]

You mean other than Miguel Tejada?

In 1984, Dickie Thon was talked about in the same sentence with the new breed of SS along with Robin Yount and Cal Ripken. Thon was an excellent hitter and a scrappy player. Before he ws beaned by Mike Torrez in 1974, he was "the SS" in the NL.

Other than that, I think Denis Menke was an offensive minded, yet poor defensive SS in the 1960s. Julio Lugo was offensive minded but, the team dumped him after he beat up women.

The comment about Lugo is a bit unfair. That was a classic he-said/she-said bitter divorce/custody case, which quickly found it's way out of court. He was charged, yet acquited. Since no one except Lugo and his ex know the true story I think it's unfair to say he beats up women.