Well, since the Astros got their DH/LF, I guess it's time to argue about CF. When does the Maton vs. Martinez vs. Blanco vs. Taylor vs. Mushinki vs. free agent arguing begin?
Begun, the Maton wars already have. I’m on team shoot him into the face of the sun and make sure it’s a pod built for 2 with Dubon also in it.
My point is I'm questioning the insistence that Maldy deserves to be anything more than a backup catcher. I'm not disagreeing w Vazquez wanting to leave - I would have as well. I'm questioning the brain trusts unwavering loyalty to Maldonado when they had a demonstrably better option already on the team and willing to sign to a reasonable contract so long as he received the bulk of starts. And there isn't a "fascination" w Vazquez but there's obviously been a fascination within the organization of finding a better starting catcher - at least allegedly. Besides, an OPS+ 12 points higher isn't something to scoff at. Nor is a career slash line of .261/.310/.386 vs .209/.285/.349, never mind last years .274/.315/.399 vs Maldy's .186/.248/.352. Or that fact that Vazquez's OPS+ last year alone, even after a so-so tenure here, was 99 compared to Maldy's 69. Oh ya, since when is a postseason OPS of +116 not a "major" difference??? Never mind that Vazquez is 4 yrs younger. It's weird seeing so many on here routinely downplay or flat out denigrate the marked offensive advantage Vazquez brings to the table. Is he Contreras? Of course not. But he's also about 50% less expensive AAV and a significant upgrade offensively to Maldonado. You don't think having someone hitting .272 at the bottom of the order instead of .186 is a major difference? C'mon.
Well you're doing a disservice spouting out career numbers. Vazquez OPS+ from the start of 2019 until he was traded to the Astros was 99. Maldonado catching 119 games avg over the past 2 seasons, 63. Maldonado's bat is dying a quick death. That my friend is a HUGE difference. Plus what do we really have left with Maldonado? No way he will catch another 115-125 games this season. If our young backups aren't getting it done we will be forced to make a trade deadline move, potentially giving up prospects. And that will be an unforced error when you could have had the perfect solution at catcher for at minimum the next 3 seasons.
I sure hope Dusty gets his GD head out of his ass regarding that very scenario. Just stupidity to ignore the numbers.
What was Vazquez's OPS+ with the Astros? The information I've seen says it was 68. I see no reason whatsoever to give 3/30 for that kind of production.....even if he had any interest on staying here, which he didn't. It's a much better use of money to go get someone like Tucker Barnhart to be used exclusively against right handers as an insurance policy for guys like Lee and Diaz in case they aren't ready this year.
Nah. I’ve never seen him do something that Chas couldn’t do. Just look at the numbers over the last 2 years. Also, Meyers probably doesn’t make that catch against the phillies.
his playing time once he joined the astros is a tiny sample size. The playing time he did get was sporadic so thats kinda tough on a player, to maintain his starter numbers with inconsistent playing time. I’ve seen you be really stubborn/obtuse in acknowledging this very obvious concept. Its basically like that in all sports. When your role changes drastically, especially going from starter to the bench, your numbers can change drastically. Even your percentages can change. Anyone who has watched and/or played sports for a few years would easily know this. I fail to really understand your disdain for Vazquez. I almost think it’s Down to 2 things.. A. You never played sports and just started watching recently. B. Vazquez banged your girlfriend or wife. Since you are a member of a sports fan board, something a non sports fan wouldn’t be, it can’t be A.
It wasn't THAT tiny, it was about 130 plate attempts, that's not massive, but it's a significant sample. Also, if he can only play well if he's an every day starter, he's a bad fit to begin with because that wasn't ever going to be in the cards. Vazquez is a weak hitting catcher on the wrong side of 30 yet you talk about him like he's Wilson Contreras....it's just weird. A mediocre backup quality catcher was never going to be a significant move by the Astros. The team already had him and he was too terrible at the plate to justify consistent playing time. I'm not sure why you simp for the guy so hard but throwing a 3 year deal at more than 10 mil a year for him would have been flat out stupid.
I know. Which, if amongst that group you come off as enough of a moron for them to take note of it and comment on it I’m fascinated by how bad it must be.
Chas hits wallscrapers. Those were big boy sized shots. I get how the FO could fall in love with a guy that can do that. It’s not like running into a pulled ball the way Eusebio used to do twice a year, it’s an order of magnitude more unique.
What some Astro fans simply don't get is that the Astros value qualities that simply can't be measured in a catcher. After 2021, Brett Strom said Maldy was the team's MVP. The only 2 reasons the Astros have been looking at catchers are because Maldy is older and a FA after this upcoming season and catcher is a position where nobody can catch more than 75% of the games without breaking down. Maldy needs help, but if it was possible they would start him 152 games - and think they won the lottery doing it. The decision makers in the Astros organization are the only ones that matter and they think Maldy is the best catcher in baseball. Period. Fans here may complain and post all kinds of reasons and options to replace him because they simply have no capacity to understand what he REALLY means to the team and none of the other catchers they suggest can carry Maldy's jock.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022...nny-jansen-alejandro-kirk-gabriel-moreno.html Astros related. A 3-way trade with a Jays catcher going to Houston, a Snakes OF going to Toronto, and an Astros pitcher going to Arizona might make some sense.
Can we arrange Javier to start? Tickle that PTSD they have from being the victim of a World Series no no.
