This was my stance unless we could make a major upgrade (Contreras). A small upgrade at catcher was not worth suppressing these two players' opportunity. Let's roll Korey Lee and Yainer Diaz out and see if one of them can take the next step. With two chances, our odds are obviously better... and really we just need one (not both) to put it together.
Both would be better since Maldy is most likely gone after this season. At this point, Lee seems to be C2 and Diaz C3, though Diaz could have a greater upside. But I don't know if he's really got the Catcher mentality from rumors. I do hope any trades we make occur before the All Star Break or Baker won't use them much anyway. 8/2/22 Activated Vasquez and Mancini. Typical Full Time player gets about 100 PA per month. With 2 months to play, 200 PA should be expected. Vasquez 108 PA Mancini 186 PA Well maybe I should reconsider.
Look an old school debate that doesn't end with someone being called an idiot, brain dead or worse. This is why I orginally started reading CF forums 20 years ago. Thanks fellas.
This seems to be the one area we aren't broadcasting our intentions. The last three weeks not a peep on the internet. Maybe Nook can give us an update but my guess is Crane said January and he is headed to an island top play golf for Christmas. Mean while we dream fireside about beating the Mets in next years WS as we open our WS championship gear that is under the tree.
The Blue Jays do not want another RH bat. They will hold out and keep all catchers until they get offered a lefty bat or pitcher they like.
Fanduel 2023 World Series Odds 1. Houston Astros (+650) 2. New York Mets (+650) 3. New York Yankees (+700) 4. Los Angeles Dodgers (+750) 5. San Diego Padres (+1000) 6. Atlanta Braves (+1000) 7. Philadelphia Phillies (+1400) 8. Toronto Blue Jays (+1500) 9. Seattle Mariners (+1600) 2023 World Series Odds Odds via DraftKings Houston Astros +600 New York Yankees +750 New York Mets +750 Los Angeles Dodgers +750 Atlanta Braves +1000 San Diego Padres +1000 Prior to the news, the Mets were +1000 and trailed the Astros, Yankees and Dodgers on the odds board. But with Correa in the lineup, the Mets are now the co-favorite in the National League with the Dodgers. The Astros remain the betting favorite.
In my dreams, Diaz decides it's worth his effort to play Catcher and discovers how to hit and catch at an elite level (think Realmuto). Lee becomes the defensive C2 and PH with DH potential (think younger Contreras). Then Leon becomes the next Willie Mays. Hensley becomes an improved version of A Diaz. And the Astros SWEEP the Mets. Unfortunately, no Cy because 4 Astros pitchers are splitting the vote.
A possible comparison to Yainer Diaz at this stage of his career is where Kyle Schwarber was in 2015. Came up as a part-time catcher before his bat pushed him into the lineup at other places.
Diaz will never play the OF. 1B or DH are his only options other than catcher. Mr Molasses. I am hoping for the Realmuto comparison. 2015 Discovered Defense 2016 Discovered Offense 2017 Discovered he could play both. 2022 Discovered he could do both at an elite level.
Astros are still viewed as an elite team without another great/elite team in their division (granted, Seattle surprising came in 9th FanDual). All the other elite/great teams are in the AL East, NL East, and NL West. I'm surprised the other teams are as close to the Astros as they are.
I think odds are very good that the Astros are blowing out some team by 12+ runs this season and Diaz gets an inning or 2 in the OF.
" it's a ground ball between Bregman and Pena - batter ends up on 3rd" " and it's a looper to shallow left for a triple" " and Diaz just can't cut off the grounder just out off Pena's reach .it rolls to the wall"
or Brown, or a handful of relievers that will strikeout three batters prior to giving up 12 fly balls to left. On the triples...Diaz does have a good arm for a LF. Let runners give him the Yordan treatment when they are on the bases.
Ok new dream- Now that Orioles have James McCann. Adley Rutschman and Cionel Perez for Luis Garcia, Seth Martinez, Yainer Diaz, Enoli Paredes, Cristian Gonzalez, and Pedro Leon.
The problem is he has bottom of the scale sprint speed. He didn't play enough to get any record on baseball savant but I doubt he's much faster than Maldy who is 0.3%. Albert Pujols was 0.5% last year.
Does that matter with a 12 run lead in the 9th? When is the last time the Astros pen has given up 10 or more flyballs to LF? Diaz could sit down in LF with Blake Taylor on the mound and let every flyball, groundball, popup, line drive, and texas leaguer to LF turn in to homers and the Astros would still win.
