This is so odd to me. He must realize how much more he could make over his career as a catcher? ****, he won’t even need to worry about pitch framing soon enough.
Except the reason elite catchers get switched to 1B is that they often wear down and don't provide the same kind of production - either in quality or quantity - over their careers as catchers. He has a much better chance to make it to free agency as a decent MLB player if he doesn't spend 6 years catching.
I get what you are saying but from my memory the Astros wanted to make him a 2B to preserve and take advantage of his speed. Craig never complained or purposely let other players steal bases on him. The thought of Pig Pin not going all out is so laughable. Diaz needs a talking to about his attitude. I'd tell him you don't wanna catch, fine, but the easy way to get on the MLB roster right now is to be a decent catcher, Learn 1B and how to be a decent catcher and you'll get to play as a major leaguer asap. Once you are an established player you can switch positions.
There’s always a reason guys get switched from catcher… and the vast majority of them involve preserving their knees/speed/health because their contributions as everyday players on offense is that valuable. If somebody has an elite bat that can play up everyday, and they don’t want to go through the wear/tear of being a catcher, I don’t have a problem with that. Guys can also always DH now.
My memory is the same. He moved from catcher because he was asked, not because he was complaining. Diaz does not have the speed to be more valuable elsewhere.
No but when you're just trying to break into the big leagues, you really have no business being picky. It's not a right, it's a privilege.
I agree with the first part. I don't agree with the second part. If he were such an elite bat, they wouldn't have signed Abreu. His best chance to make money in free agency in 6 years is to get playing time and produce. He has/had a much easier route to playing time if he played passable catcher. Limiting himself to 1B/DH significantly limits his playing time. He's blocked at first for 3 years and he'll be fighting for DH scraps after Yordan/Brantley and whoever else needs a break. At C, he could probably play half time and have the gig full-time next year.
Of course it's not a right - is he demanding to be put on the MLB roster? Is he complaining that he's not? If not, I don't see the issue. He's making a decision he thinks is best for his career long-term. If he's willing to risk getting stuck in the minors or failing to have a better opportunity at a career that looks the way he wants, what's the problem? The Astros are making a decision on how to maximize his value over 6 years before he becomes a free agent. It's not like they have his long-term career interests in mind. That's up to him to protect.
Except he's a rookie and rookies fail all the time. Last year, offense was a concern and the Astros had an opportunity to get an elite hitter at one of their weaker positions at a reasonable length/price contract. And I'm not sure how much current experience he has as a 1B so it may take some time to get his bearings there too. Or maybe he gets himself traded somewhere that he can be a 1B/DH and get playing time. Or maybe he just waits for an opportunity when someone inevitably get injured. Who knows - but it seems like it's his right to decide. Maybe he's so confident in himself that he thinks he can be an elite bat at 1B and have 15 year career as opposed to a 6 or 7 year one as a catcher. I have no idea - but if he doesn't want to catch and wants to risk not making it to the majors, that's up to him.
MLB does not believe we will have a 6 starter rotation. They are stuck in their mindset. But even with those flaws, we have a pretty good 5 man rotation.
Absolutely yes. If he wants to waste a potential career as a catcher because he think he is too good at hitting to condescend to doing the hard work there, then he'll just waste away as so many others who have too high of an opinion of themself. One key to success if accepting help to improve. One key to failure is thinking you need no additional help.
Biggio used Cather to get to the big leagues and became an all star at that position. That’s exactly my point. Diaz needs the same mindset.
LIam Hendriks diagnosed with cancer. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023...ergo-treatment-for-non-hodgkins-lymphoma.html
if that’s Diaz’s attitude… he might never become anything. Biggio used the Catcher position to get to the majors and become an all star.
