They were 39-20 when he started last season (66.1%), which equates to a tad over 107 wins over a full season. The Astros won 106 games in 2022. If you, as you did, include all games he played in (which is silly, because of defensive replacement and such), the Astros would have won 115 games last season. Just in case you didn't want to freak out over the first week. Not that I'm totally happy with certain things either, but still.
Didn't Salazar (very surprisingly) get the nod to make the roster Opening Day because of his traditional catching skills? 4 steals and some of those throws to 2nd were trash. I'd much rather see Yainer back there on Maldy off days.
Hold your breath until June... and that's best case scenario Despite Dusty's inexplicable decisions, the Astros' main deterrent is health Enjoy the ride. Enjoy the historical juggernaut that is the Houston Astros
Hey, if Dusty keeps running him out there and the team starts to win with(despite?) him in the lineup, I'll gladly eat crow. But the numbers(as small a sample as they are) speak for themselves. Also, 2 of the 4 losses are by 1 run. So those automatic outs by Dubon are costly.
Oh I'm totally aware, but it's 1 homestand into the season, and I was not happy about Robel Garcia either 2 years ago, but I guess my point was small sample something something long season something something, it all works out something something I've given up on complaining about Regular Season Dusty, because there's just no point to it.
The radio broadcast said he did a good job blocking balls and framing. Caught stealing %s for catchers will definitely be lower this year. They mentioned 25% might be pretty good from here on out.
Dubon is fine if the other players outside of Maldy can hit. We just can't have him in there when only half the lineup is a threat.
Let us praise the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For we have won today. I'm like 7-1 the last 2 years.
He's not the only problem though, not even close. 1-2, 6-9 have been an offensive wasteland so far. Up through yesterday Maldy had the 4th best OBP on the team (behind the 3-5 guys). So that ain't gonna work. But it's early. Brantley coming back next month will be huge. Julks and Diaz have to hold down the DH spot until then, we'll see what happens.
My point is you can hide him when everyone else is hitting. You can't when, as you said, there are other problems in the lineup. Our biggest issue is Pena and Bregman have been pretty horrible. You can't bench those guys because they will get their act together eventually. Dubon, on the other hand, is a 700 OPS at his absolute best.
As a Christian in the holiest week of the Christian calendar, I find your "sarcasm" distasteful. But it is a your decision to continue doing what you do. I try to keep my comments to sports here, but I make this one exception.