Dusty does not study. Dusty guesses, that’s what hunch managers do. You say its the whole organization. I believe it is just Crane saying hands off when it comes to Dusty.
I'm sure Maldy's playing time is more of an organizational decision unlike Chas getting screwed over. However , Diaz needs to play more at catcher if nothing more than giving Maldy some rest. He's just too old and beat up to play everyday. Now, Diaz's lack of playing time at first and DH is definitely Baker screwing him over. Is it a coincidence that when Dusty doesn't see someone at a certain position like catcher or centerfield, he screws them over at other positions like left, 1B, and DH?
Dusty still thinks Maldy is the better catcher option, and blocked bringing in a better catcher by going over Click's head last year. If the Astros bring him back next year, I will be really surprised.
I just see Crane playing 2023 out as it has been going. Brown will bring in multiple players, but I don't see a catcher being among them. Dusty will keep making quirky lineups and sitting guys. Maldy will still get the majority ofcstarts butcI can see it getting closer to 50/50 as the season goes on. Then the Astros thank both for their service, have a special day for each of them at the ballpark next year move on. Brown hires his own manager, and Crane just trusts him to do what he hired him for. Hopefully Maldy stays in the organization as game prep coordinator or something. Diaz and Lee are the Astros catchers next year.
Another hitless day, another passed ball, and multiple stolen bases allowed today by Maldonado. He can't continue to play this often.
Does D. Brown have the balls to DFA Maldy and bring up Lee to split catcher time with Diaz? It's the right baseball move. If there's a concern about clubhouse culture, the team has survived losing players who were a bigger deal than Maldy. Maldy continuing to have such a huge role on the field when he is no longer playable is what bad organizations do.
It's time for serious reflection. This team needs change. There are 26 men on the active roster. Which ones are fixtures and stay, which ones are temp until injured players come back, which ones are net negatives? Of the net negative, is it possible to replace them or reduce their role? My opinion is Maldy fits into that last category. But does Brown agree? If he does, can he DFA him after the Astros all but begged him to return this year?
yeah we have an obvious weakness both in the field and in the lineup, and opposition is taking advantage of it continuously. So tell me what was Dusty's excuse this time for not pinching for Maldy in the 9th?
Dusty has made much more egregious decisions than that. Down 5 in the 9th? The game was all but lost by that point.
Maldy leading the league in passed balls again at 17. A bunch of passed balls deemed wild pitches only add to that number. It's egregious.
Hunter Brown has been an aggressively mediocre pitcher since the great Maldy took over. Dunno for sure if Diaz would be able to maintain his excellent results, but I'm sure Brown could be just as mediocre with a catcher who hits.
