You find a place for a top shelf bat, even if you have to trade both Meyers and Chas. Where will Brantley play if he makes it back? Where would he have played if he was healthy all yr. I'm sure they would've found a place for Brantley hitting .300 to get his at bats. Well maybe not since Dusty's the manager. The Seattle series is the exact reason Brown is on the lookout for another bat.
Yeah i've been thinking it over. Yordan comes back and I think Dusty will squeeze Diaz from the line-up. Maybe 2 starts at the very most per week, one at catcher and then an odd start at DH or 1B. I think Dusty keeps the LF/CF rotation going with Chas, Julks, and Meyers and then just replaces whoever gets traded from that trio. It'll probably be Chas and prospects for a lefty OF. I'd rather Dana just go hard for a SP and a reliever. Another bat should be the last priority. The offense should be with Yordan/Altuve back. Brantley isn't coming back, that's a pipe dream.
Diaz being incredibly good (in an unfortunately small sample size) makes Maldy look worse in that regard. Certain Astros pitchers (Javier, Valdez, Montero) are absolutely horrible at preventing the SB (31 of 36), rest of the staff is 34 of 50. SB are up around the league due to the new rules. You realize that there are 10 *teams* throwing out runners at a lower % than Maldy? This is still not at all a defense of Maldy as a starting catcher, just reality. He'd make a fine backup and/or personal catcher for whoever.
How are going to keep pitching pitchers who dont hold runners and make it impossible for the catcher to throw out runners?
Maybe we should just come back next year after Maldy retires because everyone Astros fan in the world can b**** 24-7 for the next 4 months, and Maldy will still be the starting catcher.
something that doesn’t fit anywhere in the Venn diagram of Houston Astros roster & prospective Catchers.
I think a New Manager Joe Espada, Catcher Yainer Diaz, Center Fielder Drew Gilbert, New Era is needed 4 Additions in Starting Pitching Luis Garcia, Lance McCullers, Jose Urquidy, Spencer Arighetti It is a terrible idea to throw away Top Prospects for 1 year Rentals, this team is really old and really bad in Avg and Rafael Montero needs to go. Don't go all in this year, next year hopefully everyone is healthy in SP.
We have about 2 seasons of great Altuve and Bregman has been on the decline. Tucker won't be here after free agency. I doubt Framber will be either. We have to go all if we have a legit shot. World series opportunities are hard, and I think younger fans are spoiled with our recent success. Look at the rockets, we were spoiled. We haven't been to playoffs since Harden left, and it doesn't look like we will be close anytime soon. It will be a decade before we are in contention again because no big time free agents wants to play for Ferntits.
Agreed. The World Series is not promised. Hell, the playoffs aren't even promised. This team has plenty of high end talent to win the World Series again. Everyone has expressed frustration with Dusty's decisions, but the truth is we were all saying the same things last year. This team is 2 games out of the ALW lead and #2 seed in playoffs. The 2nd half starts with 9 games vs Angels. Rockies, and A's. The Rangers get 9 vs Guardians, Rays, and Dodgers. This team should be in 1st in 2 weeks when they start a 3 game series vs Rangers. They then have a chance to break them !! Abreu and Altuve will be a year older, the bullpen could go from deep and big strength to average, there should be a completely new coaching situation. There is plenty of chance this year. We have no idea about next year. Never give up at the all star break thinking next year will be better. Go get some pitching and overall upgrades for this roster that has at least 6 players who should be in the minors.
Agreed, Keep Gilbert and Diaz, fill the other holes in 3 years in trades. Dubon and Wagner could be the 2B of the future. Gotta find a 3B and trade for/Draft pitching.
Agreed except I don't know about 6 players that should be in the minors. We brought up 4 minor league pitchers, but 2 have proven they belong. Maybe not top tier talent, but an ERA around 4 is MLB ready. I think we need another playoff caliber pitcher and someone that can take Montero's role. With Urquidy coming back and an extra arm, we should be able to give Javier and Brown some rest to get right before the playoffs. Our offense will get a big boost with Altuves and Alvarez back. That and health to everyone and we should be good to go to have a fighting chance in the playoffs. I predict Diaz will get at least half the starts at catcher during the playoffs.