I think it was more the pitchers not performing than him simply calling the "wrong" pitches.... and I fully would have expected them to be just as inconsistent with Diaz back there. Framber was elite in the first half. Busted his ankle. Then was very inconsistent in the second half... albeit still had moments where he looked elite. I don't think that's 100% mental. Javier also had moments where he looked like he had regained some of his stuff... but its more and more clear that he won't ever be able to throw starters innings for an entire season unless he revamps his off-season training and makes fitness a major priority.
I agree with both - though frankly Framber seemed at least as much mental and physical - but it is very hard to believe that their personal catcher helped in any meaningful way. Certainly no evidence would suggest that he did.
If he gets all the blame this year, by default you're falling into the mistake of giving him all the credit for last year... which is what led to the excessive trust in him this year in the first place. Maldanado wasn't the sole reason they were so great last year nor was he the sole reason why the pitching regressed this year.
If you never won a Cy Young, then the pitcher should have no say in the catcher. Diaz had 23 homers. Could have had over 30 including some in the playoffs.
Eliminating the losses Dusty created would have eliminated a lot of stress and added a lot of confidence that never really developed this season. No manager at all would have put us in a much better position this season. An actual good manager this coming season easily adds ten wins with no changes to the team at all. I submit that the most significant moves this off season will be the manager and his coaching staff. Extending Altuve and Abreu for another three years each with mutual options in the third year. With Abreu taking on some closing responsibilities and Altuve playing some DH beginning immediately and eventually playing there full time. Shedding a couple of bad contracts in the pen may be possible and should be an ancillary goal for this off-season.
If an outfielder is added this off-season I would prefer an expiring contract as a placeholder for one of our outstanding out-fielding prospects.
Free agent OF targets: Joc Pederson, Adam Duvall, Tommy Pham, Teoscar Hernandez, Michael Brantley, Lourdes Gurriel, Cody Bellinger, Michael Conforto, Jorge Soler, Jesse Winker, Jason Heyward OF trade targets: Anthony Santander, Alex Verdugo, Cedric Mullins, Juan Soto, Randy Arozarena, Mark Canha, Connor Joe, Luis Robert, Eloy Jimenez, Tyler O’Neill, Austin Slater, Lane Thomas
Yes, from the list posted, Bellinger, Teoscar Hernandez, Lourdes Gurriel, Michael Conforto, Randy Arozarena, Luis Robert, and Juan Soto are all probably outside Houston’s price range. But all the others should be affordable enough, and they would all project to be a significant offensive upgrade over Dubon/Meyers.
What? I am not giving him the blame this year. I was very clear: “it is very hard to believe that their personal catcher helped in any meaningful way.” I am giving him no credit and thus giving the pitchers’ desire to have him no credence, because there is nothing for which to give credit given the results. I never said he was the reason - much less the sole reason - the pitchers regressed. But there is absolutely no reason to think he is an active help or deserves to be anyone’s personal catcher, regardless of what that pitcher may want.
We don't have the prospects to trade for anyone. What we do have are younger everyday players and starters. Guys like Urquidy, France, Meyers, Pena. Brown can't be traded. Trading him would be a huge mistake.
Bellinger is a perfect fit, but I'm not so sure Crane will go over the CBT, and they are within $6M. That does not leave enough for ANY impact addition. Whatever position player is brought in should be reasonably expected to hit 20% above average (120 wRC+, 120 OPS+) vs RHP. Any player who is good vs LHP but merely average or weak vs RHP would not really he an improvement over Meyers and/or Dubon.
If there's a year to go over CBT, would it not be this upcoming season? Or are we going to assume Crane is going to pull a Fertita and not go over the tax during our window....
Jason Castro was Verlander's personal catcher for a while, why didn't he get sainthood, a statue, and team control???
This is definitely the year if he will. We will all see. I only see 3 ways to avoid it. 1) go super cheap- using current minor leaguers and cheap veterans. 2) sign Altuve to a longer small AAV contract that he agrees to void current deal. 6 yr $90M will add over $66.6M of guaranteed money and drop 2023 salary by $8.357M this year) 3) trade a player like Tucker or Framber who are among the only players tradeable and also making enough money to actually reduce payroll enough to help. Neither 2 or 3 are likely.
