Just give Diaz the well earned day off. No need for experimenting at 1B. Dezenzo needs at bats and, if not him, Singleton had a hit and a walk yesterday and has had good at bats recently
I don't have an issue with Diaz at first. There is a good chance that in the playoffs we see a lot of Caratini behind the plate with Diaz at DH and possibly 1st if he shows his work in practice has improved his fielding. Also - the Astros really cannot take any chances with Alvarez in the field if possible. They already don't have Tucker out.
Even before the lineup was released, 790 was speculating today that Diaz will be permanently moved to first base as early as next season. If not next season, then in the next 1 or 2 seasons.
Unless somebody really turns it on we are gonna need Caratini in the lineup for playoff games, establishing as much flexibility as possible to make that happen is a smart thing. With Tucker having a possible injury to nurse, and Yordan being less than ideal in the field, I get trying to keep DH open. Not to mention being at first keeps Diaz free to move back to C if necessary without the DH penalty. I fully expect Salazar to be on the playoff roster just in case. Hopefully Dezenzo makes a strong case to be the everyday playoff 1B.
The timeline that makes the most sense is this: 2025- Caratini half time at catch, Diaz half time at Catcher, 1/2 time at 1B, Dezenzo (if he hits) full time at 3b replacing bregman. Get a LHH to platoon at 1B (singleton if you absolutely must but aim higher) when Diaz isn't playing there, Salazar as the "2nd catcher 2026- Diaz full time 1B, Sam Houston kid catcher backed up by Salazar at C, Dezenzo at 3B if he hits- Matthews at 3B if he doesn't. Matthews at CF if Dezenzo stays at 3B and if you don't move Pena because Matthews is busting down the door. At any rate- I would like to see Diaz play there at 1B when you want Caratini to catch and Yordan needs to DH at least 10 times down the stretch so you can trot that out confidently (somewhat) in the playoffs and it seems like a choice and not desperation.
How do we get to 90 wins? 63-55 Need to finish 27-17 4-1 Rays, White Sox 7-7 Red Sox, Orioles, Phillies, Royals 8-4 Reds, Dbacks, A's, Angels 5-2 Padres, Angels 3-3 Mariners, Guardians 90-72 That Mariners series placed in the schedule just as it was last year when we took the division in the very last week of the season.
Meyers, Dubon, and Chas all in the lineup at the same time. Hope 1 of those guys get lucky this game.
Small sample but.... He sucked at DH, but maybe the combination of being engaged in the game (playing defense), without the stress of catching, catapulted his offensive production. Thankfully his DH production this season has progressed. .
