Stassi is a really good player when healthy. In his career he’s put up 4.8 fwar over 249 games and his career 94 wRC+ is really very good for a catcher.
McHugh went the first 2 and 4 other Rays combined for a 7-inning unofficial no-hitter vs the Indians today.
He had one awful season in 2019 but otherwise has been great. I don’t know why the Astros abhorred playing him. It seems like being buddy buddy with the veterans on the pitching staff is key for a catcher and Stassi sucked at that.
maybe earlier on his career but by 2018 he improved substantially behind the plate. Since then he’s probably been comparable to Maldy in terms of DEF/PA.
You asked why the Astros didn't like playing him. That's why. And I've watched him many times, he's still not good, and nowhere close to Maldy.
any idea how Korey Lee looks behind the plate? He’s hitting like crazy, but that might matter as much, it seems.
We really mismanaged McHugh's career. He had elite reliever written all over him, and we kept trying to put a starters workload on him and his body would break down. I'm sure he wanted to be a starter but we should have just made him a reliever. We also should have resigned him. I wonder if he would come back next year for the a fair deal. He still loves the Astros.
He still got injured in the bullpen. He’s also had to revamp his pitching style again and again to maintain success. More credit to him to doing what it takes to still remain effective in this league, but this is exactly the type of career track one has with his ever-evolving repertoire in a relief role.
