The pitchers have had significantly better results with Diaz behind the plate than Maldonaldo (3.05 ERA versus 3.39). Not counting Montero, the Astros pitchers are giving up almost a run per game more with Maldonaldo than Diaz.
The switch from the Diaz/Brown battery was so unnecessary, Hunter Brown was dominating with Diaz as catcher. Obviously it’s not all Maldy’s fault, but at this point it just looks like Dusty being stubborn breaking a good thing for optics .
I would put managing/leading players as the number 1 responsibility of the manager. Getting players comfortable with changes that will help the team falls under managing/leading players, IMO.
It's a delicate situation for Brown. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the primary driver for Click's shitcanning was growing animosity between him and Dusty and Crane picking Dusty over Click. Brown knows he has to tread carefully here at least for this season lest he get the chop.
I agree. The daily lineup buck stops with Dusty, no question. Was just saying his opinion is also influenced by the the rest of the players, not just Maldy. For whatever you say about Dusty, the clubhouse has tolerated a lot of underperforming veteran players getting a lot of playing time. Yuli, J. Abreu, Maldy. Etc... My point is I dunno if the clubhouse is banging the drum for Yainer either. I don't know if they care. One could argue it's a positive in Dusty's managerial favor that there doesn't seem to be any discontent among the players right now.
The other veterans shouldn't have to. If Maldy is truly a great teammate he would go to Dusty and tell him Diaz needs to play more.
.... I think that's naive at best. I doubt half the people in Maldy's shoes would do that, if half. If Dusty wants to bench Maldy, that's his prerogative and he gets to face the consequences (and benefits). I work in a large group with both young and older partners. A lot of the older partners, particularly near retirement age, are slower and honestly just worse at their job than the younger folks. A few have voluntarily stepped back from their duties but most keep chugging along at ever increasing unproductivity. That's just pure human nature. Very few are gonna sacrifice for the greater good, much less a future in which they're not participating in. I don't like the amount of playing time Maldy gets, but from a human nature perspective I'm not in the slightest surprised or offended by his behavior.
I think that Click not fixing CF with Marte was a big contributing factor to Crane and Click having issues. Marte....I expect he'll play better than he has this year, but it is looking like the Astros dodged a bullet.
It you heard Dana Brown on SS today he was basically calling Dusty an idiot and saying that it’s all his fault these stupid lineup decisions are being made and he has no power to do anything about it. With all due respect. And for a guy that I think he respects. In the nicest way possible. But yeah- it was basically all everyone on here who complains about these decisions being completely validated.
This Players may want something, that doesn't mean it's best for them. The "players know better" BS is the reason Russell Westbrook keeps getting jobs. It's the managers job to get the best team on the field even if that may require some uncomfortable conversations. The Astros pitching has been awesome for 7 years now, even before Maldonado got here and when he's not catching.
I will say, the Astros pitchers were better with Maldy than Chirinos and Garneau (SP?). Since Castro returned, the Astros have pitched better with the backup despite the backup generally getting worse pitchers.
I would not. While I think Dusty is wrong about who his best catcher is, I think Dusty is right on the importance for the pitchers and the best catcher to develop a rapport prior to the postseason.
March/April Maldy 21gs = 75% Diaz 6 gs = 21% (25% w/ 1B) May Maldy 19 gs = 70% Diaz 7 gs = 26% (32% total w/ 1B & DH) June - small sample 6 games Maldy 4 gs = 67% Diaz 2 gs = 33% (50% total w/ 1B) Catching innings March/April Maldy 185.3 (74%) Diaz 55 (22%) Salazar 11.3 (4%) May Maldy 165 (69%) Diaz 54 (23%) Salazar (8%) June Maldy 35 (66%) Diaz 18 (34%) It's happening very slowly but Maldy's starts and playing time IS being reduced along with Diaz's increasing.
