I still think we have a good shot at/in the playoffs but I do not want the Rangers to win it all. It sounds preposterous but I would root for the dodgers should they match up with Arlington in the WS.
Thanks for doing this!! Lays out how much of a drop off there's been all across the board from last year to this year.
2019 Robinson Chirinos caught JV 2020 JV was out 2021 JV was out 2022 Jason Castro caught JV until his career ending injury midway through the season Maldy was never JV's "personal catcher". He just caught him out of circumstance when their were no other options at the time.
Yeah but they texted each other lets ****ing go after the trade deadline. Does Yainer even have JV's cellphone number? No. Advantage, Maldy.
Much has been made about Javier, Brown, Urquidy and whatever starter Ryan Pressley has a 3.23 era with Maldanado, not terrible in 11 appearances with Diaz he has given up 2 hits and 0 earned runs in 11 innings Diaz, Scareface and Major may be the only 3 people left on earth that think Maldanado is great for pitchers
I agree it's a lot and that's kind of my point. I have not looked at game to game. Maybe I'm off and it's only 10? Or only 5? Maybe I'm completely off base and it's 0. I wonder how much time and effort to research it.
Um, I don't think Maldy is better than Diaz. My issue is people trying to blame people not hitting or pitchers sucking all on Maldy.
If Verlander and Valdez insist on Maldonado - so be it. The rest of them and the bullpen can have Diaz catch them…. Also we need to call up a catcher and let Diaz play 1st when he doesn’t catch…. He is a rookie that is averaging a homer ever 4 games with a slugging percentage of like 550… and he is capable of more, he walks less than Christopher Reeves did - he can get better there.
Not every issue is because of Maldonado - but the line up difference between Maldonado and Diaz is severe. There is a .400 point difference in OPS - it extends the line up. I say that as someone that likes Maldonado. If Abreu and Pena were hitting well, I would support Maldonado starting. - but they aren’t and we need the offense.
I don’t get this- what is there to like ava out maldonado. He’s the worst hitter in baseball, he’s the second worst fielder- and even though he’s caught the ace all year his era is 7/10’s of a run higher. 38 year old maldonado, irrespective of anyone else in the lineup, is a criminally bad starter. Period, full stop. Explain it to me like I’m 4.
He still does the game preparation, even when Diaz starts and handles a lot of the advanced scouting as well. Also, the fact that the pitchers value him to a high degree means something to me. Over the last 4-5 years he has played a part in the Astros pitching staff being as good as it has - he also has played through severe injuries. However - he is nearly 40 years old, and IMO should be at most starting 1/3 of the games or even a little less. Physically he just isn’t able to do the things he used to. So - he is a great back up catcher to me, but a liability as a high volume starter. If Valdez or Verlander absolutely insist on him, I don’t have an issue with it. If the Astros had Pena and Meyers and Abreu hitting - and Dusty started Maldonado, I wouldn’t complain as much - but those guys are not hitting and we need Diaz’ bat. Also - if Baker insists on Maldonado starting at catcher, then Diaz needs to be the starting first baseman for now - call up an emergency catcher and Diaz plays every day.
It's absurd that we're still having this issue with Diaz only being a part time player. I fully expect him on the bench tomorrow. Even if Verlander demands Maldonado, Diaz should be at 1B. Hopefully Verlander is coming around to the obviousness of Diaz giving him the better chance to win games. For all of his talk about how awesome Maldy is, Verlander has usually had the better offensive catcher working with him. All of the things Maldonado does to help the team win are things a great coach does, not something he actually needs to be the primary of field catcher for.
This playoff lineup could be so damned good: 2B Altuve 3B Bregman DH Alvarez CF McCormick RF Tucker C Diaz LF Brantley SS Pena 1B Singleton
I have no idea why, but Dusty has decided Diaz can't play 1B. Even with a lefty on the mound, I fully expect Singelton to play again. Maybe Kessinger who appears to do well against lefties. I want to see Diaz at Catcher. JV threw to Chirinos and then Castro so I have hope. I expect Altuve out but even Dubon hits well vs lefties. Except Bregman and Diaz, this team mashes lefties so whoever the starting 9 are I expect a big offensive game and a win.
I agree with these 9. Pena hits behind Singleton though to have his speed before the top of the order. I would consider swapping Pena and Bregman vs LHSP eventhough it sound like sacrilege to hit Alex 9th.
