Yeah- the Rangers are not some special case. They played an under rated Brewers team and did nothing until the 9th. While they rallied - they lost still and squandered a chance to put another game on the Astros.
As far as asking the question - it is a question a lot of fans had, and the response made it clear how he feels about it. He also would likely throw a fit if he was made the back up at this point - it will be addressed in the off season. The dynamics are interesting, if Baker comes back I am sure fans will be afraid of Maldonado coming back. Ultimately that will be the call of Crane and Brown. Maldonado isn’t going to agree to be a reserve unless he explicitly agrees before signing next year - and I don’t see that happening, because most of the pitching staff will want him to catch them. So the most likely outcome is Maldonado is again offered a chance to work where he wants in the front office or coaching staff - and he isn’t offered a contract and the Astros sign an experienced back up catcher for 3-4 million to back up Diaz. Austin Hedges or Luke Maille or maybe spend a little more for Garver to back up catch and play some first and pinch hit.
Probably start punching himself in front of Dusty yelling "nnnnnnoo nnooooo nnooooo!!!!!". He's a weirdo.
He clearly has a ton of influence over the pitching staff, like baseball Rasputin. I'm as sick of him as everybody else is. While I imagine the pitchers will go about their business, that has the potential to be a major clubhouse destabilizing element. I thought the Astros should have moved on in the offseason for this exact reason. I think the best we can hope for is split duty. Diaz can be the man next season without the risk of Maldonado ******** in the pool before he leaves.
Rays losing SP Shane McLanahan and SS Wander Franco being released is a Devastating Blow to their Franchise Players. Rays are at their weakest in terms of Rays Players not knowing their own Future.
Thats where the manager comes in. The manager’s job is to put the best team out there and get the players to buy in. Otherwise we are talking about letting it ruin a season just to appease certain people. We can’t get 2023 back. We need to win now. Maldy’s feelings or the feelings of a bunch of pitchers with ERA’s north of 3.50 shouldn’t change the goal of trying to win.
I’d almost rather see Moldy as manager. Keep the pitching coaches, maybe Espada if he wants to stick around and everyone else can GTFO. Almost forgot Windmill. He can stay too.
Sure. But Tucker was hurt. If Singleton isn’t playing, Dubon has to play first. If Diaz plays first, Maldy has to catch. The only possible other best lineup still has Dubon with Meyers replacing Maldy. They handled the top of the order. Astros don’t win many games when the top of the order doesn’t produce.
We all had hope that Singleton found the magic sauce, but obviously he is what he has always been. He needs to be sent down to give somebody else a chance. Calling on Snake Digit and Nook to tell us who that might be. Whoever they call up can’t be any worse. There is no real explanation on why Myers is sitting instead of Dubon. If Dubon can play first adequately then that’s your short term answer. We better hope Abreu comes back and can get some RBIs. The lineup has always been there, but our stubborn a**hole of a manager won’t do the right thing.
There is a reason for this. When you play worse defensive players who are worse hitters, a team kind of has to depend on the meat of the order in those games.
