You guys might want to do some research before attacking me. But most of you came on board after we started winning, so don't expect you to know. @IdStrosfan https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/23571542/houston-astros-cut-suspended-ex-prospect-jon-singleton
Just like Julks, he should be on the worst team in the league eating up plate appearances. The fact he's on this roster shows how horrible the Astros have mismanaged the first base position. He's not good at the plate. He is terrible on defense. He adds nothing on the base paths. I can understand generational talents, like Vlad, skating by while being overweight. A guy like Singleton, who had a decent payday early, but could be in line for some nice paydays....but is a marginal player, needs to squeeze every bit of juice he has of his talent to make it happen. Being 30 pounds lighter could be the difference between being out of the league next year or getting paid several million. I think everyone's rooting for him. He's just no good right now.
If you feel that way, fine. It's your opinion just like that is mine. And I don't feel you are attacking me either. And FYI: I have been a live and die by the Astros fan since 1979, so know the story of Singleton very well. I simply believe that people can redeem themselves from mistakes and don't always the same character after years of mistakes, bad choices, experience, and life. To say a black and white statement like people don't deserve respect for something they have done in their past shows a complete lack of compassion and humanity. And before people start piling on about terrible things that are unforgiveable let's keep this to things comparable to what he did. I'm not talking murder or rape, etc.
Jon Singleton is impressive in catching one bounce throws. Yainer Diaz and Jon Singleton are splitting time at 1B. Yainer Diaz future is at 1B, his big frame and putting too much stress on his knees. It will extend his career by playing 1B. Walker Janek is the Future Astros Catcher. Adley Rutchsman of the Orioles is a Catcher and Playing 1B also Buster Posey Catcher and 1B.
I am also down with the compassion of giving 2nd chances. I don’t understand the Singleton hate. Dude is humble, putting his head down and doing his best with this opportunity. Also, worth mentioning is that no one else that the Astros stick at 1B can hit righties like him. So, he really has kept the job through his performance. He remains our best option for that role (playing 1B against RHP).
If Janek is a better catcher than Diaz. If he isn’t then Yainer will still mostly catch. Diaz is a good catcher who can really hit. You don’t mess with that. Also, so far, Yanier doesn't look too good at 1B. And Adley Rutschman never plays 1B. He DH’s sometimes because McCann was hitting last year and it was saving Adley a little. He isn’t DH as much anymore because McCann isn't hitting this year. It’s a big advantage to have a catcher that can hit.
31 MLB players have had 200+ PAs vs RHP while playing 1b. Jon is 14th among them w/ a 106 wRC+. Maybe that's not ideal for a 1b, but it's far from bad and on a team that has great production at C and 2b, it's not something that is going to hinder a team. He is far from a bad player, but he must sit vs LHP which only makes up about 30% of pitchers and less than that among SP in the rotations of current contenders.
Yeah, you play him against RHP, now. Bigtime. He's, also, having better AB's...showing more power too. We can count on the glove. Like many, I wanted us to make a move for a good first baseman, couldn't reconcile the hole in the line up. Between Singleton and Diaz we seem to be covered, for now.
Singleton isn’t a long term solution at first base, but he has been an average 1st baseman against righties and at his contract - and with the Astros limited options, that is a big win. As for his past- many prospects eat or smoke or drink themselves out of the game. Daryl Ward is an example. Singleton had a father that he was very close to going through what was thought to be terminal cancer. His mother had severe mental illness and Ward had undiagnosed PTSD and ADD. He could have quit like 90% of the guys do, but he didn’t- he kept playing and earned his current success. He is well respected by his teammates and coaches and he has a very good family. Sounds like a winner to me.
As long as we don't trade an future perennial all-star OFer to fill a gap at catcher because we move Yainer to second base for the next two decades. And up having someone internally fill that catcher spot that ends up being a manager of a division rival after his retirement...
Considering that Kevin Durant openly says he smokes pot in the off-season... do we judge him more harshly because of that? Like sure... he has the self-discipline to not do it when there was drug testing... What's the story on Daryl Ward?
