Here's why Astros tension with Dusty Baker is about to reach a boiling point
HE'S HAD ENOUGH
31 July 2023
HE'S HAD ENOUGH
With about two months left in the regular season, the Astros still trail the Rangers in the AL West. The Rangers are adding as many pieces as they can before the trade deadline to make a hard push to win the division.
The Astros are still in a good place, and perhaps they can just make a few tweaks to the existing team that could give them a boost moving forward. One of those tweaks has to be using Yainer Diaz more often, and playing Martin Maldonado less. Which is something manager Dusty Baker seems unwilling to do.
When questioned about his head-scratching decisions, Baker is starting to get chippy with the media. And just the other day, Baker took issue with a question when asked if the team would carry three catchers, which would allow Dusty to start both Diaz and Maldonado together.
Asked if the Astros have considered going back to carrying three catchers to give him some flexibility to play Yainer Diaz and Martín Maldonado together, Dusty Baker said "Yainer has trouble with lefties. Everybody trying to help me manage, I don't really need it, thank you."
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) July 30, 2023
Astros fans have certainly gotten used to the strange lineup decisions, but his comments about Maldonado being a similar hitter to Diaz outside of batting average, is just factually incorrect.
Via: The Athletic:
“Him and (Maldonado) have about the same amount of at-bats… Other than batting average, they've done pretty close as far as production is concerned…”
Yainer Diaz is currently slugging .507 with Maldy at .302. How about OPS? Diaz is sitting at .789 with Maldonado at .541.
Not to mention Diaz is the better defensive catcher at this late stage of Maldy's career. And to put the cherry on top, the Astros team ERA is lower with Diaz catching.
So what exactly has to take place to get Yainer in the lineup on a more regular basis?
Be sure to watch the video above as we lay it all out.
If you enjoy the videos, subscribe on YouTube for our latest content.
And listen to ESPN 97.5 and 92.5 FM for Houston's best sports talk.
It's no secret, the big topic of conversation from the Winter Meetings is the Houston Astros and what the future holds for several of their star players.
Fans are starting to voice some concern about what the team could look like should they let Alex Bregman walk, and trade away Kyle Tucker and/or Framber Valdez.
Houston's social media team recently posted a video about the Astros young guns, and let's just say it didn't go over well in the comments. And the timing of this post is quite curious to say the least.
Young guns. pic.twitter.com/RYDqfleniG
— Houston Astros (@astros) December 12, 2024
Which begs this question. Are the Astros doing what's necessary by moving on from players they don't believe they can re-sign, or are they on the verge of some big mistakes?
Don't miss the video above as ESPN Houston's John Granato and Lance Zierlein weigh in.