Early returns encouraging in Astros leadership power struggle
I'M THE CAPTAIN NOW!
13 June 2023
There were a lot of discussions last week about Astros GM Dana Brown commenting on the lack of playing time for Yainer Diaz. Brown's comments seem to have gotten through to manager Dusty Baker, as Diaz has been in the lineup a lot more recently.
And they're not just using him exclusively at catcher. We've seen Diaz employed as a DH, and he's played first base as well. In fact, he has played in 5 of the last 8 games and is hitting .417 in his last seven games. And they certainly need to use him more with Yordan Alvarez dealing with an oblique injury.
Dusty may have the authority to set the everyday lineup, but Dana Brown is the one with the long-term contract, as Baker has been going year to year.
So what does this mean moving forward? Will Dusty start splitting the catching duties a little more evenly as well? Could we be witnessing a changing of the guard with Diaz and Brown?
Watch the video above as we cover all the angles!
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How Astros revealed blueprint for 2025 in Opening Day victory over Mets
Mar 27, 2025, 6:59 pm
Framber Valdez pitched seven scoreless innings and Josh Hader struck out Juan Soto with two on to save the Houston Astros' 3-1 win over the New York Mets on Thursday.
After loading the bases with nobody out in the ninth, Hader fanned backup catcher Hayden Senger in his first major league at-bat. Francisco Lindor's sacrifice fly made it 3-1, and there were runners on first and third when Hader struck out Soto swinging at a full-count slider wide of the zone for his 200th career save.
Soto singled and walked twice in his Mets debut after signing a record $765 million, 15-year contract as a free agent this offseason.
Making his fourth straight opening day start, Valdez (1-0) allowed four hits and struck out four.
Converted reliever Clay Holmes (0-1) yielded five hits and three runs — two earned — while walking four in 4 2/3 innings. Pitching on his 32nd birthday in his Mets debut, the former All-Star closer with the Yankees made his first big league start since making four as a rookie with Pittsburgh in 2018.
Jeremy Peña got hit by a pitch with one out in the second before touted prospect Cam Smith grounded an opposite-field single on the first pitch he saw in the majors. Brendan Rodgers walked to load the bases and Houston took a 1-0 lead when Jake Meyers grounded into a forceout that scored Peña.
Yainer Diaz hit an RBI single in a two-run third that extended the lead to 3-0.
The Mets debuted the No. 7 patches they’ll wear on their uniforms all season to remember Ed Kranepool, who died in September at 79. Kranepool spent his entire 18-year career with the Mets and was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in 1990.
Don't miss the video below as Charlie Pallilo, Brandon Strange, and Josh Jordan from Stone Cold 'Stros react live to the win on YouTube!
Key moment
Hader finally closed it out on his 35th pitch — two more than his season high last year.
Key stat
Houston’s Jose Altuve made his first career start in left field after making his previous 1,749 starts in the field at second base.
Up next
Mets RHP Tylor Megill opposes RHP Hunter Brown when the series continues Friday night.
