EVERY-THING SPORTS
How critical key to Houston Astros season is hiding in plain sight
Jun 23, 2023, 12:55 pm
Yainer Diaz looks like the real deal. Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images.
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There was a time when I thought the Astros were permanently cursed at two positions. Shortstop and catcher were plagued for years with the stereotypical good defensive guys who couldn't hit their way out of a box made of Legos with a metal bat. Adam Everett, Julio Lugo, Jonathan Villar, Tony Eusebio, Brad Ausmus, and Martin Maldonado to name a few. I'm sure you guys can come up with a few more. Those were the guys that came to mind for me.
Along came number one overall pick and shortstop prodigy Carlos Correa. He changed the game when it came to those defensive wizards at short whose best hits were bloop singles they leg out to first base. Not only was his defense elite, his bat was as well. Power, average, and in the clutch. He did it all. I'm getting those same feelings about Yainer Diaz at catcher. At 24, he's tied for the youngest guy on the roster right now. In my opinion, he's been the best hitter on said roster not named Yordan.
That isn't a hot take because it's the truth! He's second on the team in batting average, second in slugging, second in OPS, tied for fifth in homers…all of this while being 11th on the team in total at bats (119), and 11th on the team in games played (37). You mean to tell me we can't find more playing time for this kid? I'd have him at DH until Yordan gets back. I don't care who's making what money and who's feelings may/may not get hurt. Yainer is in the lineup somewhere every single day unless he's hurt!
Can he stretch and scoop balls at first? How does he look catching up to bloop singles in left? What pitchers like their own personal catcher? The service Maldonado provides at catcher is immeasurable. He knows opposing batters better than they know themselves in some cases. The amount of info he provides the staff while navigating them in and out of the other team's lineup is insane. While I truly value his intangibles, I know he's a liability at the plate. What good is a guy like him in a game you lose 4-1 because you couldn't get more timely hits off a pitcher with an ERA that looks more like Steph Curry's career three point percentage (.428)?
There are 16 games until the All Star break. Nine of those games are against teams under .500 this season. The middle four games of that stretch are against the Rangers. The Astros remain 5.5 games behind the Rangers in the AL West. This collection of games is crucial for the stretch run. Diaz will be heavily counted on to continue producing. If Yordan isn't coming back until just before or after the All Star break, someone will need to step up. Diaz is doing that right now, but needs some help.
I've said it before and I'll keep saying it: one man can't carry a whole lineup. It would take an otherworldly effort, and some illegal stuff, to do so. If Diaz is helping carry the load in the lineup, the team requires their main stars to assist him in the lineup and on the bump. Some other young guys need to produce when given the opportunity. I agree that playing consistently helps. At what point do we hold these guys more accountable for not being able to step up when given the opportunity? We can blame Dusty Baker's lineups all we want. At the end of the day, nine men take the field every day. It's up to those nine to perform, no matter where they're placed in the lineup or how often they play. Diaz has stepped forward and said he's got next. It's time for others to do the same.
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The phrase most associated with the late former Oakland-Los Angeles-Oakland Raiders’ owner Al Davis was “Just win baby.” One has to think Al would strongly approve of the Houston Astros. Going to the fifth inning Sunday against the Mariners the Astros were facing a 3-0 deficit and staring at the prospect of being swept out of Seattle and having their American League West division lead slashed to just two games. Now after roaring from behind with 11 unanswered runs to take the series finale in the Emerald City, and then sweeping three games from the Diamondbacks in Phoenix, the Astros stand six games up with 60 games to go. So, if the Astros play just .500 ball the rest of the way (which would have them finish with 90 victories), the Mariners have to play .600 ball to catch them. If somehow the Astros are to maintain their season long win pace to the finish line they’d close with 95 wins, and the race is already over unless someone thinks the M’s are poised to uncork a finishing kick of 41-19 or better. It’s quite a pleasing perch from which the Astros survey the standings. Coupled with the freefalling Detroit Tigers having dropped nine of their last ten games, the Astros amazingly start this homestand sporting the best record in the entire American League. On the homestand they follow four games against the team with the second-worst record in the American League (Athletics) with three versus the team with the second-worst record in the National League (Nationals). I know, I know. There is fear of the Astros playing down to the competition, but that is not the way to look at it. A bad Major League team can beat a good team in a series at any time. If it happens it happens, but it wouldn’t mean it happened only because the Astros didn’t take their opponent seriously. This isn’t the NBA.
Trade deadline looming
Of course, It hasn’t been all good news with Isaac Paredes badly injuring a hamstring Sunday. Paredes could be back in three weeks (doubtful), he could miss the rest of the season. GET WELL SOON JEREMY PENA! Lance McCullers’s latest Injured List stint could be considered addition by subtraction for the Astros’ starting rotation. Whether impacted by his blister issue, Lance was lousy in four of his last five starts. So, one week from the trade deadline, if general manager Dana Brown has the ammo to get one deal done, where does he make the upgrade? The left-handed hitter everyone knows the Astros can use regardless of Yordan Alvarez’s status is a natural priority. With the Astros’ weak farm system it would seem difficult for Brown to put forth the winning offer for the top bats that could be in play. That probably rings even truer now, since if he wasn’t already untouchable, Brice Matthews may have cemented untouchable status by darn near winning the first two games of the Diamondbacks series by himself. Matthews is going to struggle mightily to hit for a good average if he can’t make notable improvement in the contact department, but the power is obvious, as is the athleticism in the field. The 23-year-old Matthews and 22-year-old Cam Smith (though presently mired in a three for 36 slump) are the clear (and right now only) two young shining beacons for the lineup’s future.
You can't have enough pitching
While Brandon Walter has been a revelation, a starting pitcher would make sense unless the decision is to hope Spencer Arrighetti and/or Cristian Javier can contribute meaningfully upon return to the big leagues, likely sometime next month. Going after a reliever or two may make more sense in terms of availability and transaction cost. Overall the Astros’ bullpen has been excellent, but Bryan Abreu is the only trustworthy right-handed option for Joe Espada. Back to Walter. Barely two months ago no way Walter himself would have believed he’d be where he is now. Nine starts since being summoned basically out of desperation, Walter has a 3.35 earned run average, and a stunning 13 to one strikeout-to-walk ratio with his 52 strikeouts against a measly four walks allowed in 53 2/3 innings. Walter has pitched fabulously in seven of his nine starts. He only has two wins, but that’s because in five of the six Walter starts the Astros didn’t win the game they failed to score more than two runs. Walter turns 29 years old in September. His only prior big league experience was 23 innings in relief with a 6.26 ERA for the Red Sox two years ago. The Bosox released him last August, the Astros signed him basically as minor league depth. Look at him (and the Astros) now.
For Astro-centric conversation, join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!
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