REAL TALK
How Astros GM is finally addressing the catcher position
Jun 7, 2023, 5:43 pm
How Astros GM is finally addressing the catcher position
The Houston Astros are doing their part when it comes to pitching, but the offense could stand some improvement if the team wants to catch the red-hot Texas Rangers.
One player that could give the team a boost in that department is Yainer Diaz. Catcher Martin Maldonado is having another poor year at the plate, and Diaz taking some bats from him would provide the team with more offense.
Manager Dusty Baker has been reluctant to play Yainer on a regular basis early in the season, and GM Dana Brown was expecting Diaz to get about 300 at-bats this season.
Diaz can not only catch, he's played some first base this year, and he could certainly be used as a designated hitter. But he was rarely used as a DH even when the team was carrying three catchers.
Currently Diaz is on pace for around 220 at-bats and it looks like Dusty Baker is not seeing eye-to-eye with his GM once again when it comes to Martin Maldonado and his playing time. Just ask former GM James Click.
Be sure to watch the video above as the guys discuss the first public disagreement between Brown and Baker, and what it means moving forward.
Listen to The Killer B's weekdays from Noon-3 PM on ESPN 97.5 and 92.5 FM.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.