The Chip in Chipalatta, Chip Bailey, who is the founder of this blog, has come forward to do what he did earlier in the year and has sent me a set of intriguing and difficult “interview” questions for your not-so-humble servant to address.
This will be Part 3 and last of the Chip / Dan P Q&A. For now….
Q. If the Astros are intent on buying at the deadline, what players (major league or minors) could/should they include in a deal? (NOTE: We’re talking players with value here, so no unloading allowed.)
A. This would definitely depend on whether we are talking about a major trade for someone with a few more years of control or a rental for the last two months of this season. But let’s not quibble on that – let’s just look at what’s possible.
Major league side – players with the big team or who have been up this season
- Starting Pitching – Note – one of these would only be included if the Astros were bringing back a top-of-the-rotation talent – otherwise, they don’t have the depth to send one for a reliever or a position player – Jose Urquidy (but no one would likely take him without knowing he was healthy at a MLB level), Brandon Bielak, Ronel Blanco, and Shawn Dubin. I guess Hunter Brown is a dark horse candidate if he brought back a Bonanza pitcher, but I think that would be a mistake.
- Position Players – Jake Meyers, Corey Julks, Mauricio Dubon, Jeremy Pena?? – I think Meyers would be the most likely here, Julks and Dubon would have to be tied to a big trade in my mind. Pena would need to be tied to a mega trade. Abreu is going nowhere. Altuve and Bregman might be asked about by other teams since they are only signed through 2024, but Altuve’s injuries knock him out, and I previously covered why I thought Bregman would not be sent out at this trade deadline. I’d like to put Maldy on this list, but with Korey Lee hurt, I don’t see that as a possibility. Anyone else I put on here (David Hensley, Bligh Madris, Cesar Salazar, Rylan Bannon) would be more like a dump. Maybe Grae Kessinger?
- Relievers – Montero is untradeable. Ryne Stanek might be a possibility, along with Phil Maton – both free agents at the end of the season. Stanek would be traded at the bottom of his worth – Maton at the top. Hard to see the Astros trading away from a crew that has been overall good and overall over-worked.
Minor league side – prospects that might be available…
- I won’t break this down that much as it is a crap shoot, except for one guy – Forrest Whitley (anyone? anyone?). OK – beyond that, usually the guys tied to these trades are prospects down the line a bit – maybe #4 onward, or someone from the lower minors that is blossoming at a young age. I’m not going to guess who that is.
Q. Using your crystal ball, who would you target in a trade that could make an immediate and strong impact?
A. When Jeff Luhnow and James Click were here, practically every trade was a complete surprise. There were rarely any hints flying around about who the Astros were pursuing. Even when it was a certain area that everyone expected them to pursue, like relievers in 2021, Kendall Graveman, Yimi Garcia, Phil Maton, and Rafael Montero were not on the rumor radar.
This year we don’t know how Dana Brown is operating, because he has never been THE GM during the trade deadline. These rumors about Cody Bellinger, Marcus Stroman, Luis Robert Jr., and Dylan Cease are they real? Misdirection? Coming from the sellers?
Personally, if the Astros believe they will get healthy Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve on the field soon, I would not be pursuing a bat, unless….
They have to give up a bat like Chas McCormick (which I don’t want to do) to bring in a starting pitcher. Then they might have to chase a bat to replace a bat.
If they go get a starting pitcher, it has to be someone with the pedigree to land in the second spot in this rotation. Guys like Stroman, Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, and Kodai Senga are 30 year olds playing for teams that are performing poorly. But that doesn’t mean their teams are looking to unload them. Cease is pretty mediocre this year, but looking back Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole and Zack Greinke all pitched better when they first got here vs. how they were pitching elsewhere.
They also need to go get a heavy duty arm for the bullpen. I’m not even going to try to hand out names there, because I never get them right. But the biggest requirement to me is someone, who won’t melt down under pressure and many times that is not known, because they are coming from situations where they have not been in the middle of a pennant race.
Q. How do you grade the Astros’ draft? Did you see a particular common thread throughout? Which player most intrigues you?
A. Trying to grade a draft immediately after it happens is tougher than trying to grade a trade immediately after it happens. We may not know anything much for 3-5 years. But I thought the emphasis was in the right places. College players were the focus in the top ten, players who might close the gap on a farm system that was weakened by the draft pick punishments and continuing to pick at the end of rounds. I’ll give them a completely off the wall B+.
Looking at trends….Only one left handed pitcher was drafted by the Astros. That seems to be a trend, but they did pick up 7 RHP. Leaned heavily on short stops (4), which most teams do as they are good athletes and can end up elsewhere in the infield or even in the outfield.
Intriguing – It’s always intriguing to see who actually gets signed. They have been signing most folks for a little under their slots, except for first-rounder Brice Matthews (well under), third-rounder Jake Bloss (well under), and fifth-rounder/high schooler Chase Jaworsky (well over to get him to skip college).
I’ve lately been intrigued by some of the guys taken from non-power schools ala Hunter Brown (Wayne St.) and Jeremy Pena (Maine). Jake Bloss (RHP) out of Georgetown or Jeron Williams (SS) out of Toledo fit that bill as well as quite a few others.
I like the back story of Galena Park HS product Nehomar Ochoa Jr. (OF), the huge hitting season of Austin Deming (3B) out of Brigham Young and whether 2nd round pick giant (6’-8” RHP) Alonzo Tredwell out of UCLA can give us more than 1st round giant (6’-7” RHP) Forrest Whitley has.
Q. Again, on the draft: Who did the Astros miss on that they could/should have drafted? Ty Floyd, for instance.
A. This is probably a fruitless question, Chip. I just do not know enough about many of these players to give an intelligent answer on who they skipped. For instance, they took Brice Matthews 28th in the first round of the draft when many thought he would go more where Ty Floyd went in the draft (38th). Floyd was rated as a first-round pick by many but was that mostly due to a big performance in the College World Series against Florida. Did the Astros grab Matthews because they internally rated him higher than others and, on top of it, thought they could trim a few hundred thousand from his signing bonus and slide it over to one of their high school draftees? Hopefully, Dana Brown will continue his excellent work while leading the Braves’ scouting and pick a few players that have that special something. We shall see, but we probably need to be patient.
So, how would you answer these questions from Chip?
ALL THINGS ASTROS 
52 responses to “Astros’ questions from the head Chip: Part 3”
Notable things happening today at Sugarland. Jose Urquidy started for the hometeam and went 3.0 innings. He threw 29 strikes in 45 pitches. He gave up 2 runs (both earned) on 4 hits and 1 walk. He struck out one.
Some guy named Alvarez started at DH for the Space Cowboys. He went 1-3 (single) with a walk and a strikeout. When it came time for him to bat in the 8th, JJ Matejevich pinch hit for him.
LikeLike
Rumor has it that Yordan’s single left the bat at 108 mph. Or maybe the heat index in Sugarland was 108 at game time. Or maybe both are true.
As Jose Urquidy put it ‘It was hot!’
LikeLiked by 1 person
Missing that indoor stadium already is he lol.
LikeLike
The latest on Astro signings
https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-2023-draft-signings-tracker
They have 13 of the first 14 signed – only Demings #10 is unsigned of that grouping and they have 14 of 20.
The Astros have a bonus pool of $6,747,900
The signing bonuses given to date are approx. 6,634,500 – I arrived at this by taking the bonuses reported from their top 10 picks and adding the bonuses of over $150 K for their two HS at pick 11 and 12 (in the picks 11-20 they only count the money above the slot and the slot is approx. $150 K.
If they stay within their bonus pool their is no punishment
If they stay within 5% of the top to their pool – ($7,085,295) they have a minor penalty of 75% of the money they exceeded the pool – this would be approx. $250,000 at the most.
If they go beyond that point they would pay the 75% above, plus a first round pick.
Right now, the only player who would have apparent leverage with them is 19th rounder Andrew Duncan who is committed to Florida St. They can go over slot with a number of signees and stay below the draft pick penalty – but he is the one who they may have to stretch to get.
LikeLike
Dan, Astros Future has a much more up to date signings report and they list everyone except the #19 pick as being signed. That guy will most likely go to the Seminoles. They list most of the amounts and I will link us up:
https://www.astrosfuture.com/2023/07/astros-2023-draft-picks-signing-tracker/
LikeLike
I stopped frequenting the other blogs because too many people were proposing unrealistic trade packages. I’m sure there is chatter on a number of them that we’ll send JC Correa and Forrest Whitley to the Padres and get Blake Snell AND Cody Bellinger despite the fact one of those players is in Chicago. I’m fearful that any move Brown makes is going to hurt. What would you do if Brown sent Loperfido to NY for Brooks Raley?
LikeLike
I would send Brown packing after that trade.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think that very few of the Astros prospects are not available. Bielak and France are definitely going to be asked about by other teams, as is Julks and Leon. Meyers or Chas might be in a deal if it is what is called for. Korey Lee will be on some teams radars.
The Trade Deadline is 2 weeks away and Urquidy is two weeks away. Some team would would have to want him based on his rehab performances.
Gilbert probably makes Melton available. Does someone on the farm make Gilbert available?
Alvarez said in todays post game interview that he felt great after his four PAs today and that he would be in LF tomorrow. He said he hopes to join the team in Oakland.
LikeLike
It’s cooler out there in Oakland.
LikeLike
Astros prospect Luis Baez is starting to roll. If he keeps this up he will be moving way up the top prospect list.
LikeLike
Q1 – availability is tied to depth. This team lacks real depth. It has two major league quality shortstops. One of them also bounces around and plays everywhere, making him function as your first man up at 2B with an oft injured second baseman. Otherwise, there is outfield depth, but I don’t know if Meyers, Julks, or McCormick is as attractive to other teams as we think. McCormick would probably be the most pursued but I think Julks is going to develop into a plus starting LFer as well. I don’t see anything I would call “available” except McCormick, and Chas has become a fan favorite as well as being the hottest hitter in baseball right now.
Q2- immediate, strong impact. I’ll say Robertson. Pure rental. Will put that 8th inning back in a comfortable position for the playoffs as well as pushing Neris, Maton and Abreu back into bridges. Any of Giolito, Stroman or Snell. One impactful starter that could fill the 2 or 3 hole in a playoff rotation as well as do the best we can to put this at a 6 man rotation to stretch out Javier’s times between starts. Right now, we can talk about Altuve, Yordan, Brantley all we want, should it be Diaz or Maldy, Chas should play more, everyone should realize our playoff run will depend on one thing -the right arm of Cristian Javier. If he is not got it back together, rested, and ready to be his best we cannot beat Tampa or Texas much less Atlanta. Another SP should be the priority.
The thing to me is we can’t really trade major league players for any of these. We just create more holes. That’s why I put my “small” move list on there a few days ago. Rich Hill is a guy that can give you innings and give you a chance to push back Javier and Brown (presumably the 3 starter in the playoffs), and doesn’t have to be on the playoff roster. Right now they are both going to surpass career innings pitched before we even to September. Right now neither are throwing well. It’s more important to get a Snell or Giolito or Stroman, but they will have suitors, and we will pay. Are we ready to send a package that has Gilbert and Leon and Lee? What if they start asking for one of your favorites like they did to me last year when we rented Vazquez for Enmanuel Valdez?
Other small man moves – Brad Hand. Lefty, throws hard, gets lefties, has closer experience, and a team option for 2024 of just 2M.
It is my humble opinion the Astros should be bargain bin shoppers this trade deadline – buyers yes, but walking around just pointing at things thinking it’s going in the cart, no. If you are passing by a window and that watch that is normally 200 dollars is on sale for 75 because it’s just not moving, see if it looks good on your arm. But we don’t have 200 dollars to give anyone without not paying the light bill.
LikeLike
Darn, I’m losing posts to never never land.
LikeLike
And I’ll add – France should be untouchable, especially for a rental. Framber ran off some crazy number of consecutive quality starts last year. It is very difficult to week in and week out go out there and pitch to major league hitters trying to murder the ball with every swing and not get got. Ask Brown. Ask Javier. These are immensely talented pitchers. Heck, ask Dylan Cease. These are all guys with more talent than France. Yet here is JP, week in and week out, 6 innings, 2 runs. 6 and 1/3rd, 2 runs. Only 5 today, but only 1 run. What he is doing is very difficult. He isn’t Framber, he isn’t on any given day capable of a complete game shutout if his stuff is on. But he also seems to avoid getting ran over by a train, and that is incredibly hard. Ask those other immensely talented guys. And JP has YEARS of control. When you are talking to Chicago about Giolito there Dana, and JPs name comes up, just say no.
LikeLike
All this commotion about Cease, are all the experts convinced he’s the next Cole?
I’d have France and Brown on my no trade list. Hunter is a rookie having a rookie season. He’s shown far too much upside to let him go. France has become a reliable guying the rotation. So unless Dana brings in a more reliable guy, he’s not with letting go. Urquidy? I’d rather go to battle with him unless we’d be getting a clear upgrade.
Minor league? I don’t really know most of these guys well enough. No to Loperfido because he’s the most ready lefty bat in the system. 16th homer last night and interestingly, playing left. No to Lee, because he’s the second guy behind the plate next year.
26 man? I can’t trade Pena, because we have not given Kessinger a chance to play ML baseball. So I’d trade him. Hensley, Julks (I’d be sorry to see him go) Jake, Captain Bligh. Maybe even Frenchy. But does anyone want these guys?
Thought job for Dana Brown. If he gets shut out, I won’t hold it against him.
LikeLike
Sorry about the grammar. Apple speak and me rushing to post before said post disappears.
LikeLike
I never got a crystal ball. I can’t help here. But yes, a starting pitcher. The best one money can buy without giving up Chas or Lee or Loperfido. Or a solid pen piece. Do we have enough talent among all the outfielders in the minor league system and those I mentioned from the 26 man to get a guy that will help? Don’t know. Again, I don’t want to mortgage 2024. Would rather battle into the post season as a wild card. Nobody is going to want to play us, especially if Alvarez and Altuve are themselves again. And have faith in the pen. I do.
LikeLike
With you on Chas or Loperfido. I don’t value Lee the same; he has continued to struggle some at AAA – yes he is hitting .283 but he has shown much less extra base pop doing it – makes you wonder if it has just happened that way or he sacrificed one for the other? He is still striking out a bit and not drawing that many walks, and those numbers would only be worse against major league pitching. If giving up Korey Lee is the price of Robertson or Hader (interesting given San Diego’s issues behind the plate?) and that puts one more piece Dusty can go to in the playoffs for 3 outs – something hard to do in that pressure cooker – count me in.
But we are in agreement – we should be standing in line for most of these rumors. Wait for the deal for Stroman where someone is kinda serious but in the end its too much than jump in and make a bit lesser offer and see if you get a bite. And if he makes no moves – I’m fine. Adding Yordan, Altuve, Urquidy and possibly Brantley is akin to deadline deals.
LikeLike
Steven, I’m actually wavering a bit on Chas. We’d be selling high on him right now. And with team control through 2027 I think, that’s attractive to a buyer. Heck, the White Sox are stuck with a 15 year 75 million Benintendi deal! We know Chas won’t manage that .350 BABip for the rest of the year. But he’s solid and reliable. What if Brown got real pitching in a deal that included Chas and also worked out a rental on Bellinger to cover center for 2 months? And heck, then maybe we bring up Loperfido to play left with Julks. Depending on the pitcher, I might be ok. At this point though, a Chas trade would not be very popular with the fan base. We’ll find out soon.
LikeLike
I like that Lee would essentially assure me that there won’t be any good reason to bring Maldy back next year. If Diaz catches 60% and Lee 40%, we’ll get a heck of a lot more offense out of the position, even if Lee ends up being the hitter he is now.
And I think we’ll have a very solid defensive duo in those two guys, hopefully for years.
LikeLike
I never have followed guys pre-draft. So I don’t know. But, I’m encouraged that we’ve signed most of the early ones.
Yeah, the last one is fruitless. I know we missed Mike Trout.
LikeLike
I have no idea what this means – but two sites – mlb.com and spotrac.com report that Astros’ 10th pick Austin Deming has signed for $7500 bonus in a slot that was valued at $164K – perhaps that keeps them from even paying the 75% tax? $7500 bonus sounds like something from a couple decades ago
LikeLike
Dan, it probably means they were going to sign him for that amount all along and he was happy to get it. The fact they took him in the tenth meant they would be able to meet other guy’s requirements to sign with the money they saved on his slot. If they sign him after the 10th round they can’t use the savings for others. Remember, nobody drafted him earlier and the Astros had THE last pick in the tenth round. If he works out it will be a great move by the Astros and a great move for him.
Austin had no college eligibility left and is older than most draft picks, so his choices were very limited. He signs with a great organization and probably gets moved up quickly because of his age.
Because of the raised MILB salaries and free living quarters, he won’t starve.
LikeLike
Yeah I know it is a take it or leave it situation, but he would have been better off lapping over to the 11th round which does not count against the pool as long as they stay below slot.
He’s reportedly getting $142,500 less than the Astros 20th round pick who is not a high schooler with leverage
LikeLike
I kept seeing the names pop up during the draft and saying to myself, “yep, there’s another guy who is signing below slot.” That $7500 on a $164k slot is incredibly low, though. You don’t have time to negotiate during the draft as the clock moves far too fast, so I suspect they had discussed this possibility with him beforehand. Deming looks somewhere between organizational depth and Tyler White to me. Hopefully he can hit enough to move up the system.
LikeLike
So – if mlb.com is to be believed the Astros have signed 18 of their 20 draft picks – only lacking their 15th round pick – the catcher out of UT and their 19th round pick – the OF who is committed to Florida St.
LikeLike
Austin Deming has been assigned to the FCL Astros at their Florida Complex and has yet to appear in a game.
LikeLike
The Astros Transaction page says the C from Texas signed on the 18th of July and Astros Future say his bonus was $150K
LikeLike
Makes sense – he had no real choice unless he was going to “retire”. The 19th pick can go to college if he doesn’t like what they offer. This is a pretty solid signing it seems to me with like 5 days to go?
I believe in 2022, they only failed to sign 18th rounder Isaiah Jackson a high schooler who ended up at Arizona State.
LikeLike
In response to Chip’s last two questions about the Astros draft:
When you pick dead last in every round, you don’t miss anybody. You just pick guys who can hit and guys with a good arm who struck guys out.
I always said that a guy who is good enough to play SS can play anywhere else on the field except C because a SS has to have an arm, has to be an athlete and has be prepared more than anyone for the next pitch.
The Astros went after shortstops who could hit, they went after OFers who could hit and they went after 2 catchers who have a couple of years age differences so that they come up at different years. The Astros went after college pitchers.
I love how they stay away from HS pitchers after three disasters in a row: Whitley, Schroeder and Santos!
If they hit on one pitcher and one position player in a draft they are in the money. If they hit on more than that they are genius!
By the way, I said that other teams are going to ask about our players, including McCormick. I didn’t intimate that they should trade him. In my mind he has won the starting CFer’s job. It’s up to the other team in a trade to make you an offer on him that you just can’t refuse. If you do make that deal, you had better have another deal lined up that delivers a CFer as good or better than him, because the goal in deadline trading is to end up winning the World Series.
LikeLike
Interesting choice for Astro prospect most likely to get traded
https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/trade-candidate-prospects-to-watch?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage
LikeLike
One can hope……Diaz behind the plate again, catching France this time. Change in progress?
LikeLike
France holding his own but alas the bats obviously did not get on the plane from Denver. Maybe they’ll show up soon because they are 1 for 16 with 6 K’s.
LikeLike
They did finally show up. Not all of them but just enough. Great pitching by France and the bull pen.
LikeLike
France made his pitches dance, but the play of the day was the take by Jake!
A modern-day courier
Lean, lean pride
Today’s Jake Meyers
Routine glides
Though his bat is not for rent
Don’t put him down as irrelevant
He’s a reserve, playing quite a defense
Running down outfield events
The runner
What you say about his sprinter speed
Is what you say about ability
Catch the mistakes – Catch the swift
Catch the missiles – Catch the gifts
The field is, the field is
Playing back so deep
Maybe as his strides are wide
Today’s Jake Meyers
He jumps high on you
And the shots he grabs away
He steals hits from you
Is his shoulder still on the mend?
Look out for that outfield fence
Don’t be doubtful or tentative
He knows chances aren’t permanent
Fielding chances
And what you say about his sprinter speed
Is what you say about ability
Catch the boomers – Catch the blips
Catch the rainbows – Catch the rips
The field is, the field is
Playing back so deep
Maybe as his strides are wide
Exit the hurdler
Today’s Jake Meyers
He jumps high on you
And the energy displayed
He gets right on to
The friction of the play
LikeLike
Astro Nut – nice job – makes me want the Astros to draft someone named Tom Sawyer.
LikeLike
We get a game like last night and it makes me go wishy washy again and want to go pretty much with what we’ve got, hoping Alvarez and Altuve and Urquidy and maybe an under the radar pitcher and maybe a spark from the minors will wild card this club into the post season and we’ll have some fun. Again, I know Dylan Cease had an excellent 2022. But is he that good? Somehow I think chemistry sets in again when we get both the A guys back on the field.
LikeLike
Last night
– After a number of games with sloppy fielding hurting the team – last night was a very good fielding night highlighted by Jake’s wall scaling snag. Some good infield play on a number of hard hit shots also.
– Is J.P. France the Astros 2nd best starter? So far, he has sure earned that moniker. He came off his shortest outing of the season (where fielding sabotaged him) and was very good through 7 innings.
– There was not much offense last night – but as usual, throw Kyle Tucker out there against a lefty and he whacks a huge opposite field double to give them the winning runs.
– There were a number of really hard hit balls that did not result in hits, Corey Julks hit it on the screws three times and got to walk back to the dugout three times.
– The Astros need to figure out how to win without Ryan Pressly tonight – he won’t pitch three times in a row. Would be a good game for the offense to crank up against a bad pitching staff.
LikeLike
Dubon made a great play on the double play in the seventh, but I think Pena showed why he’s valuable even with his offense declining this year on it. He took the low throw from Dubon and without missing a beat recovered and threw to first. He’s blown some easy ones, lately, but that was a critical point and they needed that turn. Diaz cost France a few strikes in the same inning. I’m not advocating for Maldonado when I say that. We’ve seen other pitchers melt down in such situations, but France stayed calm and finished the job. It was also great seeing Bregman get the bat head out in front and give us that insurance run.
LikeLike
The Astros signed undrafted free agent pitcher Kelly Austin. Austin was a successful college starter at UCLA after one year at a JC. The fact he entered the transfer portal in May might have affected his draft status, or was he not good enough to get drafted. seems like he did strike out a lot of college hitters.
Anyway, he now enters the organization of the World Champions.
LikeLike
Oh yeah, duh
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=austin000kel
LikeLike
Off topic – end of an era as Tony Bennett dies at 96
LikeLike
He is indeed a ‘Stranger in Paradise’.
LikeLike
Framber, two starts in a row simply losing his focus. Not a good look.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yordan had 4 ABs tonight and played LF for Sugarland in Albaqhatever.
Will Wagner had 4 ABs and played 3B as he made a rehab start for FCL Astros.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sure am happy to see Wagner active again finally. Probably too late to get any help from him this year, but it’s tough to see Hensley in the DH role. We’ve got to use all 26 roster spots on guys that can help. Heck, Kessinger has at least shown some life at the plate.
LikeLike
Interesting Chandler Rome piece on Yainer Diaz in The Athletic yesterday. Several quotes by Maldonado. I wish I knew how to share it. Certainly a potential topic of conversation here.
LikeLike
Very interesting piece by Chandler Rome on Yainer Diaz in The Athletic yesterday, much quoted by Maldonado. Would be interesting to discuss here. I wish I knew how to share it.
LikeLike
Yeah daveb – I don’t like to link folks to athletic articles because they want $$ – somehow I logged into it, got out and returned and was able to read this one for free. So, I’ll give some highlights.
– Yainer has a bit of a delay in development vs. other kids from the Dominican. He quit baseball when his team broke up and then did not return for a few years, only joining when his older brother told him he could not hang out with him if he did not go back to baseball. Sadly his brother died of cancer before he made the big leagues.
– When Yainer was being scouted for the purposes of being signed, he was covering up an injury that was affecting his play. He was covering up a broken hand (hamate).
– Cleveland signed him for $25,000 in the end
– The Astros for the first time were using their R&D department to help them at the trade deadline. They were looking for a prospect to add in with Phil Maton in the Myles Straw trade. They added Diaz to a list of prospects they would consider to complete the trade and the Guardindians chose Diaz to include due to their depth in the catching department.
– The article emphasized that especially starting the season, Diaz was way behind in preparing for games and series, pitch sequencing, etc. and that most of the pitchers were used to Maldy’s super hard work in these areas.
– They talked to both Maton and Maldonado and they both emphasized that Diaz has made great strides in these areas for preparation – Maldy said he is 200% better than he had been earlier in the year.
– They did talk about his lack of patience at the plate. Teams feel like his ability to barrel up on pitches is a skill that can’t be taught (He averages over 90 mph on exit velocity). They hope to get him to be more selective. I think they said he has not had a 3-0 count yet this season. His philosophy is see the ball – hit the ball.
Note – no one asked about the fact that Maldonado does not improve his own hitting as a reason for him to not get as many reps. But they emphasize that the team’s success lately has depended on pitching success.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Based on your abridged version it appears that Maldy and maybe others don’t think Diaz is ready for prime time. I think that’s a load of BS. I honestly think that Maldy is more interested in his own playing time and I guess Mr Tooth Pick agrees.
What’s so frustrating about this team is that the Rangers leave the door open last night and the team can’t even get to the porch to go in.
LikeLike
Based on your abridged version it appears that Maldy and maybe others don’t think Diaz is ready for prime time. I think that’s a load of BS. I honestly think that Maldy is more interested in his own playing time and I guess Mr Tooth Pick agrees.
What’s so frustrating about this team is that the Rangers leave the door open last night and the team can’t even get to the porch to go in.
LikeLike
Diaz in his one pinch hit at bat almost tied the game in the ninth. Maldy in the other catcher ABs – not so much.
Would sure have liked to see Diaz in there the whole game – Maldy didn’t seem to be keeping the pitching staff from going on a walkathon last night.
LikeLike
Chandler Rome disappointed me in that he quoted two players only. Why do I feel like Maton is the one free thinker in the group willing to be candid? No other player, manager coach or front office person willing to share feedback? I have no confidence in Maldy’s thoughts for obvious reasons.
What I took away from the fluff piece (maybe this is Rome’s payback for starting the Chas/Dusty controversy) is that the guys in the minor league system taught Diaz nothing about catcher preparation and no hitting coaches at any level taught him anything about being selective at the plate. I’m just not buying it.
And if Framber and Javier only want to pitch to Maldy, they are both selfish individuals doing their club no favors. Again, if that’s the case, Dusty allowed that problem to develop.
If any of that stuff is true, then heck, Diaz has become a darn good major league player all on his own.
LikeLike