W said:

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oh, in the 2021 postseason...

Machete was a dreadful 6 for 46 at the plate.

playing with fire to just write that off for the 2022 postseason

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A sick rebuttal to everyone on here who's asserting that Maldy will dominate at the plate this October

You'd have no backup catcher for Maldonado if Contreras DHs unless you want to carry a 3rd catcher on the roster these last 2 months.

There has been no momentum in Josh Bell/Mets talks to date as Mets continue to scout Trey Mancini. If Bell ends up with Mets it would be a surprise change of events.

— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) July 25, 2022

Mets aren't off Bell -- why not try, right? -- but again, would be a change of events if they ended up as the team to get him. https://t.co/iDKeYwZBFJ

— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) July 25, 2022

I'm personally more than willing to table the discussion and leave it to the fact of:
-If the Astros trade for Contreras they think they need a bigger bat behind the plate and his intangibles are good enough.
-If they don't trade for him....then the rest of us were correct and Maldy is THAT valuable and yall can all go eat crow.

LOL

No Power Rankings this week, so here's https://t.co/Z3s2EpgF39's World Series favorites. pic.twitter.com/1JoxX4WmEo

— MLB (@MLB) July 25, 2022

I say keep the disrespect coming.

Just to be discussing hypothetical trade scenarios for another World Series run when only two years ago there were a lot of unknowns and the window appearing to slowly close is a testament to the job the players and front office have done. What a time to be an Astros fan.

Deluxe said:

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W said:

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oh, in the 2021 postseason...

Machete was a dreadful 6 for 46 at the plate.

playing with fire to just write that off for the 2022 postseason

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A sick rebuttal to everyone on here who's asserting that Maldy will dominate at the plate this October

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Everyone is asserting that you play Maldy in the postseason DESPITE those dreadful numbers, which (if you have a better hitting option) is absolutely insane.

Lonestar_Ag09 said:

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I'm personally more than willing to table the discussion and leave it to the fact of:
-If the Astros trade for Contreras they think they need a bigger bat behind the plate and his intangibles are good enough.
-If they don't trade for him....then the rest of us were correct and Maldy is THAT valuable and yall can all go eat crow.

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OR

If they don't trade for him it's bc they couldn't agree on terms or got another hitter

redline248 said:

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Lonestar_Ag09 said:

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I'm personally more than willing to table the discussion and leave it to the fact of:
-If the Astros trade for Contreras they think they need a bigger bat behind the plate and his intangibles are good enough.
-If they don't trade for him....then the rest of us were correct and Maldy is THAT valuable and yall can all go eat crow.

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OR

If they don't trade for him it's bc they couldn't agree on terms or got another hitter

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Castro was really only better vs RHP was always intended as a platoon bat. That shouldn't be the case for Contreras.

However, as I've said already, most of that falls on Dusty, who I believe would not put Maldy on the bench for the better bat...and it's insane

redline248 said:

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Castro was really only better vs RHP was always intended as a platoon bat. That shouldn't be the case for Contreras.

However, as I've said already, most of that falls on Dusty, who I believe would not put Maldy on the bench for the better bat...and it's insane

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Fair enough my Stros brother. I'll be happy regardless of which direction go.

Explain to me how suggesting that a trade not happening in no way means 100% that the team values Maldy's intangibles more than a better hitter is moving the goalposts

helloimustbegoing said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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ttha_aggie_09 said:

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Machete isn't going to be the backup, even if we get Contreras.

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A top 20ish hitter in baseball wouldn't start over someone who's 37% worse than the avg big leaguer after a red hot 2-3 week streak?

Cmon man.

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It's got nothing to do with hitting and everything to do with handling the pitchers. They have to have so much rapport and the pitcher has to trust the catcher enormously to be really great out there. It's like trading for the 15 point a night 7 footer who sits on the perimeter shooting threes and benching your guy who averages 12 boards and 3 blocks a game.

If you went in the Astros club house and said who is the Team MVP, Martin wouldn't win, but I guarantee you he'd be top 5.

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Since you bring up basketball, Maldy reminds me of Shane Battier. Value beyond the stats. Maybe one they'll come up with a baseball +/- and we'll retroactively understand his true value.

BUT...

Battier played like 40 minutes per game during the Heat's first championship playoff run and then they picked up a near-retirement Ray Allen that offseason and they were pretty even minute-wise that following year until the playoffs when Allen played a ton and Battier became a 10 minutes off the bench guy. Point is, valuable as Battier is, you don't play Shane Battier for 40 minutes when you've got Ray Allen. Also they squeaked by in the ECF and NBA Finals and would likely not have won it without Allen's contributions.

I know it's different sports and different situations all around, but this is not like trading for Trae Turner and benching Altuve. Maldy is not a hall of famer or an all-star. Maldy's lifetime WAR (6.8) is like a season and half for Contreras and like Ray Allen, he's already got the ring and the bona fides.

You don't start Maldy in the playoffs when you have Contreras on your roster.

EastCoastAgNc said:

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The Mariners were 13.5 games back, went on a 14-game winning streak, and are now 13 games back.

— Eephus Tosser (@EephusTosser) July 25, 2022

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Simply a tough scene. You just hate to see it.

Farmer1906 said:

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LOL

No Power Rankings this week, so here's https://t.co/Z3s2EpgF39's World Series favorites. pic.twitter.com/1JoxX4WmEo

— MLB (@MLB) July 25, 2022

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Well we can't force in a good argument this week for a NY or LA team to be 1st in power rankings..... hmm, let's just go to overall WS odds. We can still sell that as NY and LA favs.

Farmer1906 said:

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Lonestar_Ag09 said:

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I'm personally more than willing to table the discussion and leave it to the fact of:
-If the Astros trade for Contreras they think they need a bigger bat behind the plate and his intangibles are good enough.
-If they don't trade for him....then the rest of us were correct and Maldy is THAT valuable and yall can all go eat crow.

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Table it, sure. But the fact the Astros put in an offer (assuming it's true) proves Mlady's extra stuff he brings to the table isn't enough. If they don't work out a deal then it could be for 100 different reasons.

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We're assuming the primary reason for trading for him is for the catcher position.

I think it is almost 50-50 the Astros are looking into a trade for him for the catcher position and DH. The fact we have no update on Brantley and this hand issue is reoccurring with Yordan to the point where the Astros are being "cautious" makes me think the real reason for looking into Contreras is the organization doesn't feel extremely comfortable they'll have both Yordan and Brantley for the postseason.

At this point, I'd wager if we got Contreras he'd play more DH for us than catcher.

If I read it correctly, I think it speaks to what the organization thinks of Bell as a first option also.

Also, did I miss something new regarding Contreras and the Astros? Or are we still just spitballin'?

Soto is the only one I woudl be targeting.

Javier, Brown, Lee, Leon, Whitley, Barber I think would get it done

texasaggie2015 said:

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Also, did I miss something new regarding Contreras and the Astros? Or are we still just spitballin'?

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There are several rumor reports the Astros are in talks with the Cubs about Contreras.

Bag said:

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Soto is the only one I woudl be targeting.

Javier, Brown, Lee, Leon, Whitley, Barber I think would get it done

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I would move a current starter but not Brown who should be untouchable IMO.

I see some of the tweets but don't think any of those accounts are very reputable.

The Luis Castillo talks have began to heat up, with a deal possibly being done before the weekend.

The current front runner: New York Yankees, who offered a package surrounding an upper minors infielder & lower minors outfielder.

Minnesota Twins are still interested as well.

— MLB Nerds (@MLBNerds) July 25, 2022

I wish we would get him, if for no other reason than to keep him away from the Yankees. Of course, he could end up being their next Sonny Gray.

So we are a week away and no one has pulled a trigger yet. This feels late.

Source: #Mets exploring other options as they feel they are no longer major players in the Josh Bell sweepstakes (some believe Houston may ultimately end up with him). Two players they’re showing strong recent interest in: Cubs Willson Contreras and David Robertson.

— Michael Marino (@MarinoMLB) July 25, 2022