I probably am and realize that with Stranton NY can't make Perez their DH.

I still think KC's asking price for Perez will be significantly higher than the players being discussed here. The Royals obviously thought highly enough of his abilities to extend his contract with a hefty pay raise. IMO one season after doing this they are not likely going trade him only to dump salary, they'll want something significant in return.

Agree but not too much if a team is expected to take on 60+M for an aging catcher

W said:

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that's a good point -- if no one is going to steal bases...

an average defensive catcher will do.

it will be interesting to see if the new pitch-clock rules lead to more steal attempts

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It's not just about stolen base prevention. A good framer, blocker and ability to communicate well with a pitcher when calling a game is why many settle for a weak hitting catcher.

Farmer1906 said:

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Agree but not too much if a team is expected to take on 60+M for an aging catcher

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KC knew what they were getting with this contract. While not producing his '21 numbers, his '22 numbers were right in line with the rest of his career. Those advocating for the move here need to show what has changed during the course of one season that they are now willing to trade Perez as a salary dump and will not look for something significant in return.

They took a step back from 21 to 22 and Perez took a step back from 20 to 21 to 22. They probably know they won't be competing until the end of his deal at best.

Maybe if the Astros replace Machete they'll win a World Series.

Hard to say Perez took a step back from the '20 to '21 simply based upon the small sample size of the earlier season and doubt anyone was disappointed in his '21 production. His '22 numbers were right in line with his usual production through out his career. I guess it is possible a big step back record wise might have KC rethinking things and willing to make a trade primarily to dump salary but that seems particularly short sighted when appealing to the community for public money to partially fund a new ballpark.

If Brown can swing a deal for Perez which only cost either Lee or Diaz, Meyers and a lower prospect or two I'm all for it. Still think Maldy will remain with the 'Stros especially if such a deal isn't made until around the trade deadline.

Farmer1906 said:

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BadAggie said:

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Maybe if the Astros replace Machete they'll win a World Series.

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Why do anything then? We won a World Series after all. Let's just not try to get better.

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I mean, he had, what, one impactful AB? Better not get rid of that.

The step back I believe is in reference to his defense. He has gone from very good to last year being pretty bad. Given his age there should be concern that isn't coming back.

Then why are folks here so keen on adding him? IMO, catcher is one of those positions on the field where defense is at least as important as producing at the plate.

Sure if there's an upgrade at C go for it but it's amusing how much some here fixate on Maldy as if the team isn't loaded at every other position, and yes, just won a World Series.

We ranked bottom 3 at C and bottom 5 at 1B in WAR. We addressed 1B. The White Sox we're 7th. We took their star. The next opportunity it's to greatly improve the team is at C. The Royals were 15th. If we can go 28th to 15th the team got significantly better. Where else should we fixate? The next lowest spot was CF. There has been plenty of talk there. We talked about Reynolds a bunch. If Chas plays a full season at CF were probably not 21st, we're top 9-15. We're top 6 in everything so the opportunity to improve at those positions is unlikely.

jkag89 said:

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Then why are folks here so keen on adding him? IMO, catcher is one of those positions on the field where defense is at least as important as producing at the plate.

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Not just defense in terms of throwing out runners and blocking pitches in the dirt but knowing how to handle pitchers and work hitters. I still remember Greinke giving effusive praise to Maldy and Zach certainly isn't one to give false accolades (usually the opposite).

Pitchers love throwing to him and trusting him to call the right pitch...that's invaluable and I think a lot of folks get too caught up in how poor he hits.

Now can we get a catcher that can hit, give Maldy 40-50 games off (or more) but still allow him to design the game plans on how to attack hitters when he's not catching...sign me the hell up!

The Phillies, Braves, Dodgers, BlueJays, Mariners, Os, Cards, Brewers, & Royals would disagree.

Part 9 of the Astros 2022 recap. I was very tempted to stretch this out a few more games because we're about to hit the great part of the season where we swept the Yankees again, then beat the **** out of Seattle on the road to end their 14 game win streak when they had closed the lead in the AL West briefly to 9. Next time!

July 6-16
Record: 6-4
Overall Record: 59-31
AL West Position: 1st place by 10 games
AL Overall Position: 3.5 games behind NY for top seed


Game 81: July 6, 2022, Royals 7, Astros 4
@ Minute Maid Park
Attendance: 26,534
Record: 53-28


The Astros' eight-game win streak comes to a halt as the Royals jump out to a 5-1 lead and hang on. Cristian Javier gives up three home runs in the first two innings and is knocked around for 5 earned runs in 5 frames, walking three to fall to 6-4. The Astros leave seven men on base. Aledmys Diaz hits a fifth-inning home run, and Jake Meyers drives in two in the loss. Despite the loss, the Astros hit the midway point of the season on pace for 106 wins.


Game 82: July 7, 2022, Astros 5, Royals 2
@ Minute Maid Park
Attendance: 36,067
Record: 54-28


Stop me if you've heard this one before: Justin Verlander, dominant, victory. The miracle man allowed 1 earned run in 6 innings, striking out eight to win his 11th game and drop his ERA to 2.00 for the year. Verlander gave up 2 runs - one unearned in the first four innings to get the Astros in a 2-0 hole. That turned around quickly in the bottom of the fifth when Jose Altuve blasted a two-run homer, his 17th, and Yordan Alvarez parked his 26th to get the team ahead 3-2. Alvarez reached 59 RBI for the year and upped his OPS to 1.076. Altuve reached .280 and his OPS hit .907. Altuve added a sacrifice fly in the eighth, and Aledmys Diaz continued his hot streak with an RBI double.


Game 83: July 8, 2022, Astros 8, A's 3
@ RingCentral Coliseum
Attendance: 6,012
Record: 55-28


The A's brought the thunder, with more than SIX THOUSAND fans in the stands, but it wasn't enough as the Astros bashed their brains in with 14 hits to start the road trip with a victory. Down 2-0 after three innings, the Astros erupted for eight runs in four innings to cruise to the win. In the fourth, the damage came with an RBI double by Yordan Alvarez and a two-run bomb by Alex Bregman. As they would all season long, the Astros' rally in the fifth came with back to back singles by Jake Meyers and Mauricio Dubon followed by a three-run homer by Martin Maldonado. In the seventh, Kyle Tucker and Yuli Gurriel added RBI singles. Gurriel was 3 for 5, and Bregman was 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI, giving him 44 on the year. Alvarez had his 60th RBI.Jose Urquidy pitched 3 innings of 4 hit ball to get to 8-3 on the year.


Game 84: July 9, 2022, A's 3, Astros 2
@ RingCentral Coliseum
Attendance: 10,058
Record: 55-29


Framber Valdez takes the rare complete-game loss, allowing just four hits and 2 earned runs. The A's bullpen is brilliant, shutting out the Astros and allowing just two hits over the last four innings. The Astros led 2-0 in the top of the second thanks to Mr. Clutch, Martin Maldonado. But Maldonado and Valdez combined for a passed ball and a wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth to spur a three-run A's rally that put the Bad News Bears in the lead.


Game 85: July 10, 2022, Astros 6, A's 1
@ RingCentral Coliseum
Attendance: 10,195
Record: 56-29


Jake Odorizzi was brilliant, throwing 7 innings of shutout ball and allowing just 5 base runners, but the win came at a heavy cost. Yordan Alvarez was put on the 10-day IL with hand soreness and Jose Siri hitched a ride from Sugarland to join the team. When asked about the injury by Chandler Rome, Yordan said, "My hands are sore, dumb ass. Figure it out." Kyle Tucker picked up the slack with his 17th home run of the year, and Korey Lee got the first 3 RBi of his career with Jason Castro gone to the 60-day DL. Lee was 3 for 4 in his debut.


Game 86: July 12, 2022, Astros 6, Angels 5
@ Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Attendance: 27,180
Record: 57-29


In a back-and-forth battle, the Astros scored once in the top of the ninth to escape an error-filled game and help the Angels secure their 50th loss of the year. Aledmys Diaz filled in for Yordan Alvarez in left field and went 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored, 2 RBI, 2 walks, and a solo home run off the best pitcher ever, Noah Syndergaard in the first inning. The Astros led 5-1 in the bottom of the seventh when Phil Maton entered the game. With one out, he walked a guy, then committed an error. Alex Bregman said, hey, here's another error, and then Maton said let me hit Brandon Marsh and his stupid ****ing beard. Rafael MOntero came in and gave up a single, then a passed ball kept the bad times rolling to tie the score at 5-5. In the top of the ninth, Kyle Tucker's double scored Jose Altuve, and Ryan Pressley went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning.


Game 87: July 13, 2022, Angels 7, Astros 1
@ Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Attendance: 27,803
Record: 57-30


Shohei Ohtani continued to make the Astros his own personal gimp, striking out 12 batters and giving up 4 hits in 6 innings in a 7-1 whoop ass. Cristian Javier had the bizarre pitching line of 3 and two-thirds innings, 5 hits, 3 earned runs, 3 walks, and 10 strikeouts, which means he struck out every single out he recorded except for one He struck out the side in the second around two singles, a walk, and a triple. Yuli Gurriel provided the Astros' lone RBI. Machete was the only Astro to record two hits, rocketing his average up to .165.


Game 88: July 14, 2022, Astros 3, Angels 2
@ Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Attendance: 34,496
Record: 58-30


The Astros won a game in the terrible, BS new extra-inning rules! Based on my personal perceptions, the team improved to 11-75 under the new rules that somehow take their origins from the always-well respected international softball rules. The Astros scored two runs in the top of the first on an RBI single by Kyle Tucker and a fielder's choice by Aledyms Diaz. They wouldn't score again until the top of the 10th when Jeremy Pena singled in ghost runner Korey Lee. Ryan Pressly pitched two scoreless innings for the save as the Astros combined for 13 strikeouts and the bullpen allowed just two hits in four innings.


Game 89, July 15, 2022, A's 5, Astros 1
@ Minute Maid Park
Attendance: 39,434
Record: 58-31


The Astros were forced to give up two 2025 draft picks for losing to the A's at home. The A's improved to 31-60, keeping hope alive of a 100-win season if they could just finish the year 69-2. The Astros led 1-0 after six innings then suffered a total meltdown. They also got 4 hits and made 2 errors, maybe their worst performance of the year? Jose Siri did what Joey Gallo dreams about, hit a sacrifice fly for the lone run. In the top of the seventh, Jose Urquidy lost his stuff, gave up three straight hits and a wild pitch to tie the game at 1, then Ryne Stanek came in and gave up a two-run single to Skye Bolt, who I believe is a member of the Paw Patrol. Bolt then hit a two-run homer off Seth Martinez in the ninth to put the game out of reach.


Game 90, July 16, 2022, Astros 5, A's 0
@ Minute Maid Park
Attendance: 39,125
Record: 59-31


I hate to be Gloomy Gus here guys, but as much as we keep saying we aren't going to miss JV, Jeez did he have a season and have some games that really bailed us out of potential slumps. Verlander pitched six shutout innings with 0 walks and 10 strikeouts to move to 12-3 and lower his ERA to 1.89. The bullpen added three innings of 1-hit scoreless relief and the staff totalled 16 strikeouts on the day. JV's effort was nearly overshadowed by the legend that keeps on giving, known as Martin Maldonado, who hit a second-inning grand slam to pace the offense. It was much needed as Altuve, Pena, Bregman, and Tucker combined to go 1-for-16.

I think the strategy is to play out the first 1/2 of the season and see what we really have this year from our starting rotation - I.e. how ready are Christian and Hunter, and has McCullers came all the way back.

The same "let's see" is probably McCormik and Brantley if we're being honest. Both have sort of a wide range in how good they'll be this year with a very high ceiling.


If SP and CF are all good answers - then maybe you spend the money to bring in a rental at catcher again just like last year. Someone with a better bat that you can work in half the time during the playoffs.

But the wait and see gives you the chance to know if you need a big pickup elsewhere - because at least we know exactly what we have in the consistency of Maldy.

The problem with picking up a catcher midseason is that he doesn't know our pitchers. CV is probably one of the most well rounded and respected catchers there are and Dusty didn't trust or chose to use him in a full time role for a guy who was near the very bottom of the league offensively.

FrioAg 00 said:

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I think the strategy is to play out the first 1/2 of the season and see what we really have this year from our starting rotation - I.e. how ready are Christian and Hunter, and has McCullers came all the way back.

The same "let's see" is probably McCormik and Brantley if we're being honest. Both have sort of a wide range in how good they'll be this year with a very high ceiling.


If SP and CF are all good answers - then maybe you spend the money to bring in a rental at catcher again just like last year. Someone with a better bat that you can work in half the time during the playoffs.

But the wait and see gives you the chance to know if you need a big pickup elsewhere - because at least we know exactly what we have in the consistency of Maldy.

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Definitely not opposed to this view. Astros will likely be in good position regardless of more moves, assuming health and performance trends, so save the money for greatest need and impact. Plus, you get to see some kids in leverage situations... although I will still rant about Dusty's doing that. (haha)

Well, after winning the WS I'm trying to be less critical of Dusty. Best I can do so far is say that he didn't make huge mistakes that cost us the trophy.

But, no, I don't think Dusty used CV enough

Is there a flaw in the strategy of Maldy starting 100 games and Korey Lee starting the other 60 while getting mentored by Maldy?

Flaw? If Lee doesn't work out then and Maldy continues to decline or gets hurt again then we're ****ed. But I don't hate it. I would be down to find out if Lee and/or Diaz can be the guy.

Yes and no. Maldy has sucked and will likely continue to. He was hurt last year and played thru it. He is also getting up there is age so an injury is more likely with him than most others. Lee is completely unproven at the big league level. We've seen way better more successful prospects suck at the big league level. The odds these guys fail is much higher than a Bregman, Abreu, or even Chas.

FWIW- I've heard the organization is not high on Lee at all and don't see him as a long term answer at catcher. They weren't happy with what they saw while he was up.

Marvin said:

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Slightly disagree with your premise. I don't think it had anything to do with who the option was or how fast he picked up the pitchers. I think it was Dusty wanting Maldy back there no matter what. Just my opinion, but we saw similar mentality with Straw.

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bingo.

this is the same concern with bringing back Yuli.

like Maldy like Straw like Dubon...Dusty will play him because he's one of his favorites -- regardless of how bad the numbers are

I'm guessing the fascination with machete fixes itself. I can't imagine a 36 year old catchers coming off catching 238 games over two years can avoid a significant trip to the IL. Even if you're in love with machete it's a bit ridiculous to expect 100+ games again. The question isn't whether there's a better option than machete, it's wtf are you going to do when he's inevitably unavailable due to injury?