I would be ok if they re-signed Maldy to a one year deal. He can be JVs OR Framber's personal catcher (and only one) and can be a mentor to Diaz on how to prep for and call games as well as how to talk/work with the pitchers. On the non-catching days, Diaz can play 1B and/or DH or get a day off once in awhile.

And you can all thank me later.

Julks is in the starting lineup?

Reinforcements.

The Astros have recalled RHP Brandon Bielak from Triple A Sugar Land...he takes the roster spot of RHP Seth Martinez, who was optioned to Triple A last night.

— Houston Astros (@astros) August 24, 2023

W said:

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Julks is in the starting lineup?

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Yup

Now the Astros deleted the tweet… hmmmm….

Here it was.

Yep..

Altuve-2B
Bregman-3B
Tucker-RF
Alvarez-DH
Diaz-C
McCormick-CF
Singleton-1B
Julks-LF
Pena-SS

All they did was put that the roof was closed..no changes

It's back up now but I don't see anything different

Edit: Ah, I see it now

Marvin said:

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texasaggie2015 said:

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I can't really speak to that.. but I'm confident he won't be the every day catcher like he is now.

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Any update on why Uncle Mike continues to bat in Sugar Land and not Houston? Seems like he could handle the workload of being Julks or any other warm body, and apparently he can still hit.

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We want to make sure he is healthy going into retirement

Again I don't mean to be cavalier with Brantley's health but we've paid him $12,000,000 to do nothing this year. So what if he reaggravates an injury? He's done with us after this year anyway.

Dusty is just daring Dana to fire him

If Brantley doesn't play in MLB this year, do the Astros pay the full 12m, or is there some kind of insurance policy that kicks in?

Mathguy64 said:

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1 for freaking 42 and hes playing. A AAA player batting 1-42 is taking ML AB's. Thats insanity. Its comical. Its malpractice. It should be fireable.

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Why TF did we bring Julks back knowing Dusty would play him all the freaking time for no reason other than he seems to like the guy personally?

I would bet it isn't about protecting his injury. The line of thought should be "What can we do to give him the best opportunity to make a meaningful contribution in September and October?"

And the answer to that is probably for him to continue to see as much live pitching as possible given how long he has been out. As great as it would be to have him as a bench bat, there is still no guarantee in any individual game that there is a high leverage opportunity to use him. So, I think the hope is to get him ready to be a somewhat regular DH.

Ag-in-a-Box said:

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If Brantley doesn't play in MLB this year, do the Astros pay the full 12m, or is there some kind of insurance policy that kicks in?

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This is a great question. Did the stint in AAA make it irrelevant, though?

This is why I think it was a mistake not to add a bat at the trade deadline. Julks wouldn't even be on the roster for Dusty to use. And what are the other options? Dubon, Singleton and Meyers don't do much for us either.

Ag-in-a-Box said:

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If Brantley doesn't play in MLB this year, do the Astros pay the full 12m, or is there some kind of insurance policy that kicks in?

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this is what I'm thinking

there's a clause in the policy that once he plays in a MLB game...the policy is void

I will honestly be really surprised if Cintron isn't a manager somewhere by, say, 2025. He's very well respected across the league.

I wouldn't mind Cintron

Dude is fiery as hell and backs his players up big time.

Mr.Bond said:

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Marvin said:

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Hot take Thursday- I'd take Alex Cintron as '24 manager over Dusty Baker.

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Helen Keller would take Alex over crusty

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I'm resisting at least 10 highly inappropriate jokes right now..........

Ag_07 said:

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I wouldn't mind Cintron

Dude is fiery as hell and backs his players up big time.

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I remember... was he the one in Oakland with Laureano?

Marvin said:

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Ag_07 said:

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I wouldn't mind Cintron

Dude is fiery as hell and backs his players up big time.

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I remember... was he the one in Oakland with Laureano?

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https://www.mlb.com/news/ramon-laureano-alex-cintron-suspended?partnerID=web_article-share

Ag_07 said:

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I wouldn't mind Cintron

Dude is fiery as hell and backs his players up big time.

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Mariners fans say the same thing about Servais. No thanks.

I've got 4 extra tickets to todays game Section 103 first row Crawford Boxes. 60$ beer money takes them all, Zelle or can meet outside around 12:45.