The Porkchop Express said:
It's a little spooky how close this story is to Mitch Meluskey's. Drafted by the Indians, traded to the Astros, had an incredible rookie year in 2000 (117 games played, 14 HR, 69 RBi, .300 average, .888 OPS) but also a hot-head who is more famously known for punching Matt Mieske in the face during batting practice. Not that Diaz has done anything of the sort, but he's got a built-in reputation in the clubhouse for a not-positive thing.
The second part - even if you think Machete's the worst player ever, he definitely doesn't think that, and in my experience when an athlete stops thinking they are the best, that's when they retire. I think about Hunter Brown's little charming comments about being a young JV at the end of last year. The real JV played nice and complimented him to the media, but you know damn well in his head, JV was thinking "You think you're anywhere in my stratosphere, you little *****? I'll show you what a GD ace looks like."
Your beginning part seems eerily similar to "just wait you'll thank me later" and even if what he did this year was on par with previous years that's true for every minor leaguer, they play less games. So to say that now he's in the majors there should have at least been an increase isn't a stretch. Add to that, that having the season he was he should have been pressed to do more until he reached a point it was obvious he was being maxed out.
I do recognize Melusky's name and remember him as an Astro never once have heard about the punch to the face and I doubt most have…hard to say he's better remembered for it.
Absolutely no idea what you're referring to as Diaz's not so positive thing unless your just talking about how he was viewed as someone who didn't like to catch and work at it.
I don't believe the last part I left here is accurate. No one thinks Brown was as good just that they're similar, and pitchers do support one another. Espdd we vitally starters, they aren't competing for playing time the same way because only one starts per day and someone has to start the next game. That's why they tend to form a bond and you hear about so many watching each other warm up etc.
