Jake is very good in the field. 1-7 are pretty solid in the batting order with Diaz taking over (Tuve, Bregman, Tucker, Yordong, Abreu, Diaz, Chas). Jake and Pena just need to get on base. Learn to bunt, hit some singles, take walks. I don't feel like this is as catastrophic as its being made out to be.

I like Dana building up Meyers just to increase his stock as trade bait.

It's possible we're not planning to trade Meyers because we'll need him in our OF rotation when we trade Chas as part of the LuBob deal

What does Chas have to do to be an everyday starter?

Project Gemini said:

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Jake is very good in the field.

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Eh...He can run down fly balls at an elite level.

He has a noodle arm and when he does throw it he misses cut off guys.

Countless times runners blatantly run in his face because they know he's not throwing anyone out.

BadAggie said:

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What does Chas have to do to be an everyday starter?

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From the post above.

Dana Brown said that Chas McCormick is an everyday player and will be treated as such. He will split time between left field and center field.

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) December 5, 2023

The Astros’ impending signing of Vïctor Caratini will end Martín Maldonado’s tenure with the team. Maldonado is drawing interest from the Red Sox, Padres, Marlins and White Sox, people familiar with his market said.

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) December 6, 2023

I mentioned Caratini a few months ago as a guy they would target. They like him.

Victor Caratini’s deal with the Astros is for two years and $12 million, sources tell me and @brianmctaggart.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) December 6, 2023

More than Maldy cost.... #worthit

AgLA06 said:

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n_touch said:

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Ag_07 said:

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Can we really not do any better than Jake Meyers at CF?

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There's talk about rolling Singleton out as an option at first, they have bigger problems than Jake

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I love how you said it like you heard it in a secret meeting and not 5 posts above you.

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2015 has his sources and I have mine

The more I think about it, the more I like the #Astros signing Victor Caratini.

Theyre handing the job to Yainer Diaz who posted -5 catcher framing runs in ‘23. Cartini had +6 catcher framing runs & takes the roster spot of Maldonado who had -17. (Bonus - switch hitter.) #MLB pic.twitter.com/IGmmanwT3r

— MLB Marathon (@MLBMarathon) December 6, 2023

Some thoughts on Caratini:

He has played a total of 32 innings at first from 2020-2023. He played a ton in 2019, but maybe the plan is for Diaz to play backup first and use Caratini more behind the dish. Something like 50-50 split behind the plate, but Diaz also plays 1B & DH each once a week too.

He's a breaking / offspeed hitter. Most of our team crushes heaters. For his career, he has a positive run value vs Sweepers & Change Ups. His single best season was 2019 vs Sliders.

His lefty-righty split is fairly even. He has power hitting from the left side tho.
Year - vs RHP / LFP (wRC+)
2017 - 46 / 216
2018 - 77 / 33
2019 - 106 / 109
2020 - 65 / 150
2021 - 73 / 74
2022 - 96 / 66
2023 - 102 / 72

He's Scherzer's Daddy & even hits deGrom well too.

Quote:

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Max Scherzer played with fire before he got burnt by his personal kryptonite.

Scherzer squandered a two-run lead when Victor Caratini hit the game-tying home run off of him in the sixth inning Thursday, and the Mets went on to lose 3-2 to the Brewers at Citi Field.

...

Caratini, a journeyman backup catcher with a .233 average over seven seasons, improved to an inexplicable 10-for-20 against the Hall of Fame-bound Scherzer.

The 415-foot one-out blast to center field came on Scherzer's 93rd pitch.

"The game always finds somebody that can get you," Scherzer said after scattering seven hits and two walks. Unfortunately he's one of those guys that's had my number and gotten some big hits against me.

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It sounds like he's got a lot of those Maldonado qualities. Read this 2022 article and tell me who he reminds you of.

Quote:

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Seeing the two side by side in the hours before a game is nothing new. On days where he isn't starting behind the plate, Caratini is typically one of the earliest players out on the field pregame working alongside McKinven.

...

"Victor really, really cares," McKinven said. "Like, really, really. And it's about all aspects of his defensive game from game planning to gaining pitchers' trust and then the physical stuff, obviously."

Caratini has been a relentless worker behind the scenes and the results have followed.

....

"He's a smart dude, a really smart dude," McKinven said. "So he's got some feel for the game to go along with his experience. Blending those two things together and he's really good at it."

...

Caratini lives that out. Rarely is he seen around the clubhouse not carrying a black notebook in which he scribbles notes about his pitching staff or his defense. He makes his own game card, which goes over strategy for that day's pitcher against the opponent, every single game.

"He presents himself like he cares so much, and he does," McKinven said. "Pitchers see that. His give-a-(care) is so high that they can't help but respect it and neither can I."

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Maybe the nerds found a diamond in the rough with his bat.

promising tidbit regarding caratini’s bat: he nearly doubled his dynamic hard-hit rate this year compared to 2022.

i’m sure that was of note since the creator of DHH% is a member of the astros FO.

— Dan (@Dan_Martin4) December 6, 2023

Overall, this sounds like the most ideal signing for a backup catcher. He can continue to help mentor Yainer while taking some load off of him behind the plater and not be a complete liability in the batter's box. 2/12 M isn't cheap, if he canget us ~1 WAR per season it'll be more than worth it.

Quite a step backwards for them at closer

I know no one cares, but I'm absolutely fine with Ohtani on the Dodgers.

Currently still have playoff Kershaw, ohtani won't pitch, May coming off injury, and Urias with legal trouble.

Dave Roberts still managing.