What’s the problem? “Give him three days, just relax a little bit, work on his hitting,” manager Cecil Cooper said.
The problem with Towles? Hitting, same problem the Astros have had at the catcher position for the previous 7 seasons. The solution? The same one the Astros have used for the previous 7 seasons, Brad Ausmus.
Footer reminds us of The Plan; “… Ausmus was expected to catch once or twice a week. But with Towles struggling offensively, it clearly is becoming more difficult to justify slotting him into the lineup four or five times a week.”
Footer then sums up the alternatives
“Humberto Quintero is hitting only .235, although he’s been hitting better lately, logging seven hits in his last six games. J.R. House is hitting .313, but he’s played more first base than catcher, where he’s defensively challenged. Josh Paul, whom the Astros signed in April, is hitting .121 over 27 games.” Link
Richard Justice notes that Lou Santangelo is hitting .252 at Double-A Corpus Christi. But reminds us that he served a 50-game suspension last season for testing positive for performing enhancement substances.
This puts the situation in perspective for the denser of the Astros’ fandom and is a far cry from last week when Brian Mctaggart offered this helpful suggestion on the catcher situation in his blog,
“Simple. It means find someone else to catch.”
Genius. Wonder why the Astros couldn’t think of that?
How about a trade? Jorge Posada is scheduled to return to the Yankees today. They’re all giggly that he threw out a runner in an extended spring training game. Link But they’re still keeping 3 catchers, Chad Moeller and a Molina are the other 2 Yankee catchers.
The Pirates will soon have 3 catchers as well when Ryan Doumit return. Chamo or Ronnie Paulino will be the odd man out. The Pirates are growing fond of the Cucaracha Link On Monday the Royals DFA’d 26 year old catcher Brayan Pena, having only recently picked him off waivers themselves. Link He could still be available.
There’s probably other trade possibilities out there, Gerald Laird of the Rangers? Paul Lo Duca when he gets un-injured? But who do the Astros have to trade?