I got the impression that Dusty was following a set-out script last post-season, delivered down by Click (especially in regards to bullpen management, lineup construction, and pitching rotations). Unfortunately you can't script everything... especially not late-game decisions on when or when not to pitch to somebody. Thankfully the ridiculous extra inning rule doesn't apply to the playoffs.
The Astros bullpen has an average park-adjusted ERA, an average ERA, an average xFIP, and an average xwOBA. The Astros win probability added (similar to WAR except with context of the situation) is 28th. 15 teams with worse bullpen ERAs have managers that have figured out how to get better performance (as measured by WPA) than Dusty has. Abreu looked worn out, and then Dusty pitched him 4 times in a 6-day period during mostly incredibly high leverage situations. Abreu predictably was bad with few Ks, walking a lot of batters, and giving up homers when he did find the plate. Strom talked prior to the season about how they were worried about load management for the relievers. Dusty's response this season, "let's throw Abreu under the team plane while also riding Pressly, Stanek, and Raley hard".
Yes, he should play Brantley even though he's injured and he should have started Verlander tonight too.
It's amazing how people react to a losing streak in baseball, it's like the Astros have never had an losing over the last 6 years. Its like this has never happened before.
You think we are a World Series contender with this starting pitching staff? Really? Have you noticed how many RISP we have stranded this past weekend with a historic offense?
Senility has set in for Dusty. Reminds me of Dierker from back in the day. We need young blood managing
Well you obviously care. His resume? The same resume that says he got us to 1 win away from a WS with a patched together pitching staff and having loss our best young hitter?
The Astros got hot last year in the playoffs. That is on the players, not the manager. I care about the Astros winning a World Series, which Dusty cannot accomplish, per his resume. How long has he been managing again?
Wait what? The players got hot? So anything positive it's the players and anything negative it's the manager? So no managers should have jobs because they have yet to win a WS? Lordy.
Lordy is right. Look at our record. Look at our team right now. I’ll take my chances with anyone else managing the team. Why do you think he gets fired from almost everywhere he’s been?
To be fair, the best offenses will almost always strand the most RISPs because they will have the most runners on base to strand. Stranding runners has been an Astros problem for the last 5-6 years because their offense has been so good. I haven't looked at the stats, though, to see how the Astros compare in that department to other great offenses.
