Haven't been on the DFA/Fire everybody or the woodshed train. The wanting names on paper is real but we can agree to disagree and you can pronounce yourself winner and more real fan. We casuals don't count. If Astros play their cards right and don't fuss about details or setbacks, maybe they can become new Rockies. No expectations, pressure or accountability. After all, path to success is silencing critics and always double down on chosen method with reasoning "I know it because I told me so". Just happy happy joy joy.
Only the White Sox have lost more one run games…we have 26 compared to their 27..so barely. The players need to perform better but so does Espada. He keeps making the mistakes over and over.
Perfectly fair. When you think of the Astros, they definitely have no expectations, no history of overcoming setbacks, and no accountability. They could only hope to have the success of the Rockies the last 7 years, or the last 4 months. Seriously, being a casual has nothing to do with it. All fans are fantastic. People without any perspective, who either don't know or won't acknowledge that the Astros have been the best team in baseball for 7 years and have the best record since May, who disappear when they sweep good teams and reappear when they lose 1-run games ... those people suck. No one is saying it is perfect. But reductive 'they just aren't motivated' crap is pointless and absurd given their track record.
When you need a sac fly to win and Yainer Diaz can't get it, what is Espada supposed to do? What are these mistakes he keeps making? Great or terrible results in one run games are flukes, history has consistently shown that.
Small ball has to be an emphasis next spring training. With the extra inning rules the way they are, it has become an important part of the game again. Regardless of analytics, with a guy on second and no outs, tied in the bottom of the 10, small ball has to be the method of execution to win that game. If you get 8-10 of those types of chances through the season, small ball has come back as one of the ultimate deciding factors once again between good and exceptional teams.
It was THIS year, according to Joe in spring training. In fact, fundamentals and more aggressive baserunning is what he preached as the biggest difference from his camp and those of the recent past.
And when he said that I got nervous. I was just seeing Altuve getting thrown out constantly in my mind.
The problem is the inability to adjust the philosophy to the situation. If Joe did just 2 things 1) not let any starting pitcher except Framber allow more than a single baserunner in 6th inning or later ( have the bullpen warm and ready) 2) bunt anyone except Yordan, Tucker, Bregman, or Diaz if they are at home in a tie game, 9th inning or later w/ runner on (especially 2nd) and nobody out. If he just did those 2 things I would be fine.
Those 2 things are needed but it’s nowhere near as bad as just handing over the pennant because the manager insisted on playing his guys instead of the best players.
Of you ate referring to the managerial decisions in 2024 overall being better than those of 2023 (no names mentioned) then I agree. This team is not as close (yet) and probably has a lesser chance than that team did, based in overall opportunity to win a W.S. It feels like every potential playoff team is better than last year, with the possible exception of the Twins and the Orioles now have post season experience. But the playoffs are about health, freshness, and luck as much as anything. And w/ Tucker returning and having time to regain health and timing, and the 6 man rotation helping to give the starters a bit of a breather this team could surprise.
Those guys need to bunt too when one run wins the game outright. Runner on third and one out scores 50% of the time. Is yordan going to do something productive 50% of the time? No. Everyone on the team should bunt if you're the home team, guy on second in 9th or later and no outs. No exceptions.
We can simply disagree on that. All 4 of those guys strike out significantly less than MLB average and are just as likely to walk the game off or move the runner over w/o bunting as they are if they bunt.
I haven't really formed an opinion, but whatever they've been doing in extra innings they need to change. This falls on Espada.
I actually have to agree with this... who cares if the runs expected is more than 1 when not bunting if all you need to win an extra inning game is... 1.
