This years’ Astros are better than last years’ Astros, regardless of their current record. They’re deeper, they will eventually have more pitching, they have a better bullpen, and they have a better lineup. All of this may mean nothing come October… but nobody cares which weak division you came from at that point.
This is every lineup criticizer of last year’s wet dream…. Now don’t go out there and score 0 or 1 run.
Yes- this is the lineup that we should use against every LHP. I’m not talking order necessarily but starting 9. It should also be the lineup for the most part against RHP but you can also mix in Caratini, Singleton and Loperfido.
My response was in answer to how lucky Espada is to coach the Astros in a year where the AL West is the weakest division in all of baseball to this point. Are you suggesting otherwise?
And my responses are things even out and regardless of luck/no luck, none of these division shenanigans matter once the playoff games are played. Was it “unlucky” that the Astros couldn’t be in the AL central all these other years? Espada is certainly learning on the job… but he’s basically doing what everybody here clamored for (shuffling guys in the lineup/order based on productivity… not wasting bullpen pitchers for only 1-2 outs at a time… he’s even winning extra inning games, lol). If he’s able to navigate the adverse start (which he also played a role in), and they come out as strong as they’ve been expected to be on the back-end…. Does he get credit? More blame? Or its all luck?
Isn’t Singleton better against lefties than he is against righties? plus he got 2 hits and a walk last night.