Espada had a really bad game yesterday. He DH'd a hitter who is so list, he is an out before stepping into the box, and could use a day off. He played Altuve at 2b and STILL put Dubon in the lineup. He hamstrung a potential big inning by having Dubon bunt. Dubon handles the bat and does not strike out often, and was facing a pitcher without a single strikeout yet this season. Meyers on 1b, has the speed to steal, make force at 2b less likely, or go 1b to 3b on a hit to the outfield. If Dubon reaches, or is able to get Meyers to 3b instead of 2b then there's a good chance insurance runs would have scored. If Abreu is available to bail out Scott, then he is available to start the inning. You don't bring in a marginal pitcher who is yet to have a perfect inning and has allowed 5 baserunners in 2 1/3 ip into a 1 run game in the 8th. It MUST go Abreu 8th and Hader 9th ( or Abreu again if an easy 8th). You have a lead in the 8th, on thecroad vs a team who yiu are competing against for the division.-you MUST pitch your best guys there. Hader threw 2 innings and 29 pitches the day before, but he had 2 days off before that and pitched the day after throwing 24+ pitches or over 1 inning 3 times last year.
My only saving grave from last night's lineup was that we were facing Gilbert. So it was probably going to be bad for the hitters in general, so why not let Dubon wear that instead of the others. Not sure I agree with it but he is bound and determined to get Dubon consistent playing time, Smith and Dazenzo development/evaluation be damned.
If he is going to insist on getting dubon playing time then Cam and/or Dezenzo need to go to Sugarland and play Them sitting on the bench so much makes no sense
100% and it needs to be Smith, but even Dezenzo sent down would be better than both sitting the bench. Whitcomb or Hamilton sitting on the bench while Smith (or Dezenzo) sees AAA pitching every day makes much more sense to me. If they are both on this roster, then at least 1 must start every game.
Hader was unavailable. It is a long season. You can't pitch Abreu 2 innings every game there is a 1-run lead. I get Pressly wanted out and he hasn't pitched well, but Espada only having Hader and Abreu as non-marginal relievers is a Brown-Crane decision. I get the frustration with Dubon in the OF instead of 2B. Saving your best reliever available for the 9th early in the season is a decision the best managers make >95% of the time.
My main thing is that Okert and King were both available and have pitched much better than Scott. I think most managers go to one of those 2 guys instead and I think it’s the difference in the game.
Yeah, the Astros can't just use Abreu and Hader for literally every close game. The team has to figure out who, if anybody, can handle the other high leverage roles. Even before yesterday, Scott isn't that guy. It's been a constant struggle for him since the middle of last season. Okert and King have looked substantially better and I would have preferred for them to get the chance yesterday. Dubon has already started 4 games which to me is inexcusible when we already have 2 prospects needing regular AB's
Ok. Let's say that they were being careful and Abreu wasn't available for 2 innings and Hader was out. King and Okert have both pitched much better than Scott. King threw 13 pitches the day before after 2 off days. Okert threw 16 pitches Saturday and was off both Friday and Sunday. Scott was a terrible choice there.
Should have DHd either cam or dz. Yainer needs a few days off from everything. Find a Phantom injury. Bring sally up. Reset in a week.
I wouldn't go so far as to IL Diaz, but giving him the Mariner series + off day to work on his swing could have benefitted the entire team. By playing him at DH and also starting Dubon vs Gilbert, Espada surrendered that game before it even started.
I firmly believe Espada is holding us back and not a leader of men. I don’t have any ideas on a replacement but it’s not him.
So, there is a big deal between Okert and King over Scott? Most managers would vaguely know much about Okert, King, and Scott such that it is a coin flip on who they would pitch. Thinking one of them is by far the better option is something I don't think most managers would think. it is the difference in the game in that Scott failed. If Okert was used and failed, we would likely be having this same conversation.
Which is why in needed to be Abreu and Hader. Or Abreu for 2 innings. Maybe Abreu for 20-25 pitches, then Hader for up to 15-20. You use the guys who have pitched the best, or none of them. ( meaning King and Okert or just go Abreu/Hader) You don't pitch the guy who has been replacement level since the middlebof last season. This team needs King, Okert, Whitley, and/or Ort to earn the 2nd setup man job. That can't happen with Espada choosing Scott when the opportunity comes up.
OMG I idolized that guy when I was a teenager. RIP. Loved when he took over the closer's role when Wags went down in 2000.
