It's an expression as you well know. Fans say we all the time. I don't care enough to search your post history but I'd bet you've done a too. We can agree to disagree on Dusty. I felt he was a bad manager just like Espada for a lot of the same reasons
So where are we on Espada? Up, down, same? - Sits Altuve on Sunday. Yordan homers, we score and win. - On Monday, it comes out Altuve says hey, I need more time to run in from LF, move me to the 2 hole. Espada listens and boom, Peña continues to hit, Altuve homers and the lineup is off to the races (until it is not). - Espada seems to be “pushing the right buttons”, which is another way of saying the managers lineup decisions don’t matter for crap, hitters just need to hit (See 18 scoreless innings at KC). - No head scratchers except playing Dubon at 2B sucks. Unless Rogers needs rest and the starts going boom, then Espada is a genius because he is pushing them buttons again. - Good that he is giving Caratini some starts. He always puts up good ABs. Maybe more importantly, maybe it is a shot across the bow to Diaz that he needs to get his crap together: not hitting, bad looking approach, bad pop times. Maybe Diaz isn’t working as hard as he should be? I seem to recall Nook or someone said that Diaz doesn’t exactly love catching. - managing clubhouse: is he a good manager for listening to his players (Altuve)? Or is he a weak manager for not coming up with ideas on his own and just doing what Altuve says? Some of both - this is consistent with him being a get along guy who does no harm. - lineup: I would personally just leave Yordan at the 2 hole forever.
Dubon is a better defensive 2B than Rodgers. They both can't hit. I hope I'm wrong, but the Astros have a hole at 2B. Overall, I'm not up or down on Espada. He seems very vanilla. He could probably order his lineup a little better, but nothing horrendous as far as everyday lineups. I'd probably play Chas more, but he had a really bad year last year so it is understandable.
Honestly asking...is Dubon really a better defensive 2B than Rogers? I don't pretend to understand the metrics behind it. I do think Dubon is a good 2B but I thought Rogers was pretty damn good himself.
I'll give Espada some credit, he's been good at modifying the batting order when they get into offensive funks. To be clear, he's good at making adjustments to the batting order...he is still an over-thinking bozo when it comes to actual lineups and who he chooses to sit.
Over his career, he has been better, but Rodgers has been gold glove quality when healthy. He's been very good this year in his limited action. From an upside perspective, I think Rodgers can be a gold glove quality 2B with an above average bat which is why I rather give him the majority of the playing time to figure out if he's worth the energy. I just don't see any benefit to playing Dubon a lot.
I don't see Rodgers making plays that I thought were likely hits off the bat. Not as limited as Altuve. Dubon may make a few more errors, but he makes plays. I don't think this needs stats regarding who's been better defensively in an Astros uniform.
Though now that I'm looking at the stats, the baseball savant defensive numbers are comically in favor of Dubon while Rodgers is putting up the most average 2B performance possible. Oddly, the stats love Altuve in the small sample 2025 defensive stats. Also, I must have missed Rodgers's errors as he's making errors at the same rate as Dubon. It is nice when the stats match the eyeball tests minus the errors.
Holding my half empty can of Dusty Lite Beer, I can't help but wonder if Espada is planning to largely start the "B team" tomorrow, thus likely rendering Hader useless. Get him some work tonight, Wesneski and multiple backups starting early afternoon game that will likely result in a loss. I could be wrong, but I can't ignore the possibility. Cheers and beers!
The Astros have a chance to sweep the best team in the AL tomorrow. If their best team is not on the field their manager should be fired without regard to the games outcome.
Disagree. It's a 162 game grind and the best insurance is keeping everyone ready to contribute by having some playing time. And regulars need rest. Back to back days off due to an off day is ideal.
Not all 162 games are equal. The opportunity to sweep this team makes winning tomorrows game highly impactful. To make this lame excuse to pull multiple starters from the third game in every series instead of spacing days off out throughout the schedule at opportune times is unsupportable. You are a smart guy. You know better than this.
