You know why. Espada not only is incompetent, but refuses to defer to others when it comes to pitching changes. He just isn't very smart or good at making tactical decisions based on what I have seen.
But really you had no way of knowing. We didn’t know much about him when he was a bench coach. I was neutral. In hindsight, I wish we had gotten a guy with more experience that also didn’t learn from Dusty.
I thought he was deserving of the chance to manage this team - there was no other great candidate, and Espada represented a connection to past success. Dana Brown wanted Espada too because he was communicative with players and the front office - and after Baker that was important. However - this just hasn't worked. Espada was terrible in handling the pitching staff last year - he had Hader and Pressly at his throat after the first month. I said lets see if he learns on the job - I see none of that. He still makes poor strategic decisions and equally as important, he never seems to know the feel and needs of his club. I am sick of his constant line up changes and unpredictability and it is pretty damn clear to me that this team needs some sort of continuity to build off of and go on a run. The injuries are not his fault, but he makes ZERO sense in who he plays and when. I fear because the Astros fell into a deep hole last year and climbed out - that ownership and the front office think they will do it again. Not my call but I would be very upset with the Astros inability to prevent base runners from stealing bases, the Astros inability to throw out advancing base runners - the number of times that Diaz has seemed surprised by the pitch behind the plate - the Astros inability to sacrifice or move runners up and the overall lack of focus. At least some of that is coaching - and that doesn't even get into line ups, or over playing Altuve - and the terrible management of the bullpen.
There are a number of Astros coaches that felt that Diaz wasn't committed to the position enough - Gabby Sanchez and Wilson Contreras were both names used for comparison purposes.
He is in him early to mid 20's, has a good arm and a productive bat at a low cost. The battle over whether Diaz would start was really fought when Dusty Baker was manager - Also, don't forget that Click wanted Contreras to be the Astros starting catcher.
It’s a 5-4 game. Your team just hit 2 homers to get you back it in. It’s the bottom of the 8th. Keep the momentum going by using Abreu. Nope….get Whitley ready. Sure Joe. “There’s a bomb to CF”
Baseball is a long season. The pitching is better than expected and the hitting is worse. The manager Espada suuuuuuuuuuuuucks.
Espada: After last year there's been, to put it lightly, a continuance of questionable decisions. What's the old saying? Believe someone when they show or tell you who they are? I really like the man himself but it's clear he's not the guy. Lineups: This is weird because even when healthy its been a roulette wheel of a lineup however after he was hired Joe came out and said that he would be his own guy and "he believed in guys knowing every day where they would be hitting coming to the ball park." (pretty sure that was the quote) Steals: Dana has said on repeat this has to change ASAP yet its as bad as it's ever been.
Well, glad I had to work today so I missed the game...................I REALLY enjoy planning my nights around watching the Astros and I watch everyone I can but dam dam dam.........it's tough when you lose, it really puts a dark cloud over my head for a few hours
Yep. The fact that we are barely scraping .500 and the pitchers are dropping like flies is concerning too.
In Joe’s defense…I’m not sure anyone could manage this roster to a championship and I hope I’m wrong.
I think Mike Shildt was available at the time, he was my #1 choice. He also in one of best coaches when it comes to baserunning, something we suck badly at.
The most concerning is Yordan. Let’s put the over/under at June 15th for his return. What is everyone taking here?
Yeah we all know the Diaz timeline and how he was screwed by Dusty in 2023. Diaz is a good catcher. We probably beat the Rangers if Dusty handles the catching situation like he should’ve. I just don’t believe the negative spin about him. He’s been a really good hitter for 2 seasons and has struggled for 8 weeks (not even the entire 8 weeks) and people here jumping all over him like he’s washed out already. It’s ridiculous. I posted the other day that he needs to get it going, and that his plate discipline is crap right now, so I’m not just some blind Diaz fan. People here who say things like he’s going the way of Gary Sanchez are silly. They have played like 49 games so far. There is still 113 games left for him to work it out. If he continues to slump, we have a very solid backup. And if Diaz does have a bad season, it happens. It doesn’t mean he will never be good again.
Can't make the players not **** up, but you can sure as hell not make bad decisions that put you in a hole
