Something has to give. I haven't done a deep dive, but there has to be something besides bad luck. What I have looked at is worse than his recent history but not this much worse. But Astros simply must find a way to get more run production from 1b. They can't keep relying on above average hitting from 2b ( aside from Altuve), SS, and CF. It COULD happen and I hope it goes, but counting on it is a losing formula.
The numbers bear out that he is definitely pressing but has also lost a little ability. He is better than he is performing but he is not the player he was in 2022-2024. I agree I think he’ll be better over the rest of the season but I would bet he settles in as a slightly above average hitter this season and next, rather than a very good hitter like he was previously. With his defense he still has a chance to be roughly worth his contract but with each passing week of suckitude the odds of that go down.
I think Dezenzo would have out performed Walker so far at 1B although that’s not gong to happen. Hell they could swap 1B between Catarini and Yainer and they would be fine. Don’t know why they felt compelled to spend at 1B with 2B being a more intractable problem.
What bothers me is he's getting beat by 95-100 mph fastballs up in the zone. He was hammering those pitches last year for the most part.
Ironically, 2018 Lance had already torn his UCL... and Morton was starting ALCS games with duct tape (and getting relieved by LMJ with same duct tape).
It isn't Espada's fault the hitters suck either. He didn't make the decision to give Walker a $20M a year for three years. Not his fault Altuve is in significant decline starting last season or that our medical staff is full of idiots and somehow messed up the situation with Yordan.
Undoubtably those aren't his fault. It is his fault that he plays Walker and Altuve every single day and bats them 3rd and 5th. Perhaps a little rest for the mid-30s crowd would do them some good.
