The part about Cam "thinking there's no way the pitcher would throw him three straight strikes" isn't accurate IMO. I can almost guarantee no MLB hitter is thinking with that kind of logic. He was guessing off-speed and got locked up by the fastball. Not every hitter is a reactionary hitter that always just sits fastball and adjusts to breaking pitches. Hitters all have reports on pitcher tendencies, and if I was a betting man, I'd guess Finnegan throws a splitter or slider in 2 strike leverage counts the majority of the time.
Espada on Astros after the game. "Gotta give credit to the guys. They keep pushing. " What if you would give the credit when it'earned legit and something else or nothing when it is not. Also something something just 1 bad pitch from King. Young player of NL team after winning the game with glove and bat. Player has only 600 AB's on his belt and team record is 60-37. “We were all very frustrated with how the first half ended, not really doing what we do.” Im kinda bored with our Astros act like you've been there before. No urgency and it just feels like showing up at field is enough.
This is not a very good team and Espada has shown to be nothing special as a manager. I'm not sure that firing him right now makes much of a difference towards the final result of this season one way or another, but keeping him around probably doesn't help. I think ultimately he needs to be fired, he hasn't shown anything at all to warrant keeping him around, but my guess is that they will do it after the season because this group isn't going to do anything with or without him. They just aren't good enough.
You're most likely right and I think that's ultimately what they're going to do. Though, you have to wonder if just some slightly different (in what seems to be obvious) decisions could have us 5-10 games better than we are now. I agree that this team just isn't good enough with or without him...but they could be sitting in a better position without him and there's still plenty of time for that to be the case. At the least, I'd want to see what Lopez brings to the table in the last 2-1/2 months. We know Espada can't pull them out of this.
Look at the last 5 games as an example of why Espada isn't a good manager. Simply put, this team isn't talented enough to overcome Espada's incompetence.
For me it's just not what Espada can do in 2026 or even in 2027 with better team. Im talking decisions, lineup, pulling pitchers and so on where he ofcourse sucks balls. He can't motivate, create cohesion and get the best effort from players. The worst thing is even rooks are not trying to fight and prove themselves acting like complacent stars. If we would do the right thing and sell Espada would guide all those promising youngsters to bad habits lacklustre attitude. 162 is very long march. You need someone to kick a*s caringly and keep up accountability. Sometimes it comes from players within and they hold each other accountable but if that was case previously, it has been lost. Correa's body language when he came back has been often "even I can't help lead this mess". Probably did't take long to realise it's fkin kindergarten these days. Give chances to young atleast somewhat promising dudes with fire under their a*s and care in their heart. I wanna and will root for that energy of bright eyed studs living their dream in bigs ❤️. Can't root for guys who act like fans and team should be grateful to see them play lazy, stupid and selfish ball counting what kinda bag they will make in few years. I just want this Espada clown out of here. Fkin poison. There will not be any honesty, respect and (being) real things in clubhouse before that. Don't wanna waste contending or rebuilding young team with him. If they would hire someone smarter and tougher it would be great challenge for that manager. Even getting buy in from vets might not prevent shock of change from leisure club to tighter run unit. Only way it would work is if President/GM (if not Crane Sr or Jr) are standing beside manager in spring training and telling together to team they are gonna change some things and there will be some new princibles and team rules that everyone will follow. They probably will go for another soft handed players manager but would be great to see bigger change in overall spirit than just few players replaced.
Fire him. The players in that clubhouse are too comfortable. Did Espada tell the team to turn the page on the 1st half of the season.... and attack the 2nd half with some game, gut and glory? It sure as hell doesn't show that way
I do not see a sense of urgency from this team, and we jack up the fundamental's way to often. Years one and two we started out bad but by the 100-game mark we were competitive, this year we suck a$$. Joe isn't good enough to overcome this and he doesn't seem to hold folks accountable, granted we don't get to see behind closed doors, but we do see the results on the field and in the clubhouse. And don't get some recycled old geezer who just moves from job to job...............well, at least the Texans start camp next week so we can focus on that
They needed to come out the ASB refreshed, focused, and inspired. They are none of that. Getting swept, at home, to a bad team right after the ASB is inexcusable. They have got to fire him. They have got to see what Omar can do. It's ridiculous at this point.
We need a change, a spark, new energy... the easiest path to those things is a different manager. Omar may or may not be it, but doing the same thing is the definition of insanity and stupidity. Football is about to start and Crane needs to make a move or continue to lose fans. Hell, I'd rather see a bunch of young guys that try hard lose then this crap.
