Has Loperfido actually ever bunted? He's a free swinging guy - I doubt they were focusing on bunting with him at any point in the minors, and I don't think bat control is one of his strengths (thus the strikeout problems). Maybe you could PH for him and have someone else bunt, but it's not going to be him.
Yes, in college. Exactly nonce in pro ball. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=loperf000joe
Is said pitcher worn out? Mechanics getting jinky? If he's looking good, feeling good, give him the ball.
For as often as this kind of thing comes up they really need to practice bunting. Down by 1 in extras just bunt the runner over and take your chances the next guy doesn’t strike out. The infield would most likely be playing for the next batter.
It’s not just about that day though. How long is he on the shelf after the appearance. Is he fatigued and possibly able to hurt himself the next time he throws? What’s that do to his effectiveness in the next series? The next week? These guys are conditioned their entire careers to do it in one way. Going outside of that box and training in April doesn’t make sense to me.
If Hader needs to be babied this much - can't pitch several nights in a row, can't pitch multiple innings, can't throw 30 pitches after having pitched 1 inning over 10 days, (1) the Astros should not have signed him and (2) he shouldn't be the closer. Put him in the 8th inning where he can have a simple reliable role where he's pitching 1 inning and then done. The team is a mess and has a big hole to climb out of. Every player is likely going to be asked to do more. Hader shouldn't be an exception.
This is the GM's or the Owner's fault. This isn't Hader's fault. This isn't Espada's fault. A few base hits, we win that game. Getting one or two arms that aren't a complete gamble in the offseason, we win last night. It seemed like a good idea to get Hader rather than a few middle arms . . . it wasn't. Apparently, we needed both. Not having guys to throw in the 10th sucks, but it isn't Hader's attitude or Espada's mismanagement of a horrible bullpen. Both may be true, but they aren't why we've lost so many games. Roster and Luck . . . those are the reasons.
The roster is fine. They have basically the same players as last year, plus a supposedly elite closer minus a few middle relief arms that are notoriously unreliable anyway. Montero improved, Martinez/Scott have ERAs in the 2's. Plus your big 3. That's theoretically 6 guys that should be reliable enough. The problem is that people aren't performing. With the bullpen, it's not surprising because of the well-documented Dusty effect on bullpens (they magically improve when he takes over and magically get worse when he leaves), but the rest of the team also is not particularly performing well.
The Astros' Pythagorean W-L is 14-17. So, yeah - they've definitely had some bad luck. If, over the next ~30 games, that luck swings back their way + some of the players with a long track record of success (Hader, Bregman, etc.) get right... they could get right back into a West race that no one is running away with.
10 of the next 22 are against the A's and Angels. If they can go 8-2 vs them and 500 in the other 12 then they are 25-28 on Memorial Day w/ 2/3 of the season left. Baby steps.
It's mind boggling crapola. Bregman's being treated like he's batting over .300 this year. He needs to earn that spot, and not just get it because he used to bat well.
