Probably already said, but the $95 million dollar man should have been put in at the start of the 8th inning up 2-1 to get the final 6 outs with your season on the line - which he’s done multiple times this season. So this is on Espada. Just my .02
The entire payroll of the 26-man roster for Detroit is 18.8 million, just shy of the 19 million we are paying Josh Hader. Ouch. If Hinch doesn't win AL MOY, that's criminal.
And that's why I said Joe hit the panic button the way he handled game 1, going all in with the bullpen all the way back to the 5th inning. Just a bad strategy. Then he doubles down on the mistake and puts Hader in a 3-0 deficit game in the 9th. Had he not done that, it would have allowed him to then hit the much more logical panic button and put Hader in to start the 8th inning in game 2. We'll never know how that might have worked out. But he sure as hell didn't allow for that to be an option given the way he flailed his arms in game 1.
Dusty essentially did the same for game 1 in 2022 ALDS when Verlander wet the bed.. it was worth the gamble. Bats just didn't fight back.
eh. it's gonna be royals manager https://preview.redd.it/iyy7vkga65s...bp&s=90a174c089fa137703e0b3d370c6ca36c0c899c0
Framber had to be removed. Neris was a good choice because he's performed with inherited runners, plus he's performed in the postseason. Pressly and Abreu were both preserved for Game 2. The only mistake Espada made was pitching Hader in Game 1... THAT was foolish. It's unfortunate Blanco could only muster 6 outs. Joe had to be expecting 3 innings minimum, but Ronel allowed too many baserunners and was at 50 pitches in only 2 innings. The biggest disappointment pitching-wise was Hader in Game 2, followed closely by Framber. In the end, the offense sucked, and we got little-to-no luck with lineouts or fair balls.
Oh Jesus no, not even close, they at least were expected to push for AL Central. Detroit expected to struggle to even play .500. Two very different expectations. The way KC phizzled pretty much took him out of contention. It's down to the Cleveland manager (Vogt) and AJ.
Reds hire Francona. Dammit, I wish we could have made a quick firing and got in on the Falcona deal. Sigh....
Astros need a huge injection of "emotion," Bryce Harper kind of fire. As currently constructed they are one of the most unexpressive group in the majors. It just "looks" like it doesn't mean that much to them. Sort of, "if we win, fine; if we lose fine." That is just unacceptable at any level, but especially when you are making millions to play a kids game.
