DallasAg 94 said:
Not an Astros fan, but I'll chime in. I was already drafting an analysis...
On this off day for the Rangers... and while waiting for the 3-1 Mavs to play tonight hoping they clinch... I thought I'd revisit this post from 6 weeks ago. Happy to hear an updated response from Astros fans that may.... or may not differ from your previous response:
I think we can check this box "Affirmed:"
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The 4 main issues I see:
Espada doesn't have the experience and wisdom to put together the team. As my boss (Cards fan) says about what he believes is a horrible manager in St.L "The manager manages egos not the lineup card. Any player can fill out the lineup card." Can Espada get everyone headed in the right direction? We'll see.
I think Astros fans have realized Espada isn't the right guy. And Astros fans will double-down that Baker wouldn't be any better. Lineup cards be damned.
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Another "Confirmed?"
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Lack of depth. Limited prospects and players to draw from in their minors. Injuries are a part of the game. You have to prepare for it and if you don't the problem isn't injuries... it is your inability/unwillingness to prepare for them.
Both teams have had injuries. It is part of baseball. I think the Rangers have weathered the injuries better, so far and are about to get guys returning, although Semien may be an issue, now.
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Too early?
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Yanier Diaz. Hitting to a Catcher is what filling out the lineup card is to a manager. I don't know Diaz, but you look at the P struggles and I have to believe he isn't handling the staff well. This may sound dumb, but the fact he is hitting well, likely tells you that he isn't spending enough time on the Pitchers. He has to study the hitters of the day along with the SP and 7+/- RPs and how each should approach the hitter. AND... he needs the P to have the trust in him.
His batting seems to have dropped... SP is still horrible. The one guy with good numbers got suspended for cheating.
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Last check. "Confirmed?!"
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Team talent. I was rooting on the idea of Snell to the Astros and was elated Hader signed. Even more excited at $19M. Without the prospects and now having spent their load... The Astros are kinda stuck fixing things. I had said having Hader and Pressly would be meaningless if the Astros are behind in games.
Loperfido... Arrighetti?! Meanwhile Lorenzen has done well. Urena is a beast. We picked up some guy (Gaborito?!) from the Santiago City Men's League, in Chile... who has
n't been affiliated with a MLB/Japan/Korean team in 3 years. Probably washing cars.
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I think this is still the real question:
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The big question for Astros fans is... Are Espada and Yanier the guys that can turn the team in the right direction?! If the fans are losing confidence, you can be assured those doubts will creep into the clubhouse. Was signing Hader to $19M a red flag to guys like Pressly, Tucker, and Bregman that it is time to move on?!
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If this team continues to struggle, you're likely going to see the trade deadline fire-sell.
Now, I'm not as sophisticated as many of the Elite Astros fans... I don't really get deep into the advanced metrics that the Astros fans have convinced themselves are important... but I do know... 1/3 into the season and the Astros are performing poorly, they don't have much in terms of players coming back from injury or joining from their minors... and they are budget-tight where they really aren't going to add from external.
This is where Astros fans start to exit the bandwagon... but from a sports perspective... Aggie Baseball is their only option. So, about 3-4 weeks and then it is Texans and Aggie Football.