Ciboag96 said:
This all started when Paredes pulled up lame
Which is why I asked earlier if he could DH and hobble….
***** Official Houston Astros 2025 Season Thread *****
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Which is why I asked earlier if he could DH and hobble….
superaggie73 said:
Espada is toast. He's showing daily how ****ty of a manager he is. We **** the bed by not bringing in Francona when we had the chance. Espada is a joke.
Genuinely wondering where this strength of feeling comes from. When the entire lineup forgets how to hit a baseball, the entire bullpen except Abreu is unreliable, and the rehab rotation staff hits a really rough patch, what is the manager supposed to do?
This team is abject trash but I would imagine that has a lot to do with the players who make seemingly no effort at playing well, not the guy who writes out a lineup and sits there.
Not playing goalie because this team has now made me too utterly indifferent to care that much, just curious.
Hornbeck said:
Alvarez needs 2 weeks in Corpus and a couple in Sugarland….
They will leave him down there for Sugarland's repeat run
He can better manage the job his staff is doing perhaps?
Mariners finally cool down. At least we didn't lose a game
If they stayed hot we would be down multiple games by now.
If they stayed hot we would be down multiple games by now.
But that's what I mean, I'm pretty sure the staff is capable of telling Arrighetti not to throw so many meatballs that Wenceel Perez basically homers three times in one AB.
I just don't see why the players don't shoulder the vast share of blame for sucking so entirely at their jobs. Can't throw the ball or swing the bat for them. Looking worse than the Rockies at baseball for an extended duration of time is a total team failure.
Not at all saying coaching is helping anything. Particularly the hitting coaching. Just wondering why someone would hate a second-year manager that much when the guys on the field, who are adult professionals, look like they've mailed it in. I'm open to the reasoning.
I just don't see why the players don't shoulder the vast share of blame for sucking so entirely at their jobs. Can't throw the ball or swing the bat for them. Looking worse than the Rockies at baseball for an extended duration of time is a total team failure.
Not at all saying coaching is helping anything. Particularly the hitting coaching. Just wondering why someone would hate a second-year manager that much when the guys on the field, who are adult professionals, look like they've mailed it in. I'm open to the reasoning.
“Dad, what was it like to watch the 2025 June Astros ?” pic.twitter.com/t4gpMQDtob
— Yordaddy 🔫 (@Yordaddy2025mvp) August 19, 2025
19-7 month. It was a special time
My image posting abilities suck like the Astros
tjack16 said:“Dad, what was it like to watch the 2025 June Astros ?” pic.twitter.com/t4gpMQDtob
— Yordaddy 🔫 (@Yordaddy2025mvp) August 19, 2025
19-7 month. It was a special time
Hahahhahha
Beau Holder said:superaggie73 said:
Espada is toast. He's showing daily how ****ty of a manager he is. We **** the bed by not bringing in Francona when we had the chance. Espada is a joke.
Genuinely wondering where this strength of feeling comes from. When the entire lineup forgets how to hit a baseball, the entire bullpen except Abreu is unreliable, and the rehab rotation staff hits a really rough patch, what is the manager supposed to do?
This team is abject trash but I would imagine that has a lot to do with the players who make seemingly no effort at playing well, not the guy who writes out a lineup and sits there.
Not playing goalie because this team has now made me too utterly indifferent to care that much, just curious.
Then why even have managers? It's his job to get them right. It's his job to inspire them to put forth the effort. If he can't, then he is not good at his job. That simple. If it's only about the players, then there is no need for a manager. But there is a need for managers, and there are good ones who don't let that their team get blown out 3 out of 4 games where their formerly good CF (who just happens to have forgotten how to play when Espada took over) has to pitch 3 times in a week.
Look, I have Espada a chance. I've been one of the last ones to jump off the Espada bandwagon. But not only has he shown he doesn't know how to make a lineup card that makes sense or show any knowledge of offensive strategy, but he can't even get his guys to play to even half of their capabilities now.
Since his first appearance on August 12, Chas McCormick has a lower ERA and the same number of home runs as Shohei Ohtani.
— Tyler Stafford (@tylercstafford) August 19, 2025
If you're blaming this on the manager, then you're vastly overrating the impact a manager can have.
Don't forget that this is the guy who was being talked about as a potential manager of the year when we were overachieving. I think he's to blame for this cold streak about as much as he gets credit for the hot streak earlier. Which is about 2%.
Don't forget that this is the guy who was being talked about as a potential manager of the year when we were overachieving. I think he's to blame for this cold streak about as much as he gets credit for the hot streak earlier. Which is about 2%.
Harry Dunne said:
If you're blaming this on the manager, then you're vastly overrating the impact a manager can have.
Don't forget that this is the guy who was being talked about as a potential manager of the year when we were overachieving. I think he's to blame for this cold streak about as much as he gets credit for the hot streak earlier. Which is about 2%.
Tonight he put a guy in an 0-20 slump at the cleanup spot and in the 1st inning came up with 2 guys on and failed yet again. Any manager with half a brain doesn't do that. You don't thjnk the team sees stupid **** like that and gives up on the guy? You think they're willing to give their all when they know they're playing for a moron who doesn't give them the best chance to win?
Ags #1 said:
Lol at those thinking Joe gets fired. Should he? Maybe? But he is the same guy that had them playing well above their head when they shouldn't have been. Just don't see him getting fired but then again it's crane so who knows
He is the guy who ended their run of 7 straight ALCS appearance and is wading into dangerous waters of missing the playoffs altogether for the 1st time since 2016 in his first 2 years of managing the team.
He never should've been hired and can't be fired soon enough; feels like the clubhouse is right there with that sentiment.
I understand that moving Correa to the 2 hole mitigates lineup disruption, since Sanchez in the 2 hole means a bigger lineup shuffle anytime a ledty starts against us, but I cannot help but think that Sanchez 2, Correa 4 works to their strengths better.
It certainly worked better the first few games after the trade.
It certainly worked better the first few games after the trade.
Astros would swing and miss right now. https://t.co/wXC9CUJJPv
— Jairon (@o_jairon1228) August 19, 2025
can confirm that 2+ hours of 8th grade Algebra homework was a superior evening to watching 1 second of that game tonight.
Astros have sunk to 21st in runs scored in MLB
it could be argued...
the biggest problem with the Astros offense in August...is the same biggest problem from April
Walker ---> .700 OPS
Yainer ----> .694 OPS
these are 2 veteran hitters who have stayed healthy all season...and have simply underpeformed
they have combined for over 940 plate appearances -- primarily batting 4th, 5th, or 6th
the biggest problem with the Astros offense in August...is the same biggest problem from April
Walker ---> .700 OPS
Yainer ----> .694 OPS
these are 2 veteran hitters who have stayed healthy all season...and have simply underpeformed
they have combined for over 940 plate appearances -- primarily batting 4th, 5th, or 6th
What other amazing option did he have?superaggie73 said:Harry Dunne said:
If you're blaming this on the manager, then you're vastly overrating the impact a manager can have.
Don't forget that this is the guy who was being talked about as a potential manager of the year when we were overachieving. I think he's to blame for this cold streak about as much as he gets credit for the hot streak earlier. Which is about 2%.
Tonight he put a guy in an 0-20 slump at the cleanup spot and in the 1st inning came up with 2 guys on and failed yet again. Any manager with half a brain doesn't do that. You don't thjnk the team sees stupid **** like that and gives up on the guy? You think they're willing to give their all when they know they're playing for a moron who doesn't give them the best chance to win?
Would the game have worked out any differently with any of the other guys that went 0-fer batting cleanup?
I'm not saying he's a future HOFer but it doesn't matter what lineup he put out there tonight. He could have put peak Barry Bonds at cleanup and they would have lost. You think AJ would have managed this lineup to 11 runs tonight?
We've got a lot of isssues. The manager ain't even in the top 10.
I could take him or leave him. Fire him, that's fine.The Beef01 said:Ags #1 said:
Lol at those thinking Joe gets fired. Should he? Maybe? But he is the same guy that had them playing well above their head when they shouldn't have been. Just don't see him getting fired but then again it's crane so who knows
He is the guy who ended their run of 7 straight ALCS appearance and is wading into dangerous waters of missing the playoffs altogether for the 1st time since 2016 in his first 2 years of managing the team.
He never should've been hired and can't be fired soon enough; feels like the clubhouse is right there with that sentiment.
But do you think what you wrote has more to do with Espada, or the fact that we have by far the worst roster since 2016?
We need Hunter to go 7 tonight. Win or lose he needs to
No days off this week and the bullpen is shot to hell
No days off this week and the bullpen is shot to hell
Harry Dunne said:I could take him or leave him. Fire him, that's fine.The Beef01 said:Ags #1 said:
Lol at those thinking Joe gets fired. Should he? Maybe? But he is the same guy that had them playing well above their head when they shouldn't have been. Just don't see him getting fired but then again it's crane so who knows
He is the guy who ended their run of 7 straight ALCS appearance and is wading into dangerous waters of missing the playoffs altogether for the 1st time since 2016 in his first 2 years of managing the team.
He never should've been hired and can't be fired soon enough; feels like the clubhouse is right there with that sentiment.
But do you think what you wrote has more to do with Espada, or the fact that we have by far the worst roster since 2016?
I think the sum of the parts is significantly better than the results the last two seasons.
People will always fall back to using "the injuries" defense (not saying that you are), but that's a part of it to me. For all of the "load management" approach, what has it gotten us? The lack of continuity in the lineup has led to repeated streaks of inconsistency and hasn't stemmed the tide of injuries.
The amount of injuries and the odd nature of a lot of them also speaks to a complete breakdown of communication.
It just feels like there's a complete lack of accountability in the clubhouse b/w Espada's boneheaded lineup construction, terrible bullpen deployment (going to Dubin in a 1-run game when he has an ERA around 30.00 since coming off the IL) and the fact that your hitting coaches only made it to 2023 due the team's hot run in October of '22. This is the truth…they were being told to get their resumes updated in September of '22. (In a move that would define his tenure, Espada didn't even think twice about retaining them when he took over)
The organization needs a change and they need one from a manager who has skins on the wall. I'm not saying they need an authoritarian, but they need someone who the players are terrified to look into the dugout at when they do something stupid on the base paths on their way back to the bench.
There's a lot to like about what Dana Brown is doing as he takes more control of the team, but I'm worried that his decision to just microwave questionable leftovers by hiring Espada and keeping Dusty's mediocre staff has led to food poisoning.
tjack16 said:
We need Hunter to go 7 tonight. Win or lose he needs to
No days off this week and the bullpen is shot to hell
Against Skubal, this offense might find a way to open a black hole and score less than zero runs.
What makes you think the sum of the parts is greater than the whole (especially this year)? This team has no business being in contention with all the injuries that have occurred. I'm not going to say we are in contention because of him but it's laughable to think the talent we have rolled out this season should be winning a division. It's a freaking miracle we are even in the playoff hunt, let alone leading the AL West.
The Beef01 said:Harry Dunne said:I could take him or leave him. Fire him, that's fine.The Beef01 said:Ags #1 said:
Lol at those thinking Joe gets fired. Should he? Maybe? But he is the same guy that had them playing well above their head when they shouldn't have been. Just don't see him getting fired but then again it's crane so who knows
He is the guy who ended their run of 7 straight ALCS appearance and is wading into dangerous waters of missing the playoffs altogether for the 1st time since 2016 in his first 2 years of managing the team.
He never should've been hired and can't be fired soon enough; feels like the clubhouse is right there with that sentiment.
But do you think what you wrote has more to do with Espada, or the fact that we have by far the worst roster since 2016?
I think the sum of the parts is significantly better than the results the last two seasons.
People will always fall back to using "the injuries" defense (not saying that you are), but that's a part of it to me. For all of the "load management" approach, what has it gotten us? The lack of continuity in the lineup has led to repeated streaks of inconsistency and hasn't stemmed the tide of injuries.
The amount of injuries and the odd nature of a lot of them also speaks to a complete breakdown of communication.
It just feels like there's a complete lack of accountability in the clubhouse b/w Espada's boneheaded lineup construction, terrible bullpen deployment (going to Dubin in a 1-run game when he has an ERA around 30.00 since coming off the IL) and the fact that your hitting coaches only made it to 2023 due the team's hot run in October of '22. This is the truth…they were being told to get their resumes updated in September of '22. (In a move that would define his tenure, Espada didn't even think twice about retaining them when he took over)
The organization needs a change and they need one from a manager who has skins on the wall. I'm not saying they need an authoritarian, but they need someone who the players are terrified to look into the dugout at when they do something stupid on the base paths on their way back to the bench.
There's a lot to like about what Dana Brown is doing as he takes more control of the team, but I'm worried that his decision to just microwave questionable leftovers by hiring Espada and keeping Dusty's mediocre staff has led to food poisoning.
Ding ding ding.
Exactly this.
I agree with most of that, except I think that this was an 88-win roster when healthy.
Now how many starts on the mound and in the field have we gotten from fringe major leaguers or straight up AAA guys? Complaining about inserting Nico Goodrum into an otherwise strong lineup for 10-15 games in a season seems like a first world problem now.
Now how many starts on the mound and in the field have we gotten from fringe major leaguers or straight up AAA guys? Complaining about inserting Nico Goodrum into an otherwise strong lineup for 10-15 games in a season seems like a first world problem now.
So most had probably turned it off by then but sometime late in the game TK and Blummer nailed this team's situation right on the head and it was so well said by both of them.
They said just in both extreme high times and extreme low times we're looking at each saying 'WTF is going on?' We did it when this team was over performing in July and we're doing it now when they're underperforming in August. As good or as bad as it seems the truth is always somewhere in the middle and eventually things will even out.
However, it's concerning how the pitching has completely broken down and gone to the crapper. The offense is struggling no doubt but during the early parts of the season the pitching was carrying the offense in down turns. Now that's not happening and they're struggling on both sides. You would typically say 'Put your heads down and power through the slump' but when the pitching is struggling this bad it's harder on the offense and then it all snowballs and you get what we're seeing.
They gotta dig deep and figure it out. They either will or they won't and it's only up to them.
Just thought that was really well said and pretty damn spot on.
They said just in both extreme high times and extreme low times we're looking at each saying 'WTF is going on?' We did it when this team was over performing in July and we're doing it now when they're underperforming in August. As good or as bad as it seems the truth is always somewhere in the middle and eventually things will even out.
However, it's concerning how the pitching has completely broken down and gone to the crapper. The offense is struggling no doubt but during the early parts of the season the pitching was carrying the offense in down turns. Now that's not happening and they're struggling on both sides. You would typically say 'Put your heads down and power through the slump' but when the pitching is struggling this bad it's harder on the offense and then it all snowballs and you get what we're seeing.
They gotta dig deep and figure it out. They either will or they won't and it's only up to them.
Just thought that was really well said and pretty damn spot on.
The Beef01 said:Harry Dunne said:The Beef01 said:Ags #1 said:
Lol at those thinking Joe gets fired. Should he? Maybe? But he is the same guy that had them playing well above their head when they shouldn't have been. Just don't see him getting fired but then again it's crane so who knows
He is the guy who ended their run of 7 straight ALCS appearance and is wading into dangerous waters of missing the playoffs altogether for the 1st time since 2016 in his first 2 years of managing the team.
He never should've been hired and can't be fired soon enough; feels like the clubhouse is right there with that sentiment.
I could take him or leave him. Fire him, that's fine.
But do you think what you wrote has more to do with Espada, or the fact that we have by far the worst roster since 2016?
I think the sum of the parts is significantly better than the results the last two seasons.
People will always fall back to using "the injuries" defense (not saying that you are), but that's a part of it to me. For all of the "load management" approach, what has it gotten us? The lack of continuity in the lineup has led to repeated streaks of inconsistency and hasn't stemmed the tide of injuries.
The amount of injuries and the odd nature of a lot of them also speaks to a complete breakdown of communication.
It just feels like there's a complete lack of accountability in the clubhouse b/w Espada's boneheaded lineup construction, terrible bullpen deployment (going to Dubin in a 1-run game when he has an ERA around 30.00 since coming off the IL) and the fact that your hitting coaches only made it to 2023 due the team's hot run in October of '22. This is the truth…they were being told to get their resumes updated in September of '22. (In a move that would define his tenure, Espada didn't even think twice about retaining them when he took over)
The organization needs a change and they need one from a manager who has skins on the wall. I'm not saying they need an authoritarian, but they need someone who the players are terrified to look into the dugout at when they do something stupid on the base paths on their way back to the bench.
There's a lot to like about what Dana Brown is doing as he takes more control of the team, but I'm worried that his decision to just microwave questionable leftovers by hiring Espada and keeping Dusty's mediocre staff has led to food poisoning.
This is what has been baffling to me. I understand giving players rest now and again - that has been happening for a long time in MLB. But it seems to have gotten much more frequent, like we're headed to NBA level load management. And what has that gotten the Astros? Has it done the reverse even - leading to more injuries? Probably not, but it certainly hasn't reduced amount of injuries. Having key players out of the lineup as often as we do when we're fighting for a division title just seems dumb to me. More than a 5-6 game lead? Ok, go ahead. Damn near tied? No.
To me the injury excuse was very valid until the trade deadline.
Then you got 3 major league bats, two starting pitchers back from injury and got rid of most of the space cowboys bats.
Obviously people are still out (Yordan, Paredes, Meyers and Hader) but you've got a full lineup and rotation now.
Then you got 3 major league bats, two starting pitchers back from injury and got rid of most of the space cowboys bats.
Obviously people are still out (Yordan, Paredes, Meyers and Hader) but you've got a full lineup and rotation now.
I'm concerned for Chas given he has pitched so well as of late. Joe will be tempted to use him in a leverage situation if it comes up today, but we really shouldn't try to pitch him 3 days in a row.
Injuries or not, we still have a lot of regular holes in the lineup. We still have 5 regular players who are below to well below league average players. You want to know why we can't score? Half of the lineup just cannot hit on a regular basis. Or in two cases hit at all.
Dubon is still playing almost daily.
Walker has an OPS of .700 and wRC+ of 95.
Diaz is .695 and 89.
Cam hasnt hit a HR since June and his July and August numbers are bad. Batting .214 in July and .186 in August.
Sanchez had been a bust. Let's not sugarcoat it. He had done less than nothing. Realistically he shouldn't be playing but that's not happening for a variety of reasons. .164/.220/.255. WRC+ 31 and a -0.3 fWAR. He's was awful against LHP before coming over, but he's not facing LHP because we don't see LHP.
Dubon is still playing almost daily.
Walker has an OPS of .700 and wRC+ of 95.
Diaz is .695 and 89.
Cam hasnt hit a HR since June and his July and August numbers are bad. Batting .214 in July and .186 in August.
Sanchez had been a bust. Let's not sugarcoat it. He had done less than nothing. Realistically he shouldn't be playing but that's not happening for a variety of reasons. .164/.220/.255. WRC+ 31 and a -0.3 fWAR. He's was awful against LHP before coming over, but he's not facing LHP because we don't see LHP.
Diesel gets us the W in his homecoming tonight.
Hoping to see a lot less of the "Astros inevitable" hype train stuff for a bit. I know it doesn't necessarily affect the players, but there was a lot of rat poison going around for this team IMO especially after sweeping LA.
Hoping to see a lot less of the "Astros inevitable" hype train stuff for a bit. I know it doesn't necessarily affect the players, but there was a lot of rat poison going around for this team IMO especially after sweeping LA.
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