A shout out to everyone posting in this thread. It is by far the most knowledgeable and readable thread on Coogfans. Disagreements are actually informative, unlike the name calling on other threads.
Damn, Astros need to keep this going!
4 Likes
My concern with today’s game is that the Tigers go with a bullpen game and change pitchers every inning or two. That and rookie starters always seem to put the Astro bats on ice. And Hinch will take advantage of that.
I just saw Detroit’s line-up - it doesn’t look anything like yesterday’s, and almost everyone is hitting in a different slot. Our big changes are Heyward and McCormick in for Dubon and Meyers. 
2 Likes
Meyers with 2 hits in his last 7 games; 5 hits in last 10 games.
Not surprised he would be replaced in Game 2.
1 Like
I agree.
We tend to suck when a team throws a bullpen game at us……and we Shouldn’t!
The problem is the entire teams approach….there is NO patience.
When you have rookie pitchers or a team throwing the bullpen at you, you HAVE to make them work.
I e said before , the Astros used to be the most hated team to face and not just because of the lineup….The Astros made teams get into their bullpens early by working the pitcher……pitchers were lucky to get out of an inning with less than 20 pitches.
No it’s just a free for all….no plan whatsoever….
It’s frustrating to even watch.
A new pitcher comes in or a pitcher is wild and we swing at the first pitch and pop it up.
And nothing changes……so either Joe is okay with it or he’s too big a wuss to say anything.
1 Like
If anything since the firing of Lunhow and Hinch, Crane has proven to be sometimes volatile and always unpredictable. He fired Click after the team won the World Series, but he kept Dusty Baker despite a lot of fans showing extreme dislike for the way he ran the team over the years.
If this team does not advance beyond today, who pays the price?
-
Dana Brown - probably not, but he better start delivering some real talent from the minor leagues to replace the talent he’s going to be losing (Bregman, Tucker, and Framber) over the next couple of seasons.
-
Reggie Jackson/Jeff Bagwell - if these two guys are primarily responsible for the Jose Abreu and Montero signings, then neither’s advice should be taken to seriously moving forward on player evaluations. However, I think Crane likes having them around for reasons beyond their talent evaluation skills, so they likely stay.
-
Joe Espada - I would move on from this guy regardless of what happens this year. He has shown time and again in his one season that he simply does not have the mental intangibles, i.e. setting a competitive batting order, in game pitching decisions, etc. to be a long-term successful manager. Espada just seems permanently locked in on his ideas (Yordan hitting 2nd) and unwilling to consider anything different. Yordan is 6th in the AL in batting average, 5th in OPS, and 32nd in RBIs. That being said, I think he will be allowed to stay and the fans will suffer for it.
-
Alex Cintron/Troy Snitker - These guys can’t be canned soon enough. I think part of Espada keeping his job must be that he brings in a new hitting coach. Preferably somebody that prioritizes contact and selectivity over swinging for the fences. A big part of the game these days is getting the starter out of the game via pitch counts and the Astros don’t do enough to drive up the opposing starters pitch count.\
-
Tommy Kawamura - can somebody tell me what a “game planning coach” does. If he’s involved in the setting of lineups or hitting philosophy, he should be let go as well.
I’m not even sure Reggie and Bagwell collect a salary. It seems to me they lend their advice over a few beers. Honestly, I wish Crane would ditch the consultants and let Brown run the team.
For what it’s worth, Bagwell never even won a World Series. Not sure, other that friendship, why he’s a talent and contract evaluator.
1 Like
Detroit won the game they had to win. Tip your hat to them on that. Now we gotta game we have to win. HB has been excellent since May. 11-5 with a 2.51 era, 147 ip and 155 so. I feel good about him taking the mound with the season on the line. Hope the bats come alive. Go Stros!
MY responses in BOLD:
If anything since the firing of Lunhow and Hinch, Crane has proven to be sometimes volatile and always unpredictable. He fired Click after the team won the World Series, but he kept Dusty Baker despite a lot of fans showing extreme dislike for the way he ran the team over the years.
If this team does not advance beyond today, who pays the price?
-
Dana Brown - probably not, but he better start delivering some real talent from the minor leagues to replace the talent he’s going to be losing (Bregman, Tucker, and Framber) over the next couple of seasons. Not really Dana’s main territory or major wheelhouse – and he certainly hasn’t been in place long enough here to warrant being hugely responsible for the shortage of talent in the minor league system – at this point.
-
Reggie Jackson/Jeff Bagwell - if these two guys are primarily responsible for the Jose Abreu and Montero signings, then neither’s advice should be taken to seriously moving forward on player evaluations. However, I think Crane likes having them around for reasons beyond their talent evaluation skills, so they likely stay. I think their involvement or influence is a little overrated (certainly in the case of Jackson), and I don’t really recall a ton of opposition when we gave Abreu and Montero their contratcs, either. They were bad signings, sure, but they happen, and no organization is immune to them.
-
Joe Espada - I would move on from this guy regardless of what happens this year. He has shown time and again in his one season that he simply does not have the mental intangibles, i.e. setting a competitive batting order, in game pitching decisions, etc. to be a long-term successful manager. Espada just seems permanently locked in on his ideas (Yordan hitting 2nd) and unwilling to consider anything different. Yordan is 6th in the AL in batting average, 5th in OPS, and 32nd in RBIs. That being said, I think he will be allowed to stay and the fans will suffer for it. I would tend to agree, but for different reasons. Astros probably coulda had a more ‘sexy’ hire or someone that had been through the wars more (a la Dusty)…maybe AJ Hinch woulda been worth another look here (lasting impression, notwithstanding), who knows? Even the Red Sox hired back Alex Cora, and HE was the ringleader more than anyone else, probably
-
Alex Cintron/Troy Snitker - These guys can’t be canned soon enough. I think part of Espada keeping his job must be that he brings in a new hitting coach. Preferably somebody that prioritizes contact and selectivity over swinging for the fences. A big part of the game these days is getting the starter out of the game via pitch counts and the Astros don’t do enough to drive up the opposing starters pitch count. Meh…while the Astros do show a propensity to get a little impatient and ultra-aggressive in their approaches, over-zealous hitters also tend to strike out more as well. And the Astros are routiney among the tops in baseball at NOT doing so. This year, I believe they were 3rd overall.
-
Tommy Kawamura - can somebody tell me what a “game planning coach” does. If he’s involved in the setting of lineups or hitting philosophy, he should be let go as well.
[/quote] Okay, I don’t even know who this guy is, but if that’s really his ‘job,’ it probably falls more on the shoulders of why Espada is NOT the right choice!
1 Like
Brown looks sharp. We’re gonna be fine.
2 Likes
Didn’t realize he’s from Detroit
where you been, Funk? j/k
1 Like
Good job by Brown to get out of that jam. When did we become such a bad defensive team? Need to clean it up.
1 Like
The pride of Detroit mowing down the Motor City Kitties…who needs JV when you have his mold-sake?
Brown dealing.
Also - could have sworn he was from Cali
Not if we continue to not hit.
Tigers pitching has been underwhelming and yet the Astros can not break through….the longer this goes, the better quality pitcher you are going to face.
Someone has to step up for the Astros with a big hit….nobody seems to be capable.
1 Like
Our old ‘friend’ is contributing mightily to that, too!
He is now 7 for his last 61 (.115) in the postseason since 10/28/22.
For context, he had seven postseason hits between 10/11/22 and 10/28/22
1 Like
He had quit Coogfans and joined Orangebloods for awhile but got tired of all the popped collar guys….so he is back to hang with the cool kids.
2 Likes
1 run in 12 innings this series.
Brown is pitching well, and there is absolutely no support for him.
No doubt but Hunters still been great
Hunter Brown’s line vs Tigers this year, including today: 16.0 IP, 11 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 22K, 0.56 ERA
4 Likes