Nobody is going to change managers in the middle of a pennant race. But if he’s extended to next year it’s time to riot.
I hope he’s extended…and if you think about it for a quick minute you’ll know why.
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With last night’s loss, the 56th, the Astros would have to win the last 34 games in a row to equal last years record.
Yes — extended to try for three in a row would be nice. #rosecoloredglasses
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Just the ramblings of a frustrated fan.
If they repeat, then it will all be worth it and I won’t complain if they bring Dusty back
But I said much the same last year.
So you’re saying there’s a chance?
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For at least a few more hours.
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1-8 in extras. For a team good enough to be 16 games above .500, it’s increasingly difficult to pin the “close and late” losses on the players. Managerial execution has to be it.
The fact that the closer is never available in extras is a pretty glaringly stupid choice to start with.
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So, to a degree, I understand his rationale. “Use your closer to finish the game in regulation, game outcomes trend towards 50/50 in extras, especially the deeper you get into extras”. But, when you see a consistent, negative outcome over and over, only a fool continues indefinitely with that rationale.
That’s true for road games, when Dusty has chosen to use Pressly when it could not possibly end the game. But last night I didn’t have a problem with Pressly in the 9th and Graveman in the 10th. Except that Graveman shat himself.
Road games was mostly what I was referring to.
But also, I trust Pressly a lot more with a runner on 2nd and no outs to start the 10th than I do all but a few of the other bullpen options as well.
I didn’t have a problem with Graveman being out there other than the dogshit results, I just can’t stand Dusty’s insistence on burning the best option we’ve got in a tie game constantly.
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It’s easy to second guess after a loss but given how dominant Pressly was last night and the fact that he only threw 10 pitches, I don’t understand why you couldn’t ask him for one more inning.
That was his 3rd outing in a row, iirc. Another inning would have been a bridge too far, I think.
Ah, did not realize that. In that case, Graveman was the obvious choice.
In any event, plenty of blown opportunities to win that game and not have to worry about extra innings in the first place.
He’d last pitched on the 21st, and had thrown 2 innings in the last two weeks. The whole month of August he’d thrown 6 innings. He is not being overused.
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Evidently there was no bone showing as he’s in the lineup batting 4th today.
I understand where you are coming from about Maldonado’s catching metrics nosediving this season. However, the article that was published after Framber Valdez threw the no-hitter against the Guardians illustrates why Maldonado still catches most games. Nearly the entire Astros’ pitching staff wants him back there and trusts him without hesitation to navigate them through their outings. That’s not a dynamic Baker or any other decent manager is going to mess with in August of a pennant chase.
Next season, Diaz will be the everyday catcher and he will have all offseason to build the necessary rapport with the pitching staff. If still playing, Maldonado can spell him some days and serve as another bench coach.
I’m fucking glad he’s in the lineup…but now more fucked up than ever that he never grabbed a bat last night!
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I don’t care about what the pitchers say, I care about what the numbers say. They fucking win more games and the pitchers pitch better when Diaz catches. That’s it. It’s that simple.