ChipalattAwards for Mapril

Well, these awards are mostly for April, but the team did start with 4 losses against the Yankees in March, so this is a look at who has earned awards for the Mapril combo. The team ended April at a miserable 10-19 and last place in the AL West.

The Astros were middle of the road at eighth in the AL in runs scored for the month, but we know that not all runs are created equal. They averaged 8.3 runs per game in their 10 wins while only averaging 2.6 runs per game in their 19 losses. For a team that has been first in BA and second in OBP and OPS, being eighth in runs scored shows an offense that gets on base but does not drive in a commensurate number of runs.

On the pitching side, they have been just terrible – the starters are 14th in the AL with a 4.98 ERA, and the relievers are 12th with a 4.77 ERA. The only positive is that both those numbers were a bit over 5 not that long ago, so some improvement is happening.

But as usual, this is about individual awards for the month(s).

Here is a quick stat chart of the Astros’ pitchers in the month of Mapril.

Name Gm W L Svs IP ERA WHIP HR Ks/9 IP BAA OBPA OPSA BAbip IR/ IS
Framber Valdez 3 1 0 0 17.1 2.60 1.269 0 8.3 .271 .353 .675 .364 N/A
Cristian Javier 4 2 0 0 23.1 1.54 1.114 1 6.9 .183 .274 .594 .219 N/A
Hunter Brown 6 0 4 0 23 9.78 2.217 5 9.4 .366 .443 1.038 .444 N/A
J.P. France 5 0 3 0 25.1 7.46 1.697 5 7.8 .294 .360 .868 .321 N/A
Ronel Blanco 5 3 0 0 32.2 1.65 0.918 2 8.3 .144 .244 .451 .175 N/A
Justin Verlander 2 1 0 0 10.1 1.74 1.065 1 9.6 .189 .268 .593 .240 N/A
Spencer Arrighetti 3 0 3 0 10.2 10.97 2.344 1 12.7 .367 .448 .938 .500 N/A
Josh Hader 13 1 2 2 12.2 6.39 1.500 1 14.9 .271 .345 .741 .444 0/0
Brandon Bielak 8 0 0 0 13.1 6.08 1.800 3 5.4 .328 .381 .933 .340 4/2
Ryan Pressly 13 0 1 0 11.2 6.17 1.714 1 13.1 .313 364 .822 .438 1/0
Rafael Montero 15 0 1 0 14.2 3.68 0.955 2 4.9 .184 .286 .633 .179 8/2
Bryan Abreu 15 1 1 0 15.2 4.02 1.596 4 12.1 .237 .375 .833 .294 5/2
Seth Martinez 13 1 2 0 15.1 2.35 0.913 2 6.5 .185 .254 .569 .195 11/1
Parker Mushinski 3 0 0 0 4.0 11.25 2.250 0 4.5 .353 .429 .840 .375 0/0
Tayler Scott 8 0 1 0 12.1 2.19 1.297 1 10.9 .178 .315 .559 .241 2/0
Shawn Dubin 4 0 0 0 6.2 8.10 1.500 0 10.8 .296 .333 .704 .400 6/1

Note – I added the IR (Inherited runners) / IS (Inherited runners who scored) stat for the relievers.

Starting Pitcher of the Month. Ronel Blanco – Blanco had by far the most innings for the month, the second-best ERA, and, of course, a brilliant complete-game no-hitter in his first start of the season. Where would this team be without him? Cemented further down in the basement of the AL West.  

Runner-up. Cristian Javier – Javier was looking like 2022 Javier until an injury slowed him down. He led the starters in ERA and was very good in his 4 starts to date.

Relief Pitcher of the Month. Seth Martinez – It was a lot easier to say who this was not based on so many sucky Maprils among the reliever, but Seth seems to be shedding the bad mantle he took on in 2023 and has been the most consistent arm out of the bullpen to date.

Runner-up.  Tayler Scott – Cannot believe I just typed that, but the stats show him as the second best.

Here is a quick stat chart of the Astros’ position players in the month of Mapril.

 

Name

ABs

Runs

Dbls

HRs

RBIs

BBs

Ks

BA

OBP

OPS

BAbip

Jose Abreu

71

6

1

0

3

3

18

.099

.156

.269

.130

Jose Altuve

119

22

9

7

9

13

18

.345

.414

1.010

.362

Mauricio Dubon

61

6

4

1

13

2

5

.279

.302

.695

.291

Jeremy Pena

113

16

5

3

11

5

17

.327

.367

.818

.366

Alex Bregman

102

5

5

1

10

10

14

.216

.283

.577

.239

Chas McCormick

72

6

3

0

8

9

23

.236

.325

.603

.340

Kyle Tucker

110

20

7

7

20

21

20

.300

.412

.967

.313

Yordan Alvarez

114

18

3

7

18

11

19

.263

.333

.807

.256

Yainer Diaz

108

13

5

3

13

7

16

.287

.328

.763

.311

Jake Meyers

50

5

2

3

8

3

12

.220

.278

.718

.229

Jon Singleton

46

5

2

1

3

6

12

.239

.327

.675

.303

Victor Caratini

35

8

3

2

8

2

7

.314

.368

.940

.346

 

Positional Player of the Month. Kyle Tucker – The runner-up has the leader beat in most categories, but we just can’t ignore what each has done (or not done) with runners in scoring position.

Runner-up. Jose Altuve – He was really terrific this month, but his inability to come through with RISP was contagious in a time when the team was folding under the weight of failure in the clutch.  

Special Recognition. Tie Jeremy Pena and Victor Caratini – Pena was excellent this month and one must wonder how the team would have fared with him in the second spot instead of Alex (Pop-up) Bregman. Caratini was super productive in only 35 ABs and gave the Astros a second solid bench bat next to Mauricio Dubon with a bit more pop.  

Biggest Surprise (Positive). Ronel Blanco – If you told someone that the Astros 5th starter would be their best starter, no one would have expected a 10-19 start to the season.

Runner-up. Seth Martinez – Seth was very good in 2022, but in 2023 he looked like he had been caught up with by the league. So far this year he has been a breath of fresh air out of a bullpen that is like unsealing King Tut’s tomb.  

Biggest Disappointment. Jose Abreu – Not that we thought he would return to his 2020 MVP self, but after seeing a lot more life in the late season and post season, we have been disappointed by his total inability to hit a ball more than semi-hard.

Runner-up. Alex Bregman – For a guy who wants to get a huge contract, he has been just terrible so far this season.

Honorable Mention. Hold on for a long list (and I’m skipping Arrighetti because he just got called up….) Hunter Brown (9.78 ERA), J.P. France (7.46 ERA), the trio of “closers” Josh Hader (6.39 ERA and only 2 saves), Ryan Pressly (6.17 ERA and 0 saves), Bryan Abreu (4.02 ERA and 0 saves – hey he was under 2 ERA last two years), and Chas McCormick (.609 OPS).

Some Comments on Mapril

There are some interesting and puzzling things that happened to the Astros so far in 2024:

  • Normally, a team with so much offense coming from normally weak offensive positions (2B, SS, and C) would be wiping out the competition. But NOOOOOOOOO!!!
  • You may never see such a two-tiered starting staff in your life. Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, and Ronel Blanco have all been very good to excellent. Unfortunately, they started only 14 of the games, while the other 15 were started by Brown, France, Arrighetti, and poor Blair Henley and his 135.00 ERA that I left off the stats list above.
  • BAbip – Batting Average for balls in play on average usually falls around .300 throughout baseball. The Astros have Hunter Brown (.444), Ryan Pressly (.438), Josh Hader (.444), and Spencer Arrighetti (.500) running over .400, which just has to slide toward the mean in the upcoming games.
  • Kyle Tucker is the only Astro who walks (21) more often than he strikes out (20), something that Bregman usually excels at, but not this year.
  • Raise your hands if you thought Chas McCormick would have the same amount of RBIs as Jake Meyers and Victor Caratini after one month.
  • Keep them up if you thought Jose Altuve would have 7 HRs and only 9 RBIs.
  • I know there is a no-hitter mixed in there, but the man who slashes against Ronel Blanco (.144 BA/.244 OBP/.451 OPS) is insanely strong.

As usual, it is your turn to comment. Are there any awards you disagree with? Are there any new ones you want to award?

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43 responses to “ChipalattAwards for Mapril”

  1. Thoughts on last night’s game:

    • Arrighetti was the story of the game as he pitched much better and longer than previously. He scuffled in the third inning but did not let it get out of control. The team needed it and Espada was able to rest the back end of the bullpen for the M series
    • Singleton continues to hit leftys better than rightys and after 2 hits, including a 43 degree majestically high and short home run, 2 runs scored and 3 runs driven in – he is up to .275 BA. Oh and a couple good plays at first too. When they were bringing JoeLo up I thought Jon might be odd man out. He is showing he maybe deserves a long look at first.
    • Yordan is slashing .200 BA/.258 OBP/ .646 OPS as a DH and .342 BA/.422 OBP/.975 OPS as a LF. With the additional OFs around he has not been in the field and his overall BA is down to .244 after being up to .347 three weeks ago. Not sure what the answer is.
    • Bregman, Yordan and Tucker were 0 for 12 but the team still scored 8 runs, thanks to Singleton, Diaz, Pena, Meyers and Altuve mostly.
    • Triples are fairly rare these days, but the Astros had two (Pena and Meyers) on balls CF Arias barely missed.
    • My two relievers of the month award winners pitched well last night with a combined scoreless 3.1 IP. Under the radar starts of the season for Martinez and Scott.
    • Can the Astros take a bite out of that 6 game Mariner lead over the weekend? We keep saying get on a roll and win series, but is a sweep too much to ask? Probably with Hunter Brown throwing Sunday. But go out and draw closer behind Blanco and Framber and then maybe get the bats rolling on Sunday….

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    • Heck, put Yordan in left tonight. Give Jose a relaxing night at DH, put Frenchie at second. Put the new kid in center.

      All we need is another series win. Sweep will come at some point. Let’s win the opener.

      In the meantime, we’ve won 4 of 5 without Yordan. 

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  2. You know I get it, Lil Al has sucked with RISP. Since when is that the lead off hitters forte? Is he supposed to set the table and clean the dishes? He’s hitting .340 for Christ sakes. Maybe he should sell hot dogs between innings, sweep the dugout… Meanwhile most of the month our new manager was showing his brilliance by batting a guy, known for being selective at the plate, clean-up. Someone who appears to have forgotten what made him his money and has moved on to condiments and horse racing. And the next “hottest thing in baseball” Big Al is scuffling along at .240. Man I hope he’s not hurt.There’s too much blame to go around to focus on Al’s RISP shortcoming.

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    • I would totally understand if someone wants to give the player of the month to Lil Al – I was just trying to explain why I did not pick Jose – he was 1 for 17 in those situations. (FYI he is 3 for 4 in May with RISP). Tucker is slashing .345/.487/.969 with RISP.

      I just don’t think Bregman does not care – I keep thinking he has Morgan Ensberg disease – thinks too much – keeps changing his approach at the plate.

      Big Al may be having hand issues again and not admitting it or maybe he is ADHD and can’t stand to sit there being the DH. I wish they had taught him to be a 1B – not likely to get hurt, but involved with the game.

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      • About Lil Al… it was not just you saying it. It had become a recurring theme among a lot of the locals. As you said he is 3 for 4 since, which speaks to my point. I will never root against him but can’t defend Bregman on any level. His dugout gloat the other night when he finally ran into one for a homer pushed me over the line. You might be onto something about Alvarez needing to play. It wouldn’t be the first time that was the case. Remember how much better Gattis was when he caught? Go ‘stros!

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      • A very good point on Gattis – being a DH like Big Papi is not necessarily a natural thing for these players.

        Yordan has consistently been better when he’s played in the field, but probably never been this big of a split between his numbers. For his career he has been .276 BA/ .370 OBP / .913 OPS as a DH and .327/.426/1.069 as a LF

        Lil Altuuuuuuve is the greatest Astro ever. He is figuring it out.

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    • Typically the leadoff guy only plays that role once a game. If our guys in the lower third of the line up are getting on base, Altuve is the best guy to hit in the 1 slot. He’ll build his RBI total and continue to fix his RISP %. He’s too good.

      Historically, Bregman has done his best hitting in the clean up role, and by a significant margin. We’re all tired of this annual wait to see when he will start hitting again. It did not really happy until July of last year. And this year is his worst start ever. One of these years, he won’t start hitting. I’d like to see Joe E. put Pena or Dubon behind Altuve for right now. Alex can go lower.

      And by all means, Alvarez should go to left field to see if that might jump start his offense. Sometimes you just should not screw around with guys like him. We need him to hit and be happy. 

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      • Of course Altuve should lead off. Much like Biggio then Springer, not the old school prototype, but the new age spark plug. If anyone on the team deserves an extra at bat it is Al. I could not disagree more with the assertion Bregman should hit fourth. Outside ’18 and ’19 he has never profiled as such. And now with his exit velocity down and his difficulty lifting the ball he is profiling more like an 8 hitter. Would he benefit from hitting in between Alvarez and Tucker? Who wouldn’t ? Hell, Abreu drove in 90 there last year and I don’t hear anyone clamoring for him to be hitting cleanup. Slow starter or not, Bregmans problems are real and I would say unprecedented. If he goes ofer tonight he’ll be in Minnie Mendoza land. I hope he figures it out. But he needs to figure it out down in the line up.

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      • kelly lilly, I’m enjoying the conversation. Certainly it was not me that suggested Bregman should be penciled in at clean up. But historically, meaning career wise, he has indeed posted his best OPS in the 4th slot. I’m guessing that’s why Joe Espada put him there to start the season. Maybe Joe waited too long to move him out of that role. But if a manager juggles the line up too often, too soon, that usually does not work either. But where does Bregman go? I noted earlier that for now, perhaps Dubon or Pena should hit behind Altuve and Bregman should get moved down. That’s on Joe though. Ultimately, the Astros will win more when guys hit, regardless of where they hit.  

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  3. Lot’s to chew on here. I like what you’ve said about our surprise pitchers and hitters but on the other side of the ledger there’s the cast of BIG disappointers. I think it’s time to move Bregman down in the order or give him some bench sitting time. I’d even move Yordan down in the order as I think he’s trying too hard, but Bregman (Mr. Pop-up/weak ground out) is just not cutting it.

    Pena, Diaz, and Caratini have been great contributors with Dubon doing his best impression of a Swiss Army Knife. Myers and Chaz have been disappointments. On another brighter note maybe, Singleton is beginning to find his stroke. He’s definitely better than our recent everyday 1st baseman.

    Maybe time to look at Pedro Leon as he’s doing well for the Space Cowboys.  

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    • Z, several of us are watching Leon closely. He’s got excellent stats, including OBP and OPS. It’s easier to overlook the K’s when a guy is doing everything else well.

      And he sure can get around the field, both offensively and defensively. His arm might be the best on the club one day soon. But especially with Cabbage just added, where do you put him right now? Yordan wants to play more left and they want to see what Loperfido can do. He’s not here to play two or three times a week.

      I’m really looking forward to this club getting younger and more athletic as we move forward.  

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  4. One thing that was kind of fun last night – right before the Astros came up to bat in the 7th inning they were showing highlights from a game against the Rangers on that date (May 2nd) in 2017.

    That game made my top 10 of games in a WS season.

    Astros 2017 recap: The Top 10 games of the year – ALL THINGS ASTROS (chipalatta.com)

    They were showing a couple home runs by Marwin Gonzalez, including an 8th inning grand slam that was part of a five run rally that took the Astros to 8 runs.

    So, fast forward to last night and right after they showed those highlights – what do the Astros do? They have a 5 run rally in the 7th inning that takes them to 8 runs. Kind of crazy.

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  5. Ugh! I don’t want to be a killjoy, and I appreciate all you do to for us, Dan – but I have to confess that it is hard for me to think about even considering giving awards to players on a team that has performed has far below expectations as the 2024 Astros did in March and April. For me it’s Hooray for Ronel Blanco, Jose Altuve, and Jeremy Pena … and well, somebody please try adn convince me that the rest of the guys on the 2024 Astro roster weren’t just Yankee and Ranger groupies who decided it would be fun to dress up in Orange and Blue drag costumes and humiliate Houston’s fan base.

    Hopefully by the end of May the bad taste will be out of my mouth, and I can talk about awards for some guys not named Blanco, Altuve, or Pena with a straight face.

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  6. Mr. Popup is batting cleanup tonight.!? That’s just wonderful. A dead spot where we need a bat. But I’m sure if he accidentally does do something good, he’ll let us all know.

    I, for one, am sick of the Alex Bregman braggadocio. He owes me a helluva lot more RBIs before that juvenile horse dung will cut it around here.

    Let your bat do the talking, Alex. Or sit down and STFU…..

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  7. Speaking of last night, Dan, after that Singleton HR, the offense picked up on a more favorable vibe thereafter. Not only did they get some key hits, but some of the hitters made better pitch selections by sitting on fringe and outside P. Even Bregman took a walk by intentionally not chasing after bad P. I had hoped that vibe would carry over into this evening but they seem a little sluggish. There is still time for them to make this a gm

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  8. Somebody PLEASE explain Meyers pinch hitting for Joey L in that situation. I’m not gettng it……

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  9. That looked like my dear departed Oma trying to catch a chicken in the yard! Definitely not somethng you see every day.

    And Pressly darn near blew it with that high throw back to 3b. That guy is making me crazy…..!

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  11. In spite of the Astros continuing to play unremarkable baseball, they’ve still won 5 of 6. When the right guys are put in the right place most nights, we’ll be a pretty good club.

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    • “When the right guys are put in the right place most nights…”

      Tonight wasn’t one of those nights even though we got lucky and the Ms forgot how to play defense and run the bases. They gave us that game.

      Batting Bregman behind Yordan is a bad move IMO. They’re pitching around the big man to get to Mr Popup. It will end up hurting Yordan’s production. Whatever benefit Bregman batting cleanup offers (I can’t see any) is more than offset by the disruption to Alvarez.

      Truth be told, Bregman should be batting ninth right now. Maybe in Sugarland.

      This whole business of having Diaz as DH when Caratini catches seems a bit too risky to me as well. But that’s a whole different topic.

      I’m just hanging around to see whether (or not) winning ball games is more important than stroking Alex Bregman’s hyperinflated ego…….

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      • I do believe that Bregman should continue to play, maybe only because he has eventually awakened each year. This is the worst he’s ever been though.  But he needs to get his stroke found somewhere lower in the line up. Joe has to make that tough decision and Bregman is not going to like it. So be it. Bregman should go back to video of every at bat he took in August last year and look at it over and over until he sees what he was doing right. That said, I would hope he’s done that already.

        And at some point, if Pedro Leon keeps hitting, the Astros will need to find a spot for him. And that will mean that Jake or Chas will have to go. That is part of staying relevant. Pedro is a better all around athlete than either guy. 

        I’m okay with Diaz at DH when Caratini catches. The risk is worth it. Somehow Diaz has a .291 BA with 15 RBI’s and he really has not started to hit yet. The power will come.

        I really hope we see Lopefido at first sometime soon. Singleton has had a nice week, but I don’t think he’s the full time answer. I’d like to see a combination of both Singleton and Loperfido be successful at first making the decision to fully sever ties with Abreu easier.

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      • We agree on pretty much everything except Diaz as DH. But Crane still isn’t returning my phone calls, so I just sit here and bitch. It will bite Espada in a sensitve place at some point sooner or later.

        “Joe has to make that tough decision and Bregman is not going to like it.“

        While I’m sitting here bitching, I am giving Espada a lot of side eye. I don’t trust him. Let’s see whether or not he has the cajones to do what needs to be done.

        Given the time he spent absorbing stupidity from Crusty the Clown by osmosis, he has a long ways to go.

        If he starts chewing on toothpicks, I’ll just root for the Rangers.

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  12. One thing I forgot to mention. Tucker has been hitting the heck out of the ball in the 4th slot. Don’t screw him up trying to fix Bregman.

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    • Both Tucker and Alvarez are legitimate cleanup men. Quite a luxury for any team to have 2 of them on the roster. I would keep them at 3 and 4 as it has been. Altuve leading off is just right.

      But almost anybody can do better at #2 than Bregman. We need somebody who makes contact with the ball and has good speed. I think Joey L would be a good fit. Just swap his and Bregman and be done with it.

      If Bregman doesn’t like it, he can go back to LA and eat bait like the rest of them do there…..

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  13. The NL batting champion, Luis Arraez, was traded by the Marlins to the Padres this morning. The return was three minor league prospects and a not so good pitcher from overseas.

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  14. Thoughts on last night’s game….

    • Yes, the Astros were lucky with some bonehead defensive and running mistakes by the M’s. I say – about time. The Astros have been having buzzard luck the early part of the season. Their only loss in this 5 of 6 run they are on was one filled with line drives that never fell in. They need a few of these mixed in to get on a run.
    • Yordan and Alex both got on twice last night (a walk and a hit each) and actually were a part of the scoring. Maybe the tide is getting ready to shift?
    • OK – all their walks were in one inning against the bullpen (George Kirby rarely walks anyone) but their patience in that inning was critical to a 4 run rally on two hits.
    • Loperfido continues to make good contact. No power so far but can’t complain about a .364 BA.
    • Altuve has dropped two bunts for singles lately – last night was a key to the win along with his stolen base.
    • Blanco was good with the exception of the two long balls. Glad the team got him out from under the loss.
    • Nice for Seth Martinez to get the win – another good job by him.
    • That run-down play was crazy from a lot of sides:
      • The fly ball was at least medium deep – I know Tucker has a good arm, but surprised they did not send the guy on third.
      • But more surprised that Rodriguez didn’t see what was happening in front of him
      • Did Pressly overthrow Bregman or did he realize at the last minute that if he threw it to Bregman the runner might be past him and tossed it to the next guy?
      • Let’s see this was a 9-2-4-1-6-2 double play – wonder how many times that has happened in the history of baseball

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    • It was the strangest DP I can recall off the top of my head. Though I’m sure there have been weirder ones. Definite brain fart on the part of Rodrigez.

      At the time, it appeared that Pressly overthrew Bregman. Still looks that way to me. But if Pressly wants to claim he meant to do that, OK, I guess.

      It came out as a W and that’s all that counts now.

      “Yordan and Alex both got on twice last night (a walk and a hit each) and actually were a part of the scoring. Maybe the tide is getting ready to shift?”

      If the ones that Bregman hit were hit with some authority, I would be encouraged. But they weren’t and I’m not.

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  15. I’ve been tough on Bregman, but last night

    • First time up – exit velocity 97 mph – 330 ft to right field
    • Second time up 101 mph line single to left
    • Third time up regular ground out 88 mph
    • Fourth time up – walk

    Maybe I shouldn’t be but I’m encouraged

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    • I try (I said “try” mind you) to keep a modicum of happiness by maintaining low expectations in all things earthly.

      Bregman needs to show me a very significant (almost miraculous) improvement in his performance (on both sides of the ball) before the trade deadline or start calling realtors in some town not named Houston.

      If I was calling the shots, I’d trade him while I can still get something for him to help the team this season. Tucker, Alvarez, and Altuve are my franchise guys. I don’t need Bregman for that.

      What I do need from him, I’m not getting. So……

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    • For the sake of full disclosure: Yes, Dan. You have been tough on Bregman. Justifiably, IMO.

      With me, the dislike for Alex Bregman is personal. Almost gutteral.

      Unlike what I guess is a majority of Astros fans, I don’t like his arrogance, cockiness, and swagger. It’s generally his attitude I don’t like about him.

      As long as he was performing at a high level and helping my favorite team, I tolerated him. But TBH, it wouldn’t matter if he was hitting like Ted Williams and slugging like Hank Aaron. I still wouldn’t like the guy.

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  16. Gilbert has fed this lineup a first pitch FB in virtually every AB. If they miss it the chances of getting another are slim to none. Gilbert has gotten so comfortable with all the quick innings he’s amassed that he is daring Astro hitters to lay off his breaking P even, and esp when down 3-2 in the count. If they keep chasing…well, we see the results. Somebody pls make Gilbert change tactics, maybe then they will get a pitch to hit.

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  17. The only positive thing I can say is that they didn’t leave many runners on base today.

    That’s all I got, y’all…..

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  18. The M’s have got a heck of solid young rotation. The pen is a bit beat up though. I hope the script gets flipped today. I’d like to see our guys get Millers pitch count up. Tall order, but a series win is still certainly within reach.

    I’m not sure who will be playing where today, but Espada mentioned that he wants to get Cabbage a start at first. 

    As much as I want to see Alvarez come out of his slump, which he seems to be doing the old fashioned way, it frightens me to see him going after a ball in left that he should diving for if he really wants the catch. But do we really want him diving for balls out there?

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  19. Thoughts

    • Not too many thoughts today – that was a nasty game.
    • I did not check them all – but when I glanced back at most of the hits Framber gave up – everyone I checked was down the middle
    • 7 of the hitters with ofers – you are not going to win too often that way
    • Yordan with a couple hits and a walk – maybe he is coming out of it
    • Bregman with 2 walks and no hits – maybe he is not
    • Tayler Scott below 2 ERA now – Bielak with 3 scoreless innings

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  20. That was a really tough loss. Everywhere one looks, there seems to be a problem. Winning 6 of 8 after arriving in Mexico was doable until we gave them those two late runs today. Just when you think the pen is stabilizing, two guys we must be able to rely on give the game back in foolish ways. Why do I think the Yankees are looking forward to our visit? 

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      • All I can do is hope Hader finds his game again. With all three of those back of the pen guys having unprecedented problems, I can only guess there is a real chemistry issue. It is Joe Espada’s biggest problem. He’s got to convince them to embrace different roles. Someone dropped the lefty in his lap. I wonder if the author(s) of that acquisition actually considered how the new guy might handle his new job and how it might effect Abreu and Pressly.  If this thing does not work out, it will be a huge, ongoing miscalculation. 95 million dollars worth. 

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      • “It is Joe Espada’s biggest problem.”

        I have to beg to differ with you there, Dave. It certainy is A problem (and a large one) for him. No doubt of that!

        But I have a nasty hunch that Espada’s biggest problem is named Bagwell. And there’s another one named Jackson.

        This problem has resulted in the release of good players (especially pitchers) who should’ve been re-signed, the retention of players who should’ve been released or reassigned, some VERY poor (i.e. costly) long term contracts to players who either aren’t playing or playing like Girl Scouts.

        Part of that was Crusty the Gloved Clown and is thankfully over. But part of the cause remains to the team’s detriment.

        Crane has to either end this de facto committee ownership and act like an owner or he should get reaccustomed to his team being known as the Lastros.

        It’s not my decision to make obviusly. But it’s fun to sit around playing “what if”……

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    • If they are to have any hope at all of digging out of this hole they’ve dug themselves into, I think a good first step may be to stop digging.

      They just keep doing the same stupid stuff day in and day out as they whistle past the graveyard…….

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