The Pallilog
Astros search for a manager enters the homestretch. Who will it be?
Jan 24, 2020, 6:55 am
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Jeff Bannister
This time next week Jim Crane will have hired or be closing in on hiring the Astros' new manager. Who is it going to be? Considering Crane himself doesn't know yet, how the heck should I know? The candidate pool is deep in quality, four former big league skippers (none of whom have won a World Series) and at least three others who have never managed in Major League Baseball.
Dusty Baker. 70 years old. Over 22 seasons he steered four different franchises to the postseason. Tremendous people skills. I always felt his teams took on his upbeat but intense personality. Not a tactical wizard and a questionable resume re: handling of several pitchers. That's not a dealbreaker If Brent Strom is still the pitching coach.
Buck Showalter. Organized and prepared as all get out. Taken three different teams to the playoffs. More coincidence than anything else, the Yankees and Diamondbacks won the World Series...the season immediately after they fired Showalter.
John Gibbons. Low key personality. Two American League Championship Series trips with the Blue Jays.
Jeff Banister. LaMarque high school grad, played at UH. Back-to-Back AL West titles with the Rangers before their roster fell apart and the Astros took over the division. Also a lifetime big league batting average of 1.000. One at bat, he singled.
Any of those four would be a highly credible hire.
Those seeking experience by getting experience: Raul Ibanez, Will Venable, and Eduardo Perez. Where the Astros are, I would lean away from them. Incumbent bench coach Joe Espada is a more credentialed candidate than those three, but Espada was on A.J. Hinch's staff when the Astros are confirmed as cheaters, so can't see Crane going with him.
The experienced big league managers would command more money. That should play zero role in the choice, even though if the Astros stay largely healthy and avoid precipitous performance declines, you or I could manage their roster to 90 wins. Who is best equipped to navigate the S.S. Astros through some stormy seas bound to hit? Because, A. that's baseball, and B. they'll face some unusual stuff in their role as the lying, cheating villains of MLB. Can't know the answer to that.
Rockets fading from the spotlight
The Texans disintegrated on the field in Kansas City, the Astros' integrity turns out to have in part either disintegrated or been non-existent, leaving the Rockets among the big three to uplift the city's sports spirits over the next couple of months. Problem, relatively few seem to care. Glaring numbers of empty seats (even though sold) at Toyota Center, lower TV ratings, and a palpable lack of buzz to them. No shame in a 27-16 record, but that's not close to special and things just seem a bit stale. Dog days of midseason or larger problems?
The Rockets enter the weekend closer to the Draft Lottery than to the Western Conference leading Lakers. The Rockets are at best b-list contenders, waaaay more likely to get bounced from the playoffs in the first round than to win the West. They may be in serious trouble relative to this season's aspirations, and going forward.
Recent deep shooting slump aside, James Harden is a phenomenal offensive force, and Russell Westbrook is a force of nature. But a Harden/Westbrook backcourt headlines a non-championship caliber defense. And there just aren't good enough players around them. Harden is 30 years old, Westbrook is 31. Eric Gordon and his balky knee and erratic jumper, also 31. Over the next three seasons the Rockets are on the hook for those three guys at an average of about 106 million dollars per season.
For two straight off-seasons, the Rockets have been cheap with construction of the bench. Whatever the extent he's been following owner Tilman Fertitta's marching orders, among teams that fancy themselves contenders General Manager Daryl Morey has produced the worst bench in the NBA.
There are a bunch of teams with better overall talent, there are lottery teams with better young talent. It all adds up to the best guess being Head Coach Mike D'Antoni parts ways with the Rockets after the season. How good a job will the Rockets job be for the next coach? The answer might be, not very, in terms of pursuing an NBA championship.
While not being a big deal, it won't look good on the Rockets side if/when Chris Paul makes the All Star Game and Russell Westbrook doesn't.
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Coming off a thrilling comeback victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, the Houston Texans prepare to host Josh Allen and the Bills this weekend.
On offense, the Texans could really use some contributions from players not named CJ Stroud, Nico Collins, and Stefon Diggs. Fortunately for the Texans, Tank Dell is expected to return from a chest injury this week, that kept him sidelined against the Jags.
Getting the tight ends and running backs involved in the passing game would also go a long way against a defense as stout as the Bills'.
Speaking of running backs, Houston may have to rely on Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbuwale again this week, as Joe Mixon and Damien Pierce still haven't returned to practice.
Houston #Texans Thursday Injury Report for Week 5 vs. the Buffalo Bills: pic.twitter.com/wmcDnMcSeG
— Houston Texans PR (@TexansPR) October 3, 2024
Another area the team will look to clean up for the third straight week is penalties. They are dead last in the NFL, having committed 40 penalties through just four games.
Another way the Texans can get the offense going is by being more effective on early downs. They are currently in the bottom five in success rate and EPA (expected points added) per play on early downs.
They are relying on Stroud and Collins to save the day way too often on 3rd and long.
Texans defense
The defense will have their hands full with superstar QB Josh Allen. If they play like they did last week against a QB of Allen's caliber, it's highly unlikely they come away with a win.
Corner Kamari Lassiter was beat several times over the top against the Jags, but fortunately for him, Trevor Lawrence wasn't able to connect, overthrowing his receivers multiple times.
Tight end Dalton Kincaid will present a challenge for this Texans defense as well. He's an athletic playmaker that Allen will look to target frequently. Especially if his top receiver Khalil Shakir (ankle) is unable to play.
X-factors
Outside of last week's loss to the Ravens, Buffalo has scored at least 31 points in every game. The Texans' offense will need to put some points on the board if they expect to win this week.
Stefon Diggs is once again playing against his former team. He'll want to perform well in what sets up to be a revenge game.
What does Vegas think?
The Bills are favored by a point, with the total sitting at 47.5 points.
There's so much more to get to, including our predictions for the game and much more. Be sure to watch the video above for the full preview of Bills vs. Texans!