How Astros focus on optics reveals new path forward with manager, front office
STONE COLD 'STROS
13 November 2023
STONE COLD 'STROS
The Houston Astros made it official on Monday, hiring the organization's 20th manger in Joe Espada. GM Dana Brown thanked owner Jim Crane for letting him lead the manager search, which conflicted from a previous report from MLB.com's Brian McTaggart.
McTaggart's report made it seem like Crane and Jeff Bagwell would be leading the search, with Brown having a say in the process. But the fact that Crane and Bagwell were not part of the presser suggests this was Brown's decision.
There was a lot of pushback from fans and media when Jeff Bagwell's name was mentioned as being part of the process. Especially when rumors started swirling about Brad Ausmus being a candidate for the job.
Many wondered why they would hire a GM and not let him pick his own manager. It seems that message was heard by the organization, and this hiring is Dana Brown's. Which is a bit of a surprise considering Bob Nightengale reported not that long ago that Brown wanted to hire Espada, and Crane might be interested in a bigger name.
Typically, Crane has elected to hire from outside the organization. Dusty Baker and Dana Brown fit that description. But it appears Dana Brown led this hiring process, so he'll get the credit or blame depending on how this plays out.
Finally, Dusty Baker made some comments on his way out about 30-year-old bloggers and tweeters being part of the reason he wanted to retire. What stood out most in that statement was the ageism. The thought that people don't know what they're talking about because of their age is ridiculous. SportsMap's Ken Hoffman wrote a piece last week highlighting Theo Epstein, Andrew Friedman, and Billy Beane.
All three had a lot of success early in their careers. Imagine if they had been overlooked because they weren't in their 40s. Baker's comments were directed at the media, but the point remains.
It's funny, all the Astros had to do was look around the city of Houston to see young coaches making a big impact. The Texans and Rockets are happy with their young coaches. Espada is 48 years old, so it seems Houston opted for a younger manager as well. Especially compared to Dusty Baker (74).
Finally, how will Espada work with the front office? Based on what Dana Brown is saying, this seems like a perfect fit. Espada knows this team, they know him, and perhaps the front office will work more closely with the manager now that Brown has had the opportunity to pick his guy for the job.
There's so much more to get to. Watch the video above for the full conversation!
Alperen Sengun had 32 points and 14 rebounds, and the Houston Rockets held on to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 119-115 on Thursday night in a showdown between two of the top teams in the Western Conference.
Jalen Green finished with 27 points and Fred VanVleet scored 22 as the Rockets won their third straight and solidified their hold on second place in the Western Conference, moving 1 1/2 games ahead of Memphis.
Ja Morant scored 27 points in his return from a five-game absence with a shoulder injury, and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 21 points, eight rebounds and six blocks for Memphis. Desmond Bane had 16 points.
Houston dominated the inside early, scoring 20 points in the paint before the halfway point of the first quarter. Memphis initially couldn't stop anything at the rim. Houston opened a 17-point lead before taking a 68-63 advantage at the break.
Rockets: Houston is 12-5 on the road, including six straight wins away from home.
Grizzlies: After allowing the Rockets to score inside and build a big lead, Memphis chipped into the advantage to make it a more competitive game.
With 3.8 seconds left in the game and Houston leading 117-114, Bane fired up a 3-pointer that rattled in. But Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins called timeout before the shot was made. Bane was fouled on the ensuing inbounds, and Memphis wouldn't get another chance for a winning shot.
Houston is 19-3 when they score at least 110. Houston hasn't allowed more than 115 points in past 15 games.
The Rockets are at Atlanta on Saturday. Memphis travels to Minnesota to face the Timberwolves on Saturday.