How Astros rookie manager, catcher have refocused Houston's championship window

FUTURE IS BRIGHT

How Astros rookie manager, catcher have refocused Houston's championship window
Change can be a good thing. Composite Getty Image.

The Houston Astros are on an 8-game tear and the offense is doing its part despite the absence of slugger Kyle Tucker.

One of the main reasons for the team's success has been Yainer Diaz's ability to protect Yordan Alvarez in the lineup while they await the return of Tucker.

Diaz has made several improvements this season, one of which is significantly decreasing his strikeouts. Clearly, Diaz feels a lot more comfortable at the plate in 2024.

Hitting coach Alex Cintron told The Athletic recently that he believes Diaz was pressing last season, thinking if he didn't produce at a high level, he wouldn't get regular playing time.

But as we look back at last season, there really wasn't anything Diaz could have done to replace Martin Maldonado at catcher. Dusty Baker was unwilling to play any catchers over Maldy no matter the results or pressure from the front office.

When Astros GM James Click traded for Christian Vazquez in 2022, Baker held steady to playing Maldy. Baker also allegedly convinced owner Jim Crane to veto a trade for catcher Willson Contreras.

Last season, GM Dana Brown said he would like to see Diaz get more playing time at catcher. Dusty stuck to his guns with Maldy, despite the aging player's historic lows on offense and Diaz making a run at Rookie of the Year.

When the playoffs arrived, Diaz didn't get one start at catcher, and zero starts period in the ALCS. Maldonado hit .125 in that series, just a few points higher than his .119 batting average in 2024 with Chicago that led to him getting DFA'd.

Furthering the case that Maldy was done last year, but Baker wouldn't make the switch.

One has to wonder if giving Diaz more playing time at catcher during the regular season could have provided the Astros with the edge needed to overcome the Rangers and return to the World Series.

A new day

Houston's manager and front office now seem to share the same vision. Joe Espada is much more willing to give young players opportunities to prove they can do the job. When Dana Brown promotes players to the big league roster, Espada gives them a chance to play.

There doesn't seem to be friction between the manager and the front office. And you never know when a young player can give a team a spark.

The Rangers had no problem elevating prospect Evan Carter in 2023. They brought him to the big leagues in September, and he was a force in their offense that helped the team eventually secure a championship.

That's why it's exciting to see Espada and Brown give opportunities to guys like Zach Dezenzo, Joey Loperfido (before he was traded), and Pedro Leon.

Plus, look at the perception of Espada now with Astros fans. Many were ready to run him out of town early in the year, and hope Baker would come save the club.

Fast-forward to August, and the Astros hold a three-game lead over the Mariners for first place in the division.

Be sure to watch the video above as we examine the impact Diaz and Espada are having on the streaking 'Stros, if the Astros missed a big opportunity in 2023, and much more!

Catch our weekly Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast. Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo discuss varied Astros topics. The first post for the week generally goes up Monday afternoon (second part released Tuesday) via The SportsMap HOU YouTube channel or listen to episodes in their entirety at Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

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The White Sox beat the Astros, 4-2. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

Luis Robert Jr. homered, Shane Smith pitched six effective innings and the Chicago White Sox beat the Houston Astros 4-2 on Tuesday night.

Edgar Quero had two RBIs as last-place Chicago won for the fourth time in five games.

Robert hit a run-scoring double in the second and his sixth homer in the fourth, a solo drive to left-center off Lance McCullers Jr. (1-2). He also made a sliding catch on Jake Meyers' liner to center in the eighth, stranding runners on the corners.

Smith (3-3) allowed one run and seven hits in his second straight win.

Grant Taylor, one of Chicago's top prospects, worked a 1-2-3 seventh in his major league debut. He hit 101.5 mph on his first pitch, a ball to Victor Caratini.

Brandon Eisert handled the ninth for his second save.

Isaac Paredes and Yainer Diaz each hit a sacrifice fly for Houston in the opener of a six-game homestand. McCullers permitted four runs and four hits in five innings.

Chicago scored two runs in the third to open a 3-0 lead. With two out and the bases loaded, Quero hit a two-run single to left.

Key moment

Meyers and Caratini hit back-to-back singles in the fourth, but Shane Smith got Cam Smith to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Key stat

Smith has won back-to-back starts for the first time in his career. The 25-year-old right-hander went into the game leading all MLB rookies with a 2.45 ERA.

Up next

Sean Burke (3-6, 4.03 ERA) is expected to pitch Wednesday for the White Sox against Ryan Gusto (3-3, 4.78 ERA) in the second of a three-game series.

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