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Stephen Silas' future with Houston Rockets could come down to these 4 critical factors

Rockets Jalen Green, Jabari Smith, Alperen Sengun
Silas' seat is getting hotter by the day. Composite image by Brandon Strange.
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I've been a proponent of Stephen Silas staying on as Rockets head coach. I believe he's good for the young guys the team is building around. On November 24, I wrote about him potentially being on the hot seat, but he needs time to cook. On December 14, I wrote about how they were looking impressive against playoff caliber teams and the young guys improving. Not even a month later, Silas is at the center of another mob calling for his head. This time, it may be warranted.

After watching the video of Eric Gordon saying there's been no improvement, then seeing John and Lance's reaction, I have some thoughts. First up: Is Gordon bitter about his contract status, or is he truly frustrated? Second: Silas has seemingly lost a grip on guys' attention and/or has an accountability issue. Third: When does Tilman pull the trigger? Does he pull the trigger? If so, then who?

1) If Gordon is bitter about his contract, his words have to be taken in context. Anger can cause a skewed vision of what's going on around you. Don't believe me? Go to Twitter the next time a polarizing issue comes up and read the two sides. Gordon could be angling for his way out so he can go to a contender. Or he's looking for an extension. If he's looking for an extension, this is a strange way to go about it. I think he's frustrated with his contract, and he hasn't seen improvement which is compounding his frustrations.

2) Silas may have lost guys' attention. Body language in huddles, on the bench, and in front of the media suggests there may be an issue. Accountability is a part of this as well. When Jabari Smith Jr appeared to lash out the other day on the sidelines, I knew there was a problem. He doesn't strike me as the type of guy that'll have a poor attitude. Kevin Porter Jr had his struggles with professionalism but seems to have things under control. John Lucas has been a Godsend for this team. While Silas was seen as a player development guy, Lucas has long had the rep as a guy who can help straighten out guys who have issues.

3) Tilman Fertitta is a man used to winning. He turned his family business into a multi-billion-dollar entity. Seeing his team struggle continuously means he won't stand for the rebuild much longer. He wants results. After two consecutive years drafting top talent, this team needs to show more than the ability to win a few games here and there. They should be giving 30-40 wins a run, while also developing players. Now, I'm wondering if over 27.5 wins was a bad bet. Fertitta is undoubtedly wondering about his head coach and if he's the right man for the job.

4) If the trigger was to be pulled (midseason or offseason), I think Lucas would be the ideal candidate to take over. He has a report with the youth movement and is widely respected as not only a basketball lifer, but also a life coach. I championed Silas as the guy for the rebuild based on his previous work. However, if he can't get the team to respond, it may be time for a change. You don't want to lose the locker room this early into a rebuild. These kids will get the idea the team isn't going to win and start looking out for themselves. When Granato said there are rumblings, I believe him. His seat needs to be hot enough to spur change in the way he coaches. If not, there needs to be a change and Lucas needs to take over. He's been in the kitchen long enough with some good groceries. If the meal isn't edible by now, time to get a new chef.

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Can Ronel Blanco and Hunter Brown build on last season? Composite Getty Image.

Pharrell Williams is ringing in my ears. Why? Because I’m happy of course (2013 music reference)! Less than one week to spring training opening for the Astros in West Palm Beach. The pitchers and catchers are required to report a few days before the rest. A number of guys among the rest will arrive early, but let’s focus on some pitcher/catcher issues. Catchers first.

We know Yainer Diaz is the primary starter, with Victor Caratini a solid complement in the final year of his two-year contract. Diaz had a fine season overall in his first as the primary backstop, but he has a couple of clear areas that need improvement if stardom is to be on his horizon. His pitch-framing metrics were poor. Maybe it’s as simple as more experience under the belt improving them. At the plate, Yainer brings major value for what he does when doing it as a catcher. Still, to be a bonafide great offensive catcher, Diaz needs to rediscover more of the home run power he displayed as a rookie. In 2023 Diaz smashed 23 home runs in 355 at bats. In 2024 he had 230 more at bats, and hit seven fewer home runs. He had a 30-game midseason homer drought (immediately after going deep in four consecutive games), and then went the final 31 games of the season (29 plus the two playoff losses) without clearing a fence. Diaz did bat .309 over those 61 games so it’s not as if he turned into Martin Maldonado, but you want more sock from a guy batting fourth or fifth in the lineup. Diaz’s slugging percentage tumbled from .531 to .448. Among catchers overall, 16 homers and the .766 OPS he posted in 2024 is fine, but that is not a great offensive player overall. The other area where Yainer needs a step up is plate discipline. With his 585 at bats last year he walked only a pitiful 24 times. As a result, despite his excellent .299 batting average Diaz’s on-base percentage was just .325. Jon Singleton posted a .321 OBP while batting .234.

Caratini is a solid pro whose switch-hitting adds flexibility. He was sensational as a pinch-hitter albeit in just 19 at bats (8-19, .421). Manager Joe Espada has some playing time juggling to do. Free agent signee Christian Walker will play almost every day at first base when healthy. Diaz or Caratini getting starts there will be very limited. Yordan Alvarez targeted for fewer starts in left field gobbles up more designated hitter games. However Jose Altuve winds up splitting his defensive time between second base and left field, closing in on his 35th birthday in May, using him at DH about once per week would make sense.

On the mound, barring injury the starting rotation is set. Off of their 2024 performances Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, and Ronel Blanco are as solid a one-two-three punch as there is in the American League. Only unanimously-voted American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal posted a better qualifying earned run average (2.39) than Blanco’s 2.80 and Valdez’s 2.91. After tweaking his arsenal following an atrocious opening seven-start stretch to his season, Brown posted a 2.46 ERA the rest of the way. Framber may have a couple hundred million dollars riding on his 2025 performance as barring an extension he heads toward free agency. Will Brown and Blanco’s performance hold up after each set professional career highs in innings pitched? The fourth rotation spot initially goes to Spencer Arrighetti, who showed much promise pitching to a 3.18 ERA after the All-Star break. Kyle Tucker trade acquisition Hayden Wesneski has first dibs on the fifth spot. The Cy-Fair high school grad and Sam Houston State product flashes some solid stuff, but absolutely must do a better job keeping his pitches in the ballpark. In 190 big league innings pitched Wesneski has been hammered for 35 home runs. In 2024 he showed so improvement in that area yielding 12 dingers in 67 2/3 innings.

The two sure things so far as bullpen roles are concerned are Josh Hader and Bryan Abreu. Hader’s seasons in one word from 2020-2024: Meh, stupendous, atrocious, phenomenal, mediocre. The odd years have been the fabulous ones. Abreu moves up the totem pole with the salary dump (eight and a half of 14 million anyway) trade of Ryan Pressly. After Hader and Abreu most tickets are punched. Tayler Scott, Kaleb Ort, Forrest Whitley, and Bryan King all figure to have spots. The 32-year-old Scott faded over the last two months after having blown away anything he’d done previously in MLB. The 33-year-old Ort also way outpitched his prior big league resume. Former mega-prospect Whitley is out of minor league options, and opportunity knocks. King appears the only definitely makes the club lefty reliever.

Spring training doors open next week. Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!


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