re: DAT Offseason Thread: Sorry Not Sorry. Still 2017 Champs.

Well that's just stupid, but ok

He and Gibbons seem to be front runners, probably keep them for a year then part ways

Got me a new avatar..

Check the date at the bottom:

LMJ 230 innings. Whitley 45 starts.

I hope someone films the moment he shuffles into the locker room for the first time, toothpick in mouth, picks up a bat a smashes a computer and tells the team they play for him now.

I’m hoping they give Espada the job. Lunhow hired him specifically because he felt he was an up-and-coming manager.


Here’s an NYT article from October:

Steeped in Astros’ and Yankees’ Ways, Joe Espada Is a Hot Commodity

Espada, the 44-year-old bench coach for Houston, has impressed in roles with both American League juggernauts, and now his name is popping up in M.L.B. manager searches.

Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow thought finding another up-and-comer was a good fit for the staff, effectively making the bench coach position an apprenticeship.

“That model continues to be the right model for us, to have a managerial prospect in that seat, and that’s essentially what he’s been for us,” Luhnow said. “He’s been terrific.”

Espada, 44, is rare connective tissue between the two like-minded, analytically inclined organizations that established themselves as the American League standard-bearers this season.

Espada also embodies the evolving role of the modern coach, balancing responsibilities as a conduit to the front office with the traditional task of developing players. His aptitude and experience in both areas explain why he has been linked to so many managerial job openings — interviewing for several open posts last winter and at least one, with the Cubs last Monday, for next year. (Espada declined to be interviewed for this article because of his status as a managerial candidate.)

The true beauty of this job is to be able to balance the analytics with what you’re teaching and how it applies to that player, this team, this situation.”

And Espada was able to produce results internally. Defensive overshifting in the infield is now common throughout the majors, but that wasn’t the case as recently as four years ago.

In early 2016, Girardi went so far as to say he would recommend banning the use of the shift (while conceding he would use it as long as it remained legal). As infield coach, however, Espada not only advocated the shift but also worked with the analytics team to help improve its algorithms and then communicate the plan to the players.

“He was a big reason why we were able to be transformative eventually with the shift,” Cashman said. “When he was in charge, it was still something that was resisted by our players, by our field staff. Other people were constantly poking fun at it, questioning it, whether it was our media, our radio broadcast team, whether it was the fans, the YES Network broadcasters.

“Whenever it failed, there was a lot of tension, a lot of animosity from all involved, including the pitchers, so he was on the front line having to push it.”

“We use a lot of information to help our coaches do their jobs,” Luhnow said. “He’s very receptive to it. He pushes us when he doesn’t agree, but ultimately he’s responsible for making sure everybody — all of our coaches and players — are following the plan that A.J. sets.”

“Very prepared. Very detailed. Passionate about sports. Passionate about teaching,” Hyde said. “He communicates extremely well with players. He’s just a baseball guy. He loves the game. He’s very interested in other ideas. We would just talk the game a lot over the years.”

Cashman, who hired Espada away from the Marlins in 2013, emphasized that what he looks for are “collaborative, open-minded people” and said the Astros targeted Espada with good reason.

“He was one of the better coaches I’ve had,” Cashman said. “And I’ve been here a long time.”


https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2019/10/18/sports/joe-espada-manager.amp.html

I left a few paragraphs out because it would be an even longer read.

I certainly hope not.