Should Houston Astros Already Consider Replacing Manager?

The Houston Astros might need to move on from manager Joe Espada before it’s too late.

The Houston Astros have a lot of problems, few of which can be fixed overnight. Their rotation’s been decimated by injuries, their bullpen keeps blowing games and their hitters can’t get big hits when they need to.

None of those are quick fixes.

One glaring issue can be solved pretty quickly, however, and that’s the underwhelming managing of Joe Espada.

He is less than a month into his MLB career as a manager, but it’s already obvious that he’s the wrong man for the job. Replacing Dusty Baker was never going to be easy, but Espada seems overwhelmed by the role and has been flat-out incompetent (case in point: the Jose Abreu situation).

To make matters worse, he already appears to have lost the clubhouse based on this devastating anecdote from beat writer Brian McTaggart before Tuesday’s game.

According to McTaggart, the skipper has met with several players recently, urging them to make adjustments and change their approach. He also gave his team a public vote of confidence, calling his players “fighters” who don’t quit.