The Houston Astros are in first place in the American League West by 6.5 games and are in second place in the AL overall after a very strong start to the season. One of the most impressive parts of the Astros’ season is the issues the team has overcome to get here.
From players departing in the offseason to a plethora of injuries all across the roster, the Astros’ record at this point is an incredible accomplishment. For manager Joe Espada, this season has been remarkable. So much so that he could earn an award at the end of the season.
Stephen Parello of Climbing Tal’s Hill laid out the strong case for Espada to earn the AL Manager of the Year Award from Major League Baseball at the end of the season.
“In the middle of all of this,” Parello writes, “Directing the chaos like a skilled crisis manager is Joe Espada. Many others would have whithered given the plethora of challenges, yet he’s thrived and built a culture of ‘dudes just do it,’ as closer Josh Hader told the Athletic.”
Espada has dealt with so many challenges to his club this season. From the departures of Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman to the injuries to Yordan Alvarez and many others, what he’s done with the team this season is nothing short of impressive.
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While losing Tucker was a big blow, the two players they got back, Cam Smith and Isaac Paredes, have both been great. Jeremy Pena, before suffering a rib injury, was also on a tear and earned an All-Star nod.
Various MLB writers and analysts predicted the Astros would regress this season, but they’ve bounced back and look to be in great shape to not only make it back to the postseason but also win the AL West.
There are 15 Astros out due to injury, whether it’s long-term or short-term. Teams with so many injuries, especially to important players like the Astros, are going through don’t typically sit atop their divisions with commanding leads.
Espada has done just that, and is the reason for his AL Manager of the Year candidacy being so strong. He’ll have tough competition in Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, but the Tigers have dealt with significantly less roster turmoil than the Astros have.
Between the preseason expectations and the in-season injuries, what Espada has led the team to this season is incredible. Parello’s point is more than warranted, as the Astros manager is certainly among the best candidates to be the AL Manager of the Year at season’s end.
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