Astros manager Joe Espada: ‘Here we come’

With a champagne bottle in his left hand while his right index finger pointed up, as if to drive home his points, Joe Espada remembered the naysayers late Tuesday night. The rookie manager remembered the critics who wondered if the Astros’ dynasty was over in April and May as they stumbled.

A team that started 7-19 was back in a familiar place, celebrating another American League West title. Espada declared his pride in his players because, in his opinion, “a lot of people” counted them out.

“But you know what?” he told the Astros after the 4-3 victory over the Mariners at Minute Maid Park. “This team’s got … heart. We got heart, we believe in one another. And we don’t quit, we got grit. We are tougher than anything. 

“But you know what? Here we come. Let’s go.”

Joe Espada pushes right buttons

With that, Espada and his players began spraying each other with champagne inside the Astros’ clubhouse. Joe Espada has been a major part of the Astros’ run. He joined the franchise as bench coach in 2018, a season after they won the World Series.

Espada had been passed over for multiple managerial openings before general manager Dana Brown finally promoted him after Dusty Baker retired at the end of last postseason. Espada, 49, knew the roster. Those relationships proved key while he remained steady during the early struggles.

As the starting rotation lost the equivalent of a decent big league rotation, Espada and the Astros crawled back to a familiar spot. The Astros are 79-53 since starting the season 7-19.

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“Thank God we had a familiar face in the clubhouse when we were struggling because maybe a new, fresh manager might have gotten frustrated with those guys,” Brown said. “Joe being a new manager, he had familiarity with the group.

“He kept things together. He stayed positive. Even when it was tough for me to stay positive, he stayed positive. He kept me positive. Ultimately we turned things around, and I’m very proud.”

Key moves

Espada’s managing skills were on full display in the division clincher. Brown’s crucial roster moves also were highlighted in the victory. After Jason Heyward hit a two-run home run to right to give the Astros a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth, the Mariners threatened in the top of the sixth.

Ace lefthander Framber Valdez appeared in trouble. Justin Turner led off with a single to right. Jorge Polanco followed with a bunt single. Valdez induced a groundout to short from Mitch Garver, who put the potential tying run at third and the potential go-ahead run to second.

“We never lost faith because we were going to find ourselves in this position,” Astros manager rookie manager Joe Espada said after the Astros won the AL West title. “When this team goes in the postseason, that’s where all the teams don’t want to see us.#Relentless pic.twitter.com/raeiJvbnDP

— Our Esquina (@OurEsquina) September 25, 2024

After Valdez struck out J.P. Crawford, Espada went to the mound. The proud Valdez clearly wanted to remain in the game. Espada’s move paid off. Abreu stranded the runners by inducing a grounder to first from pinch hitter Luke Raley.

“We won today, which is the important thing,” Valdez said after scattering eight hits and three runs with four strikeouts and two walks. “I started a bit weak truly, but I gained strength. I maintained, and now I’m going to the playoffs to play and win.”

Bryan Abreu clutch again

Abreu, who has been Espada’s workhorse, threw 1 ⅓ scoreless innings. Ryan Pressly added two-thirds of an inning before Espada called on closer Josh Hader for a four-out save.

A few minutes after Hader sealed the Astros’ seventh AL West title in eight years, Espada delivered his message to his players.

“I just wanted to let them know how proud I am and how people counted us out, but we never lost hope,” Espada said. “We never lost faith because we were going to find ourselves in this position.

“When this team goes in the postseason, that’s where all the teams don’t want to see us. Teams were counting us out. We never count ourselves out. We always push ourselves. We always help each other. And we find ourselves celebrating something.”