WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Astros manager Joe Espada has promised since his hiring to improve the team’s fundamentals. That includes tightening things up defensively, holding off runners better to cut down on stolen bases, and being more aggressive on the base paths to try and pick up an extra 90 feet when the opportunity presents itself.
“There are times where I thought last year we could have taken an extra base and someone would have an at-bat where they would have an opportunity to push someone with a ground ball to second goal,” Espada said. “Great teams do that. We have done this over the years.
Under the tutelage of third base coach Gary Pettis and first base coach Dave Clark, the Astros began base running drills Thursday morning on the back fields at CACTI Park in the Palm Beaches. Pettis and Clark have worked with the players to get better secondary leads at first base, but the overall message is to be a little more aggressive.
“We’re trying to put some pressure on and take some extra bases,” Espada said. “Once our guys feel like we can step up and be willing to do things like that, I want that to be part of who we are as a team.” This is what we have done in the past. I want us to set the tone from the start.
The addition of Clark — who returned to the Astros coaching staff after serving as third base coach for the club from 2009 to 2013 – was created in part to help improve Houston’s baserunning. Espada said Clark’s extensive experience as a Major League coach and Minor League manager will be invaluable. In addition to Houston, he spent time on big league teams with Pittsburgh (2001-02) and Detroit (2014-20) and managed the Astros’ Double-A affiliate in Corpus Christi from 2005-07 and Triple-A. In Round Rock in ’08.
“He’s really going to push some of our guys,” Espada said. “It’s going to give the guys some food for thought. He’ll remind them, “Hey, the right fielder took two or three steps back after that pitch” or “He came in with two strikes.” He has all this information. He always watches. His experience is so valuable, which is why I think Dave is going to have a big impact on my baserunning.
In speaking with players Thursday, Clark said the message was that the Astros can be more aggressive by taking calculated risks. They want players to run with the bases without fear. Clark said players sometimes tend to be tense when they get on base.
“Our thing is to try to eliminate the fear and help guys be comfortable with their leads, be comfortable with their reads and be comfortable with their jumps, and to be aggressive on goal,” he said. “If you make the defense play faster than they normally play, they’re likely to make more mistakes, and if that’s the case, we need to take advantage of those mistakes.”
Some of that aggression will come from knowing what’s going on with the opposition — who has the weaker arm in the outfield — and some will come from who’s on deck for the Astros. It may make sense to be more conservative with slugger Yordan Alvarez on deck, but more aggressive when the bottom of the order is on deck or if there are two outs.
“Our guys know very well: ‘When is the right time to do it?’ » Espada said. “I want us to take calculated risks. I think it’s important for us to take and put your guys in position to get easy RBIs. Our guys would rather hit with a man on third base with one out than a man on second base with one out.
