Update from Luke Broadwater

Arrogance combined w/ a severe lack of situational awareness is making it more difficult for Trump to reach some type of understanding with Iran.

I genuinely believe that he is mentally impaired.

I wonder how much money his tribe has made through insider trading?

www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04...

He started this without having an acceptable off-ramp.

He has accomplished nothing. Iran still has its oppressive government, nuclear manufacturers and has the strait blocked.

Trump claims he has won. Just another lie trying to save face.

European governments pleased they didn’t get involved.

The man is a buffoon of biblical proportion.

Iran has him at a negotiating disadvantage. If he continues to bomb then Iran will continue to lob drones and missiles at the Gulf states while still blocking the strait. His approval ratings are in the basement and headed south.

Not impressed and seems my optimism was misplaced.

For now he is just occupying a spot.

Listening to Rosenthal discuss which managers are on the hot seat. Espada is third on his list. Inferred that he’d be higher on the list save for 15 players on the IL.

😔

If there is any silver lining to playing musical pitchers, assessment is being made that will hopefully identify who to keep handy when a few folks come off the IL.

Hopefully they will collect a few W’s along the way.

Tonight looks uphill but I’ll be listening.

Caveat:

I have no idea how much Brown and Espada have been hamstrung by ownership decisions.

Second Caveat:

Like everyone else, I'm tired of losing. I wish I felt better when I hear the GM is interviewed. He sounds like he is selling timeshare.

(and I probably know less than the next guy)

Dana Brown has been the GM since 23'. In four years has the team been more, or less competitive?

Has the farm system improved?

As far as Espada goes, I think he is a fairly competent manager however if Brown goes, Espada may go as well. Brown had a big part in him getting the job.

Dana Brown is a politician and likely a lame-duck at that. His predecessor should be credited for the lion’s share of success experienced in recent history.

I’ll be shocked if we see either pitcher this month. Even if we do, Javier won’t necessarily be any help.

#Astros

Depending on how Crane views the uncertainty surrounding the 2027 season, it might affect whether he devotes resources to this season or treads water.

I see nothing about the front office’s behaviour that is encouraging and that makes me sad.

In theory, I’d be ok with that but does the team actually want Dana Brown to be the architect of that trade? What the team DOESN’T need is another middle reliever disguised as a starter. I’d rather see no trade than continued flailing about.

Bubblegum and baling wire.

Lance Barrett, behind the plate, recently has had as many as 8 challenges in a game (5 overturned).

#Astros

For once I’m not having to be awake at 01:00 to listen to the game. It’s 19:15 here and I’m thankful f/ afternoon games.

#Astros

FWIW, until things return to “normal” Espada might as well work toward vetting his pitchers to assess who he keeps when things do level-out and also use the time to cultivate those pitchers he may need in the future.

What we see on the surface is no indication of the level of planning taking place

Until starting pitching receives reinforcements leaving the bullpen to revert back toward closing games instead of starting or constant long-relief, this is what we will see.

As far as the choices that are available to Espada at the moment, they are, obviously, limited. He has perhaps two starters he can rely on (perhaps). The bullpen is being used early and frequently to shore-up starting pitching and suffering for it.

#Astros

I meant to write "recent" instead of "current".

My brain is experiencing some significant lag this afternoon, probably from loss of sleep having been up at stupid-o'clock to listen to last night's (very early this morning for me) game.

The Rockies are ‘suggesting’ pitches from the dugout. Could it inspire a bigger trend? (Gift Article) At Coors Field, where the elevation turns fly outs into home runs, every pitch of every inning belongs to pitching coach Alon Leichman.

Very interesting article for my #Astros friends. Timely considering the current visitors.

NCAA coaches have been calling pitches from the dugout for years. PitchCom seems to have developed this further.

"Times they are a-changing."

Gift article.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...

I want this kid to kick ass & take names. He may have the tools to get there.

That he is struggling to adapt to fluctuating dinner times (??), and travel (???), and that is ostensibly contributing to his slow start may be true however I can’t imagine that not being expected right out of the gate.

Well, I guess we will really appreciate better days when they arrive.

It may take a while but they will get there.

As far as Espada goes, like him or not, I think he has been dealt a shit hand.

Hang in there folks. Better days.

#Astros

Ditto. Many good evenings remembered when thinking about Garner.

The dumb-ass is taking pot-shots at the Pope? The Pope had criticized Trump for threatening to end the Iranian civilization. (!)

I wonder what his Catholic constituents feel about that?

Trump is an embarrassment and a liability. He is alienating allies and looks less competent each day.

Much like his "tariffs", there is little impact on his targets while Americans are paying through the nose.

Today he was stating "No matter what happens in Iran, we have won."

Won what?

Iran still has their nuclear material and the strait is blocked.

Iran's radical govt hasn't changed course.

The depth of ignorance of those still backing Trump astounds me. He has been failing in the Middle-East from the beginning and is now making a feeble attempt to influence Iran by blocking the strait?

His actions won't do anything except hurt every day American's home finances.

Genuinely sad to read this.

Garner played in the days when I was frequently warming a seat in the loge. (Younger folks won’t even know what that is.)

He was a pleasure to watch play.

RIP Mr Garner.

He is primed to do something that is going to crater the economy and send the entire region into a tailspin.

The Gulf states will not cede control of the strait to Iran. Iran is unlikely to give up control without a boots-on-the-ground incursion.

I’ve never been more concerned.

Trump has managed to start a war and he has no off-ramp. He is being made to look like an idiot on the world stage to an extent that some of the Republicans are starting to break ranks and criticise his actions.

Trump is more dangerous now than ever.

Someone in the front office needs to pull a rabbit out of the hat.

Seems to me that we need a really big 🐇 and the front office has a really small 🎩.

#Astros

This is a damn shame:

(F/ the BBC)

“But European nations are already looking at ways to "derisk" away from what they see as a now unpredictable, unreliable partner”.

Trump’s bully tactics, ultimately, will not work against Europeans.

Every Trump touches turns to crap.