After years of flirting with MLB managerial roles and actually interviewing for some, the Houston Astros decided to give longtime coach Joe Espada a chance after Dusty Baker announced his retirement.
Espada is highly regarded and respected in the industry, and has a quality roster in place to put together a playoff run.
He started his tenure as an MLB manager with four straight losses to the New York Yankees, though.
Fate, however, dictated that his first win would be one to remember.
“Joe Espada is the first manager in MLB history to collect the 1st win of his managerial career via a no-hitter,” Astros reporter Julia Morales tweeted.
Joe Espada is the first manager in MLB history to collect the 1st win of his managerial career via a no-hitter.
— Julia Morales (@JuliaMorales) April 2, 2024
No manager had done what Espada just did.
The credit goes to his pitcher, Ronel Blanco, but facts are facts: no manager in the history of the game has had his first career win come on a no-hitter.
It hadn’t happened: until Monday.
What does that mean for the future of Espada, Blanco, or the Astros?
Nothing.
However, baseball is full of records and firsts, and it’s always nice to point out the things that haven’t happened before.
It keeps the game interesting.
Blanco, at the very least, has won the chance to make some more starts until some injured Astros pitchers regain full health.
As for Espada, he is smart enough to understand that four straight losses or a single no-hitter won’t mean much in the grand scheme of things.
He knows the road is long and often rocky, but those who are skilled and patient will see the rewards.
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