Five Questions I Need Brad Ausmus to Answer at Friday’s Presser

Brad Ausmus steps to the podium at Daikin Park on Friday at 10 a.m., two days after the Houston Astros officially named him manager. Houston needs answers fast, since the labor deal expires Dec. 1.

Here’s what only the new manager can answer, ranked by how badly I need to hear it.

Ausmus is 386-422 as a big-league manager and has never won a playoff game, which is exactly why some fans weren’t thrilled with this hire. His 2014 Detroit Tigers won the division and then got swept by the Baltimore Orioles, with the bullpen blowing a 6-3 lead in Game 2 before closer Joe Nathan ever got in. Five years later, the Los Angeles Angels fired him after one year of a three-year deal.

To be fair, that 2019 season included the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs, so I’m not pinning it all on him.

Randy Flores believes three years as Aaron Boone’s bench coach with the New York Yankees changed him. “The game gives you some scars. And I think scars that heal make you stronger,” Flores told the Houston Chronicle. I want specifics from Ausmus, like how he’d handle a bullpen in October.

Ausmus interviewed for the GM job the day before Flores got it. Now Flores is his boss, and senior advisor Jeff Bagwell, who has a long relationship with Ausmus, has owner Jim Crane’s ear. Who wins when those voices disagree on a roster move?

Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter called Diaz a surprise trade candidate, and Diaz made only 77 starts behind the plate this year. Ausmus won three Gold Gloves here and caught more games than anyone in franchise history. Coaching up a 28-year-old catcher should be job one.

Yordan hit .316 with 42 homers and made 24 starts in left. Houston started 12 different left fielders, so I get the temptation. Aiden Checketts covered the award buzz around Yordan, and I’d like to keep that bat healthy at DH after he played just 48 games in 2025.

Houston needs a bench coach to replace Omar López and a new third base coach. I’d want someone willing to tell Ausmus he’s wrong, and I’d at least call Morgan Ensberg, who Sydney Cruse reported was set to interview for this job and spent six years coaching in the Astros system.

If he answers No. 1 honestly on Friday, I’m willing to give him a fair shot. Then the real test starts before Dec. 1.

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