Three seasons, a 256-229 record, and two AL West titles weren’t enough to save Joe Espada’s job. The Houston Astros announced Wednesday that they will not renew the 51-year-old manager’s expiring contract. The move lands days after the White Sox came into Minute Maid Park and swept Houston out of the Wild Card round at home.

It came at the end of a genuinely strange season. The Astros won the division at 81-81, becoming the first team in Major League Baseball history to reach the postseason without a winning record. Injuries tested this roster all summer, and Espada kept the clubhouse steady enough to win the West anyway. Five coaches are also leaving, including third base coach Tony Perezchica. Bench coach Omar Lopez was offered a new role on staff, and pitching coach Josh Miller was retained.

The bigger picture: Houston is now searching for both a manager and a general manager, after Dana Brown was fired back in August. Ownership thanked Espada for his passion and the way he represented the organization and the city. That leaves fans around Ellis County with a real debate on their hands. Was one short playoff series enough to justify a full reset?

The Astros are looking for a fresh voice in the dugout. Do you think Espada got a fair shake? Let us know on our Facebook page.