People may blame Crane for starting the off-season without a GM, or the combined stress of deep playoff runs and the World Baseball Classic, but I see another culprit. I point the finger at the photo shoot where they sat on thrones and leered at the camera like a bunch of fucking assholes.
And deservedly so.
The absolutely putrid performances from almost the entire heart of the lineup about 70 percent of the time is just sad.
The only plus side is maybe this will send Dusty packing and we can finally have a coach that isn’t a weird combination of a BBQ restaurant busboy and Grandpa Simpson.
And I blame the absolutely idiotic manager of this team, who has treated late August and September like a victory lap with a 10+ game division lead.
Fuck Dusty Baker. Retire yesterday.
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This isn’t Dusty’s fault. Yeah, Dusty has not had a good year. His bad choices have cost games around the margins. But it isn’t Dusty’s bad bullpen management or whatever that’s turned this team into a psychiatric ward.
I’m beyond confused at this point. These guys were warriors. There was nobody tougher in baseball. And now they’re scared of their own shadows.
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I can show your 20 lineups in the last month and change that say it’s at least somewhat Dusty’s fault.
If you’re going to sit 2 of your best hitters 4/7 games a week, you’re going to sieve losses.
And also, it’s at least a little bit his fault this team plays with no urgency or fire. He sets the tone before the game, and from what I’ve seen he’d rather make bullshit excuses than any kind of ownership over how the team is playing.
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Yes.
Dodgers have pulled ahead of the Mariners 4-3 midway through 7
How many games has Dusty cost them this year? At least 5, conservatively imo, those 5(or more) games are the difference between where they are now and cruising to a division title.
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That seems pretty damn important when one game will likely be the difference between winning the division and staying home for October.
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Mariners and Rangers both lost, so while we missed an opportunity to pull away, the Astros remain in first place in the Al West.
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Until tomorrow when they lose to the worst fucking team on baseball again.
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I had to stop watching right about then. “Entertainment” that makes you agitated and frustrated is not good for the soul. For me anyways. I have no problem with getting beat by a better team. I have no problem with baseball-y things happening that turn a game. But, this offense’s inability or unwillingness to adjust their hitting strategy is infuriating. By the time it got to the 4th inning, it was palpably clear the Astros were going to loose this game and do so with a whimper.
I’ll give it another go todays game.
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I just can’t agree here. Strong leaders lead, especially when those under their charge are struggling. I’m in zero clubhouse meetings but from my somewhat distant vantage, I see no evidence of leadership impact. Just “let the boys play through this, they’re good and will figure it out”. No strategic pivots on the hitting or pitching side of the ball. No galvanizing emotion in the dugout. No evidence of analytic thought driving decision making. Just guessing their way through things like lineup construction based on feel for the day. None of that is leadership.
I’ve been on teams like this. You know what’s even more demoralizing than performing poorly individually and having that contribute to poor team performance? It’s not seeing/feeling strong, decisive leadership from your superiors when you need it most. I blame Dusty and his assembled team for most of this.
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I never expected a repeat but its exhausting being a fan of this team this year.
I think the opener strategy is really good against the Astros. They want to bash a guy the third time through the lineup—their whole m.o. seems predicated on that. The opener strategy kicks that plan in the nuts.
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You know, I’m just glad they are still in the race. I remember too many seasons where at the time of year we were evaluating Rodeo Clowns and shit.
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Truly, the Astros are a “box of chocolates” this year, you don’t what you will get each game.
I get the same feeling when they are facing a (starting) pitcher especially for the 1st time, like Ragans tonight…
What was amazing relief this AM was seeing the lamest of leads still there.
That feeling is on both sides of the ball, waiting for a young pitcher to implode… Shocked by Altuve’s desperate bunt attempt, trying to get something started…
It feels like individuals pressing, rather than not trying. They couldn’t find a crack in the dam…
TY for your perspective. See ya tonight!
That’s the miracle, when you think about it.