Thinking of just checking back in when they play a lower-quality opponent than the Oakland Athletics.

BadAggie said:

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Basic problem is we picked Oakland series to give multiple regulars days off. Sets the tone that these games don't matter and the team played accordingly.

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Don't think many are going to argue that Dusty knows what he's doing…playing down to competition and losing 4 of 5 to the A's is a reflection of the manager.

He manages series like this as if he is playing with house money and it's exactly why they'll wind-up w/o home field at some point in the playoffs.

Arlington takes the lead over Seattle in T9

The Beef01 said:

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BadAggie said:

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Basic problem is we picked Oakland series to give multiple regulars days off. Sets the tone that these games don't matter and the team played accordingly.

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Don't think many are going to argue that Dusty knows what he's doing…playing down to competition and losing 4 of 5 to the A's is a reflection of the manager.

He manages series like this as if he is playing with house money and it's exactly why they'll wind-up w/o home field at some point in the playoffs.

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The stat is a few days old but I think we have the 4th best winning % vs sub .500 teams.

Farmer1906 said:

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Sure we didn't win today or yesterday. But we didn't quit. We gave them something to think about.

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I know you're joking, but I couldn't help but laugh at adding "until we were back within striking distance" to "But we didn't quit."

Farmer1906 said:

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Sure we didn't win today or yesterday. But we didn't quit. We gave them something to think about.

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My draftkings account says we lost and my balance reflects that. Thanks stros

All for adding a bat via trade. Diaz as first bat off bench is underwhelming.

They've played like crap before versus shttty teams in WS years so this isn't uncommon. Still frustrating

I blame this loss on Maldonado. He didn't call a good enough game. He didn't settle Garcia down when he lost his control. He didn't even pick up on some little something to give us an edge.

Farmer1906 said:

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The Beef01 said:

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BadAggie said:

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Basic problem is we picked Oakland series to give multiple regulars days off. Sets the tone that these games don't matter and the team played accordingly.

---

Don't think many are going to argue that Dusty knows what he's doing…playing down to competition and losing 4 of 5 to the A's is a reflection of the manager.

He manages series like this as if he is playing with house money and it's exactly why they'll wind-up w/o home field at some point in the playoffs.

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The stat is a few days old but I think we have the 4th best winning % vs sub .500 teams.

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I'd have to look at it…the only way that'd make sense is if our record against teams over .500 wasn't toward the top. I'm going completely off of feel here, but that just doesn't seem accurate given how they've played against teams like the A's, Mariners when they were crap, etc.

The Beef01 said:

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BadAggie said:

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Basic problem is we picked Oakland series to give multiple regulars days off. Sets the tone that these games don't matter and the team played accordingly.

---

Don't think many are going to argue that Dusty knows what he's doing…playing down to competition and losing 4 of 5 to the A's is a reflection of the manager.

He manages series like this as if he is playing with house money and it's exactly why they'll wind-up w/o home field at some point in the playoffs.

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Hinch lost series to crap teams in WS years.

Think the problem here is the quants pushing resting regulars.

Given that we had bench players and AAAA players in the lineup, I think this points to need to add a bat by trade deadline, or two.

BadAggie said:

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All for adding a bat via trade. Diaz as first bat off bench is underwhelming.

They've played like crap before versus shttty teams in WS years so this isn't uncommon. Still frustrating

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I'm all for not sitting our star players constantly only to watch AAA players do jack ****

Jake has a worse BA, on base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS than Yuli while closing in on 100 PAs. Unlike Yuli Jake has struck out about 1/3 of the time. He has 1 home run and five walks thus far.

Chas has been better (much better in slugging percentage and OPS) across the board, albeit with a little over double the chances. Still for Jake to catch him in power in the next 100 ABs he'd have to hit like Yordan.

Jake has also been thrown out in his only attempted steal, looks tentative in the field, and had that hilariously bad throw on the easy assist today.

His return certainly could have been worse, but the current effort should be enough to send him back down if he keeps it up.

BadAggie said:

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Diaz as first bat off bench is underwhelming.

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This is putting it verrrrrry graciously.

Mariners just came back quickly.

BadAggie said:

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The Beef01 said:

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BadAggie said:

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Basic problem is we picked Oakland series to give multiple regulars days off. Sets the tone that these games don't matter and the team played accordingly.

---

Don't think many are going to argue that Dusty knows what he's doing…playing down to competition and losing 4 of 5 to the A's is a reflection of the manager.

He manages series like this as if he is playing with house money and it's exactly why they'll wind-up w/o home field at some point in the playoffs.

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Hinch lost series to crap teams in WS years.

Think the problem here is the quants pushing resting regulars.

Given that we had bench players and AAAA players in the lineup, I think this points to need to add a bat by trade deadline, or two.

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I will fully confess to frustration with Click over a refusal to address branch depth and relying on AAAA guys b/c he can't be troubled to do anything in the FA market to sign veterans who can contribute off the bench.

Honestly, the CF position since Springer left is absolutely astonishing to me that we're winning at the rate we are with a AAAA rotation over the last 2 years. The problem this year is that the decline in production. at 1st and C, plus lost production out of one of the corner outfield spots puts the offense into some real prolonged funks.

They simply have to add a Josh Bell to provide some depth to the bench that doesn't guarantee a AAA lineup once a week.

One day it's basically "**** the Yankees and Mariners", we're kings of the MLB…

Literally two days later it's now "burn it all down, sell the farm for two new bats and a closer, the mariners might catch us".

Get a grip. We're going to be just fine since we don't have to play at that garbage field anymore after tomorrow. 6 road games in Oakland in three weeks. We've literally played more games in that ****heap since July 7th than we have at home.

Take a breath. It'll be okay. Tucker hit a HR today and when he is raking again and we rip off 5 or 6 of 7 at home against SEA and BOS in a few days you're going to be *****ing about being #2 in the power rankings because "who cares about the As"….

Beau Holder said:

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BadAggie said:

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Diaz as first bat off bench is underwhelming.

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This is putting it verrrrrry graciously.

Mariners just came back quickly.

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Worth giving up non top prospects to bolster bench when you have shot at another WS appearance. Would be nice to win another, y'know?

The silver lining is the Yanks lost today, and the Dodgers are down 5 in the ninth.

So another missed opportunity, but we didn't get further behind for home field against either of those.

Buck Compton said:

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The Beef01 said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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The Beef01 said:

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BadAggie said:

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Basic problem is we picked Oakland series to give multiple regulars days off. Sets the tone that these games don't matter and the team played accordingly.

---

Don't think many are going to argue that Dusty knows what he's doing…playing down to competition and losing 4 of 5 to the A's is a reflection of the manager.

He manages series like this as if he is playing with house money and it's exactly why they'll wind-up w/o home field at some point in the playoffs.

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The stat is a few days old but I think we have the 4th best winning % vs sub .500 teams.

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I'd have to look at it…the only way that'd make sense is if our record against teams over .500 wasn't toward the top. I'm going completely off of feel here, but that just doesn't seem accurate given how they've played against teams like the A's, Mariners when they were crap, etc.

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This thread needs to stop letting their football angst bleed all over everything else.

You're right. We're not even close. We're 36-18 against teams with a losing record after tonight. That's a .667 pace and basically exactly in line with our games against everyone else. I don't know how that ranks, but it's pretty ****ing good I guarantee you.

It's unbearable sometimes.

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I can tell you that your number is off by at least 30% in terms of total losses, but I bet that's b/c you're omitting games against teams over .500 now and not at the time they were played.

That's splitting hairs though…nobody is saying that the Astros are horrible against bad teams, they're simply saying it's obvious that they play down to them and that Dusty often takes these series as opportunities to run scrub lineups out there with almost zero hope of success.

It's exacerbated when you won 5 straight out of the break against the only team in front of you andthen the hottest team in the league only to turn around and piss down your leg against arguably the league's worst team.

Buck Compton said:

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One day it's basically "**** the Yankees and Mariners", we're kings of the MLB…

Literally two days later it's now "burn it all down, sell the farm for two new bats and a closer, the mariners might catch us".

Get a grip. We're going to be just fine since we don't have to play at that garbage field anymore after tomorrow. 6 road games in Oakland in three weeks. We've literally played more games in that ****heap since July 7th than we have at home.

Take a breath. It'll be okay. Tucker hit a HR today and when he is raking again and we rip off 5 or 6 of 7 at home against SEA and BOS in a few days you're going to be *****ing about being #2 in the power rankings because "who cares about the As"….

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I think you're projecting your football angst here…not sure who you're talking to, but I don't see anyone on this thread talking about blowing anything up.

If you think "find a better solution at CF and bench depth" is asking the organization to blow it up, then I'm not sure anyone can help you.

There aren't any better CF options available. Unlike 1B, it's a premium defensive position. You look for defense first, offense second. 1B is the opposite except we have one that hits like Jake. Who cares that he K's less if it's still producing outs and his HR power makes machete look like the fathead version of Barry Bonds.

Farmer1906 said:

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I blame this loss on Maldonado. He didn't call a good enough game. He didn't settle Garcia down when he lost his control. He didn't even pick up on some little something to give us an edge.

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Posterizing all the fools who claimed we'd never lose a game with Maldy at catcher

What a beating skimming through the last few pages on here.

Prime example of why I don't follow along here during games, any games.

Quote:

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astonishing to me that we're winning at the rate we are with a AAAA rotation over the last 2 years.

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Thanks for the chuckle this morning

Now at ESPN+: Your primer for the trade-deadline pitching market. There are a ton of controllable starters available beyond Castillo and Montas -- including some you haven't heard yet -- but the relief market is grim. Read the latest on where things stand: https://t.co/YPUVnpKqUz

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 27, 2022

Can anyone with access check if there's anything on the Astros in here?

Astros are 3-0 this year after losing the first two games of a three game series. Sweep avoidance is hallmark of a top tier team. Hope we can keep that going today.

The Cardinals need starting pitching...wonder if we could ship Odo to them?