I've got a strange question for you guys. Let's say Yainier is DH'ing and maldy gets hurt and you have to put Yainier in at Catcher; the Pitcher is up first the next inning. If you pinch hit for the pitcher, the pinch hitter has to face at least 3 batters the next inning, correct?

Wabs said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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I still long for a Hinch reunion.

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I would definitely be in favor of this!

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I would too...absolutely. Not sure what Dana thinks.

Bregxit said:

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Dies Irae said:

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I've got a strange question for you guys. Let's say Yainier is DH'ing and maldy gets hurt and you have to put Yainier in at Catcher; the Pitcher is up first the next inning. If you pinch hit for the pitcher, the pinch hitter has to face at least 3 batters the next inning, correct?

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No.

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That's a relief.

Farmer1906 said:

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I still long for a Hinch reunion.

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So reading how it went down with Click and Crane eventually growing to not fully trust him I think it makes sense why that probably won't ever happen.

Would love to see it but I've just accepted that that ship has sailed.

Is Julks playing just a passive-aggressive jab by Dusty to tell Jeremy Pena how crappy a season he's having?

One last hurrah for Corey today. Maybe he'll get a hit!

Speculation/Armchair Psychiatry

Dusty views how he's handled Diaz and Chas this season as making them earn their everyday spots. Obviously it looks a lot like limiting productive players who are producing regardless.

Dusty views how he's handled Julks as giving a young hometown player a chance.

Dirtnap ag said:

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I've got 4 extra tickets to todays game Section 103 first row Crawford Boxes. 60$ beer money takes them all, Zelle or can meet outside around 12:45. Can transfer in the ballpark app, text 8 three two-four seven seven-1251

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Awesome deal - I'll be one section over in 102 … wish I woulda waited now!

W said:

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I wish Machete had more self-awareness

when you have a .568 OPS and OPS+ of 56...and lead the league in passed balls...

you tell your manager to play the other guy

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How do you know he hasn't?

I believe it was in 2021, Altuve was in a bad slump and he asked Dusty to move him down in the lineup. Dusty didn't do it because it's Altuve.

Point is it's possible Maldy has set aside his ego and mentioned Diaz should catch more, but Dusty isn't doing it because he trusts Maldy more.

Beat40 said:

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W said:

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I wish Machete had more self-awareness

when you have a .568 OPS and OPS+ of 56...and lead the league in passed balls...

you tell your manager to play the other guy

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How do you know he hasn't?

I believe it was in 2021, Altuve was in a bad slump and he asked Dusty to move him down in the lineup. Dusty didn't do it because it's Altuve.

Point is it's possible Maldy has set aside his ego and mentioned Diaz should catch more, but Dusty didn't doing it because he truss Maldy more.

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Maldy's OPS v lefties is now .876

Blue star for the info dump!

Beat40 said:

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W said:

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I wish Machete had more self-awareness

when you have a .568 OPS and OPS+ of 56...and lead the league in passed balls...

you tell your manager to play the other guy

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How do you know he hasn't?

I believe it was in 2021, Altuve was in a bad slump and he asked Dusty to move him down in the lineup. Dusty didn't do it because it's Altuve.

Point is it's possible Maldy has set aside his ego and mentioned Diaz should catch more, but Dusty isn't doing it because he trusts Maldy more.

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Maldy is not Altuve

Maldy is Maldy. A career Maldonado line hitter who runs like he's got two pianos strapped to his back

We traded for a superior Vasquez last year and Dusty was still mostly playing Maldy.

This year, we have arguably the best catcher in the league, and he gets 1 out of every 6 starts, to play Maldy instead

Michael Brantley is off today then will rejoin Triple-A Sugar Land to continue his rehab Friday and Saturday, Dusty Baker said.

— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) August 24, 2023

Bregxit said:

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Dies Irae said:

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I've got a strange question for you guys. Let's say Yainier is DH'ing and maldy gets hurt and you have to put Yainier in at Catcher; the Pitcher is up first the next inning. If you pinch hit for the pitcher, the pinch hitter has to face at least 3 batters the next inning, correct?

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No.

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This would be an entertaining rule change though. Corey Julks PHs and then has to go to the bump for three batters.

linkdude said:

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Michael Brantley is off today then will rejoin Triple-A Sugar Land to continue his rehab Friday and Saturday, Dusty Baker said.

— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) August 24, 2023

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I still don't think he's coming back. Why does he need so much time off between games? My guess is he's sore.

No bueno.

AggiEE said:

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Beat40 said:

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W said:

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I wish Machete had more self-awareness

when you have a .568 OPS and OPS+ of 56...and lead the league in passed balls...

you tell your manager to play the other guy

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How do you know he hasn't?

I believe it was in 2021, Altuve was in a bad slump and he asked Dusty to move him down in the lineup. Dusty didn't do it because it's Altuve.

Point is it's possible Maldy has set aside his ego and mentioned Diaz should catch more, but Dusty isn't doing it because he trusts Maldy more.

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Maldy is not Altuve

Maldy is Maldy. A career Maldonado line hitter who runs like he's got two pianos strapped to his back

We traded for a superior Vasquez last year and Dusty was still mostly playing Maldy.

This year, we have arguably the best catcher in the league, and he gets 1 out of every 6 starts, to play Maldy instead

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You missed the whole point. The poster I was responding to said Maldy needs more self-awareness and tell Dusty to play Diaz over him.

My point was how does that poster know Maldy hasn't? Altuve was an example of someone who did and Dusty made the decision to not move him down in the order.

Maldy certainly could have already told Dusty Diaz needs to catch more, but Dusty makes the lineup, trusts Maldy more, and therefore plays Maldy more.

My other point is stop blaming Maldy for his playing time. The blame is squarely on Dusty. Don't let his performance and the fact he's playing over Diaz turn into some narrative he's not a team guy. That's what the poster was insulating, that ultimately Maldy isn't a team guy if he doesn't tell Dusty to play Diaz at catcher more.

AustinCountyAg said:

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W said:

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Dusty is just daring Dana to fire him

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I said this yesterday. Dusty is doing this **** outa spite because he thinks he's untouchable and knows more than everyone. He's playing with fire and it's pissing me off. Dana/Crane should fire his ass now before he ****s around and they miss the playoffs

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Ehhh.. I don't think this is true. Dusty has always done things his way. That's sort of what he's known for. My friend who is a huge Cubs fan warned me about this back in 2020. I think this is the first year the Astros haven't been good enough to easily overcome his way of doing things.

There's a reason he's been fired at every stop he's made. And he's had some really, really good teams. It took until last year to win a championship.

The Astros have always won in spite of Dusty Baker. Not because of Dusty Baker.

He's a great man. You'll never hear a bad thing about his character and I would love to have a beer with the guy. But it's time to move on after this season is over.

linkdude said:

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Michael Brantley is off today then will rejoin Triple-A Sugar Land to continue his rehab Friday and Saturday, Dusty Baker said.

— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) August 24, 2023

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Seriously??

Beat40 said:

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AggiEE said:

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Beat40 said:

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W said:

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I wish Machete had more self-awareness

when you have a .568 OPS and OPS+ of 56...and lead the league in passed balls...

you tell your manager to play the other guy

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How do you know he hasn't?

I believe it was in 2021, Altuve was in a bad slump and he asked Dusty to move him down in the lineup. Dusty didn't do it because it's Altuve.

Point is it's possible Maldy has set aside his ego and mentioned Diaz should catch more, but Dusty isn't doing it because he trusts Maldy more.

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Maldy is not Altuve

Maldy is Maldy. A career Maldonado line hitter who runs like he's got two pianos strapped to his back

We traded for a superior Vasquez last year and Dusty was still mostly playing Maldy.

This year, we have arguably the best catcher in the league, and he gets 1 out of every 6 starts, to play Maldy instead

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You missed the whole point. The poster I was responding to said Maldy needs more self-awareness and tell Dusty to play Diaz over him.

My point was how does that poster know Maldy hasn't? Altuve was an example of someone who did and Dusty made the decision to not move him down in the order.

What you just said has nothing to do do with the conversation.

Maldy certainly could have already told Dusty Diaz needs to catch more, but Dusty makes the lineup, trusts Maldy more, and therefore plays Maldy more.

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Maldy doesn't need to just fold over and say

"Ok coach, I'm here for you. I'll play 80% of the time like you want. "

Dusty's position on an Altuve slump is defensible. His position on Maldy isn't. It's incompetence

And I don't think Maldy wants to play less either. He's got a huge ego and probably wants to play more himself than he actually wants the team to win

linkdude said:

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Michael Brantley is off today then will rejoin Triple-A Sugar Land to continue his rehab Friday and Saturday, Dusty Baker said.

— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) August 24, 2023

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I don't want to jump the gun and say "I told you so" because it very well could just be a couple extra days.

But I always felt like it was a stretch from the day he began his rehab assignment. Everything I was told indicated there was just no shot. Jose Cruz even told Farmer (or Farmer's family, I can't remember) that he wasn't coming back.

The whole thing is just so weird. But again, maybe he's just a little sore and they want to make sure it's nothing more than expected soreness. Let's hope that's the case!

EastCoastAgNc said:

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Potential candidates to lead White Sox baseball operations:

Chris Getz, White Sox assistant GM and top internal candidate

James Click, architect of defending WS champs and current Blue Jays VP of strategy

Preston Mattingly, Phillies executive and Indiana native@MLBNetwork

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) August 24, 2023

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Now that's funny timing...

Important game today. Chance to gain a half game on seattle and take the division lead if Minnesota wins

Julks starting? He should be the last freaking guy on the bench today and only used if we get blown out and need a position player to pitch. FML