The Porkchop Express said:

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astros4545 said:

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Yep

Dusty was ahead of the sabermetrics when he was starting Niko Goodrum in the 3 hole

Pure genius

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Thanks for making my point for me.

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I think most of us realize that there is a lot behind the scenes about sports teams we don't know, but that means we can ONLY comment on the actual games. However, there is zero amount of behind the scenes managing that makes up for how he used Niko while on the roster.

Also, the bottom line is winning matters. A lot. Dusty didn't torpedo 21 or 22, and was - in my opinion - a real help coming out of the cheating news. Things are looking a lot more precarious this year, and we can all argue how much of that is due to Dusty. But teams as equally good as this one, or close to it, have fired him for not getting over the hump, regardless of how well he handles all the non-game stuff.

How much of this is in the last 7 years (and how high could it be without 2011-13)

Run differentials since MLB went to 30 teams in 1998:

+3,146 NYY
+2,398 LAD
+2,320 BOS
+2,108 ATL
+1,892 STL
+1,168 HOU
+1,053 CLE
+837 OAK
+711 SF
+554 TOR
+481 LAA
+216 NYM
+121 CHC
+72 PHI
-131 TEX
-276 SEA
-359 MIN
-374 ARI
-392 CWS
-436 TB
-660 MIL
-972 WSH
-1,004 SD
-1,036…

— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) August 29, 2023

We don't need the lineup of death every night. Just play Yainer Diaz….period.

Rule#2 said:

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We don't need the lineup of death every night. Just play Yainer Diaz….period.

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He runs around the bases too much and struggles against lefties and righties depending on the day of the week

He couldn't fire him after last year.

Dusty is on the golden boy farewell tour. Crane would be persecuted by all kinds of media in the league and probably even be called a racist if he fired him before the end of the year. His hands are tied and you know that regardless if everyone here is correct. Stop playing a fool and stirring the pot.

Welcome back Uncle Mike 🫡 pic.twitter.com/d3sdaB3tgf

— Houston Astros (@astros) August 29, 2023

Welcome back Uncle Mike 🫡 pic.twitter.com/d3sdaB3tgf

— Houston Astros (@astros) August 29, 2023

Edit: Dammit Farmer beat me to it by a millisecond

Julks optioned to make room.

Also. Bye bye Julks.

We have reinstated OF Michael Brantley from the 60-Day IL and optioned OF Corey Julks to Triple A sugar Land.

To make room for Brantley on the 40-man roster, RHP Jake Cousins was designated for assignment.

— Houston Astros (@astros) August 29, 2023

So we swapped Uncle Mike for Cousin Jake?

Let's make an assumptions here. Brantley is probably not physically able to play everyday. When we do sit him, it needs to be when LHPs are on the bump. His playing time needs to mainly impact Dubon & Meyers and not Yainer. Very simple ideas to maximize his return.

Farmer1906 said:

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Let's make an assumptions here. Brantley is probably not physically able to play everyday. When we do sit him, it needs to be when LHPs are on the bump. His playing time needs to mainly impact Dubon & Meyers and not Yainer. Very simple ideas to maximize his return.

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From your keyboard to Dusty's old crusty ears...

Wabs said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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Let's make an assumptions here. Brantley is probably not physically able to play everyday. When we do sit him, it needs to be when LHPs are on the bump. His playing time needs to mainly impact Dubon & Meyers and not Yainer. Very simple ideas to maximize his return.

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From your keyboard to Dusty's old crusty ears...

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And 1 more... Maldy should basically never bat in the 7th-9th vs a RHP unless JV or Framber are pitching deep. We have enough depth between Brantley, Singleton, Abreu, & Diaz that we can PH for Maldy & the pitcher's spot even when Yainer is DHing.

Regardless if Brantley is 100% or not, his ability to have quality ABs lengthens this lineup a ton when he's starting. And when he's not, his bat is welcomed coming off the bench to pinch hit late in games. Those are situations where the ability to make contact often matter the most.

Let's refresh our memory on who Brantley is and hopefully what we are getting

Brantley in AAA (2nd rehab)
.348 BA
.444 OBP
.565 SLG
1.010 OPS
147 wRC+
.318 BABIP

Brantley in 2022
.288 BA
.370 OBP
.416 SLG
.785 OPS
127 wRC+
.311 BABIP
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45.1% HH%
10.7 LA
6.0% Barrel%
.374 xwOBA
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37.2% Pull
41.9% Cen
20.9% Oppo
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24.3% LD
44.4% GB
31.3% FB
4.5% IFFB

2022 Spray Chart (<15 LA)

I see quite a few outs that should be hits now.

Sprint Speed
2021 - 29%
2022 - 22%

Fielding Run Value
2021 - (-3)
2022 - (-1)

Arm
2021 - 86.3
2022 - 85.4 (Jake is 86.2)

Let's remember, he's kind of an old dude who doesn't move well and doesn't have much of an arm anymore.

The Porkchop Express said:

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redline248 said:

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The Porkchop Express said:

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astros4545 said:

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Yep

Dusty was ahead of the sabermetrics when he was starting Niko Goodrum in the 3 hole

Pure genius

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Thanks for making my point for me.

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I think most of us realize that there is a lot behind the scenes about sports teams we don't know, but that means we can ONLY comment on the actual games. However, there is zero amount of behind the scenes managing that makes up for how he used Niko while on the roster.

Also, the bottom line is winning matters. A lot. Dusty didn't torpedo 21 or 22, and was - in my opinion - a real help coming out of the cheating news. Things are looking a lot more precarious this year, and we can all argue how much of that is due to Dusty. But teams as equally good as this one, or close to it, have fired him for not getting over the hump, regardless of how well he handles all the non-game stuff.

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Then shouldn't all of you hate Jim Crane with every fiber of your being? He's the guy paying Dusty's check every week.

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1st of all, I don't hate Dusty. I don't like him managing the Astros.
2nd, yes, I did not like the fact that Crane kept Dusty for this season.

spadilly said:

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Am I the only one here not expecting Uncle Mike to make an immediate impact? I figure he's going to need a week or two to get back into the swing of things. Hope he proves me wrong.

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Compared to what we have on the bench, a few foul balls would be an immediate impact

No, I'm right there with you. But anything to get Julks out of Dusty's hands.

redline248 said:

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The Porkchop Express said:

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redline248 said:

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The Porkchop Express said:

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astros4545 said:

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Yep

Dusty was ahead of the sabermetrics when he was starting Niko Goodrum in the 3 hole

Pure genius

---

Thanks for making my point for me.

---

I think most of us realize that there is a lot behind the scenes about sports teams we don't know, but that means we can ONLY comment on the actual games. However, there is zero amount of behind the scenes managing that makes up for how he used Niko while on the roster.

Also, the bottom line is winning matters. A lot. Dusty didn't torpedo 21 or 22, and was - in my opinion - a real help coming out of the cheating news. Things are looking a lot more precarious this year, and we can all argue how much of that is due to Dusty. But teams as equally good as this one, or close to it, have fired him for not getting over the hump, regardless of how well he handles all the non-game stuff.

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Then shouldn't all of you hate Jim Crane with every fiber of your being? He's the guy paying Dusty's check every week.

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1st of all, I don't hate Dusty. I don't like him managing the Astros.
2nd, yes, I did not like the fact that Crane kept Dusty for this season.

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I don't care how much management did or didn't get along with him, you can't fire him coming off of a world series win. You would get crucified by the media for it for a variety of reasons, some true and some made up (ie racism). I am just happy to see Julks sent down so that we don't have to sit through Dusty pinch hitting Julks for Maldonado in late inning situations while Brantley sits on the bench.

Taking my boys to the game tonight