mtutiger

It's not about you, Chas. It's about being honest when AJ makes a mistake. If Gardy did that, we'd all call a spade a spade.

Didn't follow today's game closely past the grand slam... that's crazy

They have Oakland and Baltimore these next eight games. It'll tell a lot about whether they can at least get the SS Tiger at least moving in the correct direction

There was a better choice here... don't put Willi Castro in the outfield. Especially given that he's really no better with the bat than Hill or Baddoo at this juncture

Or even at replacement level on defense! Seriously, the the Astros broadcasters spent the better part of Friday and Saturday lampooning the fact that AJ sent him out there. And I can't blame them... he just can't play the position

Pretty much. If AJ makes a decision that literally everyone knows is dumb, like playing Willi Castro in left, he can't be blamed because he's "trying something new". I'm sorry, Friday wasn't Willi's first rodeo with misjudged fly balls. He did it quite a bit in 2021 when they initially experimented with it. He's not above criticism for going to the well again when there are actual outfielders on the team who can at least be above replacement level out there.

Not to mention that Willi isn't exactly Babe Ruth

They would have won that ball game with Hill's meager bat in the lineup. It's not even about whether the roster is good or not, but i find it hard to defend putting Willi in LF under any circumstances.

Will Vest needs to start getting Joe's leverage opportunities...

Ding ding ding. Fangraphs doesn't tell you everything. Castro cost them badly on Friday even if it wasn't an error

Playing Willi Castro in left field?

'Slumping' implies guys aren't playing to the level they should based on their track record... if that's the case, I'm not sure why the players who are slumping don't get some blame (over either Al or AJ) for why things are going the way they are.

I'm not saying Hinch is largely at fault. I'm saying that he largely avoids any blame in the bad times and when he makes mistakes because of Al Avila. I like AJ Hinch, but I'm gonna call it like I see it. And call it out when the fanbase tries to have it both ways.

But when they got it going and turned it around last year with the big club, it was all because of Hinch and the coaching staff. Too bad the old forum is gone, because the receipts would be easy to find. And when it happens again this year (because it probably will to a degree), it'll be because of Hinch. So now that things aren't going, why does Hinch avoid credit for that as well? It logically doesn't make sense. I like AJ and hope he manages here for a long time, but the fanbase sort of wants it both ways when they credit him in the good times and deflect blame from him during the bad.

It's ridiculous, I know.

I am absolutely convinced that this ballgame wouldn't be 4-0 right now if he had chosen to pick just about any other reliever out of that bullpen to pitch to the top of the Astros order, as opposed to the guy with the absolute worst peripherals. And saved that guy for the following inning to begin by facing the lower part of the order. But somehow, that's probably Al's fault.

Idk, Hinch makes some mistakes too. And the degree of disapproval of Al (not unjustified) kinda helps shield him from any scrutiny when he does make them.

Could be worse... Bally State Media is blacked out for me this series, but I can only imagine how they are polishing this turd

Bullpen games are what they are, but I dont understand why you can't bring in a pitcher who maybe has better peripherals or stuff to handle the inning with the top of the lineup. It isn't like there's a rule saying the two long guys have to pitch back to back....

And at worst... he gives up the salami

Putting him out there with this part of the lineup was such a huge mistake. At best, he's probably limited the amount of innings he can go after this one

It feels like they'll lose by more today

Don't like putting Hutchison out for the top of the order... would rather they go with Vest or even Joe for the top of the lineup

Some things never change!