So what’s your rationale on letting Maldy bat in the 8th? He had Meyers, Julks, and freaking Jose Abreu on the bench. That’s not some tough leadership decision, that’s demonstrably bad managing. Maldy is hitting .170. Dusty let him swing the bat with the tying run on first in the 8th inning with only 5 outs left to spare. Spoiler, there is no rationale.
I was fine leaving Graveman once down 3-1… he worked his way out of it anyway. What I am not fine with is Baker getting cute with his line ups. Play your 9 best players and play them all 6 out of 7 line ups. Zero - NONE- no reason for Diaz to not be in the line up every single game.. he can catch, DH and play 1st…. Also, there is zero reason for Chas not to be the centerfielder every single game except for the once every 7 game spot start Meyers gets. A lot of guys like to know when they will and will not play and where they will be in the order. Dusty didn’t **** with Abreu when he struggled, he was out there every game. He didn’t **** with Maldonado when he had an OPS lower than the batting average of the guy that will win the batting title. Yet he has no problem ****ing around with McCormick, Diaz, France and just about everyone else.
He's always been god awful tactician and in-game manager. That was his reputation for 20 years as a manager. and it still applies even if he did win a World Series with an absurdly stacked Astros team.
