Joe Maddon: The Man Behind the Glasses

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Since we're doing an autopsy on Joe's management of the game can I ask if it was his decision to have Baez but in the 9th or did Baez do that by hisself?

He made the call but he said he was hoping Baez would actually be able to bunt for a hit. I was actually fine with that call, frankly, because Iglesias as I said is death to right handers usually and Javy was likely to swing himself out of his shoes, and Zobrist literally got a hit that should have tied the game (why did Gary Jones not send Heyward? It would have been close but Heyward is the best baserunner they have and even if he gets thrown out Zobrist still ends up in scoring position. He makes the weirdest decisions sometimes). I guess there's always the possibility Javy crushes a hanger and wins the game but the way I see it the bunt didn't hurt em.

Though I have been proven to be too drunk/inattentive while in the physical presence of this game to remember that Caratin's AB was in the 8th, against Iglesias, I can assure you--for what sucha ssurances may be worth-- that Heyward hadn't even stepped on third when the right-fielder fielded the ball and the latter's throw was a strike to home and Heyward would have been out by 35 feet.

Fair enough. I was following on my phone and the clip I watched later doesn't really show Heyward's positioning very well, the way it was spliced it seemed to me that it would have been a bang/bang play in which case I usually would send Heyward since he's such a good baserunner and it takes a perfect play to get him.

If you're looking for sources of frustration from the game you can also point to Zobrist hitting the ball as hard as he's fucking hit it in months--and in a situation where it was needed--but was so well-struck that the right-fielder had it in his glove after 1 hop and maybe 2.1 seconds after it left Zobrist's bat.

[Saul Goodman]

It's a minor point, but I don't think Hayward is the best baserunner they have. I think it's Bryant.

[SKO]

Zobrist should not be batting 3rd or 4th anymore, Joe.

[SKO]

Zobrist should not be batting 3rd or 4th anymore, Joe.

[SKO]

Love to hand a free out to a pitcher who threw 8 wide, giving up an AB by one of your best hitters in the process

[Saul Goodman]

Zobrist should not be batting 3rd or 4th anymore, Joe.

He's leaving him there like he left Jason Hayward at #2 almost all of last season, which totally worked!

[SKO]

Zobrist should not be batting 3rd or 4th anymore, Joe.

He's leaving him there like he left Jason Hayward at #2 almost all of last season, which totally worked!

He did the same thing with Castro in 2015. The defense for Zobrist batting behind Rizzo is the same that he gave for the Castro thing, which is just "I like him in that spot."

That said Zobrist's had some better looking swings of late, so maybe he's getting better. I would prefer, y'know, batting him like 7th until he really starts producing, but if 2016 Zobrist comes back this'll all be fine.

[Quality Start Machine]

That said Zobrist's had some better looking swings of late, so maybe he's getting better. I would prefer, y'know, batting him like 7th until he really starts producing, but if 2016 Zobrist comes back this'll all be fine.

I actually think I swaw the other day that Zobrist's wrist is finally not hurting, and he can put in his usual work for the first time all season. Couldn't have come at a better time.

[SKO]

Zobrist should not be batting 3rd or 4th anymore, Joe.

[SKO]

Zobrist should not be batting 3rd or 4th anymore, Joe.

[Saul Goodman]

Zobrist should not be batting 3rd or 4th anymore, Joe.

Sadly true this game, but KB and Rizzo did nothing too, so...

[SKO]

Zobrist should not be batting 3rd or 4th anymore, Joe.

Sadly true this game, but KB and Rizzo did nothing too, so...

Well other than when they got back to back hits and BENNY BENNY BENNY sat there and watched two goddamn fastballs right down the middle to leave them stranded, you mean?

[Saul Goodman]

Zobrist should not be batting 3rd or 4th anymore, Joe.

Sadly true this game, but KB and Rizzo did nothing too, so...

Well other than when they got back to back hits and BENNY BENNY BENNY sat there and watched two goddamn fastballs right down the middle to leave them stranded, you mean?

I'm talking about the 8th.

[SKO]

Another day where Zobrist and Heyward are in the lineup and Schwarber isn't. Get bent, Joe

[SKO]

Thank fucking christ Heyward is starting they might actually have scored more than one goddamn run.  Somedays I miss the gutless fucking assholes thread