iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Enjoying the distraction of engaging with “Grace,” today’s scammer who claims to work in the jewelry industry (just like the last one), makes delicious Asian-style dinners, lives in Los Angeles, and went to the circus once as a kid. Still no word on whether she likes clowns.

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

That's a weird dream to have as a child. Leo wasn't even Pope yet.

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Reposted by Mike Bates

Jacob Pomrenke @buckweaver.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

In recent years, the National Park Service has led an effort to restore the ballfield at the Manzanar National Historic Site in California. On October 17, a grand opening event will be held there with a baseball doubleheader between Japanese American teams. sabr.org/baseball-at-...

Dan Kwong stands behind home plate as teams line up for the National Anthem before the second game of the doubleheader played at Manzanar’s newly restored baseball field on October 26, 2024. (Courtesy of Dan Kwong, photograph by Aaron Rapoport)

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Sure, but do WE really need this rain?

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

You're only saying that because it's two mediocre teams, playing in an ugly stadium, using 47 different pitchers between them.

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

It's really hard to watch the White Sox doing well. I don't care for it.

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Just wrote a birthday segment about Todd Worrell, who did this multiple times in his career. And Jhoan Duran is better than Todd Worrell was.

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Do not take my nut rolls! I'll stop taking my GLP-1 someday, and will need them to gain all my strength back!

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Sure, your centerfielder can't hit, but at least he's blowing it on defense too!

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

That slider to Harper to strike him out was just fucking unfair, especially after giving him hope with the one he fouled off.

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Deigned to play second base, more like.

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Don't get me wrong, I'm rooting for the Phils, because the less I have to hear those fucking fans and that fucking racist chant they do the better.

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Good on the Phillies for jumping out to a lead, because no playoff team batting Derek Hill fifth in 2026 deserves to score any runs.

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I do enjoy the shot of all the empty seats in the lower section at the ballgame today.

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

And you think Iowa's cancer rates are high NOW? (Just kidding. There's no way this will ever get built.)

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Dumb headline, courtesy of the AP. Guys, no matter what happens, it's going to be their last postseason for a while. Like, for a full year!

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I wouldn't know. I checked out in August.

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Finally, someone who will trade for Trevor Larnach!

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

This will be me if I ever find a Jollibee.

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

We live in the stupidest reality. Call it whatever you want.

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

The whole way the Twins have handled Alex Jackson in 2026 is just nuts. Guy's been on the roster again since August 17 and batted four times. What, exactly, was the point? I mean, good for him for getting service time, but otherwise it was a complete waste of everyone's time.

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Reposted by Mike Bates

Jon Marthaler @jonmarthaler.com · 21/09/2026

I assume you're a subscriber to Stu's newsletter already, but if you aren't, and you don't subscribe to read this, then I genuinely don't know what you are even doing with your life

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

In a class this morning, and the instructor just said, “My dad, as I said, was an over-the-road truck driver. And sometimes he stayed out on the road so he could take more loads. He knew where all the truck stops were.” And, lady, yeah. Yeah, he probably did.

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Reposted by Mike Bates

Paul F. Tompkins @pftompkins.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I assume anyone who points out how small the trans population is doesn’t know any trans people & I guess that’s what it takes to care? Because if you know even ONE trans person, like a person in your life, how can you think about that person and conclude it’s okay if they get thrown under the bus?

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Amazingly, there are 37 batters since the Deadball Era ended who came to the plate more than 200 times in a season who had fewer RBI. Although none of them have more than 2 homers. Hayes has the most HR of anyone with 10 RBI or less during that span.

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

It is an egg out of which the next Pope will be hatched.

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I mean, I don't really want to see Taylor go out on a blown save.

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Luis Tiant Sr.... or Jr. Your mileage might vary.

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I had to keep some meds in our work fridge before I leave for home today, so I took a page out of Arrested Development’s playbook to deter lookie-loos.

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Hey, just reminding everyone about this fun thing I'm helping host for SABR tonight. It'd make me feel much better if a bunch of people showed up. And even better still if they all talked in the chat about what a good job I'm doing.

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I can't fix the biggest issue in my personal life right now, so I'm writing to a company and asking them to fix a minor annoyance instead. Hopefully, that will make me feel less powerless in the face of adversity.

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Dingoes Ate My Baby has announced they will no longer be opening for Ed Sheeran.

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Ooh, can't wait to see how they ignore his blatant homophobia!

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

I might not be in a good headspace.

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Mike Bates @mikebatestwibh.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Man, he used to be able to play anywhere!

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