iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

I thought the same. Messick is dealing today. My boy is in Akron. He's a big fan and Whatsapp is pretty lit here. :-)

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Cory Blaser has one of the highest challenge turnover rates in the league. Makes me wonder what the selection criteria is for the playoffs. I'm not bitching as the calls are going the right way but wonder why the Sox aren't challenging.

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If the Iran war isn't resolved prior to the mid-terms Trump won't be hindered by the current poor public perception of that war. I'd expect him to spend billions and still be unable to achieve his ambitions. So far none of the his stated objectibes have been accomplished. Anyone surprised?

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Opinion | Trump Is Getting Desperate. It Shows. (Gift Article)

Regarding Trump ... A worthy read. A desperate president is a dangerous president. Until the mid-terms are over I don't expect him to change his behavior however once the mid-terms are past I believe he will become even more erratic and dangerous. More... www.nytimes.com/2026/10/02/o...

nytimes.com

The Justice Department is trawling to find perpetrators on whom to pin conspiracies. Ordinary citizens are being ensnared.

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That "block" button is really getting a workout today so I guess the lemmings have escaped and are, yet again, running for the cliff.

Regardless, I have enjoyed sharing the highs and (more frequent) lows of this season with all of you, even those of you that have forgotten to take your meds some days! :-). Thanks for making it more entertaining! I'll be lurking, waiting to see what happens in the off-season! Take care!

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My heart is only bruised a bit this year. My expectations were under some pretty serious management from the beginning of the season. My low expectations were a result of what I perceived to be a very flawed pitching stable from the outset. More ...

Opinion | Baseball Is Designed to Break Your Heart (Gift Article)

At the end of each season I like to post this short essay. I think it lends a little perspective to losing. As important, it also manages to mention that we are bound by a common love of the sport. #Astros More ... www.nytimes.com/2024/02/25/o...

nytimes.com

Spring training means new hope for a glorious season. But for me, it’s the prospect of losing that keeps me hooked.

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Safe journey. I lived in Aberdeen for 9 years and enjoyed many a bike excursion throughout Scotland. Have fun!!!

Texpat UK @texpatuk.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

TF Houston isn't New York. It pains me that when I listened to the game last night it was easier for me to think I was listening to their fans instead of ours.

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Texpat UK @texpatuk.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Other clubs, especially the one we are playing now, but especially those that hate our team the most, will be loving the sound of us eating our own. Let's not give them the pleasure. If you want to be mad, aim at the owner and the folks making front-office decisions, not the players. More ...

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Texpat UK @texpatuk.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Yes, they didn't play well. I can't blame anyone from wondering what the manager was thinking when he decided to send King to the mound, and some other curious decisions. What we don't want to do is throw rocks at the players when they aren't the ones that constructed the roster. More .. #Astros

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Texpat UK @texpatuk.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

“A great team can captivate a city. Hope can hold 20 of them hostage and make every one of them grateful for it.” #Astros www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...

nytimes.com

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Texpat UK @texpatuk.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Trump stated (lied): “We had them under investigation. They were looking to do big damage.” Here the facts: Trump was lying. The alleged bombers were identified by a local farmer. Every time his mouth moves Trump is lying. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c6...

bbc.co.uk

Farmer who called 999 saw 'large group of hooded and masked men' near RAF Fairford, she tells BBC

The farmer says someone "dropped the ball" by allowing five suspects to get near the base - but Defence Secretary Wes Streeting says she only has a "partial picture".

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Ditto. Thanks for keeping us informed!

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I wish that Crane could manage to keep him in Houston but I am seriously managing my expectations. Baseball in 2027/2028 feels damned fragile at the moment.

From what little I can find, the WC games pay precious little but I can't seem to find anything reliable on what the average payouts are.

Looks to be an icky day for baseball if you are on the NE coast. Windy and wet in DC, Philly, NY and Boston.

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Does anyone know how much financial benefit there is for making a WC appearance? The best info I can find, they get a portion of the gate takings? Something tells me that it isn't enough to be an incentive for an established player but admittedly (and frequently), IDKS. ;-/ #Astros

Looks like he has his contacts or specs with him .... so far. He only has 140 challenges this year! :-)

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For Verlander's last day on the mound before he retires he has drawn Laz Diaz behind the plate. Ex- #Astros

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Watching (listening, in my case) must be what it would feel like to experience a two-day long dental appointment.

There is no doubt that Espada has more baseball acumen in his little fingernail than I have in my entire body. I still would not have put Sousa on the mound in that situation. I cringe every time I hear that he is on the mound. Upside, perhaps that is the last time we see him this (reg) season!

Concerns me as well. Any GM that has a good track record would probably avoid a situation where their decisions were hobbled by repeated upper management interference. That appears to be an accurate description of the environment. Prospective applicants might be thin in number and quality.

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I am well past ready for the season to be over. I am already looking past this season being hopeful that whatever Crane does, he manages to field a roster for 2027 that is far better than the dismal effort put forward this year. Let's hope that there is a season next year.

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The most recent walk-off loss really broke me. And if the guys in Arlington beat them to the bottom ... I have only one reason I want the Astros to win the division; I don't want the guys in Arlington to claim the division crown in their stats. Where to from here? More...

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Texpat UK @texpatuk.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I have been behind Espada all season however last night's pitching management lost the game. Sousa is and has been a liability. He needs to go. The #Astros are beat down and it's obvious that consistently beating teams that live at the bottom of the division is beyond their ability. More ...

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Well, another night's sleep is busted up by the prospect of the #Astros going effectively 2 up on the Arlington team. Bret Baty (Austin area native and t-sipper) hit a grand slam in the top of the 8th to put the Mets up 7-2. Rangers just lost 7-2.

Texpat UK @texpatuk.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

He looks like a guy that doesn’t know the difference between “shut-up” and “get up”. 🙃

ᑎᗩTᑌᖇᗩᒪ, ᒪIKE ᐯEᖇᑎOᑎ @naturallikevernon.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Reposted by Texpat UK

Trump died and got buried at Mar-Lago. A man went to the airport and said, "I need a ticket to go piss on Trump's grave." The agent said, "Yes, sir. Here's a ticket to Los Angeles." The guy said, "Los Angeles?! But Trump's buried in Florida!" The agent said, "Yes, sir, but the back of the line..."

15254021231

Reposted by Texpat UK

MLB @mlbbot.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Gotta eat 😅 OTD in 2013, Prince Fielder helped himself to a nacho from a fan

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Reposted by Texpat UK

MLB @mlbbot.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

From high school teacher to Major League pitcher 😲 Jim Morris never made it above A-ball as a Minor League pitcher from 1983 to 1989. Forced into retirement by multiple injuries, he went home to become a teacher. A decade later Morris was a teacher and baseball coach at Reagan County High School

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Texpat UK @texpatuk.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I keep my lid on as I wouldn't want to scare any kids or small animals!

Agree with every bit of that. I'd just like to see Crane get aggressive and give the team a real chance to go deep. I am curious about how big market teams that have very little spending constraints would have acted. Would they have gone balls-out to win? This CBA barney is going to be bumpy.

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It pains me when I think about what could have been. One solid back-end starter & one productive outfield bat and the team would have already clinched the division. I can't imagine why Crane/Brown didn't make it happen. Lack of will/resolve? Next year's (probably) truncated season? Makes me sad.

A win tonight would put the team in better shape. I'd feel better if Boston would get their finger out and deal with Arlington. Going to be losing sleep again tonight I guess. 🤷‍♂️

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