FanGraphs Writer, Piney, Gamecock, Condiment Enthusiast, Connoisseur of Vehicles Subscribe to Wheelysports.kit.com (or medium.com/@wheelysports) @michaelbaumann on Twitter baumannwrites at gmail dot comhttps://bsky.app/profile/baumann.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/baumann.bsky.social/post/3mvc4fjvpb227I'm sure it happens more than you'd think with the ghost runner but three blown saves by three different pitchers in three innings is quite an achievement12 Sep 2026 03:13 +0000at://did:plc:oz6bkpnskcieebyvfstd4asb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvc4fjvpb227https://bsky.app/profile/baumann.bsky.social/post/3mvbnojxq6c2w"My cat understands when I'm podcasting" remains the true thing about my life that makes me sound most like a crazy person11 Sep 2026 22:50 +0000at://did:plc:oz6bkpnskcieebyvfstd4asb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvbnojxq6c2whttps://bsky.app/profile/baumann.bsky.social/post/3mvawep6ehs2wThis is one of those things I plug until everyone gets mad: I sat down with Bryson Stott this week and accidentally got dialectical. A player who is both underrated and frustrating. A self-described low man on the totem pole who's also a five-year vet and a father of three who turns 30 next year. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/bryson-stott-the-finished-product/11 Sep 2026 15:53 +0000at://did:plc:oz6bkpnskcieebyvfstd4asb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvawep6ehs2whttps://bsky.app/profile/baumann.bsky.social/post/3mvanias7kk2wI've spent a lot of time over the past five years thinking 1) Bryson Stott is underrated and 2) How is he not better than he is? This week I talked to him at length about the passage of time, the simple math behind elite basestealing, and what it takes to win in the playoffs https://blogs.fangraphs.com/bryson-stott-the-finished-product/11 Sep 2026 13:14 +0000at://did:plc:oz6bkpnskcieebyvfstd4asb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvanias7kk2whttps://bsky.app/profile/baumann.bsky.social/post/3mv7lyhe2is2zTFW a 50/50 decision about going to Melbourne ends up making a much bigger difference than you anticipated [contains quote post or other embedded content]11 Sep 2026 03:14 +0000at://did:plc:oz6bkpnskcieebyvfstd4asb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv7lyhe2is2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/baumann.bsky.social/post/3mv7lfisc722zDisappointed to learn the wave goes the same direction in the Southern Hemisphere as it does here11 Sep 2026 03:04 +0000at://did:plc:oz6bkpnskcieebyvfstd4asb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv7lfisc722zhttps://bsky.app/profile/baumann.bsky.social/post/3mv7hkolbbk2fNew Wheelysports! We are living Mas! https://medium.com/@wheelysports/living-mas-d25842bb6b7e11 Sep 2026 01:55 +0000at://did:plc:oz6bkpnskcieebyvfstd4asb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv7hkolbbk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/baumann.bsky.social/post/3mv72fhl6as2lI think I could fix most of F1's issues if someone were given broad powers to sanction drivers and executives for "acting like a private school weenie." In the same vein, we could take a big chunk out of America's problems if it became illegal to make your divorce everyone else's problem.10 Sep 2026 22:00 +0000at://did:plc:oz6bkpnskcieebyvfstd4asb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv72fhl6as2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/baumann.bsky.social/post/3mv6hnmpee22mEvery time I've walked into the Shop Rite in Hamilton Square in the past four weeks "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood has been playing on the PA. Is this a glitch in the Matrix thing or is the staff there living a level of retail radio hell so cruel I'd never contemplated it?10 Sep 2026 16:24 +0000at://did:plc:oz6bkpnskcieebyvfstd4asb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv6hnmpee22mhttps://bsky.app/profile/baumann.bsky.social/post/3mv6clr2kgs2bI talked to the Astros' leader in pitcher WAR this season about how he went from the Rockies' bullpen to Japan to maybe lining up for a playoff start https://blogs.fangraphs.com/peter-lambert-even-surprises-himself-sometimes/10 Sep 2026 14:54 +0000at://did:plc:oz6bkpnskcieebyvfstd4asb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv6clr2kgs2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/baumann.bsky.social/post/3mv542plq2k2zI hope so too, Kweef Wellington [contains quote post or other embedded content]10 Sep 2026 03:24 +0000at://did:plc:oz6bkpnskcieebyvfstd4asb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv542plq2k2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/baumann.bsky.social/post/3mv53sdynis2zThe first two games of this Phillies-Astros series were both terrific. You're not gonna tell your kids where you were or anything but getting 95th percentile fun games on back-to-back nights was very enjoyable.10 Sep 2026 03:19 +0000at://did:plc:oz6bkpnskcieebyvfstd4asb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv53sdynis2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/baumann.bsky.social/post/3mv4t2hpj6c2tIn the sixth inning (so far), the Phillies have scored six runs on a double, a bases loaded walk, and a grand slam. Justin Crawford couldn't get a sacrifice bunt down. To hell with small ball. [contains quote post or other embedded content]10 Sep 2026 00:43 +0000at://did:plc:oz6bkpnskcieebyvfstd4asb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv4t2hpj6c2thttps://bsky.app/profile/baumann.bsky.social/post/3mv4ptlu6rk2tThe Phillies scored four runs in the third inning on five singles, with no walks or XBH. Pretty sure Granny Hamner and Puddin' Head Jones were involved the last time they did that09 Sep 2026 23:45 +0000at://did:plc:oz6bkpnskcieebyvfstd4asb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv4ptlu6rk2thttps://bsky.app/profile/baumann.bsky.social/post/3mv4pgr2pis2tDon Mattingly gave a seminar before the game about the pedagogy of situational baserunning, and the Phillies have manufactured a run with two exquisitely executed hit-and-run plays in the span of three batters.09 Sep 2026 23:38 +0000at://did:plc:oz6bkpnskcieebyvfstd4asb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv4pgr2pis2thttps://bsky.app/profile/baumann.bsky.social/post/3mv4lfcglqk24Gonna tell my kids this was Bob Cousy in Blue Chips [contains quote post or other embedded content]09 Sep 2026 22:26 +0000at://did:plc:oz6bkpnskcieebyvfstd4asb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv4lfcglqk24https://bsky.app/profile/baumann.bsky.social/post/3mv4eap4unk2wI don't think I'd want to be alone in a car with anyone involved in the making of this number, but the post-butt rock megachurch anthem J.T. Realmuto walks up to fuckin rips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61Wm_qlVD4Q09 Sep 2026 20:18 +0000at://did:plc:oz6bkpnskcieebyvfstd4asb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv4eap4unk2whttps://bsky.app/profile/baumann.bsky.social/post/3mv47pphutk2pWhat a disgrace that man is made to labor on this perfect day for an outdoor hammock nap09 Sep 2026 18:57 +0000at://did:plc:oz6bkpnskcieebyvfstd4asb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv47pphutk2phttps://bsky.app/profile/baumann.bsky.social/post/3mv3m5bocfk2vShohei Ohtani not being able to pitch hurts the Dodgers a trivial amount. Ohtani only being able to hit the way he's hit recently is a massive problem https://blogs.fangraphs.com/shohei-ohtani-might-also-be-too-hurt-to-hit/09 Sep 2026 13:06 +0000at://did:plc:oz6bkpnskcieebyvfstd4asb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv3m5bocfk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/baumann.bsky.social/post/3mv2enspti22qGarrett Stubbs has five career innings at first base, all of them this year as a late sub in blowouts. But what the heck, why burn Edmundo Sosa when you might need him to pinch hit in the bottom of the 9th?09 Sep 2026 01:20 +0000at://did:plc:oz6bkpnskcieebyvfstd4asb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv2enspti22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/baumann.bsky.social/post/3mv2cyiofak2qI love few things more in baseball than great center field defense. When I lived in Houston the Astros had Carlos Gomez and Billy Hamilton and Jackie Bradley came to town in the same week and it was the slickest thing you'd ever see. Daulton Varsho plays center field like he wants to die.09 Sep 2026 00:50 +0000at://did:plc:oz6bkpnskcieebyvfstd4asb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv2cyiofak2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/baumann.bsky.social/post/3mv2broydyc2qBryce Harper would get more joy out of being a 60 runner instead of a 45 runner than most people would get out of the ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound09 Sep 2026 00:28 +0000at://did:plc:oz6bkpnskcieebyvfstd4asb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv2broydyc2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/baumann.bsky.social/post/3mv2a7jakqc2qNorristown native Christian Walker is 2-for-3 with a three-run homer and he's robbed both Stott and Schwarber of doubles down the line. Gameday doesn't even have his stat line up anymore it just says "A child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth"09 Sep 2026 00:00 +0000at://did:plc:oz6bkpnskcieebyvfstd4asb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv2a7jakqc2q