Dr Bandon Decker
@bandondecker.com
Former astronomer (ex-tronomer) who mostly posts about baseball, cricket, and some other sport. Trying to be better about writing about statistics and doing good science with them.
Reposted by Dr Bandon Decker
Macbeth: oh yeah we got this battle handled
Malcolm and Macduff:
Malcolm and Macduff:
February 9, 2026 at 3:00 AM
Macbeth: oh yeah we got this battle handled
Malcolm and Macduff:
Malcolm and Macduff:
It's baseball season!
February 9, 2026 at 3:27 AM
It's baseball season!
. @kaloethina and I are going to the World Cup! I got tickets for Tunisia v The Netherlands; it'll be the first, and presumably only, time I have gone to the other stadium by the K.
February 7, 2026 at 11:10 PM
. @kaloethina and I are going to the World Cup! I got tickets for Tunisia v The Netherlands; it'll be the first, and presumably only, time I have gone to the other stadium by the K.
Finally, I don't have to deal with Insert-Gambling-Company-Here Sports Network! This is far from a perfect solution, but it is a much, much better one. #Royals
Introducing Royals.TV, your new broadcast home for the Kansas City Royals!
Stream all of our in-market games this season with no blackouts, open for sign-ups later this month.
Stream all of our in-market games this season with no blackouts, open for sign-ups later this month.
February 2, 2026 at 9:09 PM
Finally, I don't have to deal with Insert-Gambling-Company-Here Sports Network! This is far from a perfect solution, but it is a much, much better one. #Royals
Alex Gordon got one vote!! I'm so glad someone gave him a nod like that. No one would argue he should be in the HoF, but be didn't deserve to be shut out either. #Royals
January 20, 2026 at 11:29 PM
Alex Gordon got one vote!! I'm so glad someone gave him a nod like that. No one would argue he should be in the HoF, but be didn't deserve to be shut out either. #Royals
As soon as I heard five-tool I knew that was Beltrán!
January 20, 2026 at 11:20 PM
As soon as I heard five-tool I knew that was Beltrán!
The spacious dimensions at the K not only give us a distinct home field that provides more advantage, it has also promoted the exact type of baseball that everyone agrees baseball needs: More balls in play, in particular in the gaps, and exciting defence. #Royals
January 13, 2026 at 4:34 PM
The spacious dimensions at the K not only give us a distinct home field that provides more advantage, it has also promoted the exact type of baseball that everyone agrees baseball needs: More balls in play, in particular in the gaps, and exciting defence. #Royals
Bringing the fences in at the K is stupid and reactionary, just like it was when we did the same thing in the nineties. It was a bad idea then and it's a bad idea now. #Royals
January 13, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Bringing the fences in at the K is stupid and reactionary, just like it was when we did the same thing in the nineties. It was a bad idea then and it's a bad idea now. #Royals
Listening to McCullum on the BBC now, I am convinced he has to go. He's not going to fix the problems with English cricket by 'having conviction' with his failed methods. #Ashes
January 8, 2026 at 4:20 AM
Listening to McCullum on the BBC now, I am convinced he has to go. He's not going to fix the problems with English cricket by 'having conviction' with his failed methods. #Ashes
There's work to be done outside the existing Test setup as well. Regardless of the coach, there needs to be more emphasis on developing the right technique and approach at the county level. Bethell has shown the right mentality without a lot of Championship matches, but few others have. #Ashes
January 8, 2026 at 4:16 AM
There's work to be done outside the existing Test setup as well. Regardless of the coach, there needs to be more emphasis on developing the right technique and approach at the county level. Bethell has shown the right mentality without a lot of Championship matches, but few others have. #Ashes
Stuart Broad's comment before the series that this was the most beatable Australian side since 2010/11 was spot on though. Australia were good, but definitely had more weak spots than we've seen in the past. This was a winnable series. #Ashes
January 8, 2026 at 3:59 AM
Stuart Broad's comment before the series that this was the most beatable Australian side since 2010/11 was spot on though. Australia were good, but definitely had more weak spots than we've seen in the past. This was a winnable series. #Ashes
Thinking back to Stokes' 'weak men' comment, maybe he just has no idea how to fix the problems. That would be a good spot for a coach to step in... #Ashes
January 8, 2026 at 3:51 AM
Thinking back to Stokes' 'weak men' comment, maybe he just has no idea how to fix the problems. That would be a good spot for a coach to step in... #Ashes
I will say, I think Stokes has a much clearer idea of where the limits of 'Bazball' are. But he doesn't seem able to actually change anything. Maybe he doesn't spot it in the moment, or maybe McCullum has too much power. Either way, it's a problem. #Ashes
January 8, 2026 at 3:47 AM
I will say, I think Stokes has a much clearer idea of where the limits of 'Bazball' are. But he doesn't seem able to actually change anything. Maybe he doesn't spot it in the moment, or maybe McCullum has too much power. Either way, it's a problem. #Ashes
Maybe McCullum stays on, but a huge part of the problem is the culture he has built. We cannot go on with no preparation, no training, and no accountability. #Ashes
January 8, 2026 at 3:40 AM
Maybe McCullum stays on, but a huge part of the problem is the culture he has built. We cannot go on with no preparation, no training, and no accountability. #Ashes
And of course, England could have had warm ups. England could have learnt how to play in Australia before the third Test. (Though given McCullum himself averaged 24 in Australia, they arguably could have known not to bat like that even without warm ups.) #Ashes
January 8, 2026 at 3:37 AM
And of course, England could have had warm ups. England could have learnt how to play in Australia before the third Test. (Though given McCullum himself averaged 24 in Australia, they arguably could have known not to bat like that even without warm ups.) #Ashes
England could have had a full-time fielding coach. Just holding catches might have won this Test and the Adelaide Test. England could have had a full time bowling /coach/, not just consultant. More disciplined bowling could have swung two or three Tests as well. #Ashes
January 8, 2026 at 3:35 AM
England could have had a full-time fielding coach. Just holding catches might have won this Test and the Adelaide Test. England could have had a full time bowling /coach/, not just consultant. More disciplined bowling could have swung two or three Tests as well. #Ashes
And it goes back to the McCullum philosophy. 'Bazball' is a blunt force approach, and sometimes it works. But it emphatically has not worked against good opposition; it has not worked when actual quality is required. #Ashes
January 8, 2026 at 3:33 AM
And it goes back to the McCullum philosophy. 'Bazball' is a blunt force approach, and sometimes it works. But it emphatically has not worked against good opposition; it has not worked when actual quality is required. #Ashes
England could have won this series---I think you could argue that England /should/ have won this series---but were too sloppy. England got into a strong, sometimes winning position in each Test and either threw away wickets, or dropped catches, or bowled aimlessly. #Ashes
January 8, 2026 at 3:32 AM
England could have won this series---I think you could argue that England /should/ have won this series---but were too sloppy. England got into a strong, sometimes winning position in each Test and either threw away wickets, or dropped catches, or bowled aimlessly. #Ashes
And now I am looking forward to hear what McCullum has to say. It sounds like he will probably stay on, but so much of this failure falls at his and Rob Key's feet. #Ashes
January 8, 2026 at 3:30 AM
And now I am looking forward to hear what McCullum has to say. It sounds like he will probably stay on, but so much of this failure falls at his and Rob Key's feet. #Ashes