I wanted to see Mitchell play too. His base hit, SB, and run scored won the game for us.
I agree with everything you say, but my ire is directed mostly at the hitting coaches. I've listened to their interviews, and I have not been impressed. Maybe they are analytical behind the scenes, but in interviews they talk about guys "getting going" etc. Are they really helping hitters get the most out of their talents?
About pitching, I agree that DW is not as sharp one the second day when he pitches two days in a row. Maybe this isn't true every time, but it happens enough that he should not have gone in tonight after heavy work last night.
I've felt all the pain. It's been the most frustrating baseball season I can remember, but there have been some pretty joyous times as well. There's still a chance to get in the postseason and play the Cardinals. If that happens, with Burnes and Woodruff in a 2 out of 3 game series, there's always a chance to knock out the Cardinals. And in my book, that's a pretty good season.