Written by Steve Buffum

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The Indians dropped the opener in Arlington 6-3, as the banged-up Texas Rangers are still better at baseball than the mostly-healthy Tribe.  In today’s shortened B-List, Buff runs out of things to say, much in the manner of the Cleveland offense after the third inning, or Nick Hagadone’s quality repertoire after his first pitch.  He does note that Carlos Santana is still good, that Mark Reynolds can make an outstanding defensive play, and that Scott Kazmir is still preferable to a sharp stick in the eye.  Or Carlos Carrasco.

FINAL	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Indians (30-33)	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	5	1
Rangers (38-25)	0	1	0	2	0	0	3	0	X	6	10	1

W: R. Ross (1-1)            L: Kazmir (3-4)               S: Nathan (20)

So, heard any good koans lately?

1) The Hit

The Indians loaded the bases in the third inning when Mike Aviles beat out an infield single on a ball Elvis Andrus was able to stop up the middle, a single by Jason Kipnis, and a walk by Nick Swisher, who fought off a 1-2 count.  With two outs, Carlos Santana has his Jobu Moment, doing it himself, as Santana drilled a double that got past Nel Cruz for a 3-run blow.

After this, the Indians reached base exactly twice: once when Jason Giambi coaxed a walk, and once when Kipnis coaxed Andrus into an error.

Yep, that’s it.  The Indians were so inspired by Giambi’s leadoff walk that the next three hitters struck out.

By the way, ersatz starter Josh Lindblom was making his second career start.  In his previous start, he allowed 4 runs on 2 walks and 7 hits, including a homer, in 4 2/3 IP.

2) The Pitch

Nick Hagadone’s first pitch was a beauty: with runners on first and third, Hagadone got David Murphy to ground to Santana at first.  Santana stepped on the bag for an out, then caught Jurickson Profar off third and they doubled him off, leaving just one runner on second.

Hagadone’s second pitch was less successful, as it was, in fact, a wild pitch that advanced the runner.

Hagadone’s third pitch was that much more less successful (as it were), as Lance Berkman drove the ball over the left field wall to give Texas a 5-3 lead.

While starter Scott Kazmir also gave up a two-run homer and in fact lost the game, it should be noted that before his homer, Berkman had been 3-for-25 (all singles) in June with 8 strikeouts.

3) The Tao of Scott

Kazmir’s start was largely indistinguishable from his last start: in each game, he gave up 4 runs in 6 innings, including two walks and a homer.  This time he gave up 8 hits and struck out 5.  Last game he gave up 7 hits and struck out 7.  He got only 6 swinging strikes from the Rangers.  He benefited from a terrific defensive play by Mark Reynolds.  It is hard to think of something else interesting to say about Scott Kazmir’s pitching, except to note that he managed to walk two guys while throwing nearly 70% of his pitches (72 of 103) for strikes.  Had he not come out for the 7^th inning, he would have had a Quality Start and would not have lost.

The Indians still would have, though, so one questions whether this is of any importance.

4) Flashing the leather

Santana’s marvelous 3-6-5 double play in the 7^th wasn’t even the best weird play involving a guy being thrown out at third: in the 3^rd, Murphy led off the inning with a walk, then Berkman smashed a hard ground ball down the line.  Mark Reynolds dove into foul territory to save a double, then threw in time to get Berkman at first, except Santana didn’t stay on the bag.  He did, however, catch Murphy trying to advance to third, and Kazmir got the next two hitters to end the inning.  It was scored a hit because Lance Berkman is from New Braunfels and went to Rice.

5) Sotto voce

Reynolds did later make his 7^th error of the season.

6) Role Reversal

Cody Allen gave up a run.  Vinnie Pestano didn’t.

7) Today’s Taoist Lesson

Passage 6i:
Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.

Ha ha!  Just kidding, that’s not the Tao Te Ching.  It’s Linus Van Pelt.

8) Public Service for the Google Search Engine

Jack Zduriencik invited a Taoist monk over to teach Zduriencik the art of self-immolation.  Instead, the monk made fun of Zduriencik by pointing out that Mike Carp is hitting .322/.367/.667 for Boston while Justin Smoak is hitting .240/.350/.344.  It is Buddhist monks that practice self-immolation, not Taoists, and it’s unlikely many Taoist monks can recite Mike Carp’s stats, illustrating the fundamental non-truth of this statement.  Fire Eric Wedge.