The B-List: 8/20 - 8/22

The interface will pick the first 80 words from my column, and I need to paste in text before the line scores, which look awful on the front page.  So here goes, my 80-word allotment: bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad. 
 

W: Galarraga (4-5)  L: Masterson (ennui) 

W: Scherzer (9-9) L: Tomlin (1-3) S: Valverde (24) 

W: Verlander (14-8)  L: Gomez (3-2) 

Sorry I had to truncate the opening like that, but as I said, it only takes 80 words. 

1) Groundhog Day meets Mea Culpa 

Look, I’m sorry.  This weekend was spent primarily getting ready for school for everyone, but I’d check in on the games periodically, and they all sucked.  It was like being stuck in some sort of Möbius Loop: 

The young Indians right-handed start got in hot water right away, giving up multiple runs in the first inning and falling behind.  Soon thereafter, he gave up even more runs, caused by his raw hittability and his ability to give up extra-base hits to the Tigers, most of whom slug under .420.  Meanwhile, the offense accomplished nothing whatsoever and was outhit by at least a two-to-one ratio, while the defense was no help in making at least one error.  After the young starter departed, the bullpen did a nice job, limiting the Tigers to zero or one run, but the damage had been done and the Indians were clubbed like so many Neanderthals cornered by a larger number of Cro Magnons.  The first four Tigers had at least as many hits as the entire Indians squad put together, led by leadoff man Austin Jackson, who had multiple hits. 

Okay, now which game did this describe? 

Each one.  All three.  An enormous amount of fun for young and old alike.  That is, the amount of fun was the same for the young as it was for the old, because “negative four” is equal to “negative four.” 

Anyway, I kept waiting to be inspired, and was not. 

For anyone interested, I will be doing a guest shot on “I-70 Baseball Radio” at 10:40 PM Central Time, which is 11:40 Eastern, or Ungodly Early in the U.K.  Tune in right at 10:40, because by 10:43, I will have been ejected for profanity.  In fact, much of the show (based on the Cardinals and Royals and their opponents) will be dedicated to the Pirates, Royals, and Indians, meaning that you should probably just kill me now. 

2) Tag Team 

Of the 14 hits the Indians got all weekend, 7 were by Shin-Soo Choo and Travis Hafner. 

3) Bright spot 

In seven relief innings not pitched by Hector Ambriz, Indians relievers gave up 0 runs on 2 hits.  Sunday’s relievers each had a K per inning.  Justin Germano has yet to give up a run.

4) Green Eggs and Hector 

He’s still bad. 

5) Offensive force! 

The only player to get a hit in each of his appearances was Tofu Lou Marson.  He also doubled off Justin Verlander and hit .333 for the weekend. 

6) Mr. Duncan’s sixteenth minute 

Shelley Duncan: 0-for-12.  He is hitting .155/.222/.259 in August.