We bring you an interrupted bulletin…

EFL Standings for 2016

Haviland:  L, 3 – 6. (.208, .286, .292;  12.3 ip. 8 er).  The Dragons seem to be a little short on position players.  They got 7 to the plate, for a total of 27 plate appearances, still running a little short per game. Starter Carlos Martinez did fine (6 ip, 2 er) , but a bevy of relievers behind him didn’t:  6 er in 6.3 more innings.  Still, I don’t see any reason for the Dragons to stop their revelry.  I’ll let them know if any mammals appear at their gates.

Old Detroit:  W, 4 – 3. (.290, .324, .387;  2 ip, 0 er) That’s not really a great offensive line, but it’s better than replacement, the best team batting line in many days for the W’s.  It meant the W’s moved forward again, partly on their own steam and partly on the kindness of strangers from Haviland.

Portland:  W, 6 – 4.

Pittsburgh: L, 2 – 4.

Canberra:  L, 3 – 7.

Peshastin:  W, 3 – (-2).

Flint Hill:  W, 8 – 5.

Sorry to ignore these fine teams’ unique contributions to the EFL.  But I have to go host a lecture now.

Kaline:  L, 2 – 5. The Wizard responded to my question yesterday (about how he copes with rooting for the Tigers and the Mariners) by saying he managed by being conflicted.  So when Max Kepler homered for the Twins to almost beat the M’s, Tom probably leapt for joy and landed in despair. But then, Kepler is a Drive, so I’m assuming  quiet satisfaction set in. The Drive benefited, the Tigers almost benefited, and the M’s survived.

Cottage:  W, 4 – 6. (.192, .333, .346;  5 ip, 1 er).

DC:  W 2, L (-1);  8 – 1.  (.343, .388, .714;  9.3 ip, 3 er)  The Universe may bend toward justice, which might be why the Balk had the best day in the EFL Sunday.  But wouldn’t it be better if the universe bent toward efficiency?  Why waste a double-win day and a 1.3 – game leap in the standings on the 39th-place team, still 5 games behind the 38th-place team? Why not let the Wolverines have that kind of day, when it would immediately transform the sputtering pennant race into a barn burner, entertaining for everyone?  I think the Universe should rethink its approach.  Tonight would be a good time to experiment with more focussed application of huge surges to where they would do the most good.