All-Star Nap is Over…

EFL Standings for 2016

Old Detroit:  L, 3 – 7.  (.205, .255, .273;  18 ip, 10 er).  Given their responsibilities as league leaders, the Wolverines’ unreadiness for the resumption of play is scandalous.  Perhaps some of the blame can be laid to the coup attempt in Turkey, which distracted Wolverine management considerably in the last 24-hours. (Wolverine management is in the political science profession.  A coup attempt is a vase, hard-to-replicate political science experiment. So it’s my job to watch it closely.)  After all, didn’t such a coup attempt just happen here in the EFL, with the W’s barely dislodging the Dragonish rebels?

Haviland: “L”, 7 – 5. (.279,. 311, .512;  15 ip, 7 er). A day of competence on the field was enough for the Dragons to almost soar right back atop the league.  Carlos Carrasco’s solid  6.7 ip, 2 er was the key. The “L” is probably disappointing to Dragons fans, but gaining 0.6 games in the standings is a big move in the EFL.

Portland:  W, 4 – 4.  (.244, .292, .400;  2.3 ip, 0 er). It wasn’t a loss, but the Rosebuds’ day had to be frustrating.  Presented a golden opportunity to gain on first place, the Rosebuds could only manage a few innings and a thin, barely-better-than replacement batting line.  Justin Turner tried to turn it around, but his 2 for 4 with a homer, a walk, and a HBP wasn’t enough.

Pittsburgh: W 2, L (-1); 9 – (-3).  (.308, .386, .564;   12 ip, 1 er).  I just realized of whom the Chief Allegheny reminds me:  Robinson Cano.  They excel at what they do, so smooth and unruffled, never breaking a sweat.  But then all of a sudden they’ll quietly dominate you  — they make a slick play, blast a homer or a double, take a walk.  You might not realize what they’re doing to you until after they’ve done it.  A’s star Stephen Strasburg is a little like this, to — he wears his 13-0 winning streak openly but doesn’t make a lot of noise about it.  He doesn’t toss a bat or spike the ball to celebrate.  The Allegheny PR department hasn’t done anything to trumpet Strasburg’s achievement, either, so it’s all left up to MLB and me to get the word out.

Canberra: L, 2 – 7. (.200, .273, .225; 13 ip, 8 er).  Billy Hamilton scored from second on a grounder to the third baseman. There was no error.  The third baseman threw to second to force a runner, and the second baseman threw to first in a failed effort to secure a double play.  And that was the highlight of the day for the Kangaroos.

Peshastin: “L”,  6 – 2. (.288, .362, .404;  3 ip, 0 er). The Pears gained 0.8 games in the standings and improved their winning percentage, even though they took a paper loss. Imperiled outfielder Michael Taylor, whom the Nationals keep trying to replace, made a statement with a homer and a walk, joining Khris Davis (also homered) to lead the offense.

Flint Hill: L, 3 – 5.  (.200, .256, .375;  6.7 ip, 4 er). We’re back to the bad old days when I couldn’t think of anything interesting to write about a team called the Tornados.  (Hey, you in the back.  Yeah, you. “He never let’s that stop him for all the other teams.” Real funny.  I don’t see YOU writing something everyday. You couldn’t hit Doug Fister’s mediocre (5 ip, 2 er) pitches any better than I could, but at least I came up with a way to put his stats into a reasonably interesting sentence.)

Cottage:  L, 4 – 11.  (.250, .302, .450; 3.3 ip, 6 er).  Ugh.  The Cheese never got out of their hammocks. Except for Wil Myers (2 for 3 with a homer and a walk) and Jay Bruce (1 for 2 with two walks).

Kaline: L, 8 – 16. (.321, .429, 500 — Happy Edgar Martinez Day!;  14.7 ip, 16 er — and two Happy EMDs to your opponents, too!).  Brad Miller went 2 for 3 with a double and two walks, arguably the best day in the EFL for anyone lacking a 13 – 0 2016 record.  But not the best day for former Mariner stud middle-infield prospects.

No, I’m not talking about #2 rookie pick Dustin Ackley.  Nor Miller’s twin at short stop Nick Franklin.  It was Chris Taylor, who tripled, doubled, hit a grand slam, and then almost bunted for the cycle.

D.C. : “W”, 4 – 6.  (.227, .346, .318; 3.3 ip, 1 er).  It was close to being an outright win.  More than 3 innings of pitching, and it would have been.