Not sure if there’s joy in Mudville, but I’m hoping this will help. After five years of being a Friday feature, we’re shifting this feature to the weekends (Saturday’s the goal, but I reserve the right to push it to Sunday 😉
For the newcomers…. this a silly little thing I began a few years ago on a lark. It’s somehow become one of the site’s staples. Stolen from Named after comedian Demetri Martin’s segment of the same name from his too-brief (2009-2010) run on Comedy Central, it’s another way of taking a look at who’s doing well, poorly, or something unexpected.
Invariably, it seems that whenever a player makes this list — good or bad — his fortune turns. Of course, that’s merely coincidence, but as much as we embrace science and statistics, superstition will always have a place in baseball narrative. Therefore, this effect is known as “the curse of the GBI.”
Now, for the usual disclaimers… it’s early, sample sizes are small, stats in the minors aren’t as meaningful as we think, void where prohibited, professional driver on closed course, etc.
And the usual reminder: The guys, their families, and their agents reading this, so keep it clean in the comments. This is just for fun.
SYRACUSE CHIEFS 5-9, 5th place I.L. North, 5½ games behind
| Good | Jason Martinson .313/.365/.479, 2HR in 13G |
| Bad | Manny Delcarmen 15.95 ERA, 2.73 WHIP in six appearances |
| Interesting | Team 2.7 BB/9IP leads Int’l Lg. |
HARRISBURG SENATORS 7-8, T3rd place E.L. West, 2 games behind
| Good | C’s Pedro Severino & Cole Leonida 2SB, 10CS |
| Bad | Stephen Perez .465 OPS in 15G |
| Interesting | Matt Skole 10BB, 20K in 15G |
POTOMAC NATIONALS 9-6, 2nd place C.L. North, ½ game behind
| Good | Wilmer Difo .305/.379/.525, 3HR, 10RBI in 15G |
| Bad | James Yezzo .138/.278/.207, 8K in 10G |
| Interesting | 10HR in 15G — 1st in Car. Lg. |
HAGERSTOWN SUNS 6-9, T6th place Sally North, 6 games behind
| Good | Austen Williams 2-0, 0.57/1.96/0.96 in 3GS |
| Bad | Osvaldo Abreu 6E in 13G |
| Interesting | One (1) hold in 15G |