In keeping with my motto of doing what I can when I can, I’ve decided to cut back the GBI to something more manageable this year — every three weeks. This will still give us eight editions, and to compensate for the lower frequency, I will double up each section. My apologies in advance to for the disappointment, but the alternative was to scrap it altogether.
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 my way of taking a look at who’s doing well, poorly, or pointing out 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 be a part of baseball. Thus, the effect known as “the curse of the GBI.”
Now, for the usual disclaimers… it’s early in the season, small sample sizes, stats in the minors are misleading, void where prohibited, valid only at participating locations, employees must wash hands after using the bathroom, etc.
And the usual reminder: The guys, their friends, families, and agents reading this, so keep it clean in the comments. This is just for fun.
SYRACUSE CHIEFS 7-8, 4th place I.L. North, 2½ games behind
| Good | Trea Turner .357/.446/.500, 6SB in 15G Sammy Solis 1.00/1.08/0.89, 14K in 9IP |
| Bad | Matt Skole .122/.214/.184, 12K in 14G Taylor Hill 8BB in 15⅔ IP |
| Interesting | Caleb Ramsey .932 OPS, .390 BA in 13G Austin Voth 0BB in 12IP |
HARRISBURG SENATORS 6-8, 4th place E.L. West, 3½ games behind
| Good | Rafael Bautista 8SB, 11BB, .443 OBP in 14G Tyler Mapes 3-0, 3.18/3.85/0.94 in 3GS |
| Bad | Zach Collier .405 OPS in 12G Reynaldo Lopez 4HR in 16IP |
| Interesting | Stephen Perez .320/.414/.360 in 11G John Simms 14K in 16IP |
POTOMAC NATIONALS 9-7, 2nd place C.L. North, 4 games behind
| Good | Jose “The Orange” Marmolejos .298/.437/.561 in 16G Mario Sanchez 1.59 ERA, 80.9 LOB% in 11⅓ IP |
| Bad | 11CS in 30SB attempts Starters 5.60/4.30/1.47 in 16G |
| Interesting | Drew Ward .333/.412/.550, 11RBI in 16G R.C. Orlan 1.93 ERA, 1.18WHIP, 8BB, 9K in 9#8531; IP |
HAGERSTOWN SUNS 11-5, T2nd place Sally North, 2 games behind
| Good | Victor Robles .327/.465/.582, 7SB, 2HR in 16G Andrew Lee 1-0, 1.80/3.50/1.27 in 3GS |
| Bad | Ryan Ripken .496OPS in 14G Joan Baez 0-2, 6.75 ERA, 1.67 WHIP in 3GS |
| Interesting | Max Schrock .344/.403/.4, 6SB in 15G Jefry Rodriguez 2.70/2.07/1.20 in 3GS |