The backstory… I stole named this after the segment comedian Demetri Martin’s TV show, which was on when the site began in 2009.
It seems that whenever a player makes this list—good or bad—his luck changes. While we know that’s merely coincidence, superstition always has a place in baseball, even as analytics has gone from geek to chic. Nevertheless, we call this sequence of events “the curse of the GBI.”
Now, for the disclaimers… it’s early, sample sizes are small and statistically insignificant, minor-league stats aren’t as meaningful as MLB stats, taxes and shipping extra, employees must wash hands, do not taunt Happy Fun Ball, etc.
And the reminders: The guys, their families, their spouses and/or significant others, their host Moms and Dads, and their agents are reading this, too. Please keep it civil in the comments; it’s just for fun.
FRESNO GRIZZLIES
11-10, T1st place Pacfific Coast League Northern, 3½ games ahead
| Good | Bat: Carter Kieboom .379/.506/.636, 16BB, 18RBI in 18G prior to promotion Arm: Austin Voth 2-1, 3.06/1.82/1.19, 27K in 17⅔ IP (4GS) |
| Bad | Bat: Jake Noll .542 OPS, 4E in 16G Arm: Henderson Alvarez 0-1, 11.57/10.23/2.31, 6HR in 11⅔ IP (3G) |
| Interesting | Bat: Jacob Wilson .324/.413/.750, 8HR, 23RBI in 19G Arm: Austin Adams 2H, 2BB, 15K in 8IP |
HARRISBURG SENATORS
17-3, 1st place Eastern League Western Division, 6 games ahead
| Good | Bat: Rhett Wiseman .333/.397/825, 8HR in 18G Arm: Wil Crowe 2-0, 1.17/2.02/0.78, 21K, 3BB in 4GS (23IP) |
| Bad | Bat: Spencer Kieboom 4-for-32, 3E in 8G (see next) Arm: Aaron Barrett 3HR, 2BSV in eight appearances |
| Interesting | Bat: Tres Barrera .388/.434/.571, 0E in 13G Arm: Taylor Guilbeau 2.16/1.89/1.20, 9K in seven appearances |
POTOMAC NATIONALS
9-13, 5th place Carolina League Northern Division, 4 games behind
| Good | Bat: Cole Freeman .333/.423/.440, 10BB, 7SB in 22G Arm: Jackson Tetreault 2-1, 1.23/3.35/0.91 in 4GS (22IP) |
| Bad | Bat: Armond Upshaw .122/.265/.146, 16K in 14G Arm: Luis Reyes 0-2, 11.12/6.14/2.06 in 17IP (for some reason, 4GS) |
| Interesting | Bat: Anderson Franco .313/.403/.373, 10BB, 6E in 20G Arm: Frankie Bartow 0-0, 1SV, 0.61/3.67/0.89 in 14⅔ IP (6G) |
HAGERSTOWN SUNS
10-12, 5th place South Atlantic League Northern Division, 8 games behind
| Good | Bat: KJ Harrison .404/.485/.649, 2HR, 16RBI in 16G prior to promotion Arm: Tim Cate 1-1, 1.27/2.47/0.94, 23K in 21⅓ IP (4GS) |
| Bad | Bat: Nic Perkins .404 OPS, 2E in 8G Arm: Tomas Alastre 2-2, 6.23/7.15/1.75 in 21⅔ IP (5GS) |
| Interesting | Bat: Gilbert Lara .326/.356/.535, 4HR, 8E in 22G Arm: Angel Guillen 0-0, 2.45/1.92/0.91, 14K in 11IP (4G) |