...and we split!

 Thoughts on today's game and the series:

1. Assuming that Plesac is not hurt and his outing is just a dead arm glitch (he was only hitting 90 mph on his fastball) our pitching looked good in this series.   This weekend, with Allen and McKenzie going back to back in the Ohio Cup series, we will know more about the back end of our rotation.

2. Regarding Allen, is there a statute of limitations on changes in official scorer's decisions?   ln Allen's first start Rosario muffed a two-out grounder right in front of Whit Merrifield's HR.   It was ruled a hit which made the runs earned.   If Gimenez's play in the 9th today was an error then Rosario's play in the game against KC was CLEARLY an error and Allen should be charged with two less earned runs.   Just sayin'.

3. This game showed, once again, that we don't need to score that many runs to win, given our pitching.   We just need to score some runs.   Which brings me to my Austin Hedges comment.   His sacrifice was really important and, given his inability to hit, I think we need to treat him like a pitcher and have him sacrifice in every situation with less than two outs and a runner on.   Yeah, it is demeaning to the guy as a hitter but he hits like a weak hitting pitcher so, there's that.

4. How many of us think Oscar Mercado or even Delino Deshields gets to both the first inning blooper by Moncada and the 9th inning blooper by Mercedes?   I know that thought crossed my mind today.   There are two ways not to make errors:  (a) be a good outfielder and (b) don't get to any balls.  I am OK with Rosario in CF but he will cost us runs.  BTW, I think Zimmer gets to Roberts' drive in the 9th.   Naylor looked terrible on that ball and it is not the first time he looked terrible in RF this season.  He is not adding a lot on offense so what, exactly, is he adding over Zimmer?  Naylor misplayed a couple of other balls in this series.   He is not a right fielder, sorry to say.   What will we do with him now as he is an intriguing prospect?   Send him to the alternate site and let him work on his defense and on his batting eye so he can take more walks?

5. Civale is tough.   I mean, after that first inning he was just nasty.   Was he Rodon nasty?  No, but he was nasty.   Can't wait to see what our minor league system does with continued work with Hentges, Moss, Eli Morgan, Joey Cantillo and others.

6. Bauers got two hits today.  (I won't mention his two Ks, one with two runners in scoring position).

7.  Talk about Chang-like feast or famine.   Gimenez has a double, drives in a crucial run with a groundout and then lets that popup drop and muffs the groundball in the 9th.  Similar to Chang's evening on Monday.

8.  What the heck happened on Reyes' drive?  Did he hit it with topspin?   The Indians have had a number balls they hit this year that we all thought were gone and they died on the warning track.    Whereas when the other team hits the ball it seems to carry better.   I don't get it.

9. I still love Gimenez at SS and at the plate.   Although the results aren't always there when he is hitting, he just looks the part of, someday soon, becoming a really good hitter.

10. On to Cincinnati for the Ohio Cup this weekend!  As always, it is a fun series.

11. Final Note: Splitting the series against the White Sox this early in the year IS huge.  I am very happy to get out of town with that split.