Mitchell: They Don’t Play No Game That They Can’t Win

The Clippers enter play today with a 15-12 record, 2nd place in the IL West and 5th best overall in the league. For a team that came into the season looking like the big dog in the yard, this might be a bit of a disappointing start, but the record and standings could be much different with just a few key hits here or there for the team as only 3 of the 12 losses have come by more than 3 runs.  The Clippers have played ONLY 1st place clubs since April 22nd, and outside of Toledo’s Brad Eldred nearly single-handedly bashing the Clippers into a pulp, they have handled the best of the North (Pawtucket) and the South (Gwinnett) over the past week, winning 5 of 7 from those two teams. Things still look pretty good from the that point of view.

Items of note:

The Indians traded Ryan Spilborghs to the Texas Rangers today for cash considerations. Ben Copeland will replace Spilborghs on the Clippers roster and Cole Cook was also added to the squad today top provide some relief help in the short term.

It appears that Jose Lopez will join the Clippers on their upcoming 10-day road trip. Lopez was recently designated for assignment by the Indians to make room for Johnny Damon on the 25-man roster and after clearing waivers, Lopez was assigned to Columbus. He will likely play an infield utility roll with the Clippers and will likely see most of his time at 3B until Lonnie Chisenhalll is ready to come off of the DL.

The Clippers scored 12 runs yesterday with only two extra-base hits, both doubles and both by Gregorio Petit. The reasons for success without power? Gwinnett committed 4 errors and the Clippers had clutch hitting. They were 8-13 (.615) with runners in scoring position yesterday, far above their team average of .262 entering play.

Three true outcomes- The Clippers pitchers are 1st in the IL in strikeouts (237),  1st in home runs allowed (31), and  2nd best in walks allowed (81) One of those is not a good stat to lead.

The Indians have a double-header coming up next week, so they will need a spot start from someone on the Clippers roster. There have been no announcements as of yet, but David Huff, Kevin Slowey, Zach McAllister and Corey Kluber are all on the Tribe 40-man roster, so they have their pick.

Finally, if you’re like me, you’ve been wearing out YouTube  and your Beastie Boys CD’s (I borrowed Licence to Ill on vinyl from the Elmore public library about a dozen times before I got the cash together to buy the CD). Today Adam Rauch, also known as MCA passed away at age 47 from cancer. The Beastie Boys allusive lyrics and smooth sample/instrument mix never failed to get my body movin’. MCA’s crass and perpetually hoarse voice provided the perfect compliment to the more smarmy and adolescent  tones of  Ad Rock & Mike D and the fact that he dropped a line from Bob Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues” on the track “Funky Donkey” on their final album together will make me smile every time I think about it. R.I.P. MCA.