Dumb and Dumber

Dumb: White Sox play-by-play announcer John Schriffen not knowing the social-media campaign by fans to elect catcher Martin Maldonado to the All-Star team is a joke. Dumber: Manager Mickey Mouse continuing to play Maldonado. Yesterday, in the sixth inning of a tied game with the Red Sox, Boston walked Lenyn Sosa (!!) to get to Maldonado, who flied out. Then, in the bottom of the eighth with an insurance run on third base (after Sosa doubled and stole!!!), Mouse again let Maldonado bat, resulting in a strikeout and a missed opportunity that turned into a 6-4 loss in ten innings. After the game, Mouse mounted a vigorous defense of Maldonado, whose value apparently can’t be measured by a .071 BA (7-for-99 and 1-for-46 over his last fifteen games). The Red Sox stole three bases on Maldonado, by the way, which gives him a six percent caught-stealing rate (2-for-31). Go, defense. Maybe someone should tell Shcriffen and/or Mouse about Upside Down Day, when they turn the standings upside down to determine the postseason. Sox in first place!