Major Disappointment

Major League Monday turned into a no-relief-pitching, non-pinch-hitting, mis-managing nightmare. A few bright spots:

• the post-game fireworks show
  
  
• getting a Rick Vaughn bobble head
  
  
• the shout-out to the California Penal League during the scoreboard's list of special groups in attendance
  
  
• Major League trivia and clips shown on the scoreboard between innings

Some commentary from teh interwebs:

USA TODAY's GOAT OF THE DAY: The entire Cleveland Indians bullpen.

The Indians, which led 12-7 in the sixth inning, watched their bullpen self-destruct once again, with their playoff hopes suffering another body blow.

The quartet of Greg Aquino, Luis Vizcaino, Matt Herges and Rafael Perez gave up six hits, six walks and eight runs in just 2 1/3 innings.

"We had a really bad night on the mound from multiple people," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. "We continually got ourselves in bad situations, and they kept coming. We have to just keep looking for guys to step up and get it done."

The Indians lead the American League with 261 walks — an average of four per game.

If nothing else, they proved they could fit right in if there is ever another sequel to the movie, Major League. The Indians honored the 20-year anniversary of the movie when Brewers Hall of Fame announcer Bob Uecker threw out the first pitch and handed out bobblehead dolls of Ricky Vaughn, who was the erratic reliever in the film. Uecker played the Indians play-by-play man Harry Doyle.

MLB Fanhouse: You Oughta Know ...

That the Indians had a night to forget on a day they honored a movie about their days as lovable losers. The Brewers and famed announced Bob Uecker were in town for a memorable night in which Uecker's team was on the right end of a few big homers.

The Indians led 8-3 in the fifth and 12-7 in the eighth before the Brewers scored seven runs to win, including four on Prince Fielder's first career grand slam. Fielder's big blast was set up by three consecutive Indians walks, which Uecker must have called by saying "Ball Four. Ball Eight. Ball 12."

Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker, otherwise known as Harry Doyle to Major League movie fans, delivered the ceremonial first pitch before Monday's game. Uecker's pitch? It was a little low (bounced) and outside.

— Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer

I missed the actual first pitch because I had to lug my pre-game party supplies back to the car, but we amused ourselves in the stands by reciting lines from the movie, reenacting Uecker's Miller Lite ads, debating Wedge's managerial skills (or lack thereof), decrying the lack of supporting pitching, and trying to decide what would be worse: losing, or tying it up in the bottom of the 9th and going to extra innings.

I stuck around because I am a to-the-bitter-end–er, plus I wanted to see the fireworks. So, I didn't start heading to the car until 11:30 . . . Note that the first pitch was at 7:05. Oof! I pity the crew that came up from Zanesville and faced a three-hour trip back home.