Wendy Thurm

There was a time when I spent many hours watching do-it-yourself design shows on HGTV. We were in the pre-pre-planning, pre-planning, planning, and doing stages of our home renovation. I can’t remember the show titles anymore but my favorite ones featured the couples who got halfway through their renovations, ran out of ideas, energy and money, and then called in the TV experts to clean up their mess. I also liked the shows that taught how to make any room look like it was designed by an expert on a shoestring budget.

As I combed through last week’s boxscores on Sunday night, looking for the unsung heroes, my days as an HGTV addict came rushing back. That’s sounds weird, so let me explain.

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Fans of the Toronto Blue Jays who frequent these parts know all too well about Dana Eveland. The soft-tossing lefty started nine games for the Jays in 2010, winning three, losing four, and posting an unimpressive 6.45 ERA. It was so unimpressive that the Jays designated Eveland for assignment and then traded him to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jays fans, among others, likely lost interest in Eveland’s career after his short stint north of the border.

I’ll catch you up; it won’t take long.

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There have been 2,681 appearances by a relief pitcher so far this season. Three of the worst bullpen performances by Win Probability Added took place on Friday night. In the same game. Three of the best bullpen performances by Win Probability Added also took place on Friday night. In the same game.

The same game.

The match up in question pitted the Chicago Cubs against their National League Central rivals the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Matt Garza was on the mound for the Cubs, sporting a 2-1 record and a 2.67 ERA in five starts. Crafty lefty Randy Wolf took the ball for the Brewers with a less impressive record: 2-3 and a 6.68 ERA in six starts. It was a pitchers’ duel through the first six innings, with the Brewers holding a 1-0 lead.

Jose Veras came on for the Brewers in the top of the 7th after Travis Ishikawa pinch hit for Wolf in the 6th. After getting Wellington Castillo to ground out, Veras gave up a triple to Darwin Barney, hit Ian Stewart and walked Reed Johnson to load the bases for the Cubs with one out. Veras departed with a -.192 WPA for his troubles, replaced by Kameron Loe. With the bases loaded, David DeJesus stepped to the plate and did this:

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