Game Twenty-Five: Yankees 1, Indians 0

by Ryan on Apr 28, 2008 12:23 AM EDT in Game Recaps

Highest WPA		Lowest WPA
CC Sabathia	.308	Asdrubal Cabrera	-.154
Masa Kobayashi	.041	Jhonny Peralta	-.150
Jason Michaels	.017	Ryan Garko	-.128

I've always found it hard to get worked up over a 1-0 loss, because it meant that your teams' pitchers pitched a heck of a game. CC Sabathia allowed five base runners in eight innings, striking out eight. Chien-Ming Wang had one more strikeout and one more walk in one less inning. And one less run allowed, of course.

The lone run of the game, as often happens in a pitchers' duel, came on a home run. When both pitchers are on their game, the easiest way to score is not by bunching two or three hits together in an inning but by hitting the rare mistake out of the park. That isn't to say there weren't opportunities missed by both sides, but merely that scoring runs the smallball route isn't a good percentage play against a pitcher having a good day.

For the first time in 382 team games, Grady Sizemore did not make an appearance. Franklin Gutierrez got the start in center, and in all honesty looked better defensively than Grady. And this isn't a knock on Grady's defense, either - Franklin's just a really really good outfielder.

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I agree on Gutierrez. There’s a funny parallel to Cabrera there—he looks better at SS than Jhonny, but just as Gutierrez can’t (and really shouldn’t) switch places with Grady, Cabrera can’t take over short from Peralta.

by peter m on Apr 28, 2008 8:53 AM EDT reply actions

Yet. At least. In both cases.

by ken from alexandria on Apr 28, 2008 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions

I guess I’m just curious where you guys thought Gutierrez looked that spectacular. If I recall, the only play he seemed to have to even run for was the one where he and JMike nearly collided. I don’t believe that would have been a difficult play for Grady, do you?
Maybe I missed something though..

You have no idea the physical toll that three vasectomies have on a person

by jakesinger777 on Apr 28, 2008 12:02 PM EDT reply actions

Gutierrez is a bit faster than Sizemore and has a much better arm. Sizemore might have an edge on jumps and routes, but if he does, it ain’t by much.

by Jay on Apr 28, 2008 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

No argument here. That was the impression I had already had, just not from last night’s game.

You have no idea the physical toll that three vasectomies have on a person

by jakesinger777 on Apr 28, 2008 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions

He looked good out there, that’s all I really have to say.

by Jay on Apr 28, 2008 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions

One of my biggest beefs with Sizemore is that he seems to take bad routes. That’s why he’s diving so often. Jim Edmond’s syndrome, perhaps? Not saying he’s bad, but Franky G makes it looks smooth and, at least from a non-statistical standpoint, I’d argue Gutz has the advantage on this front as well.

Burn on, big river, burn on...

by Turkmenbashi on Apr 28, 2008 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions

i read this too quickly as “I’d argue Gutz has the advantage on his front as well.”

by Brick. on Apr 28, 2008 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions

ok, transactions. mastny was called up to replace joebo. benfran was called up to replace jake. sowers replaced benfran. grady hurt his ankle, and snyder was called up to replace sowers. laffey needs to get called up today, presumably taking snyder’s spot?
does grady actually have to be DLed for us to recall benfran within the 20-day window?
i think ben and brad are the only spare OFers on the 40-man (not including loblake and, possibly, carroll).

by emil minty on Apr 28, 2008 12:13 PM EDT reply actions

Won’t Laffey just get called up for Synder and then stay up, getting Jake’s next start as well? Depending how he does in these two starts he’ll either stay up until Jake comes back or Sowers will come back for Jake start #3 and forward.
I don’t think they are willing to or have any reason to DL Grady.

You have no idea the physical toll that three vasectomies have on a person

by jakesinger777 on Apr 28, 2008 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions

that makes sense, if grady is ready to go in a couple days. gutz and michaels can both man CF, so blake operates as the reserve outfielder for a few days. (and if blake has to play the OF, carroll could cover 3b, or, i guess, we could just leave it unmanned, and bat the pitcher and the DH in the lineup at the same time, or something).

by emil minty on Apr 28, 2008 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I was actually under the impression that Grady would be playing tonight. At least that’s the feeling that I got from it and I would be surprised if he had to sit again – it seemed like yesterday was in the interest of being cautious.
If Grady has to miss a few more games I could see them sending Mastny down to make room for Laffey today.

You have no idea the physical toll that three vasectomies have on a person

by jakesinger777 on Apr 28, 2008 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Correct, Ben cannot be recalled until May 6 unless somebody goes on the DL, and if Brad gets optioned today, he’s got to stay down for ten days, too. For those reasons alone, it wouldn’t be shocking if they optioned Mastny today to keep Snyder for an extra couple of days while Grady mends. If they send Mastny down today, they probably swap out Snyder for Mujica later this week.

Mujica’s last five outings: 4.2 IP, 5 K, 1 BB, 1 HBP, two singles and a double, 0 ER.

by Jay on Apr 28, 2008 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions