Game Thread: April 3, 2008
by Jay
on Apr 3, 2008 11:28 AM EDT
in Game Threads
Chicago @ Cleveland
Gametime: 12:05 (STO)
Will a New Jake be showing up at the former Jake today? Hell, I don't really care. It makes for a nice fantasy to think of your 30-year-old sinkerballer suddenly breaking out into some kind of beast, rather than starting the three-year path to obscurity that is more customary for this kind of pitcher.
And it has happened before. And I've always had this feeling about Jake – yes, in my gut, and not particularly in my brain – that he was something just a bit better than he appears to be. But it's for that very reason that I don't really care if the New Jake shows up today; I liked the Old Jake just fine.
I went to look up Jake's numbers from 2007 and was kind of shocked to find a 4.32 ERA – I had to check two or three different sites to make sure it wasn't an error. I knew he had a stellar second half, one of the best in the league. But when he went on the DL after six starts last May, he had a 7.90 ERA. He came back on June 24 – at the historic first-ever LGT summit – and needed 11 very fine starts to get his ERA under 5.
He eventually got it all the way down to 4.32, which would have been 27th in the league had he qualified. His post-DL ERA of 3.54 would have been 10th. His start in Yankee Stadium in the ALDS was a disaster, the Tribe's only loss in that series. But he more than redeemed himself with two quality starts against the Red Sox in the ALCS – the Tribe's only two quality starts in that series.
And then there's his Grapefruit League numbers:
18.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 7 H, 20 SO, 5 BB
So I don't really know if that was the New Jake in the ALCS, or in the second half, or if that was just Really Solid Old Jake back then but it was New Jake that was freaking out the Braves in his last Spring Training start, or if maybe there is no New Jake. And I don't really care. I just know that it seems like everybody did a bang-up job getting him patched up and rehabbed, and that's all I'm really asking for. I'll take the Old Jake for 33 starts, no problem.
0 recs |
592
comments
Read Related
EmailComments
How's the weather in Cleveland today? One assumes it's at least a little warmer than last night, right?
by zempf on Apr 3, 2008 11:35 AM EDT 0 recs
Hey, anyone have any hints on how to make this site run smoother during the game? This ancient computer at work CRAWLS during game threads.
I turn off auto-refresh and it just seems to make it worse. Maybe tunring off avatars will help?
by Toxicadam on Apr 3, 2008 11:40 AM EDT 0 recs
I doubt turning off avatars will help. They're very small, and each unique avatar only loads once.
It seems strange to say it, but maybe the platform is just not well suited to computers more than a few years old.
Have you tried different browsers?
by Jay on
Apr 3, 2008 11:44 AM EDT
up
0 recs
Browser may be the issue. As much as I love firefox, it's a memory hog. I have to restart it multiple times a day. FF3, coming out soon, should address some of this.
by tyler083 on
Apr 3, 2008 11:46 AM EDT
up
0 recs
White Sox (0-2)
1. Nick Swisher cf;
2. Orlando Cabrera ss;
3. Jim Thome dh;
4. Paul Konerko 1b;
5. Jermaine Dye rf;
6. A.J. Pierzynski c;
7. Carlos Quentin lf;
8. Joe Crede 3b;
9. Juan Uribe 2b.
vs. RHP Jake Westbrook
Indians (2-0)
1. Grady Sizemore cf;
2. Jason Michaels lf;
3. Jhonny Peralta ss;
4. Travis Hafner dh;
5. Ryan Garko 1b;
6. Franklin Gutierrez rf;
7. Asdrubal Cabrera 2b;
8. Casey Blake 3b;
9. Kelly Shoppach c.
vs. LHP John Danks
by Jay on Apr 3, 2008 11:41 AM EDT 0 recs
What happened to the other game thread? I was sitting on that page waiting for auto-update. You guys left without me.
by NickFantana on Apr 3, 2008 11:44 AM EDT 0 recs
Sorry, Ryan and I simul-posted, and mine was just ... bigger. I merged the story text but couldn't save the three precious comments that had already been posted.
We're not quite in mid-season form yet.
by Jay on
Apr 3, 2008 12:06 PM EDT
up
0 recs
Meh. Was kinda hoping Marte might see some action today vs. the lefty. We should start a pool for the first game he starts.
by zempf on Apr 3, 2008 11:44 AM EDT 0 recs
I'm thinking he doesn't start behind Carmona or Westbrook.
They will win because they are worthy of victory. - Bill James
by SuddenSam on
Apr 3, 2008 11:52 AM EDT
up
0 recs
Unless Casey Blake gets himself injured, I doubt we see Marte in the first two weeks.
Free Andy Marte!
by woodsmeister on
Apr 3, 2008 12:57 PM EDT
up
0 recs
I think thats what he meant, yes.
Formerly known as "tribefan stuck in boston"
by BostonWahoo on
Apr 3, 2008 11:52 AM EDT
up
0 recs
Because I mentioned in another thread that he was 9th in the majors post-AllStar break (with my own arbitrary minimum innings pitched).
by supermarioelia on
Apr 3, 2008 11:58 AM EDT
up
0 recs
He's not the new Jake. He's Progressive Westbrook.
They will win because they are worthy of victory. - Bill James
by SuddenSam on Apr 3, 2008 11:52 AM EDT 0 recs
niiiice
Formerly known as "tribefan stuck in boston"
by BostonWahoo on
Apr 3, 2008 11:52 AM EDT
up
0 recs
wow mlbtv being sneaky today...i couldn't find a direct link anywhere.
by supermarioelia on Apr 3, 2008 11:59 AM EDT 0 recs
Have you been having any issues of trying to watch a game and it just refusing to load? I wanted to watch parts of yesterday's game and I couldn't get it to load at all.
by cclemens31 on
Apr 3, 2008 12:02 PM EDT
up
0 recs
yes
They will win because they are worthy of victory. - Bill James
by SuddenSam on
Apr 3, 2008 12:08 PM EDT
up
0 recs
Gah and now my up-down buttons on the keyboard aren't working anywhere on the site. Gonna be a long afternoon.
by supermarioelia on Apr 3, 2008 12:01 PM EDT 0 recs
Finally ponied up the $29 for baseballreference, and what do I learn: Grady's OPS+ing 374.
by maledicta on Apr 3, 2008 12:06 PM EDT 0 recs
I just let out a big yawn, and there are now two outs. What the hell?
by Jay on Apr 3, 2008 12:07 PM EDT 0 recs
Let's see if we can knock another starter out before the 5th
by APV on Apr 3, 2008 12:08 PM EDT 0 recs
It should help that Danks isn't really any good, right?
by NickFantana on
Apr 3, 2008 12:09 PM EDT
up
0 recs
I love that about this team. Can't hit like the 90's squads, but still screws up the opposition's staff pretty good.
by Jay on
Apr 3, 2008 12:09 PM EDT
up
0 recs
I'd love to see how the competitions bullpen fared over the next 3-5 days following the opening game of a CLE series last year relative to their baseline level. As I recall, the Tribe was incredible at knocking the opening series starter out early
by APV on
Apr 3, 2008 12:12 PM EDT
up
0 recs
I don't know if we were particularly effective against the series opener, but strategically, that's the time to do it. You don't want the next team to face the opponent to benefit more than you did.
by Jay on
Apr 3, 2008 12:13 PM EDT
up
0 recs
At one point last year I tallied it up, and we were just killing the opening game starter. Something like an average of less than 4 innings.
by APV on
Apr 3, 2008 12:15 PM EDT
up
0 recs
Nice little inning. Let's start it off large Grady.
by supermarioelia on Apr 3, 2008 12:09 PM EDT 0 recs
Made it close.
Wasn't that good of a bunt, though. Went too far, too fast.
by Jay on Apr 3, 2008 12:11 PM EDT 0 recs
I'm pretty happy if we just get last year's groundball Jake back. Strikeouts are pretty, but they also mean you probably threw 4-5 pitches to get an out, an out that didn't result in a DP.
by crazymoloh on Apr 3, 2008 12:11 PM EDT 0 recs
Yeah, but there are no seeing-eye strikeouts, that's the difference.
by Jay on
Apr 3, 2008 12:11 PM EDT
up
0 recs
Also! There's nothing special about a double play, other than it erases an earlier mistake. I'd prefer three groundball outs to a walk, a double play and an out.
by NickFantana on
Apr 3, 2008 12:15 PM EDT
up
0 recs
That's why guys like Felix Hernandez and to a lesser extent Carmona are so deadly. They'll either get you to groundout or strikeout.
by Joe. on
Apr 3, 2008 12:16 PM EDT
up
0 recs
Danks' 2007 post break era 7.11, brought to you by 7-11
by cclemens31 on Apr 3, 2008 12:12 PM EDT 0 recs
Awww no Ramirez today? That sucks.
And I'm not too fond of JP in the 3-hole...just doesn't feel right.
by supermarioelia on Apr 3, 2008 12:14 PM EDT 0 recs
Well, certainly you wouldn't want him in the 1 hole. That wouldn't feel right AT ALL.
by NickFantana on
Apr 3, 2008 12:18 PM EDT
up
0 recs
Damn it, that's what it's called, it's the 2-hole.
You're like Beavis and Butthead ... huhhuhuhuhuh .. he said two-hole.
by Jay on
Apr 3, 2008 12:18 PM EDT
up
0 recs
Am hoping he thinks it is 2005 again hitting third ... he was pretty good that year ... 887 OPS as the #3 hitter
by talonk on
Apr 3, 2008 12:17 PM EDT
up
0 recs
Good morning everyone
One day I'll get over to watch the Tribe play
by new zealand tribe fan on Apr 3, 2008 12:17 PM EDT 0 recs
5.18am Friday
One day I'll get over to watch the Tribe play
by new zealand tribe fan on
Apr 3, 2008 12:18 PM EDT
up
0 recs
You are my hero. Of course, most games start at noon for you, I guess.
by Jay on
Apr 3, 2008 12:19 PM EDT
up
0 recs
NZ summertime ends this weekend, clocks back an hour so 7.05pm starts are usually 11.05am the next day. Tomorrow have a nice 3.05pm start time.
Hero, nah, if you had to you would all get up and watch I'm sure.
One day I'll get over to watch the Tribe play
by new zealand tribe fan on
Apr 3, 2008 12:25 PM EDT
up
0 recs
It's weird. The new 1.2 MB feed of MLB.TV looks so good but it seems jerkier/choppier.
by Joe. on Apr 3, 2008 12:17 PM EDT 0 recs
Apparently the consensus is 9.
So we're still looking at a 95-pitch game at this rate.
by Jay on
Apr 3, 2008 12:22 PM EDT
up
0 recs
Stupid Pieriziizizinzizkizki, ruining the goofy low pitch count. We'll have to settle for the.....
by NickFantana on Apr 3, 2008 12:20 PM EDT 0 recs
I'm amazed at all the stuff that survives the new site / new season transition, and that I recall just what it means
by jhon on
Apr 3, 2008 12:25 PM EDT
up
0 recs
Jake never ceases to impress me with how much velocity he can generate with what appears to be a low effort delivery.
by crazymoloh on Apr 3, 2008 12:22 PM EDT 0 recs
That would be interesting. The Indians' infield was a -4 last year, while the league leading Jays were a +81!
by crazymoloh on
Apr 3, 2008 12:26 PM EDT
up
0 recs
Gameday sez 9 pitches to Pierzyjbhk, incl. 8 'Fastballs'. I assume those are a mix of sinkers and fastballs thrown around the same speed.
by jhon on Apr 3, 2008 12:23 PM EDT 0 recs
So Jhonny has more career atbats in the 3-hole than any other slot? Wow didn't realize it was that many.
by supermarioelia on Apr 3, 2008 12:24 PM EDT 0 recs
For us or them, my computer at work doesn't allow Flash player, so I can't follow any sort of Gamecast
by Roger Dorn on
Apr 3, 2008 12:25 PM EDT
up
0 recs