Game Forty: Indians 2, Athletics 0

by Ryan on May 14, 2008 9:49 PM EDT in Game Recaps Comment 69 comments

Highest WPA		Lowest WPA
CC Sabathia	.582	David Dellucci	-.107
Grady Sizemore	.114	Victor Martinez	-.073
Ryan Garko	.082	Travis Hafner	-.058

CC Sabathia obviously was embarrassed by actually giving up a run in his last start. So tonight he pitched the best outing of an Indians starter in the past four days (which is saying something), shutting out the Athletics on five hits and striking out 11. And with that shutout, all five starters in the Cleveland rotation have pitched at least seven shutout innings in their last starts, an amazing feat. The Indians as a team now have seven (!) shutouts. Cleveland starters have now gone 43.1 innings without allowing a run. The run prevention has been such that despite an offense last in the league in batting average and slugging, they could wake up tomorrow the leaders of the AL Central.

The offense tonight didn't need to do much, but could have done a whole lot more. Grady Sizemore lead off the game with a home run, and Ryan Garko added a homer in the fourth. They could have ended all doubt in the fifth, when Joe Blanton loaded the bases with nobody out with two walks after a Ben Francisco double, but Jhonny Peralta swung weakly at a pitch on the outside corner and topped a grounder right back to Blanton, who started a 1-2-3 double play, That turnabout seemed to rejuvenate Blanton, who was probably one hit from hitting the showers. Blanton went on to pitch through the seventh.

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Nice writeup. Guess everybody’s getting to bed early tonight, eh?

Unofficial Jays-Twins game thread anybody?

by Jay on May 14, 2008 9:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I love these 2 hour games – it leaves plenty of time to work on the recaps.

by Ryan on May 14, 2008 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Toronto up 5-4 in the 7th. Go Jays.

Despite all of my best intentions, I have not, in fact, grown up to be a debaser.

by zempf on May 14, 2008 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

5-4 Jays at last check.

Wasn’t able to watch the game, but it sounds as if it was more of the same. Good outcome. 117 pitches is a lot, though.

I can’t recall a team hitting this badly for such a sustained period of time. At least not one that has guys with a history of hitting the ball at least respectably. I keep saying it will get better. I’m beginning to have doubts. Jhonny had two hits and is still the goat. He’s got a knack!!

by peter m on May 14, 2008 10:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m working on a new theory that pitching and defense wins games.

by Toxicadam on May 14, 2008 9:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Crazy talk. Need big bat in corner! NEEEEEEEED!

by Jay on May 14, 2008 9:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But you need at least one run to win the game, though.

by Ryan on May 14, 2008 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Baltimore can find a way to score while on defense, so can we.

by Toxicadam on May 14, 2008 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

wow, jhonny on the spot this evening.

by Brick. on May 14, 2008 10:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Our pitching is ADVERB INSANE

by Voltaire on May 14, 2008 10:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And we commend you on your non-game-thread non-profanity.

by Jay on May 14, 2008 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Our starters have completely exhausted my vocabulary. I am left to babble like this incoherently.

by Voltaire on May 14, 2008 10:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

When’s the last time you didn’t care who gets sent to the mound?

by DixonCayne on May 14, 2008 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Spring training? Not trying to be sarcastic – I can’t think of a regular-season answer.

by Voltaire on May 14, 2008 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Meh … why’d we have to soften up Halladay for these stupid Twins?

by Jay on May 14, 2008 10:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i think it’s much more likely that our guys lulled him into a false sense of security.

by still ill on May 14, 2008 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That would make sense, except that we handed him his worst start of the season.

by Jay on May 14, 2008 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

43 or 44 innings?

by supermarioelia on May 14, 2008 10:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cleveland starters have recorded 132 outs since allowing a run, but the first two of those were the last two outs of the 5th inning last Friday. Those don’t count (the 5th inning was not a “scoreless inning,”) so the streak stands at 130 outs = 43 1/3 innings. (The extra third is courtesy of Byrd, who was lifted with one out in the eighth on Tuesday.)

by Fiddlesticks on May 15, 2008 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fixed the streak length – thanks for the catch.

by Ryan on May 15, 2008 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, actually I was correcting myself; in the game thread I posted an accounting that came up to 44 innings. I didn’t realize that the first two outs didn’t count until the middle of the night. Don’t ask why I think about such things in the middle of the night.

by Fiddlesticks on May 15, 2008 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ah we’re not doin the Twins-Jays thread?

by supermarioelia on May 14, 2008 10:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe this is it?

by Voltaire on May 14, 2008 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh. Hi I guess? You were absent for the real thread too?

by supermarioelia on May 14, 2008 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It was a little sluggish without you guys.

by Jay on May 14, 2008 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just lackin a little pep….Brick and ‘sticks seemed to be on fire tonight. We’ve really got to start rec’ing all funny comments. It’ll make for a great green read for even those who don’t read all of the thread religiously like we do.

by supermarioelia on May 14, 2008 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

brick and ‘sticks, but none of the nicks, and towards the end doc erik.

it was a fun size tonight – my crappy computer could keep up for the most part. WINNING STEAK!

by Brick. on May 14, 2008 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah. I had another of my brother’s HS games to attend.

by Voltaire on May 14, 2008 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Intramural basketball over here.

by supermarioelia on May 14, 2008 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rolen with the insurance run! Woooooo!

by Jay on May 14, 2008 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In my heart, I know that Morneau is only pretty good.

by Jay on May 14, 2008 10:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

But he won an MVP, and Andre Dawson and Mo Vaughn tell me those are never wrong.

by maledicta on May 14, 2008 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

C’mon Jays, what the hell.

by supermarioelia on May 14, 2008 10:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Dear God … how can our place in the standings be left in the hands of Brian Tallet?

by Jay on May 14, 2008 10:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hell of a 3-2 bender Mr. Tallet!

by cheech99 on May 14, 2008 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is BJ Ryan no longer the Jays closer?

by cheech99 on May 14, 2008 11:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

First place … all by our lonesome.

by Jay on May 14, 2008 11:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Woop Woop

by Brick. on May 14, 2008 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

HIRE SCOTT DOWNS!

by cheech99 on May 14, 2008 11:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

baseball is funny

by ahowie on May 14, 2008 11:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Saw the end of the game tonight. The last at-bat to Brown was terrific – 5 straight changeups. Nothing else. That would’ve been shocking to see several years ago.

by TribeJay on May 15, 2008 12:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Posted this in the Game Thread, but it bears repeating I think:

Since April 17 (last 25 games):

Team ERA—2.18. (55 runs in 226.2 IP.)

Team RA—2.26. (Only two unearned runs.)

Starters ERA—1.87. (35 earned runs in 168.1 IP.)

Bullpen ERA—3.06. (20 earned runs in 58.1 IP.)

And of course … W-L: 16-9.

by Jay on May 15, 2008 12:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This is getting fairly ridiculous…when are we going to get Bob Feller commenting on how this is the way the game is supposed to be played.

by APV on May 15, 2008 12:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I found the solution to our offensive problems: Lonnie Smith (LF) and Keith Hernandez (1B). They’re both available and could be had cheap and they’ll complete our transformation to the 1982 Cardinals.

by APV on May 15, 2008 12:26 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Oh yeah, we’re in first place. and there was much rejoicing.

by APV on May 15, 2008 12:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Time to allow aluminum bats!

by Toxicadam on May 15, 2008 1:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i guess the AL and NL are equal now.

by Brick. on May 15, 2008 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

an by now, i mean in 2005

by Brick. on May 15, 2008 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can CC PH in Cincy?

by palcal on May 15, 2008 2:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Heck, just have him DH.

by pandroid on May 15, 2008 3:13 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I mean as part of our lineup shuffling. ;)

by pandroid on May 15, 2008 3:17 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

In regular games.

by pandroid on May 15, 2008 3:19 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

At AL parks.

by pandroid on May 15, 2008 3:19 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I’m retarded

by pandroid on May 15, 2008 3:19 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

It’s a shame you’d posted before these, because otherwise, this would have to be considered one of the all-time most spectacular LGT debuts.

I’m recommending all four.

by Jay on May 15, 2008 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I mean five.

by Jay on May 15, 2008 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I’m retarded.

by Jay on May 15, 2008 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I can vouch for this.

-Erik

by drerikbrady on May 16, 2008 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Noon game today!?...Awesome….Aaron Laffey starting…awesomer

by APV on May 15, 2008 9:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Even better than a noon game – the Aeros are already up 1-0 in game 1 of their DH today (started at 10:35!)

Despite all of my best intentions, I have not, in fact, grown up to be a debaser.

by zempf on May 15, 2008 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Go Hodges. And Huff. I’d put up a gamethread, if we have a least one person listening to the audio. Anyone?

by dgcambridge on May 15, 2008 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gimenez and Hodges with first inning doubles. Huff no hits, no walks through 2.

by APV on May 15, 2008 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They have J.D. Martin listed as starting game 2, not Lofgren. I wonder if he’s starting again, or if its just a fill-in because of the crazy schedule.

by dgcambridge on May 15, 2008 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

why don’t we move this to the Game Thread, since it’s up…

by APV on May 15, 2008 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe it deserved a fanshot, but Travis Hafner will be playing 1b this weekend according to the Plain Dealer.

by Toxicadam on May 15, 2008 10:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

if there’s a link, i’d say it does.

by Brick. on May 15, 2008 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, I saw that. I hope it means against righties, not every game. CC uses Hafner’s bats, by the way. I hope the problem isn’t in the bats!! (CC might pinch hit, after all).

by peter m on May 15, 2008 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs