Oakland @ Cleveland GameThread, May 15, 2008 12:05 PM EDT

Prediction: 0-0 tie, game called after 53 innings.

by APV on May 15, 2008 11:20 AM EDT 0 recs

I love baseball in the middle of the day.

-Erik

by drerikbrady on May 15, 2008 11:22 AM EDT 0 recs

Yeah…but you also listen to the Wiggles (and have been to two(!) concerts. So how can we trust you?

by APV on May 15, 2008 11:26 AM EDT up 0 recs

although I’m leaving out punctuation ), so how can you trust me either?

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

Indeed.

-Erik

by drerikbrady on May 15, 2008 11:48 AM EDT up 0 recs

I HATES it. No radio, no TV, no fast internet. Bah.

by Julie on May 15, 2008 11:32 AM EDT up 0 recs

but Julie, you have US

by APV on May 15, 2008 11:34 AM EDT up 0 recs

And that’s what makes it bearable!

by Julie on May 15, 2008 11:36 AM EDT up 0 recs

Marte hired, Martinez gets a day off:

G. Sizemore cf
J. Peralta ss
B. Francisco lf
R. Garko 1b
T. Hafner dh
F. Gutierrez rf
K. Shoppach c
J. Carroll 2b
A. Marte 3b

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

by zempf on May 15, 2008 11:27 AM EDT 0 recs

Martinez and Cabrera, that is.

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

by zempf on May 15, 2008 11:27 AM EDT up 0 recs

That’s not exactly the most inspiring offensive lineup…but then again, what lineup of ours would be these days?

by APV on May 15, 2008 11:30 AM EDT up 0 recs

At this point, any lineup I look at makes me think, “well, maybe having [whoever] hit [some weird spot in the order] could ignite us.” Then we score 2 runs & I realize I was wrong.

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

by zempf on May 15, 2008 11:34 AM EDT up 0 recs

I’m putting my chips on Shoppach today…come on lady luck!

by APV on May 15, 2008 11:35 AM EDT up 0 recs

It’s going to be Jhoney’s day. I can FEEL it!

He’ll do something I’ve never seen. And because I can’t see it, I still will have never seen it.

by Julie on May 15, 2008 11:43 AM EDT up 0 recs

I think there’s a little think you’re forgetting about called “imagination”. I once saw Albert Belle hit a 5-run homer, it was great.

by APV on May 15, 2008 11:46 AM EDT up 0 recs

Well, sure. But that was Albert Belle. This is Jhoney we’re talking about!

by Julie on May 15, 2008 11:47 AM EDT up 0 recs

So maybe a 2.5-run HR?...maybe 1.25….

by APV on May 15, 2008 11:48 AM EDT up 0 recs

My money is on Marte. I’m calling today his breakout performance.

-Erik

by drerikbrady on May 15, 2008 11:49 AM EDT up 0 recs

I hate how Marte only gets to play with the Junior Varsity. But I’m with you on this predicksh.

my helmet has, like, no pine tar on it.

by joeee on May 15, 2008 12:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

Huff has thrown three scoreless.

Link.

by dgcambridge on May 15, 2008 11:30 AM EDT 0 recs

does that count towards the $.90 steak?

by Brick. on May 15, 2008 11:36 AM EDT up 0 recs

Through 3 innings, all of David Huff’s outs have come via strike out (2), ground out (3), or pop up (4).

by APV on May 15, 2008 11:32 AM EDT 0 recs

David Huff is currently our best, close-to-the-majors pitcher not currently on the major league roster…discuss.

by APV on May 15, 2008 11:43 AM EDT 0 recs

do you know off the top of your head how he compares age-wise to laffey and sowers. i’d say i’m at work and that’s why i’m not looking it up, but really, i’m just being very lazy.

by Brick. on May 15, 2008 11:49 AM EDT up 0 recs

Sowers numbers at Akron were better (he had something like 72K:10BB) but comparable. Huff’s numbers are better than Laffey’s first exposure to AA, although Laffey was quite a bit younger.

by APV on May 15, 2008 11:51 AM EDT up 0 recs

Huff is actually older than Laffey, amazingly enough. Not that that reflects poorly on Huff as long as they promote him aggressively, mostly shows how awesome Laffey is.

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

by zempf on May 15, 2008 11:52 AM EDT up 0 recs

Yeah…Laffey’s really young. Huff’s a little older because he was a college draftee and then he was injured for most of last year…which slowed his development some

by APV on May 15, 2008 11:53 AM EDT up 0 recs

thanks. sowers is probably the better comp cuz of laffey’s ground balls anyway.

by Brick. on May 15, 2008 11:53 AM EDT up 0 recs

Here are their minor league numbers (via B-Ref)

Sowers
Laffey Huff

by APV on May 15, 2008 12:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

It’s difficult (I think) to appreciate how much Laffey has continued to raise expectations for himself (i.e. outperform expectations) even as he’s continued to pitch to better and better hitters at such a young age

by APV on May 15, 2008 12:01 PM EDT up 0 recs

huff definitely seems to be trending in the right direction.

by Brick. on May 15, 2008 12:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

Laffey has moved himself into a spot by himself. (no jinx!)

After that, look for Miller lurking in the shadows…

by dgcambridge on May 15, 2008 12:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

It’s why I view Laffey as untouchable at this point

by APV on May 15, 2008 12:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

“Close to the majors” is a loaded term on this team.

Move to the back of the line, Huff.

by Toxicadam on May 15, 2008 11:50 AM EDT up 0 recs

Nah, Sowers is still the answer right now. After that it’s Slocum, Miller, and Huff – although I don’t know the order. I might pick Miller as the leader.

by dgcambridge on May 15, 2008 11:53 AM EDT up 0 recs

roster

by Brick. on May 15, 2008 11:54 AM EDT up 0 recs

I’m not speaking about the reality of who would be most likely to get called up were one necessary (which would obviously include roster considerations). I’m saying, it’s arguable that Huff is a better pitcher right now than Sowers. Arguable.

by APV on May 15, 2008 11:56 AM EDT up 0 recs

It’s arguable, sure.

I might be confusing best close-to-majors, not closest-to-majors good pitcher.

by dgcambridge on May 15, 2008 11:58 AM EDT up 0 recs

I’m also guilty of forgetting how impressive Sowers was in his first professional season, of course…

by APV on May 15, 2008 12:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

meaning 40 man and opposed to 25?

Well, then the question is no fun. Huff easily. Unless you want to throw relievers and Stevens in the mix.

by dgcambridge on May 15, 2008 11:56 AM EDT up 0 recs

Huff’s not on either…there’s been no reason to add him

by APV on May 15, 2008 11:57 AM EDT up 0 recs

They only play 7 inning games in the minors when they have a doubleheader, right?

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

by zempf on May 15, 2008 11:49 AM EDT 0 recs

or if it gets dark or too close to dinner time.

by Brick. on May 15, 2008 11:50 AM EDT up 0 recs

No, you’ve got it backwards, they play 9, but with a 3 run rule and if you get up by 9 in the first game, that game is over and then they start the second game an hour later. You’re thinking of the winter leagues.

-Erik

by drerikbrady on May 15, 2008 11:50 AM EDT up 0 recs

LGT, enjoy this, a most beautiful ‘free iced coffee’ day at dunkin donuts. You still have 10 minutes to run and catch one before the game starts!

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

by jakesinger777 on May 15, 2008 11:52 AM EDT 0 recs

Sowers starts tomorrow.

-Erik

by drerikbrady on May 15, 2008 11:53 AM EDT 0 recs

So does Laffey go to Buffalo?

by peter m on May 15, 2008 11:53 AM EDT up 0 recs

how could it be anything else? especially if they think westy will be back after 1 rehab start.

by Brick. on May 15, 2008 11:55 AM EDT up 0 recs

Yes, Shapiro did confirm on the pre-game with Hammy

-Erik

by drerikbrady on May 15, 2008 11:57 AM EDT up 0 recs

Any word on who they’re sending down to make room?

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

by zempf on May 15, 2008 11:53 AM EDT up 0 recs

On the preview page on Sportsline, Laffey looks so happy and Smith looks positively resigned.

http://sportsline.com/mlb/gamecenter/preview/MLB_20080515_OAK@CLE

I hope that’s prescient.

by Julie on May 15, 2008 11:57 AM EDT 0 recs

Happy noon, y’all.

by supermarioelia on May 15, 2008 11:58 AM EDT 0 recs

HEY HEY, LET’S GO TRIBE, clap, clap, clap

-Erik

by drerikbrady on May 15, 2008 11:58 AM EDT 0 recs

Think I might listen to this one & stay at my desk, so you can all time machine me for once.

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

by zempf on May 15, 2008 11:58 AM EDT 0 recs

Hrmpf. The Akron-Altoona box score just stopped updating at the bottom of the 4th. Anyone have any idea what’s going on there?

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

by zempf on May 15, 2008 11:59 AM EDT 0 recs

Nevermind, just flipped on the radio feed. 3-0, Aeros after 5.

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

by zempf on May 15, 2008 12:01 PM EDT up 0 recs

Three hours of non-studying coming up…pretty damn pumped over here.

by supermarioelia on May 15, 2008 11:59 AM EDT 0 recs

I can’t wait until the weather warms up and Andy Marte’s flyballs turn into extra base hits…it’s gonna be awesome.

by supermarioelia on May 15, 2008 12:02 PM EDT 0 recs

Today is that day Mario, today is that day.

-Erik

by drerikbrady on May 15, 2008 12:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

Oh man, my mood is now at a 8.6

by supermarioelia on May 15, 2008 12:05 PM EDT up 0 recs

if they counted the other 2/3 inning would you be at 8.7?

by Brick. on May 15, 2008 12:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

Really, what’s the weather in Cleveland?

by dgcambridge on May 15, 2008 12:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

It’s got nothing to do with weather Dave. I’m just saying that today is the day.

-Erik

by drerikbrady on May 15, 2008 12:10 PM EDT up 0 recs

I like the way you think.

by dgcambridge on May 15, 2008 12:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

HEY HEY, LET’S GO TRIBE, clap, clap, clap

-Erik

by drerikbrady on May 15, 2008 12:03 PM EDT 0 recs

I’m taking issue with how everyone is calculating the streak. No one’s including the 0.2 IP that CC got at the end of the 6th against the Jays? I guess that’s not a “scoreless inning”?

by supermarioelia on May 15, 2008 12:03 PM EDT 0 recs

Yeah, I think that’s it. The fifth inning Friday (not sixth) was not a “scoreless inning,” since Toronto scored in that inning. Thus the streak begins in the sixth inning. The math is a little fuzzy, and I think you could make a case for either accounting method.

by Fiddlesticks on May 15, 2008 12:06 PM EDT up 0 recs