Game Thread: May 20, 2008 - 6th inning
by Jay on May 20, 2008 10:03 PM EDT
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PrintCleveland Indians at Chicago White Sox, Apr 2, 2007 2:05 PM EDT
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I see A-Rod is back to 100% ... hit a home run when they were down 10-0.
by Jay on May 20, 2008 10:09 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
I expect the Birmingham Barons bullpen could silence our bats; I won’t be making fun of the Sox ‘pen unless and until we take the lead.
"A good body with a dull brain is as cheap as life itself."
by Fiddlesticks on May 20, 2008 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions
W’re going to lose 2-1, and I’m going to cry.
Despite all of my best intentions, I have not, in fact, grown up to be a debaser.
Yeah, I have no idea. I hate the whole “Wedge sucks” thing, but I’m starting to come around.
Despite all of my best intentions, I have not, in fact, grown up to be a debaser.
Sleeping at the wheel. Wedge doesn’t bunt the left hander who has made a career out of not hitting left handers, who shouldn’t be batting in this spot in the first place.
I know I’m late to the party here, but here is what I think Wedge was thinking. Even with this said below, I still would’ve pinch-hit with Gutierrez.
1) Thornton doesn’t really have a platoon split. Never has.
2) Dellucci was 2-4 with a HR against Thornton prior to the at-bat.
3) If he pinch-hits with Gutz there, he’s stuck with him against Jenks in the 9th if they’re still down…and that would be an automatic out. But because of the double-play and general ineptness, they never got back around to this spot in the lineup.
One nice thing about football, you can score even if the offense is terrible. The Ravens won a Super Bowl like that. I feel like the pitching staff and the defense need to figure out some way to score. There’s gotta be a way.
¡Free Chan Perry!
by TheVanillaGorilla on May 20, 2008 10:19 PM EDT reply actions
Sort of the football equivalent of Jeff Kent, Brian Giles, the guy with the white teeth in CIN, etc. Don’t worry about it.
¡Free Chan Perry!
by TheVanillaGorilla on May 20, 2008 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh – I’m sure asdrubal is up for some pick-sixes
Give Marte a Chance. FIRE SHELTON. Find Wedge a Hot Seat.
Cliff Lee has at least 9 safeties by now.
¡Free Chan Perry!
by TheVanillaGorilla on May 20, 2008 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions
You know, in my field we call this “double-depression”, the the hill coming out of the major depression is only high enough to qualify for dysthymic depression….never quite making it up to normal mood…...another offensive slump when I can’t recall us ever coming out of the first one…
Why in the world was it necessary to make a pitching change there? Fuck you for wasting time, Ozzie.
I hate Wedge. How can you not give every single guy on the roster a chance with this pathetic offense?
New Lineup:
1. Grady
2. Welgarz
3. Victor
4. Aubrey
5. Marte
6. FGoot
7. Choo
8. Mills
9. Astro
And no, I don’t care if the positions don’t match.
if there’s no positions can we just drop Astro for CC? DH?
¡Free Chan Perry!
by TheVanillaGorilla on May 20, 2008 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions
This may be the only ‘dream lineup’ in known history to feature both Franklin Gutierrez and Asdrubal Cabrera.
by maledicta on May 20, 2008 10:27 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Like the Tigers?
"A good body with a dull brain is as cheap as life itself."
by Fiddlesticks on May 20, 2008 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions
What worries me most is that I’m bored.
What worries me second most is that Victor has become the good version of Jason Kendall.
by tabler84 on May 20, 2008 10:28 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
And I’m seriously considering boycotting watching this damn team if Jamey Carroll gets another start before Marte.
Where’s GFP? He’s the biggest Victor supporter—for good reason. But it’s time for even GFP to lay some blame on Victor. W.T.F.
I just took a 2 hour LGT/Indians break to study with a hot girl from class. And I didn’t even fucking hesitate. This is what it’s come to.
by supermarioelia on May 20, 2008 10:29 PM EDT reply actions
This is a valid point considering how people in my life know about LGT. I only tell juicy stories in the game threads since there’s no way in hell anyone I know reads these.
by supermarioelia on May 20, 2008 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Side note: There is nothing more arousing than studying Clinical Skills with a hot girl. There’s no actual touching, just a dry run, but you can cut the friggin sexual tension with a knife. We’re doing the resp exam and I ask her “if she’s tender anywhere on her chest”. I’m a linguistic champion apparently.
by supermarioelia on May 20, 2008 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Look, we’re realistic. We get down and we bounce back. But we have a manager driving what little chance our offense may have off a cliff.
What’s killing me is two things: one, we’re getting pretty damn good pitching. Two, the rest of the division is pretty much shit right now. We should be running away with this thing, but we’re not taking advantage of it.
Despite all of my best intentions, I have not, in fact, grown up to be a debaser.
It’s been a couple of hours, but I’m still confused. Why are we making an example out of Jhonny?
by supermarioelia on May 20, 2008 10:32 PM EDT reply actions
he must pay for his insolence… showing up Casey with all those home runs…
by gte619n on May 20, 2008 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
Because he’s the only one unperturbed by anything?
by FranklinScott on May 20, 2008 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Can we all pitch in and pay your salary to be a full-time LGT correspondent? What are they paying you in Rochester? We’ll double it.
by supermarioelia on May 20, 2008 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Is this a recycled joke?
"A good body with a dull brain is as cheap as life itself."
by Fiddlesticks on May 20, 2008 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions
wow hammy thought he went around it looked to me like it wasn’t even close
by Gradyforpresident on May 20, 2008 10:40 PM EDT reply actions
Before, I was at least able to be distracted by the Flyers and the Cavs, but now they’re both out & I have to focus my full attention on the Indians. Hrmpf.
Despite all of my best intentions, I have not, in fact, grown up to be a debaser.
Laz you’re a piece of shit. When you turn your back like that, we know you made the wrong call, and that you know it’s wrong. But you’re just an asshole like that. RAGE
by supermarioelia on May 20, 2008 10:40 PM EDT reply actions
GFP, I don’t feel like scrolling up: Did you see my posts on Victor? Are you finally souring on him? He’s pissing me off, doing this BS Jason Kendall impersonation.
I’m going to go buy a “Clinical Skills” book
by gte619n on May 20, 2008 10:41 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Andy Marte is on pace for 94 atbats this season.
by supermarioelia on May 20, 2008 10:42 PM EDT reply actions
Things will change when the weather finally gets above 70 degrees.
I tried to make Paul Reuschel my Avatar, but he didn't fit into the box.
Alright I’m bored with this game, anyone want to hear a funny Carlos Tosca story?
by supermarioelia on May 20, 2008 10:43 PM EDT reply actions
With the game on the line, Jamey Carroll batted while Jhonny Peralta, Kelly Shoppach, Franklin Gutierrez, Michael Aubrey, and Andy Marte were on the bench. Nice.
On a high note, C.C. looked great tonight again. Quentin just hit a good pitch. Thome hit a mistake, but give him credit for taking it to left.
I hate Eric Wedge with a fiery passion. Face it, he’s a shitty manager who stumbled onto 96 wins last year.
I tried to make Paul Reuschel my Avatar, but he didn't fit into the box.
seriously, how does wedge keep pulling this crap off?
Give Marte a Chance. FIRE SHELTON. Find Wedge a Hot Seat.
fire his ass. maybe antonetti isn’t beholden to wedge, so maybe shapiro needs to go too. and i can’t believe i’m typing this
by Gradyforpresident on May 20, 2008 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions
With the exception of Peralta, there’s no reason to think any of those guys would have done anything. It’s just that bad. Kinda would have liked to see Aubrey regardless.
Jensen Lewis is WHIPTASTIC.
I tried to make Paul Reuschel my Avatar, but he didn't fit into the box.
so I researched the claim made by Hawk and DJ that “Sizemore sure is a great late-inning hitter … you don’t want to face this guy in the last 3 innings”
Innings 1-3 : OPS .858
Innings 4-6: OPS .949
Innings 7-9: OPS .758
Why do I even care? These guys are horrible.
actually i was gonna say his arm looks a lot better this year
by Gradyforpresident on May 20, 2008 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Getting beat in baseball by Pablo Ozuna is like losing a debate to Miss South Carolina.
Got in a fight with Joel Skinner, was injured by a charging Jhonny Peralta coming in from third.
by FaustosSinkingFastball on May 20, 2008 10:50 PM EDT reply actions 4 recs
After this debacle I wouldn’t let a girl named Jensen within ten feet of my….foul pole.
by supermarioelia on May 20, 2008 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions
i meant the one you were talking about above
by Gradyforpresident on May 20, 2008 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Alright, the story.
So a couple of years back I used to do sports radio for my university…I think I’ve mentioned this before. Football broadcasts, hockey, had a call-in show…basically allowed me to be credentialed for Jays games when the Tribe was in town, and let me go into the locker rooms after the game.
We blew game one, and being in the Indians lockerroom after the game was the most depressing thing I’ve ever experienced. It was silent, and Ronnie Belliard was walked around naked. Enough said.
Well our bullpen blew game two as well, and I was damned if I was going to sit through another Wedge interview. So I ventured over to the Jays locker room, and into Carlos Tosca’s office.
And I asked this question (swear to god, I still have the audio on my computer):
“It must be nice to have the Indians bullpen in town after the issues you guys have had this year”
Carlos: “Well….” (HILARIOUS AWKWARD PAUSE OF ABOUT SEVEN SECONDS) “I know that they’ve had their struggles this year….” (AWKWARD PAUSE) “I’ve got enough to worry about with my club…” (nervous laughter from all personnel in the room)
I felt so vindicated. He was fired mere days later.
by supermarioelia on May 20, 2008 10:51 PM EDT reply actions
So Carlos Tosca and I are on the redeye from Mexico City to NYC. Tosca can’t sleep on flights so we’re walking through the bario trying to find a sketchy pharmacia to sell us some off prescription diazepam…
I was in a barber shop quartet with Carlos Tosca … aw, forget it.
I tried to make Paul Reuschel my Avatar, but he didn't fit into the box.
Gotta be a Kobayashi mention coming up…
by supermarioelia on May 20, 2008 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Come on, Jensen. Keep it close, at least. We can get two runs. Theoretically.
--
Have to wake up bats!
Wedge cannot be concerned with your trivial knowledge.
I tried to make Paul Reuschel my Avatar, but he didn't fit into the box.
wedge finds your lack of faith disturbing
by Gradyforpresident on May 20, 2008 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Fuck you (Jensen), fuck you (Hafner), fuck you (baseball gods), you’re cool (Sabathia), fuck you (Wedge). I’m out.
by mjschaefer on May 20, 2008 10:53 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Haha I used this last year, but it’s still hilarious. We really should use it more often.
by supermarioelia on May 20, 2008 10:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Carroll has cost us three baserunners and one run tonight with his defence, right?
by supermarioelia on May 20, 2008 10:53 PM EDT reply actions
Jamey Carroll looks like Leonardo DiCaprio in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.
I tried to make Paul Reuschel my Avatar, but he didn't fit into the box.
Bar Rafeli (sp?) is all sorts of hot Israeli. Gisele Bundchen? Sounds German or Austrian to me.
I tried to make Paul Reuschel my Avatar, but he didn't fit into the box.
I’m thinking www.letsgohotsupermodels.com
Better than baseball, don’t ya think?
I tried to make Paul Reuschel my Avatar, but he didn't fit into the box.
i just wish it was someone i truly hate
by Gradyforpresident on May 20, 2008 10:55 PM EDT reply actions
I take this back after looking at Jensen’s stats recently. Why does it feel that he’s done far worse than this lately?
by supermarioelia on May 20, 2008 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions
But that’s only two poor outings. It feels like I’ve watched him suck for a month.
by supermarioelia on May 20, 2008 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions
The one-inning per reliever strategy needs to be re-thought when none of the relievers are good enough to get through an inning.
by FranklinScott on May 20, 2008 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Was he throwing any harder last year? I think it is all location for him and Bentancourt, it is killing us right now.
by Bernie19Kosar on May 20, 2008 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Do we have nobody else in the bullpen to go to when Lewis clearly doesn’t have it? I don’t understand. Guillen swaps pitchers when someone sneezes & Wedge feels like it’s a good idea to just leave Jensen out there to get beaten up (and yes, I just called Ozzie Guillen a good manager—this should be taken as a sign that I’m losing my mind).
Despite all of my best intentions, I have not, in fact, grown up to be a debaser.
Mario, I’m with you. I’m so on the edge about the bullpen that I’m like, “Fuck it, Bauer to close. Good. Can’t be worse.”
I realize that the offense is the problem - by a factor of incalculculcable - but damn that pen is hard to watch right now.
Someone posted that WPA comparison of the starting staff, the pen and the hitters. On a per inning basis this pen becomes our #1 pain in the ass.
by supermarioelia on May 20, 2008 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions
so how many pitches? 10? over/under?
by Gradyforpresident on May 20, 2008 10:59 PM EDT reply actions
So remember that one time where our pithing was so good that 1 run was enough?
Give Marte a Chance. FIRE SHELTON. Find Wedge a Hot Seat.
CC Sabathia with the Wasted Performance of the Game.
I tried to make Paul Reuschel my Avatar, but he didn't fit into the box.
person with most hilarious suggestion wins pie
brought to you by….....
Give Marte a Chance. FIRE SHELTON. Find Wedge a Hot Seat.
How nice would it be if we came back vs. Jenks? Very good.
Think positive.
Despite all of my best intentions, I have not, in fact, grown up to be a debaser.
how the fuck did he not crush that shit
by Gradyforpresident on May 20, 2008 11:01 PM EDT reply actions
Ladies and gentlemen, the hardest working colon in showbusiness…....BOBBY JENKS!!!!
Got in a fight with Joel Skinner, was injured by a charging Jhonny Peralta coming in from third.
by FaustosSinkingFastball on May 20, 2008 11:02 PM EDT reply actions
FIRE CANS OF CORN OR ANY OTHER VEGETABLE
by supermarioelia on May 20, 2008 11:02 PM EDT reply actions
this is the most pathetic thing i’ve ever seen. and that was just awful victor
by Gradyforpresident on May 20, 2008 11:02 PM EDT reply actions
WEDGE HAS LOST THE FAITH OF THIS TEAM
by Gradyforpresident on May 20, 2008 11:02 PM EDT reply actions
I thought it was the 8th inning. what the hell?
by supermarioelia on May 20, 2008 11:03 PM EDT reply actions
Linebrink shut us down 1-2-3 in the eighth. Very similar
by Bernie19Kosar on May 20, 2008 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions
That sounds more horrible the more you think about it.
I tried to make Paul Reuschel my Avatar, but he didn't fit into the box.
I know it ended up not mattering, but is Jensen’s stuff approaching Borowski-esque levels? If so, ouch.
Got in a fight with Joel Skinner, was injured by a charging Jhonny Peralta coming in from third.
by FaustosSinkingFastball on May 20, 2008 11:06 PM EDT reply actions
Remember last week when we won pitching duels?
by supermarioelia on May 20, 2008 11:06 PM EDT reply actions
Casey Blake’s average went up tonight. Round and round we go. Where it ends, nobody knows.
by supermarioelia on May 20, 2008 11:07 PM EDT reply actions
It’s like, when the Cavs suck, I just change the channel. I’m just not enough of a fan to waste time watching bad basketball from a one-man team. When the Browns were bad, I didn’t turn them off, but I didn’t really get upset. Bad football is so physical that it’s downright humorous to watch the other team go through your O-line like a snowplow. It was sort of like watching a car wreck… a strangely humorous car wreck that I just couldn’t break away from. Your team’s ineptitude almost becomes a point of competition and something to brag about. Awful, yet addictive.
But when the Indians suck, it’s like gets inside me and rots. There’s nothing funny about it, and no way you can turn it into a positive. It’s just not fun.
The problem is that there’s legitimate hope at another playoff appearance.
With Rick Waits on the mound, and Larvell Blanks at SS, that never enters your heart or mind.
I tried to make Paul Reuschel my Avatar, but he didn't fit into the box.
That is the problem.
SuddenSam asked, in the Week In Review thread, how the mood meter can be at 3.4, considering we’d won 8 of the last 13? And the answer, I still can’t articulate it precisely, but it has something to do with missed opportunities, and being old enough to know that not everything comes around to give you a second chance, not by a long shot.
I don’t quite get the Victor hating. He’s had a crappy week, but he’s entitled — he’s gotten kind of banged up this season, and he’s still a freakin’ catcher. And mostly, it’s not his fault that seven other guys have sucked for the past month.
This is how I feel. He was exempt from the shitlist for a while, but no longer.
by supermarioelia on May 20, 2008 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, I’m calling bullshit on that. Even with a seven-week power outage and a full week of outright suck, he’s still an above-average hitter playing the toughest position, and if anyone on this club has earned an extended benefit of the doubt, it’s Victor, and he isn’t even in the Top 10 of guys who have disappointed us this season.
Hell, Victor has earned the right to have an entire down season, but I doubt that he will.
Don’t get me wrong, he’s not even on the top 15 shitlist. But even when everything’s going fine with the offense, we do rely on him to be an way-above-average catcher, because that’s part of why we get away with our corner production. Sure he’s earned the right to struggle for a while, but if a guy underachieves I don’t have to be pleased with it.
Plus, I feel bad leaving him out.
by supermarioelia on May 20, 2008 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions
I have two emotions. Pleased and pissed. It makes for a wild ride.
by supermarioelia on May 20, 2008 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Listen, I love Victor. I LOVE him. He is near the top of my all-time Tribe list.
By I call bullshit on your calling bullshit. How can Vic not be on the shitlist? Are you kidding?
First of all, it’s not a matter of one week of sucking. He’s hit the ball hard pretty routinely this year, but in 2008 Victor has been a singles hitter. Everyone is all over Hafner, and rightly so, but consider: Vic’s OPS decline this year is WORSE than Hafner’s. And yet we can rip into Hafner but not Vic?
No way does Vic end up with 30 extra base hits, total, on the season. Right? But for now, that’s who he is, and it’s hurting us badly. We have no power - none - and Vic led the Tribe is dingers last year. Putting up a goose egg helps put you on the shit list.
By the way, I’ll give Vic some leeway for his position and his past awesomeness. He deserves that. All I’m saying is that if we’re going to be honest about what’s wrong, Vic is a significant part of it at this point.
I think that’s a little like saying, “Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the theater.” That Victor’s a catcher and Hafner’s a DH is pretty hugely significant in terms of what we expect them to contribute offensively, and Victor’s lack of power this month is much less of a concern than Hafner’s 07-08 decline. It was just a week ago he was at .346/.384/.404.
I think we’re arguing semantics at this point. I’d like to see Victor slug better than .377, but if we’re keeping a list of all the things going wrong right now, he’s so far down that it’s the least of our worries (offensively).
His walk rate is down significantly. His earlier line that you cited was propped up by a gaudy batting average that he won’t sustain. Without any power, we knew he’d end up exactly where he is now.
Mario made the point that while we should cut Vic some positional slack, we’re simply built to rely on him to a significant degree.
Please, don’t think I want Vic burned alive. I love the guy. I just feel that we’ve spent the season analyizing everyone’s problems—everyone but Vic’s. I could have made a lot of money betting that Aubrey would have more home runs than Vic at this point.
There are definetly some bad trends there. His GB% is up, his BB rate is down, slugging is down more than 100 points, etc. No one is saying Victor isn’t having a down season so far, punctuated by coming off a terrible week. He’s still got the third best OPS+ on our team. And he’s a catcher. And he’s spent time on the DL. This is why I said it was about semantics – yes, you might say he’s on the shitlist if the only qualification is underachieving. But the degree here is so insignificant compared to a half-dozen other guys that I don’t even know why you bother. He’ll come around.
You can’t make assumptions about Victor maintaining a batting average. He has hit .350-plus for months at a time in the past. Two stretches for you:
May 26 2005 to May 4 2006: .356
June 6 2006 to July 20 2007: .331
Yes, he will also have slump months, but when he goes on a tear, it often lasts 4-5 months.
Part of this, I think, comes from my feeling that Vic is a freaking leader, immune to the BS that our other hitters deal with. I mean, he’s Victor, he’s the soul of this team, and he hits the shit out of the ball. So we’re sitting here, headed for June, and Vic has not gone yard and I admit I’m concerned. I’m concerned that he’s contracted the same damn disease that is afflicting the rest of the guys. I think I might be crazy, but I don’t think I’m nuts.
It’s funny, you know, just about an hour ago, maybe two, I was thinking, nothing makes me panic more than seeing some of the smartest, level-headed guys panicking, and you were one of the guys I was thinking about.
And now … you are officially on crack.
His OPS decline is worse than Hafner’s? Well, sure, because he didn’t have the foresight to have a preemptive OPS decline of 260 points last season. Instead, he had a career year last season — what an asshole.
Hafner: 1098, 836, 710
Victor: 856, 879, 739
And just a week ago, it would have said:
Hafner: 1098, 836, 676 = two-year decline of 422
Victor: 856, 879, 802 = two-year decline of 54.
And I can’t believe we’re even having this conversation about our catcher who has been outhitting our DH for more than a year. WTF? I’m calling bullshit on your calling bullshit on my calling bullshit on Mario’s bullshit.
I mean, seriously man, BULLSHIT.
I know how to concede a point in an argument; two-year decline is undoubtedly the bigger issue here. You stuck that in my ass.
But you can’t keep relying on last week’s numbers. Especially when they were propped up by batting average.
So I’ll say it one more time: Vic is not problem number one. He’s not problem number two. But at some point, considering the way this team is constructed, the guy who has been producing like a slugger will have to return to his XBHittin’ ways, or we’re in even more trouble than we thought when no one was thinking about Vic. That’s all.
Of course I’m concerned about Vic. But Vic has not given us seven weeks of outright suck, as several of our players have. His worst slumps over the past seven weeks have been shorter and shallower than others’ have.
He’s a 29-year-old catcher, and he’s had a fairly typical assortment of minor injuries, but he’s also had a very untypical workload. Over the last four years, he’s averaging about 1125 innings behind the plate — 132 games — compared with about 1040 innings for Pudge, who is also known as a workhorse. But at least the other guys get off-days — Victor is also averaging 628 PA per season, compared with 550 for Pudge, and the median is usually below 450.
So he’s working a lot harder than the typical catcher, and the typical catcher doesn’t age well. In any event, Victor’s problems are one of a few things:
1. The typical slump he’ll sometimes have for a month or two.
2. Nagging injuries.
3. He’s simply started to break down from four years of massive workloads.
In any of these scenarios, I’m not gonna be mad at Victor. “Mad” is what I reserve for players who are falling well short of reasonable expectations for no apparent reason at all — and we’ve got plenty. Even Victor’s early-season minor injuries alone would be enough to explain his struggles, which frankly are still minor.
I actually think the hamstring really sapped his power early. He started to be a front-foot hitter. Now, even though he STILL isn’t running 100%, I think it’s starting to be more mental. Also, I think the struggles of everyone around him are resulting in him trying to play hero. He virtually refuses to take a walk. Two times last night he was 3-0, and he swung both times. He had a long AB against Cordero to end Sunday’s game, but he just wasn’t going to take a walk. Cordero finally threw a slider down and in off the plate and struck him out.
I’m not worried about Victor either. Disappointed a bit – maybe. But not worried.
I wonder when Vic’s lack of power starts to worry us to the point of Pronk’s inability to do anything. Is this just temporary? A nagging injury? Will he ever hit for power again? I guess we can survive Pronk being a drag on the linup, but that PLUS Vic being a singles hitter might be doomsday for years.
by supermarioelia on May 20, 2008 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions
I think there’s still an injury issue that’s sapping his power.
I tried to make Paul Reuschel my Avatar, but he didn't fit into the box.
Yeah he physically cannot hit home runs. No way he cracks eight this season. Or seven. I can’t decide.
by supermarioelia on May 20, 2008 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe. I don’t know for sure. They tend to linger (although I’ll admit this could be considered a long ‘linger … however, his work behind the plate could help the hammy problem last a little longer than normal.)
I tried to make Paul Reuschel my Avatar, but he didn't fit into the box.
I think Hamilton made reference recently to VM’s hamstring issues affecting his ability to push off while at the plate. And, according to Wedge, catching doesn’t aggravate it, but stretching at first base does.
I used to like Wedge, because he seemed to be less of a jerk than some managers, and seemed to have less of a jock attitude than Charlie Manuel or Ozzie Guillen. But after this season, he just seems like Charlie Manuel on heroin. He’s got as little going on cerebrally as the other managers, but he follows that up with an I-just-don’t-give-a-shit attitude.
Got in a fight with Joel Skinner, was injured by a charging Jhonny Peralta coming in from third.
by FaustosSinkingFastball on May 20, 2008 11:13 PM EDT reply actions
He obviously gives a shit, but I always question how his mental/psychological approach to the team … and even a lot of his in-game decisions. I always have.
I tried to make Paul Reuschel my Avatar, but he didn't fit into the box.
I mean, when I see other teams imploding, their managers seem to legitimately feel awful and have meltdowns. I’m not asking for a meltdown, but Wedge just sorta always trots out there, always says the same dumb shit, always trusts the same dumb players, and then blasts perhaps the only guy with power on the team, i mean, WTF?
Got in a fight with Joel Skinner, was injured by a charging Jhonny Peralta coming in from third.
by FaustosSinkingFastball on May 20, 2008 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Frankly, he should have been steaming out of the dugout on the 8th inning Grady 3rd strike call.
If I were a player, I would expect my manager to have my back like that. Wedge didn’t budge.
I tried to make Paul Reuschel my Avatar, but he didn't fit into the box.
Exactly. This is what I was trying to get at.
Got in a fight with Joel Skinner, was injured by a charging Jhonny Peralta coming in from third.
by FaustosSinkingFastball on May 20, 2008 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t understand what people want him to do, other than the whole Blake/Marte thing, which I think is being blown way out of proportion around here. The guys we have just aren’t performing. If our best hitters don’t hit, and our best relievers can’t get anybody out, we’re screwed. Doesn’t matter if we have Wedge, Bobby Cox, Nap Lajoie, or Tris Speaker. He’s playing who we have (with one possible exception), and they aren’t performing.
At the game, great seats in the 2nd row a little bit off the left field foul, like 4 sections over. About even with Dellucci.
God I love the South Side; highlight was 3 or 4 mini-fights that broke out around our area, mostly with people wearing Cubs stuff. You get the Cleveland sucks chants (I had the road gray jersey, should of known we were in for trouble when the Tribe wore the road blues) but nothing more than that.
Can’t really recall a ball we hit that hard all night. I didn’t think it was possible, but Hafner looks more lost at the plate when you’re at the game than he does on TV.
Our most diehard fans have turned on Victor.
This is the end of times my friends, the low point of the season. The proverbial sleeping pills in one hand, booze bottle in the other with your pants down at your ankles. We’ve went from warning level:orange (or condition: Lindsay Lohann) to warning level: purple ( or condition: Amy Winehouse).
Are we that far from the ill-fated words of distraught, diehard fans everywhere .. “I am emotionally divesting myself of this team”? Don’t be another statistic and utter those words .. you will feel bad about becoming a cliche.
I know you’re sort-of kidding, but I haven’t seen anyone turn on Vic. We’re just having a lively discussion about the impact of Vic’s power drought. That doesn’t mean we’re turning on him, you know.
Victor could hit .270 with 8 HR’s and he would still be one of the most valuable players on this team.
But yes, it is discerning to see Vmart (visually) crush a ball and it doesn’t even make it to the warning track. I still remember that HR he hit in the All-star game. Effortless. Just a solid swing that firmly planted the ball 10 feet over the left field fence. Seems like an impossibility now.
Well, you can all stop holding your breath – I’m fine. Family called and I had to leave the thread after the first. Just finished reading the rest.
That sucked.
You guys kept it entertaining.
Also – we’re deluding ourselves. Anyone who claims to be able to stop watching this team playing is trying to convince themselves they’re not the completely dependent Tribe addict that we all know every one of us is.
If someone would like to count all the different pretty little pronouns I used incorrectly, go ahead. it’s late.
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