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Game Fifty-Four: Indians 5, Royals 4

20080530_indians_royals_0_medium

via www.fangraphs.com


Highest WPA Lowest WPA
Grady Sizemore .261 Victor Martinez -.126
Rafael Perez .223 Ryan Garko -.099
Casey Blake .220 Asdrubal Cabrera -.095

The good news last night is that someone had to win. With the two worst offenses in baseball locking horns, you'd think a 2-1 game would be likely. But no, the bats came alive to league-average levels, quite an accomplishment for the two teams.

Cliff Lee has fallen off from his early season high standards, averaging a game score of about 40 in his last three contests; in his first seven games, his average game score was about 74. In last night's start, he allowed 10 hits and four runs, but to his credit, he did get through six innings, allowing Eric Wedge to use only those in his Circle of Trust. With an offense so punchless, it's almost required for a starter to go at least six innings, lest the middle relievers have to hold a one-run lead or a tie game.

Last year, the Indians' offense was lead by Victor Martinez and Grady Sizemore, while Travis Hafner, while having a down year by his standards, still was a viable offensive force. This year, Travis Hafner has been useless, and now is hurt, while Victor Martinez only remains the cleanup hitter because of reputation. Which leaves Grady Sizemore as the only one of the Indians' big three having even an average offensive season. Grady hit two home runs last night, giving him 10 on the season; After his 10 and Jhonny Peralta's 11, the next highest home run total on the team belongs to David Dellucci, with 5.

Besides the offensive heroics, Grady made a game-saving defensive play. With two outs and runner at second in the ninth, Jose Guillen hit a long drive to left-center field. Sizemore ran the ball down just before the fence, bobbled it briefly, hit the wall, and held onto it. If he doesn't make the catch the Royals tie the game, and would be just a single from winning it.

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I know he’s got to be the most unpopular player among regular LGTers, but seriously, no love for Casey for his go ahead HR last night? (ok, commence onslaught…..now).

"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter

by Denver Tribe Fan on May 31, 2008 12:02 PM EDT   0 recs

Even a blind squirrel occasionally finds an acorn.

Free Andy Marte!

Pronk Needs You

by woodsmeister on May 31, 2008 1:52 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Casey at 1B is fine with me, especially if Garko sits. As people keep saying, Casey’s value is largely in his ability to play multiple positions. So, play him at 1B sometimes, spell Marte at 3B, maybe even some left field on occasion (Francisco appears to be coming back to earth).

It was nice to get a win, but the hitting was still pretty tepid. Nothing much against the bullpen (again). 3, 4 and 5 go hitless. Grady’s not going to hit two HR’s in every game, so that needs to change.

I also worry that Mujica is going to rot in the bullpen. If the starters keep going 6, and Wedge keeps using 4 bullpen guys in winnable games, he’ll never pitch (as Mastny and Breslow before him didn’t). We won’t find out if he can be a major league reliever that way, and our current “circle of trust” is trustworthy largely by reputation, not by deed thus far this year.

Still, it beats losing!! Let’s see if we can beat up on anonymous pitcher today for a change.

by peter m on May 31, 2008 1:03 PM EDT   0 recs

In the second para. above, I should have said late-inning relievers, since they did get the HR off Tomko. They haven’t scored a run after the 7th inning since the Cincinnati series. That’s what I was pointing to.

by peter m on May 31, 2008 1:08 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

That win (as many have this season) made me feel dirty. I’m going to feel embarassed with every victory until the Tribe gets 3 games above .500 and looks a little more respectable.

Yankees and Red Sox - MLB's Axis of Evil
(And ESPN is right in the middle)

by Spidey on May 31, 2008 1:54 PM EDT   0 recs

A win is a win…I don’t care how we get it.

This place has become so negative. We need to be Positibe Pauls from now on. I don’t wany anymore Negative Nancys.

by gahnki on May 31, 2008 6:20 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

And the campaign for an edit button grows by one member.

by gahnki on May 31, 2008 6:20 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

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