Game Four: Blue Jays 13, Indians 7

by Ryan on Apr 10, 2009 11:45 PM EDT in Game Recaps

The home opener started well, but turned ugly with the weather, and only got worse as the afternoon turned into evening and then night. The result was a miserable 13-7 loss, and the first 0-4 start for the Indians since 1985.

Only a nearly-four hour delay stopped the Blue Jays offense. The Indians' run prevention today resembled a swinging gate, opening with the slightest pressure. If it wasn't the long ball, it was defensive miscues. All five Indian pitchers gave up runs, some of them unearned. Scott Lewis was pulled in the fifth after giving up his fourth run, and just after Rafael Betancourt was announced, the umpires stopped play. Betancourt, who was on the mound when the game resumed, was probably the most effective of the four relievers used, giving up a run in 1.2 innings. Rafael Perez presided over the back-breaker, the six-run eighth; that inning was fueled by errors, including Asdrubal Cabrera throwing wildly to first, failing to force Kevin Millar, who had fallen down out of the box.

Throughout the game, the Tribe offense continued to produce; the Indians hit five extra-base hits, including three home runs. Travis Hafner almost left the yard in the first inning, then hit one out in the third. Victor Martinez hit his second home run, tying his 2008 total. Victor's home run kicked off a three-run inning that tied the game, but that was the high-water mark for the Indians.

The pitching thus far has been consistently awful. The starters haven't pitched even into the middle innings, and the bullpen has kept leads out of reach of a game offense. With no off days until the 20th, Cliff Lee has to give the Indians at least six innings tomorrow, otherwise the Indians will have bring up some fresh arms. Maybe they won't wait until tomorrow.

Next Up: A matchup of the best pitchers in the AL last season. Cliff Lee vs. Roy Halladay, 1:05 PM

via www.fangraphs.com

Highest WPA		Lowest WPA
Pronk	.229	Rafael Perez	-.423
Victor Martinez	.228	Scott Lewis	-.234
Ryan Garko	.171	Joe Smith	-.216

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Comments

You wonder if Asdrubal could have had a big hit with the bases loaded if things could have been different. Meh, probably not.

Ben Francisco's only fan on LGT

by Toxicadam on Apr 10, 2009 11:48 PM EDT reply actions

I wonder. But the Jays did score six runs after that.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Apr 11, 2009 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions

1985. Ugh.

--
Force quit and move to trash.

by vbc3 on Apr 10, 2009 11:53 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, that team was awful, especially the pitching staff.

by Ryan on Apr 10, 2009 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Awww.

by Fire Slider on Apr 10, 2009 11:58 PM EDT reply actions

The couple spent the next few days opening gifts and enjoying married life. The duo also traveled to Columbus to watch The Ohio State University football team take on the University of Michigan and then back to Cleveland to take in the Cleveland Browns against the Pittsburgh Steelers before jetting to St. Thomas, St. Bart’s, St. Martin’s and other tropical vacations.

That’s a pretty good week.

by Ryan on Apr 11, 2009 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions

I can’t believe there was no WWE mixed in there

I'm *always* in the driver's seat, cugino -- Chuck

by Turkmenbashi on Apr 11, 2009 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions

You missed this:

Other guests included teammates Grady Sizemore and Casey Blake, manager Eric Wedge, general manager Mark Shapiro, plus coaches Joel Skinner, Derek Shelton and Carl Willis. Hank Blalock of the Texas Rangers, John McDonald of the Toronto Blue Jays and wrestler Jerry "the King" Lawler also attended the Nov. 11 nuptials.

by Ryan on Apr 11, 2009 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Ah, there it is

I'm *always* in the driver's seat, cugino -- Chuck

by Turkmenbashi on Apr 11, 2009 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions

That’s basically a dream oneymoon.

by AngG on Apr 11, 2009 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Tomorrow, we stop the bLEEding

I'm *always* in the driver's seat, cugino -- Chuck

by Turkmenbashi on Apr 11, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

I want very badly to see us 1-4 when I get out of work tomorrow night.

Baby steps. Process. Separation. Etc.

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Force quit and move to trash.

by vbc3 on Apr 11, 2009 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions

~~Baby steps. Process. Separation. Etc.~~

Wins

I'm *always* in the driver's seat, cugino -- Chuck

by Turkmenbashi on Apr 11, 2009 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Dear God, stop it now

So 2009.

by Gradyforpresident on Apr 11, 2009 12:27 AM EDT reply actions

Checked the ESPN scoreboard on a whim — the Pads are trusting ~~Mujica~~ with another small lead.

Ben Francisco: An Outfielder only on baseball cards and roster sheets.

by westbrook on Apr 11, 2009 12:51 AM EDT reply actions

1.0 IP 0H 0R 0ER 1BB 0SO 0HR

HIRE ~~Mujica~~

"It's hard to win when you don't score." Cliff Lee, 9/28/05.

by Harry Doyle on Apr 11, 2009 1:53 AM EDT up reply actions

really stupid name for a blog, but watch it unfold

Ben Francisco: An Outfielder only on baseball cards and roster sheets.

by westbrook on Apr 11, 2009 12:53 AM EDT reply actions

OK, coming back hours later and seeing the score was depressing enough.

But Jesus people! Those game threads nearly made me go into the liquor cabinet and read The Sun Also Rises again!

It’s four games!

/Lying to himself.

So 2009.

by Gradyforpresident on Apr 11, 2009 1:28 AM EDT reply actions

Isn’t it pretty to think so?

But seriously: you have a walk-in liquor cabinet?

by odradek on Apr 11, 2009 1:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Only Jesus can save us now ...

Ben Francisco's only fan on LGT

by Toxicadam on Apr 11, 2009 2:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Ben Francisco's only fan on LGT

by Toxicadam on Apr 11, 2009 2:02 AM EDT up reply actions

This, folks, is what we call a do-over.

7 shut out innings for the sleepy kitty tomorrow.

The season really begins Aprit 11, 2009

"It's hard to win when you don't score." Cliff Lee, 9/28/05.

by Harry Doyle on Apr 11, 2009 2:03 AM EDT reply actions

9pm Saturday nght, game started at 8.05am this morning, up at our holiday home and was out fishing when the game started, spent all day wondering how the tribe got on, just seen the score, might have to eat my boys easter eggs to make me feel better.

One day I'll get over to watch the Tribe play

by new zealand tribe fan on Apr 11, 2009 5:07 AM EDT reply actions

Skip the eggs, go straight for the chocolate.

"It's hard to win when you don't score." Cliff Lee, 9/28/05.

by Harry Doyle on Apr 11, 2009 8:38 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m glad I didn’t stay up for the remainder of the game, the box score looks ugly. To put it in perspective, the Tribe has given up 42 runs in the first 4 games. The only team that’s close to that is, you guessed it, Washington … with 32 runs.

That’s insane, it can’t possibly continue like that right? … right?

by JP_Frost on Apr 11, 2009 5:49 AM EDT reply actions

No, and it won’t

by ahowie on Apr 11, 2009 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions

I love this quote from Wedgie (today’s plain dealer), with the minimum of snark on my part (just to make the biscuit chewable):

“I don’t think anybody could expect coming out of the gates that we would see what we’ve seen so far,” manager Eric Wedge said. “We always talk about being tough on the tough days and this is where they’ve got to show that. Everybody needs to have thick skin, they need to be tough and have broad shoulders and fight through this.”

The beginning of this season is not a disaster, its simply the shortest route to toughness, which we’ll have to (as beings with facial stubble along chin lines) get to anyhow at some point. Better to get the character building started early and save us the false security and coddling effects of a good start.

by mcrose on Apr 11, 2009 10:34 AM EDT reply actions

The second entry from googling tough skin broad shoulders (the first is about strawberries):

The patient teacher said she’s seen boundless improvements in her students, particularly in self-confidence.

“I try to give them the broad shoulders and tough skin that they need in this industry,” Reiland said as she watched the girls choreograph runway routines, the final assignment for the class.

Nowadays, modeling takes more than just a pretty face, she said.

by SuddenSam on Apr 11, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions

i’m not shaving till we win. mind you, that was likely to happen anyway, but still. in fact when we win, i still may not shave. this is full proof. halladay has no chance today.

by Brick. on Apr 11, 2009 10:54 AM EDT reply actions