Game 19: Indians 4, Twins 2

by Ryan on Apr 26, 2009 4:31 PM EDT in Game Recaps

For a change, the Indians took the lead first, scoring in the first inning and three more in the third. They couldn't put the Twins away with the offense, but Aaron Laffey and the bullpen was up to the challenge.

Laffey continued to pitch to contact, getting 14 outs on the ground, including 2 more double plays. He cruised through the sixth with a low pitch count, but ran into trouble in the seventh by loading the bases with one out. Jensen Lewis was summoned, but he made the situation worse, giving up a Denard Span single (scoring two) and walking Brendan Harris, re-loading the bases, and more importantly, bringing Justin Morneau to the plate.

Eric Wedge then brought in Tony Sipp, who had made just one appearance in his major-league career, to about as high-leverage a situation as a middle reliever will face. The advantage to bringing in an inexperienced reliever is that the opposing team wouldn't have seen him, let alone time up his pitches. Sipp struck out Morneau on a fastball at the top edge of the strike zone, then got Jason Kubel with a slider away. That was the turning point in the game.

Rafael Betancourt pitched the eighth, and retired the side in order. He seems to be consciously mixing in more off speed pitches, and that made his fastball much more effective. And Kerry Wood shrugged off the first two Twins reaching base in the ninth, getting Denard Span to hit into a double play and locking up Brendan Harris with a breaking ball after he had fouled off several high-90s fastballs. Justin Morneau ended the game in the on-deck circle.

Next Up: Lee vs. Wakefield, 7:05 PM.

via www.fangraphs.com

Highest WPA		Lowest WPA
Tony Sipp	.235	Jensen Lewis	-.202
Aaron Laffey	.180	Victor Martinez	-.072
Asdrubal Cabrera	.142	Mark DeRosa	-.049

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Pretty great day for young Mr. Sipp.

by afh4 on Apr 26, 2009 4:33 PM EDT reply actions

MORE PLEASE

by world dictator on Apr 26, 2009 5:01 PM EDT reply actions

Sweeping the Red Sox would be a lovely way to make up for the last week.

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Force quit and move to trash.

by vbc3 on Apr 26, 2009 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Sipp, Laffey and Cabrera – that seems about right

by APV on Apr 26, 2009 5:44 PM EDT reply actions

Sometimes the WPA don’t lie.

by Ryan on Apr 27, 2009 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Sipp struck out Morneau on a fastball at the top edge of the strike zone, then got Jason Kubel with a slider away. That was the turning point in the ~~game~~ season.

by SuddenSam on Apr 26, 2009 6:32 PM EDT reply actions 4 recs

That green thing they put there now when there’s no subject always looks like a dirt mark on my monitor.

by Voltaire on Apr 26, 2009 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

I don’t really see this turning the season around. We came within some excellent situational pitching of getting swept immediately after winning our first series of the year.

I become an expert simply by doing something.

by Brad D on Apr 27, 2009 12:43 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh sure, it’s wishful thinking. But we also came within some situational pitching of sweeping the Yankees series. A number of things are clicking on this team, but it’s not falling into place. I’ll take a boost wherever it may come from. If Sipp (or someone) steps up in the bullpen, that may be at least as significant as the June 5 arrival of The Messiah.

I guess I’d summarize my mood as frustrated, but not pessimistic.

by SuddenSam on Apr 27, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Not counting today’s game, Asdrubal has a career OPS+ of 96 in 669 PA. He won’t be 24 till November.

by ClarkM on Apr 26, 2009 7:27 PM EDT reply actions

I think Asdrubal is going to be my favorite Indian ever by the time it’s all said and done. And I’ll like him even more for (odds are) flying under the Dustin Pedroia radar that’s going to dictate ESPN’s baseball coverage for the next 5 years.

Il faut d'abord durer.

by CU Adam on Apr 26, 2009 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m thinking of just getting a #13 jersey. It works so many ways.

"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter

by Denver Tribe Fan on Apr 27, 2009 1:05 AM EDT up reply actions

DP had an OPS+ of 112 in his age 23 season, in 581 plate appearances.

by odradek on Apr 27, 2009 11:05 AM EDT reply actions

So far, so good.

Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile

by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Apr 27, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Some of your current Columbus Clippers:

Matt LaPorta    .400/.478/.767
Luis Valbuena	.349/.474/.556
Michael Aubrey	.432/.460/.614	
David Dellucci	.400/.478/.500

I’m trying to reassure myself that the latter two don’t invalidate the former.

by FredOx on Apr 27, 2009 11:52 AM EDT reply actions

well with all due respect for how bad Dellucci has looked since becoming an Indian, he should still tear up AAA. And Aubrey’s line is the most batting average heavy, so its probably a bit flukey, but he also should do well at AAA at his age (and lest not forget his wasted away by injury natural hitting skill).

by hans on Apr 27, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions