Game 38: Cleveland 11, Tampa 7
by APV on May 14, 2009 10:30 PM EDT
103 comments
For the first five and a half innings this game looked downright easy. Fausto Carmona, whose success is critical to any thought of an Indians comeback this season, was outstanding for five innings, only allowing one walk and recording nine groundball outs. He looked comfortable on the mound and was working efficiently, only using 59 pitches in that stretch.
Meanwhile, the middle of the offense was clicking. Asdrubal got the offense started (once again) by leading off the fourth with a single. One out later, Shin-Soo Choo moved him over with his own single. Jhonny Peralta and Mark DeRosa brought those two home with singles of their own to give Cleveland a 2-0 lead. Back to back doubles in the fifth from Victor and Choo extended the Indians lead to 5-0. In the sixth, the Indians used the same script, starting off the inning with a Matt LaPorta single with Asdrubal, and Victor and Choo providing the damage. Going into the bottom of the 6th the Tribe had a pleasant 9-0 lead.
In the 6th Carmona lost it, though. After walking the first two batters (never a good idea with a 9-run lead), an error from Cabrera and a few solid hits helped get Tampa back into the game. Matt Herges, as he did in Boston last week, came in and promptly gave up a homerun to the first batter before settling down to get out of the inning. That 9-0 lead had, however, been reduced to a mere three runs.
Fortunately, Aaron Laffey, still working out of the bullpen, and a few more hits from the usual suspects carried Cleveland across the final two innings for a 11-7 victory.
This was a nice victory, but not as nice as it began. A team is not going to lose many games when its 2-4 hitters go 12-15 with 8 runs and 9 RBIs. Hopefully those first five innings, and not the 6th, are indicative of what Carmona is capable of and the direction he is headed. Also of note in this game was Jhonny Peralta's debut at 3B, where he made several excellent plays. Whatever the case, the Indians record their first back-to-back victories since April 9-10 (!). If Kansas City loses tonight, the Indians will amazingly be just 4.5 games out of first.
Next up: 5/15, Reyes (1-1, 7.20) vs. Kazmir (4-3, 5.92), 7:38pm
| Highest | WPA | Lowest | WPA |
| F Carmona | .191 | B Francisco | -.108 |
| A Cabrera | .145 | L Valbuena | -.056 |
| V Martinez | .131 | G Sizemore | -.044 |
1 recs |
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Great game simply for the tangible example of what this “flexible lineup” can be.
Droobs, Vic and Choo show what using the whole field means. Awesome.
I love when Laporta knows he doesn’t have a full swing but lines it up the middle anyway.
Jhonny 3B! He probly feels a little better about playing there after tonite.
Can anybody attempt to get into Fausto’s head and figure out what the trigger is between hangover and meltdown?
Jhonny looked good at 3B.
If he’s worried about playing different positions … there’s an easy solution. Keep him there.
DeRosa and Valbuena can hold down 2B … with Carroll spotting them.
Also, it’s time for Ben to take a seat on the bench and LaPorta to play every day.
by FallsTribeFan on May 14, 2009 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m not as down on BenFran as some, I think he’s been a bit of a pinata when there’s been plenty of blame to go around. With people playing multiple positions, no single player needs to “sit”. I agree LaPorta needs to be in the rotation and not man the bench multiple games simply because of lefty/righty.
With a team looking for something to build on for new energy and momentum, this game was big. I think we’re a long way from JP being the default 3B, but because of tonite, he’ll see more time there. Now, if Valbuena started getting some base knocks…
Yeah, I’m not hating on Ben … I just think of the four right now … he needs to be the one on the short side of playing time.
Agree on Peralta … but my point was more about him complaining about switching back and forth.
If he can’t handle it … it’s time to tell him he’s a 3B and be done with it.
by FallsTribeFan on May 14, 2009 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions
I guarantee, if he plays 3B well and people in the stands and dugout clap, he’ll have no problem with it. Like I said, he’d likely start hedging right now, after tonite.
No regular at a position likes being moved off it, because they consider it a demotion. Every regular, if they have success at that new position, gets over it pretty quick. Particularly if they start hitting.
I have to admit, my opinion of Sowers changed watching him pitch last game. I’ve never forgotten what he’s capable of when he’s confident and locating his “subpar” stuff. But he’s lost control over that command (if that make sense), and it will take a while to get it back, because he’s lost his confidence at the major league level as well.
When he faced Thome, you could tell. He was just not up to it.
Fausto, on the other hand, I have no clue. What gives?
The Tribe won (2 in a row now!), Columbus won two in one day (and no longer in last place), and Akron got a shutout from Jeanmar who now has an astonishing 0.45 ERA, 0.50 WHIP, and 18/1 so/bb in 20 innings at Akron. I’m almost giddy…
If you believe it's just a game, you're probably wondering why Santa keeps skipping your house every year.
Jeanmar had the best line of the season so far in the entire system, ML included. He and Rondon have never missed a start in two years, pitching back to back, until Rondon got pulled the other night to pitch in the pen. Each have always gotten stronger as the year went on, which is my favorite thing.
Gomez and Chiz are the breakout minor leaguers so far this year.
I hate to get all excited about pitchers at AA, but it seems likely that at least one of the two will be productive at the ML level.
If you believe it's just a game, you're probably wondering why Santa keeps skipping your house every year.
by LeftyCatcher on May 14, 2009 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Asdrubal got the offense started (once again)
an error from Cabrera
This isn’t how it was supposed to be! But I’ll take it.
by cleveland teamer on May 14, 2009 11:16 PM EDT reply actions
I turned the game off after we gave up the 6 runs. I just couldn’t bear losing after feeling so good just 5 minutes earlier. It was equally depressing to see us use Laffey in a game we should have won going away.
Glad to see things turned out well and glad too see our Venezuelan Destroyers continue their assault on opposing pitchers. I just hope our offense can pick these guys up when they come back down to earth a little bit.
We’ve been talking quite a bit about whether Wedge makes any difference or not. Well – here you go Eric, here’s a nice task for you: You’re in charge of guiding Jhonny’s head and feelings through the transition to 3b.
by dgcambridge on May 15, 2009 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think Wedge does much of the individual you’nme/advice/coaching thing, at least not yet. He talks to the troops, and stands in front.
And wills his shoulders to broaden while figuring out how one actually bows one’s neck.
Sorry, couldn’t help myself.
Props to Wedge on bullpen management last night. Getting an effective 7th out of Herges was huge, and I think he made the right call by having Laffey slam the door.
by fleerdon on May 15, 2009 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions
Oops, that one shouldn’t have been a reply to TA. OK, here’s a reply: um, how about ‘our white guys will start hitting when summer arrives’? How’s that?
by dgcambridge on May 15, 2009 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions
Two in a row? That’s unpossible!
I like seeing Wedge shake up the lineup a little and try some new options, which he can do with this roster. I’m worried that Fausto is quickly becoming our #5 starter. I only caught the last 4 innings, tonight. Did he dominate early on and then fade? Or was he just getting by?
"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter
by Denver Tribe Fan on May 15, 2009 12:50 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Rec for the Ralph Wiggum allusion.
-Erik
by drerikbrady on May 15, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions
all time favorite ralph-ism: hi lisa, hi principal skinner, hi super-nintendo chalmers…
by DontCallMeJoey on May 15, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions
“We won yesterday. If we win today, that’s two in a row. If we win tomorrow, that’s called ‘a winning streak.’ It has happened before”
by TribeJay on May 15, 2009 1:21 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
It looks like we have two solid starters in the rotation (Lee and Pavano) and then absolutely nothing but question marks. I really think they got to get Huff up or Laffey back in there. How long till Scott Lewis returns?
It’s almost as if all that happy talk the Indians do about Jhonny’s defensive assets suddenly became really clear when you saw him play third base. It’s like, “Hey, he does certain things really well.”
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
Everyone has always criticized Jhonny’s range at short, but to me his range was actually decent. The problem I always saw was the armstrength going to his right….which playing him at 3rd tends to avoid for the most part.
by supermarioelia on May 15, 2009 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes, and there’s still the question of who starts on Sunday. It looks as if it won’t be Laffey (he worked pretty hard yesterday, in the 9th) and Ohka pitched yesterday too. I’m guessing Jackson or Huff in a spot start? Anyone else have a theory? Another Tom Mastny start? (Please, no!).
Perez pitched a clean inning yesterday at Columbus. I really hope he gets better fast so they can put Laffey back in the rotation!
Huff pitched Tuesday… Sunday would be his day.
by clusterchuck on May 15, 2009 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions
My theory.
Indians are protecting themselves by calling Sunday a “spot start.”
This indicates to me it’s going to be Huff.
My reasoning is this … if he gets lit up, they can keep calling it a “spot start”, send him back down, and move Laffey back into the rotation.
If Huff pitches well, they can keep running him out there, and keep Laffey in relief.
It’s this FO’s way of protecting Huff a bit.
As for the 40-man … gotta think that Masa’s time is numbered no matter what.
by FallsTribeFan on May 15, 2009 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Also …
Just realized this about the 40-man … Adam Miller hasn’t been officially “disabled” in the bigs … just in AAA.
Easy call to move him onto the 60-day, if you wanted to retain everyone else.
by FallsTribeFan on May 15, 2009 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions
You missed these discussions – but the prevailing theory is that Miller can’t be put onto the 60-day DL without being called up to the bigs – and thereby starting his service clock. It’s not to say they won’t do that at some point, but the move to the 60-day DL is not as simple as it might seem.
Gotcha!
Thanks for the clarification.
by FallsTribeFan on May 15, 2009 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions
I would think that’s a tough pill to swallow, given that they’ve already burned an option on him. Losing both the service time and an option year in the same season to an injury, that hurts.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
Yup, agreed.
Forgot that he actually had to be recalled to be placed on the 60-day.
OK … back to the theory that it’s Masa’s time to go then.
by FallsTribeFan on May 15, 2009 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Sure is an odd time to bring him up, though, given how he’s been struggling. I think Huff is a solid notch above Sowers in general, but I’m not sure that that’s necessarily true this week.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
I hear you.
I’m not saying Huff is the answer by any stretch.
That’s just my theory … on “protecting” him … by announcing it as a spot start … and going from there.
Almost similar to Scott Lewis late last year, who really shouldn’t have been promoted out of AA except for injuries and such.
by FallsTribeFan on May 15, 2009 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions
I think the bigger “except” with regard to Lewis’s promotion last year was his 7:1 K:BB ratio.
by fleerdon on May 15, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree. He got the win Tuesday, but he wasn’t exactly solid for the whole start. He hit a rough patch which to me was Sowers-esq. Sounds like he got kinda bent about a no call on an 0-2 count.
by clusterchuck on May 15, 2009 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions
I have god awful Huffstache pictures on my Facebook, from my birthday
Waiting for Rondon.
by Gradyforpresident on May 16, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Early is right. Three starts ago, he gave up 3 runs in the first inning to the Orioles. Two starts ago, he gave up 4 in the first to the Twins. Last time out, the Red Sox had 2nd and 3rd with one out in the first, but couldn’t score. He’s still striking people out (30 in 38 IP), but 42 hits and 21 BB have meant trouble. His 5.92 ERA has been buoyed by pitching better on the road (4.29), and his W-L record (meaningless as it is) has been helped by 15-5 and 14-5 wins against the Yankees and Red Sox.
I did not get to see the game — can someone explain the circumstances that led to Laporta stealing a base? He isn’t… fast… is he?
Straight steal.
And LaPorta may not be a burner, but he’s not un-athletic out there.
During the Olympics, I seem to remember him scoring from 1st on a ball hit into the RF corner.
by FallsTribeFan on May 15, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions
He is, in so many ways, just like Garko, if Garko weren’t thoroughly mediocre.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
Hm. I dunno, I think he might be a little better on the bases than Garko … who is one of the great base-cloggers in baseball.
by FallsTribeFan on May 15, 2009 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions
I never have had the impression that Garko is an unintelligent baserunner. He is spectacularly slow and a comically bad at sliding, but I can’t think of anything dumb he’s ever done out there. Maybe LaPorta will turn out to be more of a Hafner; not fast enough to make things happen on his own, but smart enough to do things out there when the opportunity presents itself.
Il faut d'abord durer.
That’s exactly my point. He’s a good hitter who isn’t extremely slow, who is athletic enough to play a passable LF or even R, and who won’t go 70+ PA without an extra-base hit.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
See, that’s just a humorous point about Garko’s lack of skill in any particular area. Jay says nothing about his running, but he would probably agree with CU Adam’s “spectacularly slow” rating below or your own “great base-cloggers in baseball” assessment, which I would also resoundingly agree with.
I don’t think any amount of baseball smarts can compensate for Garko’s pace.
No, although by the same token, no amount of speed can compensate for making a dumb decision on the bases.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
Advancing bases is not a skill Garko has. Some players can be average at baserunning through grit, guile and savvy, but Garko will never be average. He might, however, manage to avoid being the very worst despite being one of the handful of the slowest.
I don’t think any amount of baseball smarts can compensate for Garko’s pace to the point where he’s average or we can pretend it’s not a handicap.
Just had the thought that
Shoppach C
Martinez 1B
Valbuena 2B
Cabrera SS
Peralta 3B
DeRosa LF
Sizemore CF
Choo RF
might be our premium defensive arrangement. Not too shabby with the lumber, either. Carroll can spell Valbuena, especially against lefties. Dellucci frustrates me, though; there’s definitely a place for another lefty-batting outfielder on this club, but he neither bats nor plays outfield.
by fleerdon on May 15, 2009 11:38 AM EDT reply actions
Why do you think the DeRosa is a better outfielder than Frisco or LaPorta?
And I don’t know who’s better at third, but assuming they’re close I want Peralta there over DeRosa because A) DeRosa has many other options, and B) Jhonny’s our guy.
by dgcambridge on May 15, 2009 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Is the prevailing thought that Laffey could re-join the rotation no problem at this point? Maybe it’s my nightmares of the Steve Karsay as starter experiment that imploded back in (1999? 2000?) but I would be really concerned with stretching him right back out. This jerking him around stuff is for the birds.
Different circumstances of course from Karsay.
The different circumstances make a difference. Karsay had the more extensive injury history, and had been a one-inning pitcher all year up to that point. I’m sure they’re keeping Laffey out there for multiple innings not only because doing so is the best option for that particular game, but also to keep him stretched out for his move back to the rotation if and when the ’pen stabilizes.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on May 15, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Jhonny Peralta: Third Bhaseman
FE WEE
by westbrook on May 15, 2009 11:47 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
under-appreciated advantage of shifting Jhonny to 3rd base over 2nd base – we’d all sound kind of silly saying “there goes our shecond baseman”
Will Ferrell’s revisiting of Celebrity Jeopardy this past Saturday was unbelievably funny.
by NickFantana on May 18, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions
Can we just call it the Fat Corner?
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on May 15, 2009 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
The key to the season is now clear to me. Last night, prior to the first meat hat reference, the Tribe was 2-10 with 5 strikeouts. After that point, they were 16-33, with three doubles, a triple and a HR. Even a SB for LaPorta. Meat hats wake up bats.
competing hypothesis: edamame (which I ate for lunch yesterday – and on days I have eaten edamame, the Indians are 5-0)
I think that means we all need to stock up. I’m currently trying to track down a fedora made of prosciutto.
by for the record on May 15, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions
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