Game 50: Yankees 3, Indians 1

by Ryan on May 30, 2009 1:08 AM EDT in Game Recaps

From the tenor of the first couple innings, it didn't seem possible that the game would end with the Yankees scoring three runs. That they did so is credit to Cliff Lee eking out six inning after his strenuous start, and the perceptibly improving bullpen. Given how hot the Yankees offense has been of late, and who's starting tomorrow, Lee sticking it out as long he did probably saved the bullpen for the rest of the series.

The problem was that the lineup was hamstrung by injury. Grady Sizemore can't play the field right now because of a sore throwing elbow, so instead of the hot Ryan Garko being in the middle of the order at DH, it was Trevor Crowe hitting at the end of the lineup, playing center field. Eric Wedge could have squeezed Garko into the lineup by playing him in left field, Francisco in center, DeRosa at third, Peralta at short, and Cabrera at second, but that would have brought down the team defense dramatically. I guess we've seen in the past week or so how big an asset having an all-around player in center field is from what's happened when Sizemore hasn't been able to play the field. Trevor Crowe hasn't hit much in his brief major-league career, and Ben Francisco is a big downgrade defensively when he's playing center.

If Rafael Perez's struggles at the beginning of the season seemed to be the trigger of the bullpen implosion, perhaps his return to effectiveness can be the beginning of its rebirth. In the past couple of weeks, the foundation of an effective bullpen has started to show. Matt Herges, who pitched another two scoreless innings tonight, has been incredibly valuable in stabilizing things when they seemed to be spiralling out of control. This week, despite very short stints from the starters, the bullpen has kept the Indians in games.

Next Up: CC Sabathia makes his first start in Cleveland as an opposing player. Fausto Carmona will oppose him. Game time will be 7:05 PM.

via www.fangraphs.com

Highest WPA		Lowest WPA
Ben Francisco	.178	Kelly Shoppach	-.234
Matt Herges	.068	Grady Sizemore	-.151
Shin-Soo Choo	.047	Victor Martinez	-.116

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Comments

What are the chances that before the all-star break our government allows human cloning and we have a lineup of 3 Martinezes, 3 Cabreras and 3 Choos? Hell, I’m not greedy, I’ll even take a couple of Garkos.

by Cleveland Indians on May 30, 2009 1:38 AM EDT reply actions

Probably about as likely as Fausto Carmona pitching a complete game shutout tomorrow.

by Ryan on May 30, 2009 1:42 AM EDT up reply actions

so you’re saying we’ve got a chance

by APV on May 30, 2009 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions

It’s sad to me that the picture above depicts Grady’s seemingly permanent pose and expression this season.
This game had no excitement whatsoever. I really don’t know why because usually even when they lose and don’t score any runs I am able to stay somewhat amused. Not tonight though. Too many delays maybe?

Moses Cleaveland, the guy who invented Cleveland

by ClemsonGirl on May 30, 2009 2:04 AM EDT reply actions

Also, did you have any confidence in Grady when he came up vs. Rivera in the 9th inning? I had none, and it was kind of depressing.

by jakesinger777 on May 30, 2009 2:16 AM EDT up reply actions

r

I almost typed the words “pinch hit” … that says a lot. It was right after Hammy was doing the Rivera R/L splits.

FE WEE

by westbrook on May 30, 2009 2:18 AM EDT up reply actions

We should give Grady the benefit of the doubt and blame his struggles on his minor injury. He has been doing much better lately. In his last 34 at bats, he has 10 hits, which is a 294 BA; not too shabby. However, I’m more concered about V-Mart. He’s seriously been struggling lately. 3 hits in last 31 at bats.

by Cleveland Indians on May 30, 2009 2:21 AM EDT up reply actions

I don’t care about that. If you are too hurt to play well, don’t freakin’ play. I give Grady zero credit and/or benefit of the doubt.

by jakesinger777 on May 30, 2009 2:23 AM EDT up reply actions

I think if Grady was too hurt to play at all he wouldn’t be playing. He may be insanely competitive but he isn’t dumb. I am worried he is going to the DL but the fact that he hasn’t yet gives me some hope.

Moses Cleaveland, the guy who invented Cleveland

by ClemsonGirl on May 30, 2009 2:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Of course. But nobody can say he’s playing well right now. If it’s due to a slump, then I don’t know what to tell you. If it is because he’s hurt, then he should sit out and get himself right.

by jakesinger777 on May 30, 2009 2:29 AM EDT up reply actions

I can to say he is playing well (at least better) right now. He has been hitting much better recently but it has been overshadowed by the injury stuff. He could be doing better obviously but he was so bad to start with that you can’t really expect him to just explode. I can tell he’s getting better. I’m just worried if he can’t throw and he goes to the DL he will have to start all over again.

Moses Cleaveland, the guy who invented Cleveland

by ClemsonGirl on May 30, 2009 2:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Midway through the Kansas city series Grady’s OPS was a horrific .668. It has risen over the last eight games to .724. In that stretch Grady has played CF only three times. Not sure what that means, but there’s the raw numbers.

I become an expert simply by doing something.

by Brad D on May 30, 2009 3:01 AM EDT up reply actions

This is what I mean. He is clearly getting better but once Travis comes back they won’t have room for two DH’s and since he can’t throw he has to DH so they’ll have to DL him which may mean he just regresses back to slumping Grady. I don’t like slumping Grady. He makes me throw things at the TV.

Moses Cleaveland, the guy who invented Cleveland

by ClemsonGirl on May 30, 2009 3:03 AM EDT up reply actions

um slumping Grady is injured Grady. So I think DL him and let him heal.

by hans on May 30, 2009 3:22 AM EDT up reply actions

I am delusional and still not convinced he’s that hurt. I think he is invincible and therefore it will take a lot to convince me he’s hurt. Groin injury this spring=Grady loves his teammates and didn’t want to abandon them in Arizona. I am only half serious right now.
If he is that hurt they really should DL him. They should have put him there as soon as they knew but no… they never learn.

Moses Cleaveland, the guy who invented Cleveland

by ClemsonGirl on May 30, 2009 3:25 AM EDT up reply actions

The more pressing question is whether he’s going to further injure himself by DH’ing, and if so, whether injured Grady at DH is more compelling than the next best option.

by fleerdon on May 30, 2009 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions

What allows us to presume it is a “minor injury”? It seems to have been bothering him much of the season. Where does it say he just needs a few weeks’ rest and all will be fine? If it’s similar to Victor’s problem last year, it is chronic and will require surgery. So maybe he’s trying to play through it.

Is it me or is there a tendency on this board to be sanguine about injuries? “Oh, Joe Smith, that was just a made-up injury,” or “Scott Lewis will be back in a couple of weeks.” Could it be possible that the options for Sizemore are to play through it or have season-ending elbow surgery?

by odradek on May 30, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions

I had no confidence at all. But I had no confidence in anyone at that point.

Moses Cleaveland, the guy who invented Cleveland

by ClemsonGirl on May 30, 2009 2:24 AM EDT up reply actions

So on slightly better news I read Lofgren got promoted to AAA

by world dictator on May 30, 2009 2:12 AM EDT reply actions

I can’t bring myself to read about today’s game too… so I’ll just say, that pic of Grady describes it well.

FE WEE

by westbrook on May 30, 2009 2:16 AM EDT reply actions

I just did a little Lofgren googling for the heck of it, and found this article, which seems really prescient.
http://www.baseball-intellect.com/Articles/most-overrated-pitchers.html

I don’t think it’s worth a fanshot, but dead on, as far as Lofgren’s 2008 and Hochevar go. Hopefully Lofgren can still make this writer look bad.

FE WEE

by westbrook on May 30, 2009 2:22 AM EDT reply actions

So what is going right for Lofgren this year? Has he solved any of these issues, is he getting lucky, or something else? His BB rate looks decent but he’s not really striking guys out at a much higher clip than last year.

by jakesinger777 on May 30, 2009 2:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I get those same observations from looking at his numbers. I guess the decrease in walks is really leading to fewer runs. Maybe he isn’t good with men on base?

Then again, he’s got some legendary credentials right here:

attended the same high school as Barry Bonds, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, and pro football Hall of Famer Lynn Swann.

FE WEE

by westbrook on May 30, 2009 2:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I dunno. Not enough Hall of Fame baseball players, perhaps, at his high school. That’s the real problem here.

by jakesinger777 on May 30, 2009 2:37 AM EDT up reply actions

I should add: there were never any Hall of Fame baseball players to ever attend my high school, either. And I, like Chuck Lofgren, have yet to pitch for the Indians. This should tell you something.

by jakesinger777 on May 30, 2009 2:37 AM EDT up reply actions

There arent gonna be any from his high school either, unless it’s him.

FE WEE

by westbrook on May 30, 2009 2:39 AM EDT up reply actions

I don’t know how long this will last, but Matt Herges has entered my circle of trust.

If you believe it's just a game, you're also probably wondering why Santa keeps skipping your house every year.

by LeftyCatcher on May 30, 2009 9:58 AM EDT reply actions

I really wish the Tribe was playing at 1 today

by APV on May 30, 2009 11:52 AM EDT reply actions

ugh…not even any minor league day baseball. crappy day to be in my office.

by APV on May 30, 2009 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions

I was going to say this yesterday but forgot. Last year, after sweeping the Rays in a 4-game series, the Indians went 40-28 for a .58825 winning percentage. A repeat this year would have the Indians going 66-47 from Thursday on. This would get them to 87 wins. If the Tigers slow down a bit (currently they’re on track for 89-90 wins), this could win the division.

(Not that sweeping the Rays is some kind of karma or something, but hey, a repeat would be great).

Baseball isn't boring. YOU ARE.

by Matt Y. on May 30, 2009 12:13 PM EDT reply actions

Trevor Crowe hasn’t hit much in his brief major-league career, and Ben Francisco is a big downgrade defensively when he’s playing center.

just want to clarify…this is saying francisco is a big downgrade defensively from grady, right? not from crowe. is there a noticeable difference in crowe and francisco’s CF?

by DontCallMeJoey on May 30, 2009 1:39 PM EDT reply actions

is there a noticeable difference in crowe and francisco’s CF?

IMO, yes.

FE WEE

by westbrook on May 30, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Um yes. Big Difference. Trevor is much faster and much better in center. Benny however can actually hit.

Moses Cleaveland, the guy who invented Cleveland

by ClemsonGirl on May 30, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I meant versus Sizemore, but yeah, he’s a downgrade from Crowe as well.

by Ryan on May 30, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I was going to comment on this as well. Obviously he’s a downgrade from Sizemore, and I think Crowe is a better defender as well. But I haven’t seen Ben have a misread in CF yet. He looks much more comfortable out there than on the corners. Maybe the misplay is coming, but I think saying it’s a huge downgrade is overstating things based on what we’ve seen thus far.

by TribeJay on May 30, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions

No Benny isn’t awful in center. He’s made some great plays out there too so it isn’t as big a deal as maybe I made it sound but there is a noticeable difference.

Moses Cleaveland, the guy who invented Cleveland

by ClemsonGirl on May 30, 2009 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Perez had better velocity last night than I’ve ever seen him have. He sat at 91-93 consistently, whereas in the past. He’s usually 89-90. Again, the gun readings that STO uses at home seem elevated lately, so maybe that is the reason (though Fangraphs backs me up). But if it’s real, then it’s very good news. Didn’t see a good slider out of him, but the fastball was very good.

by TribeJay on May 30, 2009 4:19 PM EDT reply actions