Game 66: Brewers 14, Indians 12

by Ryan on Jun 16, 2009 12:15 AM EDT in Game Recaps Comment 46 comments

Prince Fielder, seconds after obliterating a Rafael Perez pitch.

Tonight's matchup was twice the game last night's contest was, in that it took twice as long to play. It was more than twice as ugly as last night's pitcher's duel. Sunday's game had quick innings and outstanding pitching. Tonight's slugfest had poor pitching, wild pitches, walks, and a lot of home runs. Yesterday Cliff Lee went the distance, giving up no runs on three hits. Tonight's starter, Carl Pavano, gave up three hits and two runs...in the first inning. Pavano, who had been on a nice stretch of good starts, fell apart for the second consecutive start, barely getting through five innings. But by this time the Indians still had the lead, and they'd add more runs in their half of the sixth.

But the trio of Greg Aquino, Luis Vizcaino, and Matt Herges, all "free" talent that had done much to stabilize the bullpen in the last month, couldn't stay in the strike zone despite a significant lead. Aquino bumbled his way through the sixth and into the seventh, but he had to be relieved by Vizcaino, who got out of that inning but couldn't throw strikes in the eighth. And Matt Herges couldn't even get out of the eighth. He gave up a bases-loaded infield single to Ryan Braun and was pulled in favor of Rafael Perez. When Perez came into the game, the Indians were still leading by three. Even if he allowed a run or two, the Indians had Kerry Wood for the ninth. But he threw a high pitch to Prince Fielder, and the Brewers first baseman absolutely crushed it for a grand slam. The Brewers now led 13-12, and although Perez was visibly shaken, he was allowed to pitch to two more hitters before being pulled. All told, Cleveland relievers allowed eight runs, all of them earned, on six hits and six walks. It was the walks that brought the Brewers back into the game, and given the score, there was no excuse for them.

Remember that game the Indians stole against Zach Greinke? That win just got cancelled out by this loss, a game in which they had two significant leads, including a four-run lead going into the eighth. The long-term prospects also took a hit. What if Carl Pavano is running out of gas? He's long since passed his major-league innings total of the last four seasons combined. And what exactly is wrong with Rafael Perez?

Next Up: Gallardo vs. Sowers, 7:05 PM. Looking at this matchup, tonight's loss hurts even more.

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via www.fangraphs.com

Highest WPA		Lowest WPA
Shin-Soo Choo	.241	Rafael Perez	-.693
Victor Martinez	.239	Carl Pavano	-.214
Travis Hafner	.182	Matt Herges	-.141

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What if Carl Pavano is running out of gas? He’s long since passed his major-league innings total of the last four seasons combined

This part hurts me the most. If Pavano can recover before the trade deadline he can be a decent trading chip. With the odds stacked against us I’m hoping all of our trading chips keep raising their value, thank you Mark DeRosa.

by world dictator on Jun 16, 2009 12:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe we should stick with a five man rotation even over the next day off to give Pavano a break.
It’s a good thing we have the great inning eater Sowers going tomorrow, since we used most of our bullpen tonight.
Oh, wait.

-Kyle

by Kyle Garret on Jun 16, 2009 12:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And then we have Huff…joyous

by world dictator on Jun 16, 2009 12:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fire Wedge.

by NickFantana on Jun 16, 2009 12:28 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

That is one spectacularly ugly fangraph.

--
Force quit and move to trash.

by vbc3 on Jun 16, 2009 12:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

First thing I thought of when I saw the Fangraph was that mountain climber guy from The Price Is Right.

by Tapin on Jun 16, 2009 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My second-favorite PiR game after Plinko.

by JulioBernazard on Jun 16, 2009 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Uh…Laffey to start his rehab in Columbus on Thursday? Does that help? Scott Lewis to start in Akron tomorrow? Any better?

Westbrook held back from his next start.

I got nothin’.

-Kyle

by Kyle Garret on Jun 16, 2009 1:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

For whatever reason when I got home from work I watched the highlights, don’t know why?

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

by new zealand tribe fan on Jun 16, 2009 4:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

by JulioBernazard on Jun 16, 2009 8:15 AM EDT reply actions 3 recs

You said it man.

by gte619n on Jun 16, 2009 8:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Two things that drive me nuts about Wedge (or the configuration of the team, depending on your viewpoint)

His utter infallible loyalty to starters who clearly have nothing by the 5th inning, to get them that credit for the win. I don’t think it really hurt us on this occasion (Braun’s triple was a good pitch), but by that point Pavano was DONE, and he still let him throw a meatball to Fielder.

The fact that we don’t even have the threat to squeeze. What infuriated me was bottom of the 5th with Hafner on 3rd with one out and noted out-maker Luis Valbuena at the plate, against the left hander. Here you have a guy who can’t hit MLB pitching (yet), and an above average baserunner at 3B. I wasn’t screaming squeeze, but the only reason I wasn’t was because I knew it wasn’t even in the consideration set for this team. And that’s a shame.

by cheech99 on Jun 16, 2009 9:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That second one seems like an awfully silly thing to be up in arms about. Especially after a game when we scored 12.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Jun 16, 2009 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe so… at the time, we were only up two.

by cheech99 on Jun 16, 2009 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

probably shouldn’t put the guy with recurring shoulder problems in a potential collision-at-the-plate situation either

by AllenSmith on Jun 16, 2009 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What you’re also missing here is Lordy how many squeeze plays are actually put on in a year? To criticize a manager for not using the squeeze enough seems like grasping at straws. I’m not even a Wedge hater and I could name 15 things that he deserves more ire for.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Jun 16, 2009 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry Allen (IF THAT IS YOUR REAL NAME), I thought I was replying to cheech here.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Jun 16, 2009 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

apology accepted

and I agree with your comment

by AllenSmith on Jun 16, 2009 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What about his refusal to use a quick hook with a reliever who has lost command of the strike zone?

by NickFantana on Jun 16, 2009 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s what I hate.

by JulioBernazard on Jun 16, 2009 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But by that time he was on his fourth pitcher. None of the bums could throw strikes. With 261 walks this teams leads the major leagues in free passes. Now, I agree, Wedge would never run out of pitchers. He is too timid to have nobody left in the pen. He should have hauled Vizcaino out of there quickly and put in Lewis (not without risk in itself). But he was down to three guys: Lewis, Smith and Wood. Somebody was going to have to pitch the ninth. I could see why he tried to squeeze an out from one of the three free bullpen pitchers.

by odradek on Jun 16, 2009 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wood should have come in. You want your best pitcher in the highest leverage situation

by Roger Dorn on Jun 16, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wood is allergic to the 8th inning. If he enters such a thing, his arm will rot and fall off.

FE WEE

by westbrook on Jun 16, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, maybe I could have seen that. Wood comes in to pitch to Prince with the bases loaded and one out. Maybe he gets through the innning unscathed and without throwing too many pitches, and can come out for the ninth..

by odradek on Jun 16, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Even if he can’t pitch the 9th, we come away with a much higher percentage chance of winning the game by escaping the high-leverage situation presented in the 8th.

by Roger Dorn on Jun 16, 2009 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So then Raffy pitches the ninth? Maybe with a one-run lead? Or two-run lead? I guess that makes sense.

by odradek on Jun 16, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I understand what you’re saying, but name the time that any major league manager has done that recently. I can never recall seeing that.

by TribeJay on Jun 16, 2009 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I could see why he tried to squeeze an out from one of the three free bullpen pitchers.

I don’t think this is supposed to refer to Perez, which is who I’m talking about. Perez should have been removed as soon as Fielder’s ball left the stadium, or, being quite charitable, after his subsequent 4 pitch walk to Corey Hart. The difference between a one and two run game with six outs remaining is immense.

by NickFantana on Jun 16, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

HIRE SPARKY ANDERSON.

Juan Salas: Smartest man in baseball?

by emd2k3 on Jun 16, 2009 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

we need bullpen help

by Brick. on Jun 16, 2009 12:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m particularly inspired by that 1.8 WHIP!

by peter m on Jun 16, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s the 1:1 K/BB ratio for me.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Jun 16, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, he’d fit right in!

Is this guy next? http://columbus.clippers.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Mike%20Gosling&pos=P&sid=t445&t=p_pbp&pid=428420

by peter m on Jun 16, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Does he know Barf and Gark?

by JulioBernazard on Jun 16, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Looks as if he just missed playing with Garko at Stanford (left the year Garko got there). Also just missed Jeremy Guthrie and came after Jody Gerut played there. It looks as if he DID play on the same team with Jason Cooper. I don’t think Barfield played for Stanford.

by peter m on Jun 16, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

http://www.gostanford.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/021607aab.html

Here’s the link, if anyone’s interested.

by peter m on Jun 16, 2009 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, right. Barf and Gark are just bench buddies.

by JulioBernazard on Jun 16, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Roomies.

by odradek on Jun 17, 2009 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

for me its:

Bats: Unknown , Throws: Unknown

very deceptive!

by AllenSmith on Jun 16, 2009 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bats: Inadvisable, Throws: Death Ball

by still ill on Jun 16, 2009 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Results: Holocene Slaughter of team hopes.

Pronk Needs You

by woodsmeister on Jun 16, 2009 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

do NOT overlook that 2-0 record.

FE WEE

by westbrook on Jun 16, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m kind of turning into the guy that points out that this was an atrocious signing by Shapiro.

by NickFantana on Jun 16, 2009 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

At least it was only two years

by Roger Dorn on Jun 16, 2009 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We need another game recap we can rec.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Jun 16, 2009 3:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I watched the second half of the game on Tivo before knowing what happened. But I didn’t add extra time to the recording and because it was on ESPN and not EI, it cut off in the bottom of the 7th. I’ve never been happier to be a complete idiot.

"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter

by Denver Tribe Fan on Jun 16, 2009 5:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs