Game 80: White Sox 6, Indians 2
by Ryan on Jul 1, 2009 11:42 PM EDT
in Game Recaps
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The length of its season is what gives baseball a dimension no other sport has. By watching your team on a daily basis, you get to know your team's players intimately, from their great abilities to their most annoying flaws. Each day brings a new game, another chance for victory. Or, when your favorite team stinks, a new and fresh reminder of it each evening.
Tonight was a very humdrum loss. Jeremy Sowers was his predictable self, doing well through the first couple times through the order, then falling apart after Chicago hitters caught on to his strategy. Indian hitters, who seem to have lost interest in working counts, were shut down by Jose Contreras, who was on the verge earlier this season of washing out of baseball entirely. To be fair, Contreras was hitting his spots well, and his last four starts have been markedly better than the six he made before going to the minors. But the Indians could have made his start much more difficult; he threw eight relatively easy inning, getting outs early in counts. And this wasn't the lineup of a couple weeks ago; tonight Grady Sizemore, Asdrubal Cabrera, and Travis Hafner were all in the lineup together.
The season's been over for a couple weeks now, but recently this team has descended to a new level. There's enough talent on this team, especially offensively, to make things at least respectable on a daily basis, but even that isn't happening.
| Highest WPA | Lowest WPA | ||
| Ben Francisco | .076 | Jeremy Sowers | -.246 |
| Jose Veras | .007 | Asdrubal Cabrera | -.114 |
| Kerry Wood | .004 | Jhonny Peralta | -.079 |
118 comments
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Comments
why is laporta still in columbus?
seriously. can anybody give me a cogent explanation why this is the case?
by Cap'n Snegiryov on Jul 1, 2009 11:45 PM EDT reply actions
I think he should be up here too, especially if Valbuena is. What’s the point in playing Francisco?
But, LaPorta has NOT been lighting it up in the month since he was sent down. His numbers aren’t bad, but he’s been striking out more than he did in April, and his OPS in June was .811. Obviously decent, but not spectacular. Call him up anyway. But, I wouldn’t expect instant success.
This is unrelated to the game tonight because there is really not much to say about that but I’ve been sort of commenting on Viva El Birdos (Cardinals) and the subject lines are obnoxious and they suck at putting up overflow threads. Tonight there were over 900 comments before someone posted an overflow thread. So thanks guys for being awesome. Also they aren’t as cool as y’all.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
It’s pretty funny. People are begging for new thread by the time they go up.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
I don’t buy players quitting just because they don’t like their manager. This is their job and they love doing it. I don’t know how you can say they will just quit. If they have I just lost a lot of respect for everyone on the team. That’s BS.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
So such listlessness, such ennui, is purely a random sample, a mere outlier. Don’t they seem a little defeated to you? Don’t they appear to be a bit downtrodden?
I think the new tag line for LGT for the rest of the season should be “Ennui Go”
"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter
by Denver Tribe Fan on Jul 2, 2009 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I don’t have the energy to look for it.
by Logodaedalus on Jul 2, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions
AND did you not see Grady dive for a ball that was all the way in right field and almost catch it? That’s not quitting.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
There’s enough talent on this team, especially offensively, to make things at least respectable on a daily basis, but even that isn’t happening.
SERIOUSLY.
Every night, my confidence in the entire organization sinks to a new low point. The only excuse I can come up with for not firing Wedge AND calling up LaPorta tomorrow is that Shap’s busy finishing a masterpiece trade of Cliff Lee. Other than that, I’m going to say that he’s holding the bag for this whole debacle.
I mean, at this point, his fingerprints are all over this thing, not just the initial struggles in April, but the continued, pervasive and worsening failure of the organization to be even competitive on a nightly basis.
It might be time for another over-reaction thread. Except it wouldn’t be over-reacting.
I just wanted to believe.
By this point in the season, isn’t it managerial malpractice to let a batting lineup, ANY batting lineup, see Sowers a third time? Seriously.
"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter
by Denver Tribe Fan on Jul 2, 2009 12:31 AM EDT reply actions
Yes.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Jul 2, 2009 8:15 AM EDT up reply actions
You’re discussing the managerial competence of a man who plays Ryan Garko in the outfield.
by JulioBernazard on Jul 2, 2009 8:46 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
There are real-life consequences regarding psyche and moral when you take a pitcher out, or even have men warming up, after he’s thrown five great innings.
Look at it this way: How does Wedge know if Sowers can ever make it a third time through the lineup if he takes him out even after shutting them down the first two times through?
Steel Nick
Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because every time Sowers gets to the third time through the lineup he fails?
"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter
by Denver Tribe Fan on Jul 2, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions
But, but….I’ll be dead by then.
"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter
by Denver Tribe Fan on Jul 2, 2009 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions
So you’re saying if you were a manager you would pull Sowers after his second time through a lineup no matter what? No hitter, shutout, nothing?
This somehow seems like a worse managerial strategy.
Steel Nick
No, of course not. But where a pitcher has established a fairly clear pattern of either tiring early or tipping his pitches after the first couple of times through the lineup and this seems to be true without regard to who you’re playing against, I think you have at least some evidence that he’s not a good candidate to go deep into the game. I realize we have major bullpen issues that make the option of making Sowers a standard 5 inning pitcher a poor one, but if that’s his wheelhouse then it seems like that’s how you should use him. How many times do you have to burn yourself by sticking your hand in a fire before you realize that it’s going to hurt?
"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter
by Denver Tribe Fan on Jul 2, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I understand what you’re saying, but Jeremy Sowers had thrown less than 60 pitches through 5 innings last night. Do you know what kind of questions Wedge would have faced if he put someone else out there for the sixth? In my opinion that would be the managerial negligence, not letting him go through another inning. It blew up. So be it. Especially in a lost season, Wedge should be figuring out whether Jeremy’s ever going to solve this lineup issue.
Steel Nick
And I get what you’re saying, too. I hadn’t factored in the issue about figuring out Sowers for next year, which was an oversight. I guess, actually, everything we do for the rest of this year should be about figuring out next year.
"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter
by Denver Tribe Fan on Jul 2, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t get the reference, and I wish I did, but I came to the site and saw this dark old thing on the front page and chuckled. Hilarious.
Depending on your browser, scroll over the image and look at the status bar at the bottom of your browser (at least w/firefox)
From the PD:
Wedge said Victor Martinez will start catching more because of Kelly Shoppach’s offensive struggles. . .
Everyone who is in favor of doing the opposite, raise your internet hand.
/hand raised
by APV on Jul 2, 2009 6:44 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
If Kelly needs to take a break, then give him a break. But I don’t see any point in running down Victor by putting him behind the plate. Isn’t that what Giminez is here for?
by fleerdon on Jul 2, 2009 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions
But Gimenez hasn’t earned the PT!
I now despise Wedge and his “approach.”
"Some days are better than others, but it's a long season."
— The Inestimable Eric Wedge
You know, my feelings on this entire season were summed up by that one play by Choo and Sizemore in RF.
First, there was excitement at the crack of the bat … in Choo’s case, the excitement of making a play … in mine, the excitement of a new and promising season.
Then, came the “uh oh” feeling … for Choo, it was the first realization that he can’t see the ball … for me, it was realizing that Raffy L, Lewis, Wood, and a lot of the starters were shaky at best.
That was followed by the “I’m lost” feeling … for Choo, it was the knowledge that not only were you not going to catch the ball, but there was a chance it might hit you right in the melon … for me, the horrible feeling that I’m all of a sudden watching one of the worst teams in baseball.
Now, I’m in the “hoping but hopeless” mode … for Sizemore, that meant going all out … and narrowly missing the ball on a dive … for me, it means still watching and listening, but understanding what I’m going to see won’t be pretty.
by FallsTribeFan on Jul 2, 2009 9:01 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
So, I notice from Lastoria’s site that Meloan is listed as the probable starter tonight? My first thought was that maybe they’re rehabbing Laffey out of the bullpen in Columbus but he’s getting a rehab start tomorrow. So, what gives?
Scott Leo says
Jack Cassel was scheduled to pitch Thursday for the Clippers, but that may change. Cassel has made 15 consecutive starts and may simply need a rest. I’ll keep you posted.Laffey is the scheduled starter Friday.
Sorry, wrong piece of classic literature. Perhaps just as valid, though.
by woodsmeister on Jul 2, 2009 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions
Thinking about this baseball team depresses me, so in my despair a thought occurred to me – do we talk more about the game now, or about other stuff? From last night’s first game thread:
Answer: other stuff.
by FredOx on Jul 2, 2009 2:30 PM EDT reply actions 9 recs
I think train travel should be a larger segment, but rec.
Proud Fan of the Worst Baseball Team I've Ever Seen
Oh man, thread 2 was so much better. There was almost literally nothing about the game. It was also intentional.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Jul 2, 2009 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, that was solid work.
Trade Cliff.
by Gradyforpresident on Jul 2, 2009 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Excellent. I was wondering what was going to get us through the second half (besides the inevitable blistering hot streak).
"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter
by Denver Tribe Fan on Jul 2, 2009 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Andy Marte
Eric Wedge
Flowbee
Music
swimwear
train travel
Chuck Lofgren
Reading this list as printed gave me the biggest laugh I’ve had all day.
Second biggest laugh I’ve had all day was seeing the amount of total discussion that the Darenzia took up.
LGT rocks.
--
Force quit and move to trash.
Whoops. -“the” on “the Derenzia.” I just made her sound like something from The Matrix.
--
Force quit and move to trash.
This look is apparently really big with middle aged CPAs and corporate lawyers.
I believe in Carl Pavano.
Clearly because it’s hot. I think I will do my hair like this next time. How much do you think this will cost?
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
You’d probably have to do the blue yourself at home. Colors like that are a PIA to maintain. I had fire engine red hair for a while, as well as purple. Nice colors, but frustrating as hell to have run down the sides of your face when you sweat.
Plus, she had to shave her head twice a day. Are you willing to put in that kind of time for a hairstyle?
I believe in Carl Pavano.
I’m not really going to do this. I’m not really that extreme.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
In terms of money, or in terms of your dignity?
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Jul 3, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions
These types of hairstyles are nice if you have thick skin and/or crave attention.
I believe in Carl Pavano.
I personally can’t wait to see ClemsonGirl try this one:
Another friend, Ceri. She is not an “alternative model”.
I believe in Carl Pavano.
Just a question if we can get 5 good inn out of Jeremy Sowers why does Wedge try for 6?
Fan in Texas
Because maybe he’s learning, and you can’t find that out if you don’t try.
Because no team can win over the long haul with starters that can’t pitch six innings.
Because our relievers are terrible.
Because on almost all teams, the relievers that would pitch in the sixth inning aren’t very good.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
but they end up pitching the 6th inning anyways, and could they really be in worse than Sower in the 6th? Maybe we need to move Sower back to AAA and turn him into a reliever.
Fan in Texas
Let’s stipulate that the two options are equally bad — they aren’t, but just for argument’s sake, we’ll say that they are.
You still stick with Sowers, because sticking with Sowers has an upside. Someday, he might eventually learn to pitch three times through a batting order.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Jul 3, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Sorry for the double post, as for who replaces Sower as a starter, who cares, gives a better shot at the number one spot in next years draft.
Fan in Texas
I think you’re overestimating the Nationals. As bad as we are, they don’t have what it takes to catch us in the standings.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Jul 3, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions
http://www.letsgotribe.com/2009/7/1/935083/game-80-white-sox-6-indians-2#17721708
There was a discussion about this upthread.
Steel Nick
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