Game 84: White Sox 10, Indians 6
by Ryan on Jul 8, 2009 12:15 AM EDT
in Game Threads
Email
Print
Some very annoying but persistent truths have come out of the last month. One, that Jeremy Sowers is not a starting pitcher, and two, that no matter how many times the entire bullpen is swapped out for a new cast of bodies, the results remain the same in the late innings.
Jeremy Sowers did a good job against the White Sox for five innings, but in the sixth, when he faced the Chicago order for the third time, he fell apart again. Instead of a pitch count, times through the order should be used in determining the length of his starts, if any remain. Chris Perez was brought in to restore order, but instead he gave up the lead in one at-bat. Paul Konerko blasted his second of three home runs - this one a grand slam - to put the White Sox ahead 5-3. Perez Right would give up another run on a Gordon Beckham double. Needless to say, both the Cardinals and Indians haven't gotten much production from their recent trade, as DeRosa's on the DL with a wrist injury, and Perez has fit right in among the other flaming wreckage that currently makes up this bullpen.
To top things off, the latest reliever, Winston Abreu, also made his Indians debut in typical style, giving up four runs on two home runs. The 32-year-old had great AAA numbers, but hung a few sliders tonight that major-leaguers don't normally miss.
The Indians did a decent job against Mark Buerhle, and made a half-hearted attempt to come back in the late innings. Grady Sizemore hit two home runs, Shin-Soo Choo doubled and homered, and Travis Hafner another good night at the plate, going 2-for-4.
To make room on the roster for Aaron Laffey, the Indians optioned out Rafael Perez, who has again fell into his well-worn rut of wildness.
Next Up: Laffey vs. Contreras, 8:10 PM
| Highest WPA | Lowest WPA | ||
| Shin-Soo Choo | .175 | Chris Perez | -.467 |
| Grady Sizemore | .066 | Asdrubal Cabrera | -.142 |
| Travis Hafner | .060 | Jamey Carroll | -.071 |
87 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Comiskey Park/ US Cellular Field: Worst park ever.
Also it’s like the 4th of July anytime a White Sox player hits a home run. A bit much. One or two fireworks is fine y’all.
Being a girl has its advantages. I was spared peanut shells in my hair purely because of my gender I believe.
The game: Grday’s awesome. Choo is awesome. And the bullpen sucks. I’m convinced pitchers are told if they pitch well they will be ostercized from the bullpen club so they pitch badly on purpose. I was laughing during the game. I have cracked.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
I was at the game as well, with my in-laws. And yeah, the 2009 bullpen is best viewed as pure comedy at this point, there’s no use in getting upset anymore.
The worst part of the evening was that the White Sox fans actually felt sorry for us. Every previous trip to Comiskey I’ve been greeted with seething hatred and resentment for wearing my Indians gear, but this time around, it was like being a Royals fan. “Cheer up, buddy.” One guy asked me, after Perez got shelled, how can the Indians send him out there, they must have somebody better in AAA? And I told him, nope. He didn’t believe me.
Then Abreu comes out and gets killed, and I’m like, See?
The guy next to my mom and I leaned over and was like “Are you people from Cleveland?” with this really apprehensive and sad tone. My mom told him we were from St. Louis but that I like the Indians and he immediately started talking about the Cardinals because I assume that’s easier to talk about.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
After perusing the cleveland.com comments, it occurred to me: Why not use Sowers for five innings? He must have quite a disparity in stats between innings 1-5 and innings 6-9. I know Wedge is trying to stretch him, but would it be bad to take him out with a 3-1 lead? If the pen blows it, well, there’s a lesson for Jeremy. Maybe he pitches five with a lead a few times, and then maybe after a while he is allowed the sixth. Whatever, the current plan ain’t working too well.
2009 OPS against by inning (career):
1st – .723 (.841)
2nd – .432 (.636)
3rd – .502 (.863)
4th – .778 (.835)
5th – 1.187 (.775)
6th – 1.282 (.855)
No idea what to make of these numbers, but it sure looks like he cannot be trusted to pitch beyond the 5th as of right now. I guess there is nothing to lose in letting him try to work through his late inning woes.
I don’t see how it could hurt to try him in the bullpen. If performance translates at all, it would seem that he’s made to come in and pitch 2 or 3 innings.
thanks for the update. i never saw what happened because i got tired of waiting for him to get warmed up, so i turned the games off.
by Brick. on Jul 8, 2009 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
I know Wedge is trying to stretch him, but would it be bad to take him out with a 3-1 lead? If the pen blows it, well, there’s a lesson for Jeremy.
Not to nitpick, but I think continually getting his ass handed to him in the sixth inning is going to be just as effective of a lesson. Like next time the bullpen blows his lead in the sixth and he says to him self, “Well dammit, I’m the only one who loses my games!”
Steel Nick
AND there is a very good chance that I will be going to the futures game on Sunday and Santana and Weglarz are playing so I will see them live. My mom is saying no but I talked to my dad and he says he’ll go so I’m probably going.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
I mentioned this before Cabrera got hurt, but his walk rate has continued to plummet after his return. One walk in 30 PA’s. Check out the graph on the bottom of the linked page.
Maybe he got used to swinging during his rehab. Most major league hitters don’t get too many pitches that they have to lay off of in the minors.
Of course he’d be getting those harder pitches back in the majors. So I don’t know.
Steel Nick
Word is that Toronto wants 5-6 players back, including at least the top two prospects from any team that wants Halladay. Do we really want to gut our farm system and pay $22 million in salary for a year and a half of top-of-the-line pitching? I say no. The half of this year that we got from Halladay would be the definition of meaningless, and, while he no doubt adds huge value for us next year, I would doubt that he puts us in the World Series. There’s no point in trying to get into the 2010 playoffs at the expense of torpedoing our playoff chances for 2011-2015. Shapiro is distinctly creative, but he’s at his best trading the established guy for the prospects. I would be willing to bet literally anything I have that this is one he’s not even going to sniff.
I think you took that comment far too seriously.
And I doubt Toronto get’s 5-6 quality prospects. Team’s aren’t willing to torpedo their farm system, especially in these economic times.
by world dictator on Jul 8, 2009 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions
That’s fair. It was late. I was sober, but I had eaten a whole lot of hot wings.
by Joel D on Jul 8, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
He should trade for Halladay, and then immediately flip him for more than he paid. Because he’s good that way.
by Logodaedalus on Jul 8, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Vat da hello is Vrong Vit VMart? His avg. has officially fallen below 300. Trade him for more wild, bullpen arms. Although the new Perez does a decent job blowing games for us, I would like to see some new faces out there who can bring novel and creative ways to keep the suspense alive as long as possible before giving up that game-deciding run to slam the door in my face. Yes sir!
You know, the fact that we got Choo and Cabby for next to nothing gets me all giddy and laughing. Not that the Mariners deserve Choo anyway. The pathetic excuse that they didn’t have room for Choo in the outfield is so lame. When you have someone named after a locomotive, you sit Ichiro’s overrated ass down.
I bought the a party bucket of ice cream on my way home from class. Strawberry swirl.
by Cleveland Indians on Jul 8, 2009 1:45 AM EDT reply actions
I fear that it’s become a “persistent truth” that Shapiro & Co. can’t evaluate pitching whatsoever.
by JulioBernazard on Jul 8, 2009 8:51 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
The question has never arisen.
"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter
by Denver Tribe Fan on Jul 8, 2009 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Well, it’s not going to arise much for anybody in this day and age. In the last 20 seasons, an Indians pitcher has faced one or more batters for the fifth time only 20 times, and only 4 times since 1997. CC gave up a single and a double in 3 such PAs over two games. Westbrook had two flyouts (one a SF). Jason Davis got Shannon Stewart to fly out for the last out in the 9th in a game TIm Laker eventually won with a walk-off single in the 14th.
I was making a Simpsons reference/joke.
Nice chart, btw. Where’d you get the stats broken down by PA, or did you do that part yourself?
"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter
by Denver Tribe Fan on Jul 8, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions
I was at that Tim Laker game! Victor tied the game with a pinch-hit sac fly in the ninth.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Jul 8, 2009 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions
He pitched very, very well. It also featured the first career home run of Jhonny Antonio.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Jul 8, 2009 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Sowers pitched pretty well I thought. He loaded the bases with one out, sure, but Wedgie made the call and put Perez in. If Sowers needs to learn how to go farther into games, why not let him at least try to get out of the inning? All he needed was a groundball there. Who cares if Sowers blows it or the pen blows it? At least give him a shot at working through it.
We had this exact same discussion after his last start. Same arguments on both sides. But how many times do you give him before he proves that he can’t get through the third time through the lineup? The evidence is pretty strong at this point, sss or not. I know we have to figure out the rotation for 2010, but I don’t think Sowers is the answer. And we need help in the bullpen just as much, so why not give him a shot as a 6/7 or 7/8 inning guy? That’s also worth finding out for 2010.
"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter
by Denver Tribe Fan on Jul 8, 2009 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s impossible to prove that he’s incapable of pitching through the order for a third time. All we know is that he has been unable to do that so far. In a lost season, you give him every chance to learn how to succeed. The reward for this is that you have a serviceable starting pitcher going forward.
What I’m wondering is why is it the third time? Is Jeremy really throwing enough variety in there that lineups are collectively just as sad the second time through? And then do they huddle before the leadoff hitter starts his third at-bat?
I understand not having the stuff or pitching ability to make it multiple times through the lineup, but I’m wondering why it’s between 2 and 3.
Steel Nick
I’m guessing it’s his own mental block or he’s fatigued. It can’t be the other team because they’ve seen his stuff before. I’m favoring mental block because it would be too coincidental that he gets exactly through the order twice before tiring every time.
Either psychological, or number or pitches. I don’t think times faced is that much of a factor. I haven’t seen him pitch enough this year, but does he start to nibble in the sixth? When he gets tentative or timid he gets hammered.
Two other ways to visualize Jeremy:
Statistically, his problems start in the fifth inning, not the sixth.
If Sowers ever becomes a superhero, he could wear that top graph on his shirt.
by Logodaedalus on Jul 9, 2009 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions
2 things
1) why do we continually put up with rafael perez? its time to get rid of him. in my opinion, of all the team’s inconsistencies he’s been the worst.
2) granted last night he had a good outing, but like perez, why do we put up with sowers? he’ll have the occasional good start, but it won’t lead to a win. its not always his fault but he’s more bad than good.
someone please try to shed some light on this for me.
"be where you are when you're there"
by BLAZER_FAN_199 on Jul 8, 2009 9:06 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Psst … the rule around here is, when in doubt, assume sarcasm.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Jul 8, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Why do we put up with Rafael Perez? Because he’s 27 and we’re only paying him $436K. Because before this year, he posted OPS+ of 103, 259 and 136. Because before this year, he had 193 strikeouts and only 38 walks. We put up with him because the team thinks his problems this year can be fixed.
Obviously the problem is that we should be letting Perez hit….
by Logodaedalus on Jul 8, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Why would you ever give up on any non costly player after one poor season. Players have bad seasons. Its a fact of life.
by world dictator on Jul 8, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s worth noting that Betancourt did well again for the Clippers. 10 pitches to get 4 outs. In three games for Columbus, he’s faced 11 batters and given up no hits, walking one while striking out 4. Rondon starts tonight.
So excited to see Laffey go tonight. Laffey’s return will officially mark the Indians’ turnaround. “Laffey” is also the second greatest name behind “Choo” and ahead of “Valbuena”.
by Cleveland Indians on Jul 8, 2009 12:35 PM EDT reply actions
But not ahead of my two favorites on the farm right now.
Lurvin “Hot Like” Basabe
and of course
Darling Read
by FallsTribeFan on Jul 8, 2009 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Win or lose, I just hope Chicago doesn’t hit any home runs the rest of the series. If I have to hear another one of Ken “Homer” Harrelson’s lame ass homerun calls, out goes the TV.
by Cleveland Indians on Jul 8, 2009 3:55 PM EDT reply actions
My wife had never caught onto Hawk’s act before, but she was paying attention last night and was just REVOLTED by his schtick.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Jul 8, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions
One of these days, we have to get together that wives-only thread.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Jul 8, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Let's Go Tribe
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
Featured Stories
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Jamie Moyer legs out infield single, drives in two runs
- The Citi Field All-Star game has finally been made official for 2013
- Brett Lawrie receives four-game suspension, fined for ‘aggressive actions’ toward umpire
- PNC Park security guard loses finger in struggle with fan during Pirates game
- Create-a-Caption: Partying like it’s 1988
