Game 145: Twins 5, Indians 4

by Ryan on Sep 16, 2009 12:14 AM EDT in Game Recaps

Throughout the season, I've been trying to look for any sign that Fausto Carmona is going to become a dominating pitcher again, or at least to transition to decent one. He's been healthy for the entire season, took a lengthy furlough in Arizona, and has had a very wide berth due to the non competitiveness of the team. Probably the only left to try is a new pitching coach, and that rarely works, so I've just about given up on him. The numbers this season tell a very stark and depressing story: 101.1 innings pitched, 63 strikeouts, 63 walks, 118 hits, 80 runs, which translates to a 6.48 ERA and a WHIP of 1.786, both of which are the highest in the American League for a pitcher with that amount of innings pitched. In other words, he's been the worst starting pitcher in baseball.

Tonight Carmona allowed five earned runs in 5.1 innings, and it could have been much worse, since he allowed 12 base runners in his short start. He struggled to get through the first, and although he worked out of the inning allowing just a run, he'd already thrown more than 25 pitches. And this was a middle-of-the-road offense missing its second-best hitter.

The good news from the game was that Matt LaPorta had a good night. Matt went 2-for-4, including a ninth inning home run off Joe Nathan. LaPorta's really cooled off since his late August surge, and most likely due to teams starting to game plan against him. Now it's his turn to make adjustments against AL pitching, and hopefully tonight's at-bats are the start of that.

Finally, a word about Joe Mauer's season: wow.

Next Up: Laffey vs. Blackburn, 1:10 PM. Also, the last game the Indians will play in the Metrodome.

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via www.fangraphs.com

Highest WPA		Lowest WPA
Jamey Carroll	.114	Fausto Carmona	-.369
Travis Hafner	.091	Michael Brantley	-.201
Jose Veras	.068	Andy Marte	-.103

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“I’m never going to feel frustrated,” Carmona said through an interpreter. “I know I’m a winner. Things aren’t working out right now, but I always look ahead to my next start. No matter what happens, I’m going to move forward.”

Sigh, I really do hope that the Tribe’s new coaching staff next season fixes this guy. This type of talent should not go to waste.

by jayme on Sep 16, 2009 5:23 AM EDT reply actions

Well at least he’s not frustrated by showing the potential to be a Cy Young caliber pitcher and then completely tanking for two straight seasons.

Il faut d'abord durer.

by CU Adam on Sep 16, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions

One of the odd things about Fausto is that he was moved slowly up the minor league ladder and allowed to succeed at every level. And success for him always meant the same thing: lots of innings, lots of hits allowed and not very many K’s, but tons of ground balls. We had every reason to think we knew what we had in Fausto, and his major league success in 2007 seemed like an endorsement of “playing it by the book.” (In my mind, the contrasting case would be Jason Davis, whose failure was foreshadowed by the way he was rushed through the system.) Now, Fausto is not only bad, but completely different from what he once was—except for all the hits. Is a puzzlement.

by ken from alexandria on Sep 16, 2009 9:32 AM EDT reply actions

HIRE BRAD KOMMINSK?

"You just gotta roll with the ounches." - Clemson58YearOldMan

by emd2k3 on Sep 16, 2009 11:54 AM EDT reply actions

for anyone who really misses the fjm guys, they’re guest blogging over at deadspin today.

by emil minty on Sep 16, 2009 12:02 PM EDT reply actions

I missed them until I saw Parks and Recreation.

by Roger Dorn on Sep 16, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

was that good?

Dodgers, Rockies, Giants, Padres and Diamondbacks. Oh my!

by westbrook on Sep 16, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions

The first few episodes were not, in my opinion.

by Roger Dorn on Sep 16, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions

That link to Mauer’s BR page made me check out Hammy’s assertion that he’d lose out on hits with no dome/turf. Not true at all. His road #s are better and his BABIP is lower at home..

Dodgers, Rockies, Giants, Padres and Diamondbacks. Oh my!

by westbrook on Sep 16, 2009 12:33 PM EDT reply actions