Game 72: Reds 10, Indians 3

by Ryan on Jun 26, 2010 3:31 AM EDT in Game Recaps

The five who started in the rotation out of Spring Training lasted until the end of June, quite a feat considering all the dire predictions heaped upon the starters in spring previews. Still, David Huff had been the weak link for quite a while, and if the Indians had been a better club he wouldn't have gotten as much slack. But eventually there were too many bad starts for even a rebuilding club to stomach, so Huff was sent off to Columbus, and Aaron Laffey was recalled in his place. Laffey had been starting for the Clippers after serving as a reliever in Cleveland, but he didn't really have success in either role. He had a 5.61 ERA in 25.2 innings (20 appearances) for the Indians, and in 4 starts for Columbus, averaged just about four innings a start, walking more than he struck out. I suppose the Indians felt they owed Laffey another crack as a starter, but I think Carlos Carrasco has been pitching better and deserved the callup more. Still, given how Laffey pitched tonight, it won't be long until Carrasco gets his shot.

Even though Laffey got some strikeouts, he was smacked all around the (small) yard. Some of that had to do with the tiny strike zone, but his general location was poor. Aaron allowed eight base runners and five runs in his four innings; he probably would have lasted another inning had this game been played under AL rules, but since his spot came up in the fifth, Manny Acta decided that a pinch-hitter would be more productive for the team than another Laffey inning. We won't ever know how Aaron would have fared in the fifth, but I'd hazard a guess it would have gone better than Joe Smith's outcome. Smith, also just back from Columbus after starting the season in the Indians' bullpen, face eight Reds and gave up four runs, turning a 5-2 game into a 9-2 blowout.

Carlos Santana hit his third major-league home run in the fifth, then was taken out for precautionary reasons with a thumb injury. Thankfully, the x-ray was negative, and Santana will be back in the lineup for Saturday night's game.

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via www.fangraphs.com

Highest WPA		Lowest WPA
Shin-Soo Choo	.040	Aaron Laffey	-.274
Trevor Crowe	.038	Joe Smith	-.093
Jhonny Peralta	.022	Carlos Santana	-.061

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I don’t know what to make of Carrasco’s start. 8 K in 7 IP, awesome. 11-2 GO/FO, awesome. 2 BB in said 7 IP, awesome. Two more HRs, though, is not awesome. His HR issue needs to be addressed. I agree he probably should have gotten the nod over Laffey (the difference is negligible, though, probably), but Carrasco is going to get knocked around hard in the majors if he doesn’t figure this out.

by JRontherim on Jun 26, 2010 4:13 AM EDT reply actions

I’ve seen one of CC’s starts so far this year (just happened to be in Columbus visiting my brother who had Clippers’ tickets), and I must say, he reminds me a lot of Kerry Wood at this point.

What I mean is, that it seems that they both seem to try and throw their fastballs so hard that its nothing but a perfectly straight pitch thrown on a level plane. As long as guys get around on it, its outta the yard. It made me wonder if he ever throws any two seamers. He’s got to get some more movement on his fastball, because guys are teeing off on his 94-95 mph 4 seamer.

Okay, I’m done. That was my two cents worth.

Anything in life is possible, except for skiing through revolving doors.

by MooneysRebellion on Jun 26, 2010 8:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Somehow I remember Bartolo Colon having this same issue when he was first with the Tribe.

by masmark on Jun 26, 2010 8:36 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m guessing you meant his age 24 season (1997), he served up 12 HRs in 94 IP (1.1 HR/9), but with batters only having a .161 ISO against Bartolo. I’m not so sure the problem was as pronounced for Bartolo as Carlos. Plus Bartolo shed any concerns in his second year where he only gave up 15 HRs in 204 IP (.7 HR/9). He also never had a problem with HR/9 in the minors.

by hans on Jun 26, 2010 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Interesting use of the word “shed” when speaking about Bartolo…

"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge..." C. Darwin

by Spidey on Jun 26, 2010 6:39 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Even though its dimensions are a normal sounding 325-360-400-365-318, Huntington Park seems to be playing a bit bandbox-like. I don’t have complete numbers, but the Clipper’s hitting home/away splits are things like HR% 041/023; SA 502/423, OPS 874/779. All those 1000+ OPS guys do better at home, including Santana 1204/862 and LaPorta 1321/783, though Rodriguez and Goedert are over 1000 on the road, too. Carrasco’s HR/9 splits: 1.59/1.20. Not good. Not as bad as at first glance.

by YoDaddyWags on Jun 26, 2010 8:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Carrasco’s splits:
8 HRs in 212 PA at home, 2 HRs in 99 PA away
Hector Rondon
5 HR in 91 PA at home, 7 HR in 61 PA away (!)
Jeanmar Gomez
7 HR in 170 PA at home, 5 HR in 179 PA away
Josh Tomlin
6 HR in 131 PA at home, 0 HR in 143 PA away
Yohan Pino
9 HR in 156 PA at home, 2 HR in 169 PA away

by APV on Jun 26, 2010 9:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Remarkably similar results for the pitchers as for the batters: the above totals figure to an .046 home and .023 road HR % (those are per PA; batters totals were for ABs).

by YoDaddyWags on Jun 26, 2010 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions