Game 95: Twins 6, Indians 0

by Ryan on Jul 21, 2010 5:44 PM EDT in Game Recaps

This was supposed to be the grand finale of Jake Westbrook's Tribe career, his chance to audition for the many contenders interested in a competent pitcher to round out their rotations. Even if it wasn't grand, It was probably a finale, for his next start is slated for the 27th, just a couple days before Non-Waiver trade deadline, and at this time of the year, buyers are going to want as many starts as possible from their acquisitions. Because Westbrook missed the entirety, whichever team he ends the season with won't get draft compensation for him should he sign with someone else. In other words, there's little upside to not trading him, even if the the Indians are interested in re-signing him.

Westbrook got to face a Mauer-less lineup, as Twins manager Ron Gardenhire gave his star catcher a "full" day off, declining even to make him the DH. Mauer's presence wasn't need, for the Twins in the lineup collected 9 hits and scored 6 runs, 4 of them off Westbrook. Two of the four runs (all of them coming in the third inning) that Jake let score came from walks. And, unlike some recent outings, he didn't compensate for the base runners with strikeouts. This season we haven't gotten many of the occasional masterpieces that go along with the usual workmanlike six inning affairs, though he's still been good enough to be enticing to other clubs.

20100721_indians_twins_0_80_lbig__medium

via www.fangraphs.com

Highest WPA		Lowest WPA
Jhonny Peralta	.034	Trade Value	-.156
Chris Gimenez	.009	Jayson Nix	-.129
Hector Ambriz	.008	Carlos Santana	-.094

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Comments

Thanks Jake. See you next season.

"sometimes the internet is hard for me." - ClemsonGirl

by world dictator on Jul 21, 2010 5:57 PM EDT reply actions

I love the “Trade Value” has the lowest WPA.

I just want to believe.

by mjmarble on Jul 21, 2010 6:59 PM EDT reply actions

And the highest!

Blake: Thanks to you, I am damaged beyond repair!!

by emd2k3 on Jul 21, 2010 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

And to a lesser extent, Chris Gimenez.

Must not be here for baseball either. Because that isn't what we're playing.

by westbrook on Jul 21, 2010 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Honestly, maybe my biggest lgt disappointment is the sloppiness of the meme from degree to extent.

by Brick. on Jul 22, 2010 12:12 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Reality is messy.

by YoDaddyWags on Jul 22, 2010 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Weglarz just yanked one out to right for his 5th HR for Clips, 12th of year, and 2nd in as many nights. Dude suddenly arriving.

by afh4 on Jul 21, 2010 7:35 PM EDT reply actions

Just about to post this. Goedert with a linedrive single, and Wegz with a bomb.

Of course, Kipnis started off the Akron game with a hit himself. He is on fire.

by xrickx on Jul 21, 2010 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions

And then Goedert tacks on a 2B. He’s made his point, I think.

by afh4 on Jul 21, 2010 7:57 PM EDT up reply actions

OPS over 1.100. I don’t see how there can be any pro-Hodges or pro-Brown camp at this point.

by afh4 on Jul 21, 2010 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions

There is always a pro-Brown camp. They’re like Dead-heads. They just load up their tie-dye wardrobe in the trunk of the VW Minibus and follow him around, camping on the side of the road, sitting around the campfire at night getting stoned and complaining about how The Man (Shapiro!) is keeping them down (in AAA).

by InfiniteMonkeyTypists on Jul 21, 2010 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs

You forgot, “talking about his batting championship and minor league MVP awards.”

by Jay on Jul 21, 2010 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions

And Weglarz has a (gameday described) line-drive single in his 2nd AB.

Goedert is rubbing off on people.

by afh4 on Jul 21, 2010 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions

What I always lose in all this is that Phelps is 11 months younger, has a higher OPS in July (Wegz’ hot month) and an OPS over 1.000 in Columbus. Can we just make him play LF?

by afh4 on Jul 21, 2010 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Wait, Phelps popped out. But then Valbuena walked!

Valbuena for LF!

by afh4 on Jul 21, 2010 8:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Wait, Goedert walked too.

Platoon Valbuena and Jared in LF!

by afh4 on Jul 21, 2010 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Jordan Brown doubled.

Now I’m confused about what I want.

by afh4 on Jul 21, 2010 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

Best subthread ever.

Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile

by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Jul 21, 2010 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions

It is sort of strange, but Phelps is performing like the kind of hitter we hope Brantley turns into. A guy whose above-average walk rate, coupled with excellent contact abilities and speed give him great BA, OBP and BABIP. Also, with just enough power, predominately in the form of doubles and triples, to prevent pitchers from writing him off as a strictly singles threat.

by APV on Jul 23, 2010 3:51 AM EDT up reply actions

I think Phelps is using his snub in the 2009 Annual as his primary motivation.

by Jay on Jul 23, 2010 8:26 AM EDT up reply actions

If that was true, Niumann Romero would never have been released by the Red Sox

by APV on Jul 23, 2010 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Through 15 games in July, Weglarz is hitting .386 / .462 / .702.

Even after you neutralize those numbers for BIP luck, they’re still going to come out around a 1000 OPS.

by Jay on Jul 21, 2010 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions

For what it’s worth, Matt LaPorta’s rate stats are now almost identical to those of Austin Kearns. LaPorta has come a long way in a short period of time, and Kearns has fallen quite a bit. Still, it’s been one heck of a stretch for LaPorta.

by xrickx on Jul 21, 2010 8:36 PM EDT reply actions

And all it took was not having to worry about a job.

The Once and Future King

by FlaGators on Jul 22, 2010 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions

…Matt?
Well, as long as we’ve got you, how’s your toe?

by YoDaddyWags on Jul 22, 2010 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Just fine. Thank you for asking.

For the record – I’m not Matt LaPorta.

The Once and Future King

by FlaGators on Jul 22, 2010 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions

That’s one crazy fan profile you have going there.

by dgcambridge on Jul 22, 2010 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah...

They’ve all been my teams since about 1990 when I was about 6-7 years old. Growing up in Southwest Florida will do that to a kid.

Grandfather was from Cleveland. He used to go to games in Winter Haven all the time. Which is funny because my father is a big Tigers fan. But the Indians just stuck with me.

Every other team…blind luck (or bad luck).

The Once and Future King

by FlaGators on Jul 22, 2010 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Surprised he’s not a Seminoles fan.

Must not be here for baseball either. Because that isn't what we're playing.

by westbrook on Jul 22, 2010 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions

My most hated team....

Out of them all.

Hate the Criminoles.

The Once and Future King

by FlaGators on Jul 22, 2010 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I love how everyone has their own theory about why he didn’t perform, then got sent down and suddenly did perform. For some people it’s “toe injury magically healed on bus to columbus,” and for other people it’s apparently “concern about major league job security, eroded by actually losing job”

In the new Geico commercial, Marte sings "Let me be myself" on Wedge's front lawn (with the cavemen).

by V-Mart Shopper on Jul 22, 2010 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions