Game 104: Indians 2, Blue Jays 1

by Ryan on Jul 31, 2010 5:44 PM EDT in Game Recaps

In the midst of rapid-fire trades, the Indians managed to play a game..and win, too!

Jake Westbrook was scheduled to start, but was scratched when the Indians traded him to the Cardinals, making the third rotation vacancy in a week. Josh Tomlin, who had shone in his major-league against the Yankees, was tabbed to take the mound on three days rest. Tomlin only pitched into the sixth inning, but given the circumstances was more than the Indians could have hoped for. Josh had more trouble today than in his first start, running into major trouble in the third, but retired Yunel Escobar and the white-hot Jose Bautista with the bases loaded. He gave up his only run of the game on a home run off the bat of Jose Molina. After the Jays ran themselves into an out, Manny Acta pulled him with one out in the sixth. Jensen Lewis gave up a line shot, but since it was right at Matt LaPorta's glove, the Indians doubled up Vernon Wells to end the inning.

The bullpen, after getting a night off yesterday, rose to the occasion. After the Indians took the lead on a Shin-Soo Choo double in the top of the seventh, Joe Smith got out of the bottom of the inning unscathed, no thanks to a Jayson Nix error; after the error, he induced Molina to ground into a double play. Smith would pitch a 1-2-3 eighth, though the Indians defenders made a couple of routine plays way too exciting. And Chris Perez, after allowing the first two runners to reach in the ninth, pitched his way out of the jam by striking out Edwin Encarnacion and pinch hitter Travis Snider with the bases loaded. Kerry Wood wasn't going to pitch the ninth even if he hadn't been traded, but Perez's save and Wood's trade made a nice juxtaposition, the former hopefully a preview of many successful years to come, the latter the departure of an ill-fitting free agent closer.

20100731_indians_bluejays_0_76_lbig__medium

via www.fangraphs.com

Highest WPA		Lowest WPA
Joe Smith	.259	Jayson Nix	-.207
Chris Perez	.207	Chris Gimenez	-.202
Shin-Soo Choo	.195	Trevor Crowe	-.136

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Comments

There’s a rather awkward looking “high-five” picture. Ill-timed shot, I guess.

--
"Most players will tell you that even when they're 100%, they're not really 100% ... if that makes sense."

by vbc3 on Jul 31, 2010 5:46 PM EDT reply actions

I am so over Nix.

by stuart dean on Jul 31, 2010 6:24 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Folks around here got too into Nix too quickly, and now you’re selling him out too far, too quickly.

Nix can hold down the UI spot ‘til it’s Phelps’ turn. He and Valbuena compliment each other well in a 2B platoon environment. It’s the same theory behind the aborted Luna / Inglett concept, but with theoretically better pieces this time. Platoons are very out of style around here after the Dellichael debacle, but they’ve been effective before during our transitional years (see Perez / Broussard). Sometimes you can polish a turd.

2011 is setting up a lot like 2006 (had we skipped right over ’05).

Kipnis is going to be good.

by jhon on Jul 31, 2010 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Never bought in so no buyer’s remorse…

by stuart dean on Jul 31, 2010 9:35 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Nothing that happened all season has gotten much buy-in from me. It’s like it’s happening to someone else.

by Jay on Aug 1, 2010 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions

My guess is Donald will be playing second for a litte bit; unless you meant 3B

by johio1 on Jul 31, 2010 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, him too. I’ve assumed Donald takes either 2b or 3b. Doesn’t matter to me which spot; if it’s a 2b or 3b platoon. I am guessing Donald will have more or less of full time role at one of the two positions. I don’t like the thought of Nix in the OF. Not enough bat. I’d like to see us turn our attention toward finding a legit hitter of an OF prospect or a first baseman.

by jhon on Jul 31, 2010 10:46 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Nix only works as a defensive-oriented second baseman. I’d rather have Donald there, and this experiment with him at third is lunacy.

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

by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Aug 1, 2010 6:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Nix at third base is really just another big giant middle finger at Andy Marte from management.

"If Brown is the answer, then you’re asking the wrong question." - Ryan

by woodsmeister on Aug 1, 2010 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Andy got hosed. The merciful thing at this point would be to let him go.

by jhon on Aug 1, 2010 3:18 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Nix has probably had 2 or 3 hard shot but playable balls get by him for non-error iffy hits as well. The Masterson start at home last Sunday against the Rays comes to mind.

by cheech99 on Jul 31, 2010 6:37 PM EDT reply actions

I would say it would be a good time to send Nix on his way let Marte play everyday and the Valgood platoon for all the infield

by johio1 on Jul 31, 2010 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Baseball on the field question. If Hafner is going to be platooned and we are going to DH Santana when he doesnt play ,when this happens why not bring up Marson to play C. I mean Lou is going to be a backup catcher and he is pretty good defensively why not bring him up?

by johio1 on Jul 31, 2010 7:18 PM EDT reply actions

Someday. This year might as well get Lou as many at bats as we can.

by dgcambridge on Jul 31, 2010 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Lineup Sunday:

Crowe CF
Acab SS
Choo RF
Santana C
Laporta 1B
Duncan DH
J.Brown LF
Marte 3B
Donald 2B

2 Questions:

1. Does anyone else think it would be smart to put Choo in the 4 hole and put Carlos in the 3? I think Carlos would get more pitches to hit.

2. Why not lead off Donald? Good contact, good speed, seems to have a good eye?

Just curious what people thought

by johio1 on Jul 31, 2010 7:24 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah I wanted to switch choo with Santana’s spot when Choo came back, since Santana walks so much, but keep in mind that Santana went ice cold and it (that switch in the order) probably doesn’t change much in any case.

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 31, 2010 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Even though the season and individual games means nothing, I still had butterflies watching that 9th inning.

Feels good, man.

by Toxicadam on Jul 31, 2010 9:03 PM EDT reply actions

Hey tribe won, had to leave for a kids soccer tournament as Perez loaded the bases in the 9th, spent the next 5 plus hours wondering if we escaped and won!

One day I'll get over to watch the Tribe play

by new zealand tribe fan on Jul 31, 2010 9:47 PM EDT reply actions

Are we really that confident moving forward with Perez as our closer?

LGT's resident moderate Yankee hating fan.

by Joe. on Aug 1, 2010 5:41 AM EDT reply actions

He’s not going to be perfect, but I’m pretty confident. He looks like our best reliever.

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

by V-Mart Shopper on Aug 1, 2010 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m not entirely comfortable with C. Perez, either. Right now he’s the best we have. Should he falter or suffer an injury, Herrman seems like a possibility. His stuff has been impressive.

by DanMac on Aug 1, 2010 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions

There’s a swear word in here, so I’ll just link the image.

Chris Perez is the truth.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Aug 1, 2010 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions

I want to see it, on record:

Frank Herrman’s stuff has been more impressive than Chris Perez’s.

Say it, I dare you.

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

by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Aug 1, 2010 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

You know who had the most impressive stuff on the entire Indian’s pitching staff? Wood, that’s who. A lotta good that did us.

Resident LGT results-oriented boob.

by mauichuck on Aug 1, 2010 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Although your comments are almost always unpleasant, they are one of the main reasons I like to read LGT. I am always wondering what you’re going to say next.

by matt7 on Aug 1, 2010 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

READ THIS LEVIN!!

Resident LGT results-oriented boob.

by mauichuck on Aug 1, 2010 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions

What, did I ban you or something?

You’re a big box of crazy with a strong dash of insight. I love it.

by Jay on Aug 1, 2010 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Definitely, but Perez is still better than Herrmann.

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

by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Aug 1, 2010 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, definitely stuff-wise. Herrmann has better control, but it’s not much of a comparison stuff-wise.

by TribeJay on Aug 1, 2010 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions

What? A 95 mph fastball that’s straight as a string and a breaking ball lacking command and control don’t comprise “good stuff.” Wood’s stuff looked like garbage while he was here, and his results matched.

Come on, four billion!

by Joel D on Aug 2, 2010 8:32 AM EDT up reply actions

I would argue the fastball lacked command as well. Felt like he was just rearing back and daring the hitters to catch up, which they often did.

"I spoil a lot of people with my play." -Lebron James

by Roger Dorn on Aug 2, 2010 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Word!

'If I'm not here, 'I'll be somewhere else.'' Andy Marte

by peter m on Aug 2, 2010 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Pretty sure what your saying is that Wood lacked “control” or “command” or “deception”, but he’s still bringin’ it and throwin’ a hell of a yakker. It’s just that he can’t put it where he wants it.

Resident LGT results-oriented boob.

by mauichuck on Aug 2, 2010 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions