Game 28: Indians 4, Athletics 1
by Ryan on May 4, 2011 3:35 AM EDT
in Game Recaps
Email
Print
You know going into a series with Oakland that you aren't going to score many runs because of their fantastic starting rotation and good defense, but also that they aren't scoring many runs because of their anemic offense.
Tonight the Indians didn't face one of Oakland's front-line starters, but the contest ended up a low-scoring affair. The Tribe got eight hits off of Tyson Ross, but all eight of them were singles. Ross didn't walk a batter, which helped him minimize the impact of those hits.
The A's took a 1-0 lead in the fourth when Kurt Suzuki drove in a run with a groundout. That was the only inning in which Oakland collected more than one hit or walk. Carmona went eight innings, striking out five and walking one. That kind of an outing is almost required against Oakland, but all the same it was nice to see. His long outing gave most of the bullpen two days of rest after a busy weekend series.
The Indians finally scored in the sixth Carlos Santana and Michael Brantley singled, and Matt LaPorta drove in Santana with a single up the middle. That was it for Ross, and the Oakland bullpen got out of the inning. The score remained tied until the ninth, with many of the same participants in the sixth inning rally contributing. Michael Brantley worked a leadoff walk, but was picked off by Brian Fuentes. But Matt LaPorta started things up again with a single, and he went to third easily on a Jack Hannahan single. That brought up Orlando Cabrera, who hadn't started the game. Cabrera jumped on an early pitch (when doesn't he?) and drove in what proved to be the winning run. Asdrubal Cabrera later in the inning drove home two insurance runs to make it a 3-run inning.
-------------
Earlier in the day, news broke that Shin-Soo Choo was arrested for DUI early Monday morning in Sheffield Lake. Choo released a statement apologizing for the arrest, and the Indians followed with a statement of their own. Choo was in the lineup for tonight's game, and, as his attorney will represent him at a hearing on Thursday in Sheffield Lake, will remain with the team during the road trip.
| Highest WPA | Lowest WPA | ||
| Carmona | .317 | Duncan | -.225 |
| Granpabrera | .183 | Sizemore | -.171 |
| Hannahan | .162 | Choo | -.055 |
221 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Well, according to Keith Law’s Torpedo Of Truth, this team of overachievers only has about 47 wins left in them. I’d have to agree, we’re probably going to win another 47 games. By mid-July.
It really is enjoyable to wake up every morning and read that we are playing Charlie Sheen baseball.
by LondonTribe on May 4, 2011 7:31 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Pretty shocked to look at the standings and see all the teams in the AL West only separated by 2 games.
They’ve bowed their necks and started to grind it out. It brings a tear to the eye…
by pdxtribefan on May 4, 2011 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
First team to 20 wins!! Only the 2nd time in the last 56 years that has happened.
by kedda13 on May 4, 2011 6:59 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
When you look at the individual statistics for this team, and the results they have produced, it is simply amazing.
After watching teams with players who are single-handedly destroying other teams (a la Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, and others), players who have gotten of to remarkable starts, while their teams have a mediocre, or even below-average record.
This Indians team, through the first 28 games anyway, has been in essence the golden standard of a perfect team. A team, by definition, is greater than the sum of its parts. And no team in the 2011 season has demonstrated this moreso than us.
Not a single batter has more than 5 home runs.. Yet we’ve hit more home runs than 26 other teams.
We don’t have a single player with more than 20 RBI, yet we have scored the 3rd most runs in baseball.
At the start of the season our pitching staff was filled with players that were regarded as no better than #3, or #4 rotational pitchers AT BEST… But given confidence, craftiness, poise, and a sure-handed defense behindn it, we sport the 6th best ERA in the game.
Less than 3% of our runs are unearned. That is a sign of stellar defense.
Our team is loaded with unproven prospects, retreads, and wily-veterans in the twilight of their careers. Yet, for these first 28 games:
We lead the league in wins,
We lead the league in poise,
And we have been the best TEAM in baseball.
by Savage_Buckeye on May 4, 2011 7:13 AM EDT reply actions 9 recs
We haven’t led the league in poise this late in the season since ’97. We finished third in the league in poise that year, and ended up going all the way to the World Series. Ironically, it was a lack of poise that ultimately spelled out demise.
The persuasion is not inherent in the lobster.
by Joel D on May 4, 2011 7:31 AM EDT up reply actions 7 recs
I’d settle for this squad losing in the World Series this year!
by Savage_Buckeye on May 4, 2011 7:34 AM EDT up reply actions
I bring it up about once every few weeks, when I hear someone complaining about how debilitating a particular sports loss was.
“You think YOU had it rough?! Let me take you back to a chilly october night in 1997….”
"Mixed emotions. Rather see him hit PEDroia [with that pitch]. I don’t care if he is in the dugout"
by Gradysmanldy on May 4, 2011 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Hhahahahahahaha. I still hold Jose responsible for that loss. But it was meant to be. If funny how all of the experts thought that Cleveland wouldn’t be any good this season. I thought with Asdrubal Cabrera, Fausto Carmona, and if Travis Hafner could return a bit to form, this team could be good. They are mildly better than I thought they would be.
Tony Fernandez deserves more attention.
by JulioBernazard on May 4, 2011 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I think what people tend to remember about Fernandez that season was the game winning homer in Game 6 of the ALCS.
"I’ll happily embrace elevated hopes if that is the price to pay." - APV
On Twitter at @grantgw - sports and Cleveland and Columbus stuff
Thank God you were here to bring up that Game Seven, since the rest of us here had forgotten about it.
by Jay on May 4, 2011 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
And the next day I had to walk barefoot to and from school. And it was uphill. Both ways! And we liked it that way.
"I’ll happily embrace elevated hopes if that is the price to pay." - APV
On Twitter at @grantgw - sports and Cleveland and Columbus stuff
I wore an onion on my belt, as was the style in those days.
"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway
by notthatnoise on May 4, 2011 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions 7 recs
“Yes, they’re important! If you stumble, if you hesitate, you can kiss the crown goodbye. Now if I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times – poise counts! It’s just as important as the others.”
by kedda13 on May 4, 2011 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Chuck leads LGT in poi. We might also lead the league in hoi polloi.
"I’ll happily embrace elevated hopes if that is the price to pay." - APV
On Twitter at @grantgw - sports and Cleveland and Columbus stuff
by woodsmeister on May 4, 2011 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Carmona was fantastic, and CPerez was good. And a tip of the hat to Jim Joyce – maybe he gave a bit at the bottom of the zone, but after watching the jokers we’ve had to watch lately, it was good to see an umpire not go off the plate to give a strike.
An umpire who gives strikes at the bottom of the zone is a godsend to Carmona. He deals with enough jokers that won’t call strikes at the knees.
"I’ll happily embrace elevated hopes if that is the price to pay." - APV
On Twitter at @grantgw - sports and Cleveland and Columbus stuff
I’m glad I’m not the only one who noticed that. For as annoying as his strike call is, he seemed to call a pretty consistent game. Then again, based on what we’ve seen this year, maybe it’s all relative.
Possibly he took the hint after Carmona nailed him in the balls.
by Jay on May 4, 2011 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
and CPerez was good
Are you questioning the purity of last night’s rage?
by JulioBernazard on May 4, 2011 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Santana up over the Mendoza line and was actually hitting the ball hard back up the middle.
Grady, however, may soon be looking up at Mendoza. He’s no longer zoned in, which hasn’t stopped him from swinging at every pitch near the strike zone. Once he gets to two strikes you can call it and go see what’s in the fridge.
Anybody notice Carlton Smith’s Pestano-like metamorphosis? From an on-the-radar perspective he’s been a never-was and comes with a SSS warning but a guy with a 90’s fastball that has never been a bat-misser is producing this:
17K in 9.2 IP
8.5 K/BB
0.87 WHIP
He seems to be giving up more flyballs though…
Has he has perhaps gone from a 2-seamer to a 4-seamer producing more k’s and flyballs?
I made a comment on this in the start of the gamethread last night. I don’t know whether he has moved off his 4-seamer, but I have seen reports he is in the mid-90s.
by APV on May 4, 2011 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Manny Acta’s song of the day recommendations.
by jakesinger777 on May 4, 2011 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I know it’s already been said, but when you take the first two games of the season and look where we are now… wow. I just wish I could go see a game.
I’m ten days away from my first game in Cleveland in 4 years. I’m psyched.
by APV on May 4, 2011 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Im considering coming into town for a weekend in May just to catch them. (DC area)
"Mixed emotions. Rather see him hit PEDroia [with that pitch]. I don’t care if he is in the dugout"
by Gradysmanldy on May 4, 2011 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions
….and definitely headed up for the July set at Camden with the Orioles; I’ve never seen the stadium, and everyone tells me it’s freaky deja-vu-like after going to the Progresake.
"Mixed emotions. Rather see him hit PEDroia [with that pitch]. I don’t care if he is in the dugout"
by Gradysmanldy on May 4, 2011 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions
The two parks feel fairly different to me.
by JulioBernazard on May 4, 2011 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Camden is beautiful, but aside from the same green seats they’re pretty different parks. Be sure to get some food from Boog’s BBQ in the alleyway behind the right field patio area.
Show them Ohio's here.
by slidingscrapes on May 4, 2011 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ll be heading up there for that as well. We need to pull together a LGT contingent for the games. We’ve tried in the past to varying results.
I just want to believe.
I don’t think I’ll be down there this year, I’m trying to get back to Cleveland for the Pirates series.
"Spring Training wins are good for the soul."
That’s too bad – you were the varying in the results. I’m hoping we can get more people out this year.
I just want to believe.
I’ll be there for the Sunday game. We’re flying up to Pittsburgh (from ATL), where my sister and brother in law live, playing golf on Saturday, driving to Cleveland on Sunday for the game. First time to the Jake since 1995.
by kennesawmountainwahoo on May 4, 2011 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Ill trade towns with you. I’m going from CLE to DC weekend of 05/13. Gotta get me some Dancing Crab…
Ironically, I live at the end of the street that’s on. There’s better maryland crab in the area….but the unlimited deal they run there is pretty great. Two great new bars right next door, Public (3 story, rooftop deck, about 25 tv’s) and Murphy’s (best burger in town) right next door.
"Mixed emotions. Rather see him hit PEDroia [with that pitch]. I don’t care if he is in the dugout"
by Gradysmanldy on May 4, 2011 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Murphy’s does a burger with 1/2 pound of meat, potato pancake, fried egg, and russian sauce. Ray’s is good, but the only burger i’ve liked better is Five Napkin (NY) and BLT Burger
"Mixed emotions. Rather see him hit PEDroia [with that pitch]. I don’t care if he is in the dugout"
I’ve heard B-spot does a good one too, going to try that this summer in C-town
"Mixed emotions. Rather see him hit PEDroia [with that pitch]. I don’t care if he is in the dugout"
Never had Murphy’s, but I find it hard to believe anywhere in DC would top it. Plus, given your admiration for Public, I’m inclined to question your taste…
My watch is broken... it's stuck on Tribe Time
#suckitLaw
Haha, didn’t say it was anything special; Tenley isn’t known as a neighborhood that has ANYTHING for bars. Both of those spots are brand new, bringing the total of bars in my neighborhood to about……2.
"Mixed emotions. Rather see him hit PEDroia [with that pitch]. I don’t care if he is in the dugout"
Bars in DC: Church Key, Black Squirrel, the bar formerly known as Brickskeller. Others?
by Gradyforpresident on May 4, 2011 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Meridian Pint (Columbia Heights) and Big Hunt (Dupont).
(Partial to Meridian of all of these)
"Mixed emotions. Rather see him hit PEDroia [with that pitch]. I don’t care if he is in the dugout"
I’ve met the owner of Meridian Pint a few times. I lived on 10th street when that was a run down mini-mart flower shop, and later a vacant parcel. Last I checked the big vacant apartment building across the street is getting turned into condos or something. Amazing how quickly Columbia Heights changed.
If you like Meridian Pint, the Looking Glass on Georgia Ave is comparable and much less crowded. It’s owned by the Wonderland people.
Big Hunt is OK. not a great beer list. Gotten mixed reviews on Meridian Pint
by Gradyforpresident on May 4, 2011 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Big hunt is my least favorite ‘good’ beer bar (the selection is decent if you like the german strong ale types) but still better than the average overpriced pretentious gtown/dupont spot, if you’re stuck in NW
"Mixed emotions. Rather see him hit PEDroia [with that pitch]. I don’t care if he is in the dugout"
yeah If I’m stuck in Dupont with a number of people and everyone’s indecisive, big hunt is a solid fallback
by Gradyforpresident on May 5, 2011 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions
i’ve never been out in georgetown so i can’t say anything. my dream is that there’s some bar tucked way away in the neighborhood like on R street* or something that is a gem. Probably not though.
*Not sure R street runs through Georgetown.
by Gradyforpresident on May 5, 2011 12:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Quarry House is the best of the best, but it’s in Silver Spring. Big fan of Rockabilly night (Sat.).
Second Quarry House, add Glaxy Hut in Arlington. My favorite place outside the District.
My watch is broken... it's stuck on Tribe Time
#suckitLaw
If you know Galaxy Hut, we need to get together at some point to watch a game. I could walk there.
I just want to believe.
Also, I tend hate Irish bars—because I’m Irish American—but Nanny O’Briens in Cleveland Park is a pretty authentic little hellhole.
Also found a couple good ones on U/H streets…..American Ice Company is fun, nice outdoor deck, and H Street has some great stops for the dive bar crowd (The Pug, H street country club, etc)
"Mixed emotions. Rather see him hit PEDroia [with that pitch]. I don’t care if he is in the dugout"
Don’t know how you could call H Street Country Club a dive bar with $10+ cocktails. I like sone places on H Street but, in general, the place reeks too much of hipsters and gentrification for my tastes.
My watch is broken... it's stuck on Tribe Time
#suckitLaw
by Turkmenbashi on May 4, 2011 4:12 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yeah, I’ve heard good things about H Street corridor, I’m just never in that area
by Gradyforpresident on May 4, 2011 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, Wonderland is hit and miss for the same reason. (Reasonable drinks, but definitely gets a bit too hipstery for me)
The Pug on H street is as divey as it gets in DC. Love going there for united games and connect four.
"Mixed emotions. Rather see him hit PEDroia [with that pitch]. I don’t care if he is in the dugout"
Ever since I read that biography of U Street I’ve been obsessed with that neighborhood
by Gradyforpresident on May 5, 2011 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions
Ray’s isn’t in the District. This is the only way it can possibly make sense. Nothing is better.
by Gradyforpresident on May 4, 2011 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ve only been to Ray’s in Arlington. It was phenomenal – I can’t imagine better.
That said, I had a burger at Kitty O’Sheas (also in Arlington) a few weeks back that was great. But, then again, it may have been simply due to the fact I hadn’t had a burger in a few months and it was 1/2 price Thursday.
I just want to believe.
I’ve gone to 2 games since I’ve moved. We’ve lost both.
The second game was awesome though. I’ve always wanted to get on the jumbotron, and I wanted to make a sign that was guaranteed to get noticed. So I wrote, “I drove 600 miles from SC to see the Indians.” In about three minutes, I was on the jumbotron.
“I drove 600 mile from sc for my Marte Partay, where is it”
"Mixed emotions. Rather see him hit PEDroia [with that pitch]. I don’t care if he is in the dugout"
by Gradysmanldy on May 4, 2011 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Just struggling with the occasional correlation/causality guilt
by APV on May 4, 2011 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Since we’re on the topic, who’s going to the series at Yankee Stadium in June?
by jakesinger777 on May 4, 2011 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions
I used to go to the Yankees series, but I started boycotting it a few years ago. Relatively large investment to go to New York, and too much of that money actually goes to the Yankees. No thanks.
by Jay on May 4, 2011 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Fair. I live in NYC, though, so I feel like it would be a waste not to attend at least one of the games..
by jakesinger777 on May 4, 2011 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions
There’s no question NYC is a very expensive place, but after two years of living here I can say I think I’ve figured out ways to save that may not be totally obvious on the surface (same as living anywhere). Anyway, at my age (early, soon-to-be-mid 20’s) and marital status (single), I really believe there are few better places to live.
by jakesinger777 on May 5, 2011 8:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Important win- first game of a west coast trip where historically the Tribe has struggled. It surely keeps the momentum and good vibes on track.
I’m reserving my enthusiasm as the baseball season is a marathon. Enjoying this hot start though. Like others, I’m sure, I was hoping only for a .500 season of decent baseball.
Maybe they really are just a .500 team. And if they do that from here on out, we’d be foolish not to be happy with that. We’d also very likely be watching the Tribe play in October.
My primitive mind can't grasp these concepts.
I’ll surely settle for 87-75. OK, so assuming .500 ball from here on out, in order to catch the Indians, these teams must finish:
KC 71-62
DET 74-58
MIN 77-57
CHW 76-55
20 games over .500 is a tall order for one team, let alone two, especially when both teams seem so flawed. and the tigers would have to get pretty hot, as well. If the Indians can just rope-a-dope their way through September and finish .500 as a worst case scenario, the holes these teams have dug already could be insurmountable. I see no reason to make that the strategy though! I’m down if they want to keep going 18-8 every month.
My primitive mind can't grasp these concepts.
I picked the Tigers to win the division (pre-season), so I am a bit biased. But they seem like the team with the more reliable pitching staff (both SP and RP).
Their problem is that they are really relying on fringey guys like Peralta, Rayburn and Inge to have decent offensive production. Now with Ordonez falling into this group, it leaves their offense looking very meek. Really, Miggy Cabrera should be getting the Barry Bonds treatment with how anemic that offense has been this first month.
I really think he has! I hear that Vmart is supposed to give him protection when he comes off the DL, but no matter how you slice it, he’s a 32 year old catcher who has had nagging injuries….
He won’t be getting too much time behind the plate. Avila has been hitting pretty well (especially in comparison to the non-Cabrera rest of the lineup), plus with Carlos Guillen on the DL (shockingly), DH is wide open for Victor.
Yeah, that GM has a real yen for signing skill-position guys to play 1B and DH, so it was inevitable that eventually, a catcher would replace the shortstop at DH. Guillen and MCabrera were both shortstops before they joined the Tigers.
by Jay on May 4, 2011 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions
MCabrera has not played SS at all, but he had played two full seasons in a row at 3B when the Tigers traded for him. Your point still stands, at any rate.
That’s weird … why did I think he played shortstop? Maybe I got him conflated with Hanley Ramirez at some point.
by Jay on May 4, 2011 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Dunno. I’m a little surprised the Tigers haven’t traded for Michael Young yet.
Speaking of defensive ’tweeners, I think the Blue Jays should have figured out a way to keep Bautista at 3B.
The Jose Vidro move has gone down as one of the all-time head-scratchers.
I should mention, the gold standard here (as far as I know) is when Bavasi acquired Jose Vidro to DH for the Mariners.
by Jay on May 4, 2011 8:09 PM EDT up reply actions
We all know this team will eventually regress to our norm. What none of us knows anymore is what that norm is. I no longer believe we are a sub-.500 team, but how much better than .500 are we? .510? 520? .530? If we play .520 the rest of the way, we win 90.
BTW, at 20-8 our wining percentage is .714. Phenomenal. The 1954 Indians winning percentage for the whole season was .721 (and waiting in AAA that year was Herb Score and Rocky Colavito). Imagine playing an entire season and winning 72% of your games?
by LeftyCatcher on May 4, 2011 11:13 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Right, that’s what I’m saying. We will absolutely regress, but if we ride this hot streak for another couple weeks or so before we do, our norm could very well carry us into the post season … depending on what that norm is. And, like you, I’m increasingly convinced it’s not a sub-.500 team.
My primitive mind can't grasp these concepts.
I’ve always assumed we’d regress, and I agree with what you’re saying: The longer this keeps up, the more we keep adding to our run differential, with every game that ends without a huge injury, the bigger the collapse would have to be to bring this team down to expectations. And with every win a collapse that big seems unrealistic, and the impact of impending regression is softened. Maybe until the point that it will hardly cause any problems.
Steel Nick
by nickjs21 on May 4, 2011 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
This year has made me appreciate how incredible that ’84 Tigers team was that started the season 35-5.
I was living in Toledo at the time, it was a fun team to watch.
So was I, actually. whereabouts? Although I was in 3rd grade…
My primitive mind can't grasp these concepts.
We have to remember that regression doesn’t always mean getting worse. Maybe a lot of what we are seeing is, in fact, regression.
After years of regressing downwards, this team is finally regressing upwards.
by callmrplow on May 4, 2011 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
You think it feels that different, winning 72% instead of 69%?
The 1995 Indians won 69% of their games, 100-44. It was the best record of any major-league team since the 1954 Indians.
by Jay on May 4, 2011 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
All we have to do is regress slower than the rest of the division!
by Savage_Buckeye on May 4, 2011 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
It’s the AL Central Annual Last Quadriplegic To Drown Contest!
And we’re the only guy lucky enough to be born with a vestigial tail.
by Savage_Buckeye on May 4, 2011 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Even after this game, no one seems to be talking about Fausto and how important he has been as a SP. If you take out his flop on opening day and his start @ Min. a few weeks ago, his numbers in his other five starts are:
36 2/3 IP, 21 hits, 9 walks and 22 k’s with an ERA of 1.47 (and he’s gone at least 7 innings in all five starts)
I know you can’t totally ignore the other two starts, but those are ridiculous numbers. Is he just doing it against sub par offenses? Why does it seem to me that no one has given him any credit this year? Perhaps just the surprising starts from Tomlin and Masterson? Thoughts anyone?
If you add back the real estate deals of mine that blew up instead of closing, 2010 was my best year.
by stuart dean on May 4, 2011 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
If you take out that 9th inning, we won the 1997 WS.
"I’ll happily embrace elevated hopes if that is the price to pay." - APV
On Twitter at @grantgw - sports and Cleveland and Columbus stuff
If you take out Dave Justice, we won the 1995 WS too.
"Mixed emotions. Rather see him hit PEDroia [with that pitch]. I don’t care if he is in the dugout"
If you take out the last three comments, this thread is actually decent.
by JLK14 on May 4, 2011 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions 7 recs
If you take out 3 letters of that login, it’s JK
"Mixed emotions. Rather see him hit PEDroia [with that pitch]. I don’t care if he is in the dugout"
Very good. I assume that was an attempt to lighten things up. I didn’t have a problem with your comment since it merely piggybacked the prior one, but felt that the other two were meant to be condescending.
It’s all in good fun, no offense intended
"Mixed emotions. Rather see him hit PEDroia [with that pitch]. I don’t care if he is in the dugout"
Critique is part of the package here. Get used to it. You’re not being singled out. When they stop critiquing you, it’s because you’re being dismissed or ignored.
by Jay on May 4, 2011 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions
I know you can’t totally ignore the other two starts
Probably that.
And I think you’re barking up the wrong tree. Most people here love Fausto. Maybe we expect the dazzling stuff. I do, anyway. I suppose there’s more to talk about with regards to Masterson et al.
Steel Nick
Even if you count the start, he’s been quite good.
LGT's resident moderate Yankee hating fan.
by Joe. on May 4, 2011 1:58 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
People have a hard time looking past the overall numbers. And let’s face it, when you talk about the Cleveland rotation, everyone wants to talk about Masterson and Talbot. Verlander might get overlooked compared to the way those two have pitched so far.
I don’t have a hard time with it, I just think with Fausto, you have to take into account the blowups as well. He’s volatile.
There is a little good news in volatility, however. A starter who is more volatile is more productive than a starter with the same ERA who has more consistent performances. Concentrate all those earned runs into as few games as possible, and you end up with more games in which your club has a solid chance to win.
by Jay on May 4, 2011 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions
This. One of the added statistical realities of baseball is that the dispersion of performance across compartmentalized games matters.
by APV on May 4, 2011 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions
I used to have a system that sorted every start into one of four categories. Don’t really remember the criteria, but it was something like Gem, Quality, Lame, Trainwreck. This accompanied my Quality Relief Appearance stat.
by Jay on May 4, 2011 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Evidently I’m not making much progress. Semi-hilarious discussion follows in that thread.
by Jay on May 4, 2011 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Ah, yes, that makes more sense. The non-crap start stat
by Gradyforpresident on May 5, 2011 12:44 AM EDT up reply actions
almost 30 games into the season and I can’t think of a single person to fire.
"Mixed emotions. Rather see him hit PEDroia [with that pitch]. I don’t care if he is in the dugout"
by Gradysmanldy on May 4, 2011 1:49 PM EDT reply actions 5 recs
Since Austin Kearns has only proven himself to be a singles hitter, I would swap him out with Ezequiel Carerra ASAP.
As much as many would like to see movement in the infield, I see a Kearns DFA for Buck call up being the first performance based move on the roster.
"Spring Training wins are good for the soul."
Kearns and Everett still seem like the first two positional upgrades
by APV on May 4, 2011 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Kearns line v. LHP from 2008 to today:
.203/.313/.325
What an awesome matchup guy.
Get Buck up here, like, now.
I had a weird image pop into my head as I was passing out last night. A promotional item, it’s a hat-type thing that makes your head reminiscent of a certain unnamed Bullpen guy of ours. They’re called Durbin-Turbins (spelled wrong on purpose!). And instead of wearing them when he pitches, we wear them when we need to stage an unrealistic rally against an underwhelming opponent.
I seriously haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate west coast start times. I really want to go home, crack a cold one, and watch some good baseball. Blah.
"Mixed emotions. Rather see him hit PEDroia [with that pitch]. I don’t care if he is in the dugout"
You could probably say that 20 times a day, at random moments, and never be wrong.
by InfiniteMonkeyTypists on May 4, 2011 10:08 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
- Snoop Dogg delivers memorable first pitch at U.S. Cellular Field
- The Juice: Mesoraco’s grand slam helps Reds complete four-game sweep of Braves
- Please hold: Indians’ Joe Smith jumps the gun on relief appearance
- Local radio host honors Cubs’ Tony Campana with parody song
- Roy Halladay bobblehead with glove on wrong hand selling on MLB.com
