Game 68: Indians 5, Pirates 1
by Ryan on Jun 18, 2011 7:10 AM EDT
in Game Recaps
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Josh Tomlin was at his best, and the offense did just enough to take a lead into the late innings. Thankfully this season a late lead usually means a win.
The Indians activated Travis Hafner from the DL a day earlier than expected, and Hafner paid immediate dividends. With the game 2-1 in the bottom of the eighth, Hafner just missed a three-run homer, hitting the ball off the top of the right field wall. Just one run scored, but the Indians would add additional runs thanks to a Carlos Santana single and Orlando Cabrera sacrifice fly.
The Pirates hadn't faced Tomlin before, but they knew that he was a strike-thrower. Tomlin was hitting his spots, though, and getting outs on those aggressive swings:
"They were taking swings early for the most part," Tomlin said. "So I was just trying to locate a fastball down and away, or a pitch down and away, to get them to roll over or just get a quick out."
Travis Hafner's back, but the Indians will probably have to live without Matt LaPorta for a while. In the third inning, Matt tried to go to third on a grounder to the shortstop. He didn't make it, and tried to get in a rundown, but while changing directions, he caught a spike and appeared to roll his ankle. Afterwards, he couldn't put any weight on his right leg, and had to be helped off the field. An X-Ray revealed no broken bones, so the injury has been diagnosed as a sprained ankle. He'll have an MRI on the ankle today to see if there's ligament damage. LaPorta has at times been frustrating to watch, but he was hitting .244/.311/.426, good for a 108 OPS+, and the Indians don't really have a healthy replacement. Nick Johnson is playing in Columbus, but he's not ready yet. Jason Donald has just started to play after returning from his second injury of the year. I think Shelley Duncan may be the best short-term solution if LaPorta goes to the DL, with Carlos Santana playing there more as well.
Tomlin left in the seventh inning (with the score 2-1) with runners on first and second, and Vinnie Pestano was called on to get the final out of the inning. Pestano struck out Michael McKenry, then pitched a 1-2-3 eighth. The Indians then broke open the game in the bottom of the inning. Pestano struck out two in 1.1 innings, bumping his total for the season to 61 in 47.2 innings 32 in 25 innings. Chris Perez was not needed in the ninth, as Tony Sipp finished things up.
Later, the Tigers lost in Colorado, so the Indians are back in a first-place tie.
| Highest WPA | Lowest WPA | ||
| Tomlin | .235 | Brantley | -.099 |
| Pestano | .200 | Everett | -.075 |
| Santana | .139 | A. Cabrera | -.052 |
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I went to the game last night. Great crowd.
I was actually kind of disappointed to get that last run. I wanted Perez to pitch and hear the crowd pop for each strikeout.
There was a pretty good crowd pop for Pestano… A guy on a dead on sprint from the bullpen to the mound striking out guys left and right along the way will certainly endear himself to the fans.
“Pestano struck out two in 1.1 innings, bumping his total for the season to 61 in 47.2 innings.”
I can not, for the life of me, figure out where this came from. Still, 32k in 25IP is outstanding.
After the game on WTAM, Pestano humbly said that perhaps the league would do a better job figuring him out in the second half, because he’s still a new pitcher. He said he would have to adjust if they did. Interesting.
Isn’t this the exact reason we got Nick Johnson? Protection for Hafner injury and/or ineffectiveness and LaPorta injury and/or ineffectiveness? We’ve already had about 3 of the 4 this year unless we think a 109 OPS+ from a defensively-challenged first baseman is a good thing.
He’s not a gold glover, but LaPorta is at least average.
"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway
by notthatnoise on Jun 18, 2011 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Laporta’s waayy under-appreciated, but someone with “more consistency” would be less maddening.
"I want to be playing at the end of October or the end of September -- not just at the beginning of April." —Grady
Under-appreciated? He’s a replacement-level player — that’s what the objective numbers say.
Do you feel he’s being appreciated less than a replacement-level player? Because that’s the only way you get to “under.”
I know he’s struggled mightily recently, but wouldn’t a season OPS+ of 109 be above league average and thus above replacement? Not sure what objective numbers you mean apart from OBP and his numbers over the past month, both have which have been brutal
by supermarioelia on Jun 18, 2011 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s above league average for all players. His sOPS+ for his performance as a first baseman compared to others’ performances while playing first base is only 86.
105 wRC+ is in the bottom third of all first baseman across baseball.
There’s a good chance that at the end of this season the Indians will be considering other options for 1B for next season.
If you have some ideas, I’m listening.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Jun 19, 2011 9:27 AM EDT up reply actions
I could live with this.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Jun 20, 2011 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions
0.0 WAR this season = replacement level
-0.9 WAR in 2010, 0.3 WAR in 2009, -0.6 WAR for his career.
We used to have this same “decent hitter” discussion for Garko — FYI, you’re playing the mauichuck role now — and while LaPorta is (in my view) substantially better in the field and on the bases, he still nets out as replacement level.
I know he has fans rooting for him (including me) and many optimistic apologists. It comes down to what the definition of is is. He is not a good hitter, he is not an average player. He is a replacement-level player.
Decided I’m not done with this.
First baseman with a .309 OBP.
First baseman with a .309 OBP.
Say it with me. because It really is not possible to under-appreciate a first baseman with a .309 OBP.
Offense is down this year.
Offense is down this year.
Offense is down this year.
and yes, I’ll probably look more into this at some point.
"I want to be playing at the end of October or the end of September -- not just at the beginning of April." —Grady
MaTola’s last double was on May 15th. He has played in 25 games since then…
by The DiaTriber on Jun 18, 2011 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions
In LaPorta’s absence, I think I’d call Buck back up to form an odd little “platoon” at C/1B that would put Marson at C, Santana at 1B against LHP and Santana at C, Buck at 1B against RHP to maximize players (Marson, Buck) with some pronounced splits.
Sure, Buck’s no great shakes against RHP, but nobody on this team is.
Acta and 3B coach Steve Smith currently at first base going over defensive techniques with Santana and Buck.
"I want to be playing at the end of October or the end of September -- not just at the beginning of April." —Grady
Buck’s played 0 games in his MLB career at 1b, and 5 in the minors—all this season.
"I want to be playing at the end of October or the end of September -- not just at the beginning of April." —Grady
Marson is starting again tonight with Carrasco pitching after catching his last two starts when he’s been terrific. It looks like they might think Marson has something working with Carrasco and he may become his “personal catcher” so we could be seeing more of Marson starting, rather than just to give Santana a day off once a week.
by Buckeye Brad on Jun 18, 2011 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Or maybe Marson is finding an extended starting role due to LaPorta’s injury, which is true, and indisputable.
I was just thinking yesterday, after posting about Buck’s promotion, that it really would be indefensible at this point to give Buck much playing time in lieu of Marson. Combination of Buck’s ineffectiveness at the plate and inexperience at first base, combined with potential for great defense from both Marson and Santana. Marson may not be much of a hitter, but he can’t be much worse than Buck has been, and all the other edges go to Marson. The cherry on top: reduced injury risk to Santana.
Of course, which is what the comment said that I replied to above. I agree with that. But the previous starts happened before LaPorta’s injury and I’ve heard Carrasco make comments that he feels comfortable pitching to Marson because it seems like Marson always knows what he’s thinking. So I think Marson would have gotten starts with Carrasco pitching even without the LaPorta injury.
by Buckeye Brad on Jun 19, 2011 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions
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