Game 70: Indians 5, Pirates 2 (11 Innings)
by Ryan on Jun 20, 2011 6:54 AM EDT
in Game Recaps
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Justin Masterson eked out five innings, somehow allowing just two runs (and one of them came as the result of a throwing error). Justin allowed three straight hits with one out in the first, leading to a 1-0 deficit and runners on first and third. Matt Diaz then hit a grounder up the middle; Asdrubal Cabrera got to it, flipped it to Cord Phelps, but Phelps threw high due to Garrett Jones sliding high into second base, and a second run scored. Jones was running on the play, so it wasn't an easy turn, but it was doable.
The Indians would tie the game in the second on a Carlos Santana home run and, later, on a Lou Marson double play. That's how the score would stay until the bottom of the eleventh.
I mentioned above that Masterson went just five innings (and that was with him throwing well over 100 pitches). That meant the bullpen went six full innings without allowing a run. Every reliever save Frank Herrmann pitched, and most of them went an inning. As the game reached extra innings, the Pirates had a distinct edge, as their starter (Jeff Kartsens) went seven innings, and they still had most of their bullpen available.
Asdrubal Cabrera helped out with a great defensive play in the tenth. Brandon Wood hit a sinking liner towards the hole; Asdrubal went back on the ball, grabbed it with his bare hand, and in one motion, threw a strike to nab Wood at first base. Both portions of the play were outstanding, but I think the throw was the more impressive part, as Asdrubal didn't have time to double-clutch.
Cord Phelps ended the game in the eleventh with his first major-league home run. With a runner on second, the Pirates elected to intentionally walk Carlos Santana, but Phelps made them pay, jumping on a mistake over the plate.
| Highest WPA | Lowest WPA | ||
| Phelps | .250 | Marson | -.260 |
| Santana | .218 | A. Cabrera | -.152 |
| Smith | .188 | Sizemore | -.130 |
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Loved the unnecessary hustle out of the box by Phelps on the homer.
by cleveland teamer on Jun 20, 2011 7:20 AM EDT reply actions
Phelps hit the ball hard all night, which was great to see. Now he’s matched Buck for game changing hits, I’m anxious to see if he can be an actual asset going forward.
Great sweep, fantastic to see Carlos light it up, sad to see Grady so lost at the plate. Just no clue right now.
He’s getting a steady diet of off-speed pitches. Any pitcher with a decent curve should be fined if they throw him a fastball.
Not an easy answer. The short (and non-quantitative one) that i’ll give here is: 1) Your leadoff hitter may get an extra AB or two a game that the other hitters don’t, and 2) this lineup is a completely different animal with Grady producing.
I imagine Acta is doing whatever he can to get him back into that comfort zone; there’s little other rational argument for him at the top of the order.
"Mixed emotions. Rather see him hit PEDroia [with that pitch]. I don’t care if he is in the dugout"
by Gradysmanldy on Jun 20, 2011 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions
get him back into that comfort zone
That’s my take on it. Grady has expressed numerous times how he prefers to be a leadoff hitter, so you have to believe that to be true.
Does he need to bat leadoff to get back in his comfort zone? He’s had two 4 SO games in the last 10. He’s struck out in 40% of his plate appearances in the past 10 games (probably more) and I just don’t see any improvement over that span. I understand all the reasons why he should continue hitting leadoff, but I also believe there would be less pressure on him if he batted lower until he gets it going again.
Brantley did pretty good batting leadoff and has slumped since being replaced.
by LeftyCatcher on Jun 20, 2011 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Would you judge a player’s ability by what he does in a handful of games coming off of an injury/layoff? Do you think there has been similarities to this one in Grady’s career?
Did you know, that last year, Grady struck out 11 times in his first 32 plate appearances? He struck out 9 times in his first 24 plate appearances of 2009?
So, does he need to bat leadoff to get in his comfort zone? Well, there is only one way to find out.
And it looks like Acta agrees. I’m not sure what I’d do, his slump hasn’t hurt the other aspects of Grady’s game, but it’s painful to watch him at bat right now.
by LeftyCatcher on Jun 20, 2011 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions
So the question becomes does he need to bat leadoff or does he just need reps to get back into a groove? There’s probably no way to scientifically determine this, but as far as I’m concerned, Grady is going to start hitting eventually – may as well put him in a position where he’s not hurting the team as much until that happens.
The Indians current win rate = 90 wins, by the way; Tigers would need a 567 rate to match.
by YoDaddyWags on Jun 20, 2011 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions
Just a confusing way of saying that they’re one game back.
How many games against the Tigers have we got left? The White Sox?
Just showing how many wins the Tribe would end up with at their current rate.
Remaining games:
12 v Det, 6 H, 6 @;
13 v Chi, 6 H, 7 @;
13 v Min, 6 H, 7 @
9 v KC, 6 H, 3 @.
12 in a row v the Central, Aug 9-21: H v Det and Min, @ Chi and Det.
Finish up with 3 at home v Chi and Min, and 3 @ Det.
89/90ish is what I think we’ll need to win the division. Can’t see like 85/86 doing the trick.
"I want to be playing at the end of October or the end of September -- not just at the beginning of April." —Grady
Cart before horse. Just gotta beat the others.
by jhon on Jun 20, 2011 5:52 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
If we’re beating horses, I hope they’re dead, at least…
by Logodaedalus on Jun 20, 2011 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions
question that has nothing to do with this game:
how much are crap seats (high up in the upper deck) for an ALDS game, do you think? I told my dad for father’s day if we made it to the playoffs I would take him, but I’m not exactly rolling in cash right now so I was just wondering. $30? $40? $60?
Next time, use this to google http://lmgtfy.com/
Some (none?) of you may remember that during that big inning in Toronto a couple of weeks back, I shared that it was fun watching them score all those runs on my phone while I was mowing my lawn. I wasn’t able to watch yesterday’s game until after the rain delay. But after the 10th inning, with a heavy rain forecast for my area in the next few days, I figured I probably should get out and MOW THE LAWN!!!
“C. Phelps homered to right-center, ….”
You are welcome, Cord Phelps.
by TribeJay on Jun 20, 2011 2:24 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
That lawn is going to be the pride of the neighborhood.
by YoDaddyWags on Jun 20, 2011 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
this time, instead of tacos and beer, i was griling burgers and drinking a beer, watching through the screen door.
watching TribeJay mow his lawn? That’s creepy, dude.
by Logodaedalus on Jun 20, 2011 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Ah, the old one-way screen door trick. Classic.
by Logodaedalus on Jun 20, 2011 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions
so, orlando at third. is it me or does hannahan always get fausto days off? do most of his g.b’s not go to third or something?
I agree that Asdrubal’s throw was easily as impressive as the barehand.
And I was going to make a joke about Diaz making $5M to sit on the Pirates bench and suck, but he’s only making 4.3—over two years. Still too much.
"I want to be playing at the end of October or the end of September -- not just at the beginning of April." —Grady
Asdrubal's play is no match for this
by Toxicadam on Jun 20, 2011 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Another non-sequitur, but whatever. If LaPorta acted more like Gutz, he could have avoided injury.
"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter
by Denver Tribe Fan on Jun 20, 2011 6:19 PM EDT reply actions
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