Game Thead: August 2, 2011 - 6th Inning
by Jay on Aug 2, 2011 10:42 PM EDT
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PrintDave Huff improbably is looking like a strong number-two starter, more or less exactly what we imagined him to be 30 months ago. Brad Grant has two home runs tonight and a monster trade to his credit. Indians lead halfway through the sixth inning. Kosuke does not look so great at the plate. And judging from the sheer volume of comments in game threads the last few days, the Indians have electrified the fan base with their deadline deals — although, to be sure, the inadequacy of our divisional rivals helps, too.
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I feel like there have been a few others.
by sandyalomarfan on Aug 2, 2011 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions
another good start for Mr. Huff…. .51 ERA is nice
by valhallas_own28 on Aug 2, 2011 10:46 PM EDT reply actions
There’s a comma missing here. I hope.
Trombone/creamy/soda.
by Joel D on Aug 2, 2011 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Haha, I totally realized that came out wrong.
by sandyalomarfan on Aug 2, 2011 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Detroit wins
Len Barker Perfect Game Attendee
by PortlandVinny on Aug 2, 2011 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Ok I hate the backwards hat too, but whats wrong with cargo shorts?
by NatiTribeFan on Aug 2, 2011 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions
I have to say, I really like cargo shorts.
by sandyalomarfan on Aug 2, 2011 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, I don’t think that cargo shorts are necessarily a sign of douchebagdom. Sartorially, they’re kind of suspect, unless you’re the type of person who is capable of pulling off the shortsleeved button down and not looking like an engineer.
errrr, and if one is, say, actually and engineer?
by NatiTribeFan on Aug 2, 2011 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Two issues:
1. Men don’t wear pants after 6pm. It’s just a rule.
2. Men really, REALLY shouldn’t wear cargo shorts, unless you are on a boat or doing drywall. They just look sloppy.
What constitutes cargo shorts these days? Every damn pair of mens short pants sold has pockets everywhere now unless you want to go Magnum P.I. style.
I wear backwards caps…
My watch is broken... it's stuck on Tribe Time
#suckitLaw
by Turkmenbashi on Aug 2, 2011 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Between the length of the game and the general hatred, generally not a good idea to start drinking when we play the red sox.
by TheVanillaGorilla on Aug 2, 2011 10:50 PM EDT reply actions
great post from Hoynes: Raffie Perez gets taken over The Monster by Kevin Youkilis to start 6th. It’s 2-2. #Indians. #Indians. Think if it’s tied 3-3 he’ll triple the #’s?
Katie is actually pretty good covering soccer where she gets to talk to the coaches on the sideline and do actual sideline reporting. The Indians don’t let her do anything but commercials for coming to the ballpark and that’s not her fault.
@grantgw - sports and Cleveland and Columbus stuff
to rebut my own post though, last year 73 million people attended MLB games vs 17 million for the NFL
by NatiTribeFan on Aug 2, 2011 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions
its still an order of magnitude greater than the 256 of the NFL
by NatiTribeFan on Aug 2, 2011 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Still, it’s an unanswerable question how many games the NFL could sell out if there were 81 home games per season rather than 8.
I’m curious about the population stats for TV as well. I have to imagine the NFL total numbers dwarf baseball and that is just counting local markets watching their own teams
by NatiTribeFan on Aug 2, 2011 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions
and you also have to consider that Football games also often have a larger capacity. I would look at attendance percentages by league and take into consideration that people are more likely to attend every game of an 8 game home season than an 81 game season
I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
your whole argument is a fallacy!
That’s an interesting question, though. Baseball fandom is very regional, whereas football fandom doesn’t seem to be. I know people who grew up in Ohio who are Jets fans, Eagles fans, Cowboys fans, etc, but none of them would dream of supporting a baseball team that wasn’t the Indians or the Reds (for those from Cincinnati).
Probably because until very recently (internet, satellite dishes, etc), it was difficult to follow an out-of-market baseball team throughout a long season, while football didn’t pose the same problems.
- The national TV contract means that football fans have the chance to see a lot of different teams on TV, and not just the local team and the team they are playing. The effect of this is certainly changing with the internet.
- Because college football is so popular, fans have favorites even before they enter the league, so there’s a reason to follow more than one team.
- The Modell Factor. When I was a kid, you were either a Browns fan or a Steelers fan (if your family was from PA or you were a douche).
- Football fans are idiots.
I don’t think the Raiders are that bad, the Chargers will be back. They had the number one ranked offense and defense last year, their special teams killed them and I cannot see that happening again.
the question is will the Chargers defense see a decline by losing an excellent DC.
I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
your whole argument is a fallacy!
its all about playing better than the other teams in the division and there aren’t a lot of threats there.
I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
your whole argument is a fallacy!
the same team that just gave 48 million to Kamerion Wimbley and wnet 6-0 and still couldn’t win the division
I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
your whole argument is a fallacy!
true, I guess I was more pointing out that the 6-0 was probably more of a fluke than anything. They also went 2-8 outside of the division and had one of the easier out of division strengths of schedule
I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
your whole argument is a fallacy!
Yeah I mean they played the NFC West, worst division of all time and could not get it done. I mean if Janokwski made that FG against the Seahawks, who knows.
I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
your whole argument is a fallacy!
Me either to be honest. Yeah I like those high rising franchises as well, I really want to see the Lions this year. Thoughts on the Browns this year? I don’t know if you’re a fan…
I am (oh, and the lions too…forgot them). Probably 7-9. Its optimistic but people forget that we have the same out of conference schedule you guys had last year. This past year, we had to face the NFC south (which was tough now that Tampa is legit) and the AFC East (nuff said).
They will be a middling team with promise
I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
your whole argument is a fallacy!
oh. my god……3-0 pop out are you serious??
by valhallas_own28 on Aug 2, 2011 11:01 PM EDT reply actions
Yes, you’re correct, that is two words. Your point?
by supermarioelia on Aug 2, 2011 11:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Not sure where the LaPorta hate is coming from, this has been his best week offensively and defensively in a while.
i guess this is also only his 2nd full year up, but then bonehead ABs are piling up
by valhallas_own28 on Aug 2, 2011 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions
The embers from that bases loaded double fail are slow to cool. He has had a good couple games though.
What if...
by Danieldelamaiz on Aug 2, 2011 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Well they should be quicker to cool around here
by supermarioelia on Aug 2, 2011 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions
it probably has, but he is still the weakest part of this team. I don’t “hate” him, but he has certainly been a diappointment. But if you want some analysis on it.
Of the first baseman in the AL with at least 250 ABs, he has the lowest WAR at -0.4. The median player this year is Adam Lind with a WAR of 1.3. If WAR is at all an accurate prediction of wins (which I am not sure about), the Indians would be right on the heels of Detroit (a game or less back).
I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
your whole argument is a fallacy!
Where’s Emily?
My luck is scattershot calling these things.
What if...
by Danieldelamaiz on Aug 2, 2011 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions
So Zeke off the foul pole?
What if...
by Danieldelamaiz on Aug 2, 2011 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions
If I didn’t regularly watch Grady, I might have an opinion here.
What if...
by Danieldelamaiz on Aug 2, 2011 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Another DL trip and I should qualify again (blargh)
What if...
by Danieldelamaiz on Aug 2, 2011 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Although I think his homer yesterday was a good start
by supermarioelia on Aug 2, 2011 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Dear Tribe: I really need you to win this one, because I’m going to miss tomorrow night’s game to take my daughter to a Taylor Swift concert. Please sympathize and come through for me.
by FredOx on Aug 2, 2011 11:24 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
christ i flipped back and saw him rounding the bases. replay.
Lou Marson fan.
by Gradyforpresident on Aug 2, 2011 11:26 PM EDT reply actions
sipp is terrible at controlling runners
Lou Marson fan.
by Gradyforpresident on Aug 2, 2011 11:28 PM EDT reply actions
You still got it. A little early perhaps…
What if...
by Danieldelamaiz on Aug 2, 2011 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Sipp doesn’t control the running game well.
"By being the manager and just playing whoever I want." - Acta on how he would choose to split playing time between Kearns and Buck.
Seems like LOOGYs never have good pick-off moves/are never able to hold runners. Remember how ugly Paul Assenmacher’s pick off move was?
HAGADONE WANTS YOU ARE SPOT.
"I want to be playing at the end of October or the end of September -- not just at the beginning of April." —Grady
by westbrook on Aug 2, 2011 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
i mean, clearly didn’t go.
Lou Marson fan.
by Gradyforpresident on Aug 2, 2011 11:32 PM EDT reply actions
Got to love Hammy: “Much like the Yankees, the Red Sox are a ball club that never feels like they do anything wrong…”
by troyflowers on Aug 2, 2011 11:32 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
“I’m not the idiot that swung on a pitch in the dirt”
Hammy spitting napalm.
What if...
by Danieldelamaiz on Aug 2, 2011 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
“The attitude in NY and Boston is that they should NEVER, EVER have the same strike zone as any other team that they face.”
by troyflowers on Aug 2, 2011 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
He didn’t break the wrists, but the bat definitely cleared the plate.
A perfectionist, only without all the results.
Doesn’t the rule just say its a strike if he “attempted” to hit the ball. I’m pretty sure it is completely up to the ump to determine if it is a swing.
A STRIKE is a legal pitch when so called by the umpire, which—
(a) Is struck at by the batter and is missed;
Because the rulebook is so vague, in practice the rules of thumb enter the picture.
While it isn’t written anywhere, the standard I have always heard explained and seen applied is:
1. broken wrists = no-brainer, clearly a swing
2. bat that moves past the front outside corner of the plate = swing
(This is why the appeal goes to the first or third base ump, who has the better view of whether the bat crossed that corner of the plate.)
It would probably make sense to codify the rule, better given the prevalence of check swings in the big leagues, but that would just remove a little more of the human element that we all know and love.
A perfectionist, only without all the results.
The guideline I often hear is, is the bat still moving forward when the ball crosses the plate? If it’s still moving forward, then he’s still swinging in the only instance that really matters. If he’s complete stopped the bat and/or reversed it, then he’s not.
Interesting. I have never heard that one, but it makes some sense, at least in a one umpire scenario.
It doesn’t seem to fit with the appeal down the line, or the “Did he go around? Yes, he did!” phraseology that we hear all the time, though.
A perfectionist, only without all the results.
Sure it fits. The 1B/3B ump can see when the swing stops and when the ball passes, arguably better than the home plate ump.
by Jay on Aug 3, 2011 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions
You are stretching here.
Sure the 1B/3B guy could see the action, but so could someone in the upperdeck. This would make just as much sense as asking the home plate ump to make calls at 1st to decide whether the ball beat the runner’s foot. Proximity is everything for timing calls.
What privileges 1B/3B umps for check swings is that unobstructed view straight down the line, which if drawn all the way through the batter’s box, would connect to the outside front corner of the plate. Looking right down the line, it is easy to tell if the bat came around.
A perfectionist, only without all the results.
No, the 1B/3B umpire also has the better angle for seeing exactly what the bat is doing at the exact moment when the ball crosses the plate.
by Jay on Aug 3, 2011 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ll give you that the view of the bat is unobstructed, but from 100 feet away. A home plate ump that is one step in front of the plate has an unobstructed view of the play at first, but that isn’t the issue.
It’s the timing part of your statement that hamstrings your argument. There is absolutely no way that the guy standing on the far edge of the infield dirt is in a better position to judge when a fist sized ball moving at 95mph crosses the clay covered edge of the dish than the guy standing a yard behind it.
Maybe your criteria is what a home plate ump makes his initial call on, but the appeal is clearly about how far the relevant baseline ump sees the end of the bat progress.
We must be the two most stubborn people around; still arguing on a dead game thread, when there are so many better things on which to spend our time.
A perfectionist, only without all the results.
The angle is so much more ideal that, yes, I think the base ump is in a better position to judge. Sorry you find that unbelievable.
The umps seem to agree, or else why would the plate ump defer to base ump basically all the time?
by Jay on Aug 3, 2011 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions
walk to get to Crawford when Ortiz hasnt done anything…bit skeptical
by valhallas_own28 on Aug 2, 2011 11:33 PM EDT reply actions
Oh hey guys. Question (not sure if this was brought up earlier)..does David Huff’s career so far remind anyone of Cliff Lee’s?
yeah i was saying that in the other thread…some times some guys have to be sent down and get a reality check before they get it
by valhallas_own28 on Aug 2, 2011 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions
All we had to do was give someone #31?! READ THIS ACTA!
What if...
by Danieldelamaiz on Aug 2, 2011 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m cool. Clearly I don’t expect him to become Cliff Lee, but his career arch so far, and in fact his pitching style, remind me of Cliff. That’s all.
by jakesinger777 on Aug 2, 2011 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions
As do the “do we have a real pitcher here?” questions that are coming up now. Because I remember that was the exact reaction to Cliff’s emergence.
by jakesinger777 on Aug 2, 2011 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions
because Crawford has a .667 OPS? And Ortiz’ is over .900? I mean what’s the issue? If Crawford gets a hit, it wasn;t the wrong decision.
I just want to savor this moment. August baseball that means something.
by Toxicadam on Aug 2, 2011 11:38 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Oh my gosh, I hate Papelbon’s pre-pitching face. It’s like he’s about to whistle, and it makes me nauseous.
He looks like he just shat his pants. I’m really familiar with that look.
by jakesinger777 on Aug 2, 2011 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions
kosuke, if you hit a homerun here i will find you wherever you are when you get back into town and personally buy you a drink
Did you make Choo that offer a couple of months back?
Trombone/creamy/soda.
by Joel D on Aug 2, 2011 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
A polite bomb? Fine with me.
What if...
by Danieldelamaiz on Aug 2, 2011 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions
OMG, they really need to break up the Red Sox. It’s just more douchiness than I can stand to watch on the field, all at the same time. Once Papelbon enters the game, it’s all over, I just want to throw up the whole time.
by Jay on Aug 2, 2011 11:43 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I once gave them credit for not being the Yankees. Then they became worse. Now I am torn between comet or meteor.
What if...
by Danieldelamaiz on Aug 2, 2011 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Politicians make terrible pitchers. Their pitches do nothing but spin
What if...
by Danieldelamaiz on Aug 2, 2011 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions
When the Prez isn’t yet needed the VP gets the nod.
by JimmyAB on Aug 2, 2011 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
does this not feel like a playoff series?
Lou Marson fan.
by Gradyforpresident on Aug 2, 2011 11:46 PM EDT reply actions
Yes, not only because I feel like we can win the central if we take this series, but also because I think it bodes well for avoiding a first round exit. That isn’t rational thinking, but beating these guys in Boston seems like it would be a real confidence boost.
A perfectionist, only without all the results.
Hammy’s voice when talking about varitek is creepy—like he’s talking about a long-lost love.
"I want to be playing at the end of October or the end of September -- not just at the beginning of April." —Grady
I have to say, the kelly green hat is definitely worse than the pink hat
by millionairesrow on Aug 2, 2011 11:50 PM EDT reply actions
ughhh if that throw isn’t up the line!
Lou Marson fan.
by Gradyforpresident on Aug 2, 2011 11:54 PM EDT reply actions
actually, the power was good. carrera’s arm has surprised me.
Lou Marson fan.
by Gradyforpresident on Aug 2, 2011 11:55 PM EDT up reply actions
but ughhhhhhh stay on target
Lou Marson fan.
by Gradyforpresident on Aug 2, 2011 11:55 PM EDT up reply actions
some bad luck on reddick’s hit but vinnie gave up two solidly hit balls
Lou Marson fan.
by Gradyforpresident on Aug 2, 2011 11:56 PM EDT reply actions
just turned on shark week. how stupid do people have to be to insist on going in the water when there have been shark attacks in that spot like every day? idiots. you deserve to have your leg bitten off for that.
Or people who take their kids to a beach that has had multiple shark attacks in a small span of time? Ugh.
per hoynes, huff optioned to AAA.
everybody meet me outside of progressive field in 30 min. bring your pitchforks.
People … it’s a roster crunch, and it’s temporary.
If we don’t have room in the rotation for Huff in September, it will mean something has gone very right. Remember, Alex White is gone now.
by Jay on Aug 3, 2011 1:26 AM EDT up reply actions
I realize how well he has pitched, but 3 starts is enough for this fanbase to do a complete 180 on Huff? If the kid really has figured it out, he’ll be back here soon enough.
It’s the way things are trending that is upsetting.
Tomlin seems to keep getting roughed up and no one knows which CarCar or Fausto we will be seeing from night to night.
Granted that it is only 3 starts, but it would seem to make sense to go with the hot hand, DFA Durbin and find work for Huff either in the rotation, or as the long reliever when one of the other three guys melts down early.
A perfectionist, only without all the results.
To both you and FredOx – have you seen enough evidence that you know which Huff will show up each night? I certainly haven’t. I realize that the options aren’t great but I think trying to guess who’s going to be hot in 5 days is too tough to call. Going into July 5, did you guys have any reason to believe Carrasco would start getting knocked around?
To answer your questions; no and no. Importantly though, those seem to be the wrong questions.
I don’t pretend to know which Huff, Tomlin, CarCar or Fausto will show up. I do think it is pretty obvious that Huff is hurling well right now, and we need to take advantage of that, given our position in the standings. Maybe Huff has figured it out, or maybe he just wants it more this time around. If the wheels fall off in his next outing, or the time after that, no one is going to complain about sending him back down. It simply seems rash given what he just did to one of the best line ups in the game last night. I don’t remember old Huff ever looking like that.
The real question is: Aren’t you more confident in the Huff we have been seeing the past couple of weeks than you are in Durbin? That is whose 25-man spot we are talking about after all.
A perfectionist, only without all the results.
Durbin gets asked to get meaningful outs about once every two weeks, so whatever with him and his roster spot. Sure Huff is better, but the upgrade is almost nothing considering how low the leverage of his appearances would be.
So you want to play the guessing game about who’s going to be hot in 5 days. Like I said, I don’t think that works. The wheels falling off in his next outing isn’t anymore of a sign of things to come than his last three outings.
And not that it matters, Huff went 9 innings and allowed 2 runs against Texas last year and had a 2.18 ERA in his last 5 starts in 2009. Showing how important sample size is, even Bad Huff has shown an ability to pitch like this.
I’m mostly playing devils advocate here, given that the original statement referred to the “fanbase”. Personally, I wouldn’t even consider burning an option year in mid-August. His performance against the Red Sox makes a lot of this discussion moot. In an ideal world, I’d like to see if he can figure things out and see if Huff is anything. It’s frustrating watching a pitcher, even a young one, follow an awesome month with a horrible one.
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