Game 150: Indians 6, Twins 5

by Ryan on Sep 18, 2011 6:09 PM EDT in Game Recaps

The Indians left Minnesota a .500 team once again.

The Indians won thanks to a missed strike call and all the hilarity that followed. They almost blew the game in similar fashion.

Justin Masterson gave up three runs in six innings, though two of the runs were unearned. In the fourth inning, a run scored because of Lou Marson throwing error, and the Twins tacked on another run in the sixth thanks to Jason Donald error. This may have been Masterson's final start of the season. With now over 210 innings under his belt (30 more innings than last season), the Indians have to at least be contemplating shutting him down for the rest of the way. With Carrasco already out for the 2012 season and Josh Tomlin also with an elbow injury, not to mention Fausto Carmona's latest meltdown, a healthy Masterson is crucial to a competitive 2012 campaign.

The Indians weren't having much success against Carl Pavano, but finally broke through in seventh inning. The first run of the frame came in a conventional manner, as Shelley Duncan led off with a solo homer. But then the Minnesota miscues started to add up. After Duncan's home run, Lonnie Chisenhall reached because of a Chris Parmalee error, and then after the next two Indians made outs, Pavano walked Kosuke Fukudome on a very questionable ball call. Pavano would be pulled after making a few pitches to Jason Kipnis, but the Minnesota relievers would make things worse, not better. Jose Mijares walked Kipnis to force home a run (making it 3-2), and Alex Burnett walked Carlos Santana to tie the game. Yet another reliever was brought in to face Jim Thome, and although Glen Perkins made his pitch, Thome's bat splintered, and the ball fell harmlessly where the second baseman normally is. Thome reached with a rare infield single, and the Indians took the lead. Shelley Duncan then capped the inning with his second hit of the frame, a double that hit at the base of the left field wall.

Now up 6-3, the Indians almost gave the game back in the eighth. Vinnie Pestano came in to finish the eighth inning, but instead hit a batter and walked two (both forcing in a run) before finally inducing a popup to end the inning. Chris Perez pitched a scoreless ninth to complete the sweep and get the Indians back to .500.

20110918_indians_twins_0_20110918163839_lbig__medium

via www.fangraphs.com

Highest WPA		Lowest WPA
Duncan	.218	Donald	-.102
C. Perez	.200	Sipp	-.077
Thome	.078	Carrera	-.072

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Comments

Is this hot streak going to earn Shelley a long look next spring?

by JulioBernazard on Sep 18, 2011 6:33 PM EDT reply actions

I think Matt LaPorta is also going a long way towards earning Shelley that look.

Trombone/creamy/soda.

by Joel D on Sep 18, 2011 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions

It’d better. Duncan is our arguably our best offensive player. Perhaps that speaks to the sad state of the bats, but he has nevertheless excelled here and there are several places we can use him. He is an upgrade at DH, LF, or 1B.

by jhon on Sep 18, 2011 7:21 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I’d invite you to make the argument that Shelley Duncan is our best offensive player. I’ll start: No, he isn’t.

Il faut d'abord durer.

by CU Adam on Sep 18, 2011 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Highest OPS+ on the team besides Kipnis, but in double the PAs and without the babip luck.

by jhon on Sep 18, 2011 10:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow.

by JulioBernazard on Sep 18, 2011 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions

He’s a risky play for next season because of his low BB%, but if he hits for power (.198 career ISO) he’d be what we would have accepted out of LaPorta for this season.

by hans on Sep 18, 2011 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions

He’s tied with Santana at 125 OPS+, but I am otherwise stunned by that stat.

Il faut d'abord durer.

by CU Adam on Sep 19, 2011 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m not sure one can really count someone as the team’s best offensive player if, when one subtracts his two—only two—best games, what remains is a line of 230/316/372/688, and an OPS+ of about 90. Not that I don’t appreciate Shelley’s contributions.

by YoDaddyWags on Sep 19, 2011 7:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Aw, come on, you at least have to subtract his two worst games, too.

by Jay on Sep 19, 2011 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh, okay, Shelley Duncan is the team’s best offensive player. Now let’s trade him for Hosmer.

by YoDaddyWags on Sep 19, 2011 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions

It’ll be recalculated today. Check after 10am or so.

by jhon on Sep 19, 2011 8:17 AM EDT up reply actions

It’s now 132.

Santana at 124.

by jhon on Sep 19, 2011 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions

I don’t typically check OPS+ on a daily basis, but my guy reaction would be that if it jumps 7 points after one day, your dealing with a pretty SSS.

Il faut d'abord durer.

by CU Adam on Sep 19, 2011 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Technically we’re not sampling anything, but you’re correct.

by jhon on Sep 19, 2011 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions

You want to debate semantics, or engage in some antics?

I think the “Sample” in SSS is not the verb form but the noun, as in the size of the sample you are using to compare Shelley Duncan to Asdrubal Cabrera or Carlos Santana is small.

Il faut d'abord durer.

by CU Adam on Sep 19, 2011 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions