September hope is still alive! Many of us, however, are rolling into work like the walking dead after the Tribe's 29th extra-inning game last night. Anyway, here's what's going on around baseball:
Yesterday's game: Indians 2, Astros 1
Danny Salazar made it three gems in a row for Tribe starters, and the Indians offense made it 152 games in a row of sub-mediocre performance. It dragged on for thirteen excruciating innings but somehow, the Indians managed to pull it out.
Indians news & notes
Carrasco brings a bullpen ace to the rotation | Fangraphs - Carlos Carrasco is determined to prove that the Cliff Lee trade was worth something. Fangraphs discusses Cookie's approach and how he's turned into a possible elite starter after a demotion to the bullpen.
Carrasco eschews long bullpen sessions | Cleveland.com - Part of the secret to the rebirth of Carlos Carrasco is his adoption of quick pre-game warmups, as if he were a reliever. Cookie took to the 'pen just five minutes before Wednesday night's game, and the results speak for themselves.
Kipnis is one of the unluckiest players of 2014 | Sports On Earth - Anthony Castrovince breaks down the five unluckiest players of 2014, among which is our beloved Jason Kipnis. Good to see at least someone is making a case for unlucky and not just bad.
Gomes is the new pitcher's best friend | Cleveland.com - Yan Gomes not only carried the offense during Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco's gems, but he's also earned the trust of the rotation. Gomes has been a rock for the pitching staff this year, but it doesn't seem to have affected his offense.
Three under-the-radar offseason targets for the Tribe | Indians Baseball Insider - IBI makes a case for the Indians going after Michael Morse, Marlon Byrd, and Casey McGehee.
Tidbits from around MLB
- Lots of good stuff on Fangraphs: Zack Greinke has turned into an actual hitter; Clayton Kershaw has had a positive effect on the Dodgers bullpen; and a discussion of Oakland's epic collapse
- Over at Sports On Earth Phil Rogers predicts a Nationals vs. Angels World Series, Will Leitch ranks the best ways of clinching a playoff berth, and Anthony Castrovince discusses trade deadline regrets
- Jon Heyman takes a look at managers who are on the, uh, lukewarm seat
- Ron Washington says he quit the Rangers due to an affair
- The Toledo Mudhens have turned their field into a mini-golf course