Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins 2

by Ryan on Sep 6, 2007 12:14 AM EDT in News Comment 71 comments

Recap
Box Score
Win Probability Added @ Fangraphs

Highest WPA:

Fausto Carmona .245
Rafael Perez .171
Travis Hafner

Lowest WPA:

Grady Sizemore -.077
Franklin Gutierrez -.075
Ryan Garko -.067

Fausto Carmona pitched into the eighth, and left with a tenuous one-run lead. Rafael Perez tidily finished the inning, and thanks to the Indians' addition of three runs in the top of the ninth, recorded his first career save.

The Twins came to Cleveland 10 days ago 5.5 games in back of the Indians, a good series away from making the AL Central a three-team race. Today, Minnesota is all but eliminated from contention, 12.5 games behind the Indians and 9 games behind the Yankees. This series, the Indians beat Johan Santana and Scott Baker, and tied the third game on Joe Nathan's watch. On the road.

There's no real sudden burst of success in baseball: it must come languidly, winning rubber games of series in extra innings, stealing a road series on a late home run. And even then you're at the mercy of games beyond your control. But the past two weeks have seen the Indians gain 6.5 games in the standings, an almost precipitous surge in baseball time.

Patrick DiCaprio at The Fantasy Baseball Generals takes a look at Eric Wedge's bullpen management. His take pretty much coincides with my view: Borowski is the worst of the three main relievers, but because of his defined role, pitches less innings and, in some cases, relatively low-leverage situations. Wedge's system may be efficient only by fortune, not design, but it's working all the same.

Next Up: A tough four-game set in Greater Los Angeles. Byrd vs. Escobar, 10:05 PM

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Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

I think this series will be a good preview of our probable first round appointments if we make the playoffs. It should give us some idea how we stack up against them.

by world dictator on Sep 6, 2007 6:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

If Boston and New York both make the postseason, we will not be playing the Angels in the first round.

by palcal on Sep 6, 2007 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

I think that this will tell us a lot about our team. Whether they can compete with the tough teams. Boston and New York have made us look foolish so this is an important series from that standpoint.

Appalachian State-34 Michigan-32

by gahnki on Sep 6, 2007 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins 2

Sure the Indians are seven games up, but did you see the real news? A-Rod limped around the bases after hitting two homers in an inning. I mean the guy limped. I mean, he had an MRI the same day! I mean, he's a regular Kirk Gibson! And against the Mighty M's! What a f%$#ing hero!

Now the Lord can make you tumble, and the Lord can make you turn, and the Lord can make you overflow... but the Lord can't make you burn

by Turkmenbashi on Sep 6, 2007 9:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

pssssh. he's no hockey player.

by jeremy on Sep 6, 2007 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

Aeros took Game 1 of their playoff series, 12-9 despite some not-so-great pitching from Lofgren & Miller. The lesson to be learned is that you can overcome a lot of bad pitching when you put up 7 runs in an inning.

by zempf on Sep 6, 2007 10:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

Miller and Lofgren, 1-2 on almost all Indians prospect lists coming into the season, have both had rough years. They're both still very (very) good prospects, but neither has forced their way into Cleveland. Miller's health problems are particularly worrisome.

by APV on Sep 6, 2007 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

Nice wrapup of the game here at milb.com:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070905&content_id=299815&vkey=news _milb&fext=.jsp

Miller is very candid about wondering if his elbow is 100%. Sowers will pitch game 3, as Scott Lewis is now shut down until next year as a result of elbow tenderness.

by mcrose on Sep 6, 2007 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

Without looking ahead too much, does anybody know how the ALDS A and ALDS B teams are determined? Does TBS or MLB just get to pick, or is there a formula?

by oxforddave on Sep 6, 2007 12:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

A's are the best record vs. the wild card. The B's are the other two.

Didn't look it up, but I'm pretty sure that's right.

LeBron must GO!

by mauichuck on Sep 6, 2007 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

Unless Best Record and Wild Card are from the same division.

by nickjs21 on Sep 6, 2007 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

How is it determined then? Which "other" team plays best record?

by Voltaire on Sep 6, 2007 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

The team with the lowest record that isn't a wild-card team. Like so:

Boston is the best record, followed by LA and Cleveland. New York is the wild card. Ordinarily it would be Boston-NY and LA-Cleveland, but since Boston and NY share a division, it goes Boston-Cleveland and LA-NY.

I think. I'm starting to confuse myself.

by nickjs21 on Sep 6, 2007 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

Thanks. That does make sense.

Man, Boston and then NY (maybe?). Yikes. Let's get best record! ;)

by Voltaire on Sep 6, 2007 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

There are a lot of intriguing matchup questions when asked who we'd rather face. A short series eliminates the benefit of depth in Boston and LA's rotations, and gives the "underdog" a better chance when only three wins are needed. However, facing Seattle or New York are matchups that (despite head-to-head records) just basically favor the Indians, and since neither will be favored to advance to the ALCS we may want to play one of them first, which eliminates the possibility of having to play one of Boston/LA, followed by the other.

by nickjs21 on Sep 6, 2007 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

So in the case of the bos-cle series, would the tribe be A or B? Or the cle-nyy series, A or B? These are the most likely scenarios, but I'm still unclear.

by oxforddave on Sep 6, 2007 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

NO NO NO! I want those assholes from New York!

OK, got that outta the way. The series with the team with the best record is alway the A group. That's the first cut. Then it's Best vs WC unless both teams are from the same division. If so then its the best vs worst record that's not in the same division. Who's ever left is the B group.

LeBron must GO!

by mauichuck on Sep 6, 2007 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

I like your perspective on this. I ain't affraid of no Yanks.

by homelytourist on Sep 6, 2007 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

Gotcha. So if the season ended today, the tribe would play boston in the A series. If you had a link that would be much obliged.

by oxforddave on Sep 6, 2007 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

Let me add another layer of nuance to this.

Hamilton was talking the other day about how the team with the best record has one hour following the conclusion of its final regular season game to decide whether it would like to participate in ALDS A or ALDS B (i.e., start that Wednesday or Thursday).

I don't have the schedule in front of me, but I believe that would also be the difference between using a 3-man vs. a 4-man rotation in the ALDS.

by mplswahoo on Sep 6, 2007 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

Didn't hear of see that. So you're saying it's kinda like winning the coin flip in baseball? The team with the best record gets to chose which schedule it gets? If that's right I missed it altogether.

LeBron must GO!

by mauichuck on Sep 6, 2007 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

According to Hamilton, yes. The team with the best record gets to pick the ALDS schedule it prefers. It's the first I heard of it as well.

by mplswahoo on Sep 6, 2007 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

I read the same somewhere the other day. Either ESPN or Baseball Prospectus. #1 team gets its choice of what series to play. I will try to find the link.

by IndyDave on Sep 6, 2007 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

It seems like if you could pick, you would choose the B series if your #1 was ready to go on Wednesday. If he could be ready on Thursday, but not Wednesday, you would pick A.

by palcal on Sep 6, 2007 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

I'm terrief of the Yanks. Screw that. I'd rather play Boston. The only reason I'd want the Indians to play the Yankees is so I could go to a couple games.

by Joe. on Sep 6, 2007 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

Don't be a girlie-man. We wanna play the best - but if the best isn't available we'll play the Yanks instead.

LeBron must GO!

by mauichuck on Sep 6, 2007 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

Tigers beating the White Sox 1-0 in the 7th inning. I can't believe I'm watching Harrelson on WGN when it doesn't involve the Indians... I'm not sure words cover how bad he is...

by Fundamentals on Sep 6, 2007 2:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

Bold (aka meaningless) prediction: Tigers get the AL Wildcard and the Tribe ends up with the best record in baseball.

Still absolutely GIDDY that Michigan lost Saturday. Now calling all my friends who went to App State to personally thank and congratulate them.

by mjmarble on Sep 6, 2007 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

Sox have the bases loaded with 1 out in the 8th. I guess I'm rooting for gulp A.J. Pierzynski to come through... blech...

by Fundamentals on Sep 6, 2007 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

mjm, that's just wishful thinking.

I would love for the Tigers to be our first round opponent.

by Toxicadam on Sep 6, 2007 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

Strike that .. I forgot that it wasn't possible for that to happen.

by Toxicadam on Sep 6, 2007 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

That, however, is not possible, as you can't face a team from your own division in the first round of the playoffs.

by Fiddlesticks on Sep 6, 2007 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

Sacks juiced for AJ-hole.

by JulioBernazard on Sep 6, 2007 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

Struck out.

Now it's 'nerk's turn.

by JulioBernazard on Sep 6, 2007 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

Well done AJ, way to continue your suckitude...

Bases loaded, 2 outs, Konerko up.

by Fundamentals on Sep 6, 2007 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

KONERKO! 2 RBI double. 2-1 Sox.

by Fundamentals on Sep 6, 2007 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

Hey guys, check this out:

http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/09/04/bill-murray-fills-in-for-harry-carey-hilarity-ensues/

It's Bill Murray doing color for the Cubs in the 80s. It's pretty funny.

by gte619n on Sep 6, 2007 3:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Borowski

Oddly enough, not pitching Borowski until the ninth is probably the best way to go into the ninth with the largest possible lead. I mean, assuming your starter goes 6 innings, pitching the Rafaels in the 7th and 8th gives us the best chance of walking into the 9th with a lead. In situations where our starter goes 7 or 8, I'd like to see Wedge not bother with Borowski.

by crazymoloh on Sep 6, 2007 3:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Borowski

I'd like Borowski to share Mastn'y role, but we all can't get what we want. ;)

by Voltaire on Sep 6, 2007 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game 139: Indians 6, Twins 2

'Nerk doubles. 2-1 CHA!

by JulioBernazard on Sep 6, 2007 3:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game 139: Indians 6, Twins 2

Erstad in the 5 spot? Provocative.

by JulioBernazard on Sep 6, 2007 3:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

Sweet! Sox up 2-1.

(I'm rooting for the White Sox...heaven help me.)

by Voltaire on Sep 6, 2007 3:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game 139: Indians 6, Twins 2

Ersty backward Ks.

by JulioBernazard on Sep 6, 2007 3:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game 139: Indians 6, Twins 2

Leadoff walk to Polanco.

3 (Sheffield), 4 (Maggz), and 5 (Guillen) coming to the plate.

by JulioBernazard on Sep 6, 2007 3:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game 139: Indians 6, Twins 2

Shef strikes out...

by Voltaire on Sep 6, 2007 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game 139: Indians 6, Twins 2

Mag strikes out!!!

by Voltaire on Sep 6, 2007 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game 139: Indians 6, Twins 2

Guillen flies out!

by JulioBernazard on Sep 6, 2007 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

Tigers with a runner on 3rd, 1 out, in the 9th!

by Voltaire on Sep 6, 2007 3:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game 139: Indians 6, Twins 2

Jenks coughs up the lead, after an error.

by JulioBernazard on Sep 6, 2007 3:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

Detroit ties the game. :(((((

by Voltaire on Sep 6, 2007 3:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6

Tigers win, 3-2.

by mplswahoo on Sep 6, 2007 3:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game 139: Indians 6, Twins 2

Det wins.

by JulioBernazard on Sep 6, 2007 3:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

Oh well. We'll just have to keep that 7 game lead tonight.

by Voltaire on Sep 6, 2007 3:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

I love how we now basically have a Tigers game thread longer than the one on the Tigers site.

Also, anyone else think this game is more than just a bit critical to the Tigers making the playoffs?

Still absolutely GIDDY that Michigan lost Saturday. Now calling all my friends who went to App State to personally thank and congratulate them.

by mjmarble on Sep 6, 2007 3:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

They all are for the Tigers at this point.

by Voltaire on Sep 6, 2007 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Post From Twinkie Town re Last Night's Game

Check out this post from Twinkie Town:

A Letter

Pronk Needs You

by woodsmeister on Sep 6, 2007 4:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Post From Twinkie Town re Last Night's Game

See, this is why I can't hate them as much as Chicago. Well, at least their fans.

Still absolutely GIDDY that Michigan lost Saturday. Now calling all my friends who went to App State to personally thank and congratulate them.

by mjmarble on Sep 6, 2007 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Post From Twinkie Town re Last Night's Game

"And there's no fighting it, you were 4-1 against us in games our boy Santana took the hill."

There's some fighting it--we were actually 5-1 against the Left Hand of God.

by Fiddlesticks on Sep 6, 2007 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Post From Twinkie Town re Last Night's Game

That's an example of why, despite the "rivalry" between the two teams, I always root for the Twinkies to win the division if the Tribe is out of it. Their fans remind me a lot of Tribe fans... humble, down-to-earth. You can actually feel happy for them when they win, unlike the Sox or the Tigers.

Now the Lord can make you tumble, and the Lord can make you turn, and the Lord can make you overflow... but the Lord can't make you burn

by Turkmenbashi on Sep 6, 2007 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Post From Twinkie Town re Last Night's Game

They're not bad at all. But the Metrodome - beyond awful.

by mplswahoo on Sep 6, 2007 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Post From Twinkie Town re Last Night's Game

Do I hafta do another riff on how bad/marvelous the ol' Municipal Stadium used to be?

Anything with a roof has to be better than our old stadium.

LeBron must GO!

by mauichuck on Sep 6, 2007 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Post From Twinkie Town re Last Night's Game

Negative.

After you have the pleasure of attending a game at the Dome - especially but by no means necessarily on a pleasant summer day/evening - we should pick up this discussion.

As a kid growing up, I attended many a game at Municipal - the comparison is not even close in my mind.

by mplswahoo on Sep 6, 2007 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Post From Twinkie Town re Last Night's Game

All I can say is you shouda been in the ol' Muny in mid-April, in a drizzle, with 3,211 other die-hards and the Tribe losin' to the Jim Fergosi Angels by 6 in the fifth. That was miserable.

LeBron must GO!

by mauichuck on Sep 6, 2007 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Post From Twinkie Town re Last Night's Game

That reminds me of going to the game one time with my Dad - they played the guess-the-attendance-multiple-choice game on the scoreboard. The winner: 3,000 even.

I remember asking my dad, "If we weren't here, do you think they really would have put up 2,998 on the scoreboard?"

by mplswahoo on Sep 6, 2007 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Post From Twinkie Town re Last Night's Game

What do you have against gnats?

And April weather in NE OH?

by JulioBernazard on Sep 6, 2007 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

To those of you with MLB audio, I have something to pass the time while we wait for a 10pm first pitch. Listen the the WCBS feed of last night's Yankee-Mariners game at the 3 hour, 18 minute, 35 second mark. You can hear Jeter's contribution to the 7th inning rally.

Sterling's call went like this:

"The 0-1 ... LINED DEEP TO RIGHT CENTER... IT IS HIGH, IT IS FAR, IT IS GOOOOOONE!!!!

"... but it's off the wall, excuse me. The throw home is not in time. It's a two run triple for Jeter."

Sterling is such an ass. I nearly fell out of my chair when I heard it.

"It's hard to win when you don't score." Cliff Lee, 9/28/05.

by Harry Doyle on Sep 6, 2007 6:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

Jeez, I don't even like to read that guy's home run call. I swear you could do an entire Sterling game broadcast using cut up pieces of other broadcasts; he never has anything original. In fact, that might be just what happened in your example: the engineer thought it was a home run, and pressed the "Jeter home run" button for the prerecorded Jeter home run call.

by Fiddlesticks on Sep 6, 2007 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Indians 6, Twins

Another radio-related anecdote: I get XM radio, which you may know uses only home team announcers. So their highlights for the recent series in Minnesota were all by Twins announcers.

So they replayed the call of Hafner's game-tying ninth-inning home run many times, and the Twins guy just deadpans it like any crestfallen announcer would. But in the background, coming from (I suppose) the next booth over, you can distinctly hear Hammy going apesh*t, screaming into his microphone. It was hilarious to listen to.

by Fiddlesticks on Sep 6, 2007 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs