I had planned, at the beginning of the season, to write a hopeful blurb about Cliff Lee. Last season, of course, he seemed to have an aversion to pitching in the seventh innings of games — so strong an aversion, in fact, that he consistently went out of his way to pitch horribly in the sixth inning of his starts. He'd roll through the early innings, look strong, then in the sixth inning, carnage.
My hope was that Lee had worked it out. One explanation I had read about Lee was that he wasn't getting the late movement on his pitches last year, that players were able to get a piece of him and foul him off repeatedly. This would drive up his pitch count, and the chickens would come home to roost in around the sixth inning. The fact that someone seemed to have an idea about why this was happening was, to me, encouraging.
It was also encouraging that Lee suffered the same spring-training strained oblique that heralded C.C.'s rise as a Number One Starter exactly a year ago.
Needless to say, I was really encouraged when Cliffie came off the DL and shut down the Angels in a complete game victory. Since then, though, Lee has has his ups and downs,
which brings us to the sixth inning of last night's ballgame. The wheels came off in classic Sixth Inning Style for Lee, and just to make sure the game went completely out of reach, Fernando "Three Mile" Cabrera came in an added his own meltdown. By the time rookie Jensen Lewis came in to record the inning's third out (and his first as a major leaguer — congrats to Jensen Lewis!), we were down 11-2. (The game was tied 2-2 when the inning started.)
It is worth noting that this is the same White Sox team that has scored the fewest runs in the American League this year.
During the middle of the sixth I told myself — grimly — that the Indians would lose this game 11-8. Turns out I wasn't far off — the Tribe did me two runs better, pulling to within 11-10 before Josh Barfield popped out to AJ Pierzynski to end the ninth, with a runner on second. From what I hear, Ass Jerk Pierzynski snarked at the Indians dugout after catching the ball — you know, because Sox won so decisively.
Lee, Cabrera, and Barfield are surely the game's goats — the pitchers for obvious reasons, and Barfield for his o-fer at the plate. It's one thing to go hitless when the team loses, but a first-pitch check-swing groundout with the bases loaded and nobody out in the 8th is inexcusable. The pop-up came off Bobby Jenks, who seemed to bring his A-game last night — but as Hegan noted in the broadcast, this was Barfield's chance for redemption, and he came up about 400 feet short.
Bright spots: these no-quit Indians don't, well, quit. Last night's gutty performance affirms the wisdom the front office's decision to extend Eric Wedge's contract earlier in the day. Jensen Lewis walked a few batters but recorded four outs, three by strikeout. Rafael Perez struck out the side in the top of the ninth. Looks like we've found ourselves a lefty reliever to complement Fultz if/when he gets back. I feel like — dare I even write it? — Hafner's pulling out of his slump. Sizemore climbed the wall in left center to steal at least a double from Paul Konerko. Replays seemed to confirm that Grady actually played it off the wall, but I say bright spot because it was still an amazing play — and also because it demonstrates that the Indians can actually get a break from the umpires at least once a year.
Finally, deserving his own paragraph, Franklin Gutierrez. All he did yesterday (to borrow an idiom from Hammy) was go 4 for 5, homer, double, and steal two bases. The second steal got him in scoring position with two down in the ninth: that's a big-time stolen base.
The starting pitching has been very inconsistent over the last two weeks, and we've been muddling through as a result. C.C. and the Boys need to pull it together real quick. We should be doing better than 2-2 at home after the break.
martes, 17 de julio de 2007
jueves, 12 de julio de 2007
Hafner Extended!
Pronk and the Indians agreed this week on a 4-year, $57 million contract extension that (barring trade) will keep him with the team until 2012. Some of the total contract amount will be added to Travis's 2007 and 2008 salaries under his current contract. So it's not strictly a $14.5 million-per-year deal — especially given that Hafner is way underpaid right now.
In the end, a very good deal, I think. I'm a bit unsettled, based on how he has performed this year. The Indians surely would be snookered if the Pronk Of Old never resurfaces. But really, Travis's track record speaks for itself, and two months of subpar performance at the plate don't really read like a trend when you look at his overall body of work.
Putting aside the obvious benefit of keeping a great hitter and an all-around good guy in the fold for five more years, the deal sends some messages:
First, it tells Hafner that, whatever adversity he has faced in this first half, the Indians stand behind him and believe he is a preeminent hitting talent substantially equivalent in value to David Ortiz.
Second, it tells the fan base that the team is committed to keeping these players around. So many of my friends and family who leaved and breathed Indians baseball in the '90s can't seem to reawaken their interest. When I ask them why they're not buying in, they don't deny that the team is good, or that the front office has hit upon a winning formula. Their beef is that players come and go, and before you know it, it's 25 strangers populating the clubhouse. But we've got some terrific players and human beings on this team right now — and they look to be around for years to come.
This is Tribe Juggernaut 2.0, people. Jump on the bandwagon, everybody! And Mr. Hafner, you are charged with leading us deep into the playoffs.
In the end, a very good deal, I think. I'm a bit unsettled, based on how he has performed this year. The Indians surely would be snookered if the Pronk Of Old never resurfaces. But really, Travis's track record speaks for itself, and two months of subpar performance at the plate don't really read like a trend when you look at his overall body of work.
Putting aside the obvious benefit of keeping a great hitter and an all-around good guy in the fold for five more years, the deal sends some messages:
First, it tells Hafner that, whatever adversity he has faced in this first half, the Indians stand behind him and believe he is a preeminent hitting talent substantially equivalent in value to David Ortiz.
Second, it tells the fan base that the team is committed to keeping these players around. So many of my friends and family who leaved and breathed Indians baseball in the '90s can't seem to reawaken their interest. When I ask them why they're not buying in, they don't deny that the team is good, or that the front office has hit upon a winning formula. Their beef is that players come and go, and before you know it, it's 25 strangers populating the clubhouse. But we've got some terrific players and human beings on this team right now — and they look to be around for years to come.
This is Tribe Juggernaut 2.0, people. Jump on the bandwagon, everybody! And Mr. Hafner, you are charged with leading us deep into the playoffs.
viernes, 29 de junio de 2007
My Heart Goes Out to Ben Francisco . . .
. . . on the day of his first major league hit and home run. And the homer was a game-winner, putting an end to a dramatic 2-1 contest with Tampa Bay in the bottom of the ninth.
As Hammy just shouted, "HOW ABOUT THAT!?!"
Is it fair to say that the Jacobs Field Magic is back?
As I type these words, Hamilton says, "Welcome to the good old days. They're back at Jacobs Field."
Great performance from Westbrook. He slipped free of a dicey first inning and never looked back. Back from his injury, Jake is an altogether different pitcher than we saw in April. If Lee can keep it going and Carmona can recover from Wednesday's rough outing, this is a terrific rotation.
Four of five at home, and we're back alone in first!
As Hammy just shouted, "HOW ABOUT THAT!?!"
Is it fair to say that the Jacobs Field Magic is back?
As I type these words, Hamilton says, "Welcome to the good old days. They're back at Jacobs Field."
Great performance from Westbrook. He slipped free of a dicey first inning and never looked back. Back from his injury, Jake is an altogether different pitcher than we saw in April. If Lee can keep it going and Carmona can recover from Wednesday's rough outing, this is a terrific rotation.
Four of five at home, and we're back alone in first!
On One Hand/On the Other
On one hand:
I was convinced the AL Central race was over on Sunday, after Detroit finished its cakewalks about negligible NL East opponents and we barely salvaged one game against the godawful Nationals. Detroit was looking too good, the overtake was overdue, hello wildcard race. Well, guess what? We've taken 3 of 4 from Oakland — always a June juggernaut, and the Rangers made the Tigers look decidedly mortal. What a difference three days make.
On the other:
We're still down a half-game, and I'd have preferred the Texas/Detroit game not be rained out yesterday. Better to play that game while the Tigers were reeling.
On one hand:
This is Franklin Gutierrez's time to shine, and he's doing it. After all this time, I have to say I'm a believer. Kelly Shoppach, too. Who knew he'd be the best player involved in the Coco Crisp trade?
On the other:
How far do we go with an outfield of Sizemore, Gutierrez, and Michaels? How do we get Kelly his ABs, given the logjam of Martinez, Shoppach, Hafner, and Garko out here in C/1B/DH-Land?
On one hand:
Things are looking up for Pronk. A couple of home runs, a rocket of a game-tying double on Tuesday night — and from what I'm hearing on the radio, a lot of hard-hit balls on which Oakland's fielders have just made great plays.
On the other:
Over the past six weeks we've seen more than a few false starts for Hafner. And the minute I declare he's out of his slump, he goes 0 for his next 10. And I'm starting to get suspicious re exactly how "loud" Pronk's outs really are. Hammy's an enthusiastic guy, and Hafner seems to have an awful lot of woulda coulda shoulda base hits, when Hamilton's doing the play-by-play.
On one hand:
CC has been absolutely dominating. Once Danny Haren regresses to the mean, Sabathia has to be the Cy Young candidate. I don't want to hear about Josh Beckett. These days it's a rare occasion when CC doesn't go nine.
On the other:
Heretofore reliable Paul Byrd's ERA has been climbing. And what in the name of all that's holy happened to Carmona last night? I worry — not so much about Byrd (though I've come to the realization that he's not going to return to sub-4.00-ERA form), but about Carmona: his shattered psyche was exposed for all the world to see last year. I don't want to see the blood-and-guts of it again. Hopefully the last two months have given him the confidence just to shake off this last performance. He has to know he has the stuff not only to win in the bigs, but to dominate.
On one hand:
Rafaels Betancourt and Perez. Can you dig it? Some kind of nickname is in order. Daffy Raffys? The Catast-Raffys?
On the other:
We need one more arm. Just one more arm in the 'pen. And please God, let it come from within the system. I couldn't stand to see us get in a bidding war for the likes of Akinori Otsuka — even if he does come with the double-bonus of Detroit not getting him.
That's all I've got.
I was convinced the AL Central race was over on Sunday, after Detroit finished its cakewalks about negligible NL East opponents and we barely salvaged one game against the godawful Nationals. Detroit was looking too good, the overtake was overdue, hello wildcard race. Well, guess what? We've taken 3 of 4 from Oakland — always a June juggernaut, and the Rangers made the Tigers look decidedly mortal. What a difference three days make.
On the other:
We're still down a half-game, and I'd have preferred the Texas/Detroit game not be rained out yesterday. Better to play that game while the Tigers were reeling.
On one hand:
This is Franklin Gutierrez's time to shine, and he's doing it. After all this time, I have to say I'm a believer. Kelly Shoppach, too. Who knew he'd be the best player involved in the Coco Crisp trade?
On the other:
How far do we go with an outfield of Sizemore, Gutierrez, and Michaels? How do we get Kelly his ABs, given the logjam of Martinez, Shoppach, Hafner, and Garko out here in C/1B/DH-Land?
On one hand:
Things are looking up for Pronk. A couple of home runs, a rocket of a game-tying double on Tuesday night — and from what I'm hearing on the radio, a lot of hard-hit balls on which Oakland's fielders have just made great plays.
On the other:
Over the past six weeks we've seen more than a few false starts for Hafner. And the minute I declare he's out of his slump, he goes 0 for his next 10. And I'm starting to get suspicious re exactly how "loud" Pronk's outs really are. Hammy's an enthusiastic guy, and Hafner seems to have an awful lot of woulda coulda shoulda base hits, when Hamilton's doing the play-by-play.
On one hand:
CC has been absolutely dominating. Once Danny Haren regresses to the mean, Sabathia has to be the Cy Young candidate. I don't want to hear about Josh Beckett. These days it's a rare occasion when CC doesn't go nine.
On the other:
Heretofore reliable Paul Byrd's ERA has been climbing. And what in the name of all that's holy happened to Carmona last night? I worry — not so much about Byrd (though I've come to the realization that he's not going to return to sub-4.00-ERA form), but about Carmona: his shattered psyche was exposed for all the world to see last year. I don't want to see the blood-and-guts of it again. Hopefully the last two months have given him the confidence just to shake off this last performance. He has to know he has the stuff not only to win in the bigs, but to dominate.
On one hand:
Rafaels Betancourt and Perez. Can you dig it? Some kind of nickname is in order. Daffy Raffys? The Catast-Raffys?
On the other:
We need one more arm. Just one more arm in the 'pen. And please God, let it come from within the system. I couldn't stand to see us get in a bidding war for the likes of Akinori Otsuka — even if he does come with the double-bonus of Detroit not getting him.
That's all I've got.
jueves, 28 de junio de 2007
Segregation 5, Brown 4/Cleveland 4, Oakland 3
I love these day games, but today was difficult. The Supreme Court cases on race in K-12 school assignments came out today. 185 pages of opinion, the upshot being that Brown v. Board of Education has been reduced to an empty husk, by five justices who, licking their chops, did nothing but cite Brown v. Board of Education in the process.
Humph.
In any event, I was up to my neck in those 185 pages — a work fire drill culminating in a meeting at 2:00 with my boss, to discuss the holdings.
I had radio coverage of the game on at work today, but I had to leave the office for that 2:00 meeting — in the bottom of the seventh, with two men on and a pitching change in the works. I wanted to wait to see what we did, but I had to go. When I got back the door to my office was closed, and I knew we had tied or taken the lead. Why? My deductive powers: the only reason someone might have closed my door, with me not inside, was that some noise was emanating from my office. What noise could that have been, other than Hammy screaming at the top of his lungs about something good happening? And so I was right. I sat down, brought up the Gameday screen, and we were up 4-3 in the ninth.
So notwithstanding our Supreme Court's precipitious descent into outright fascism this week, the day wasn't all bad.
Humph.
In any event, I was up to my neck in those 185 pages — a work fire drill culminating in a meeting at 2:00 with my boss, to discuss the holdings.
I had radio coverage of the game on at work today, but I had to leave the office for that 2:00 meeting — in the bottom of the seventh, with two men on and a pitching change in the works. I wanted to wait to see what we did, but I had to go. When I got back the door to my office was closed, and I knew we had tied or taken the lead. Why? My deductive powers: the only reason someone might have closed my door, with me not inside, was that some noise was emanating from my office. What noise could that have been, other than Hammy screaming at the top of his lungs about something good happening? And so I was right. I sat down, brought up the Gameday screen, and we were up 4-3 in the ninth.
So notwithstanding our Supreme Court's precipitious descent into outright fascism this week, the day wasn't all bad.
lunes, 11 de junio de 2007
Seven-Run Comeback — Ugh!
Back from a seven-run deficit to tie the game! So why am I annoyed?
Because it's the bottom of the eighth, one man down, Dellucci and Martinez are on first and third (respectively), Blake doubles down the left-field line, and Dellucci gets thrown out at the plate "by eight feet," according to Hammy.
Skinner apparently waved him home. "He took a chance," Hegan said. WHY? You keep him on third, and you can take the lead with a sac fly or a well-placed groundout. Not to mention the extra out to play with.
Seattle intentionally walks Hafner, walks Peralta to load the bases, and Garko strikes out.
Ugh.
Because it's the bottom of the eighth, one man down, Dellucci and Martinez are on first and third (respectively), Blake doubles down the left-field line, and Dellucci gets thrown out at the plate "by eight feet," according to Hammy.
Skinner apparently waved him home. "He took a chance," Hegan said. WHY? You keep him on third, and you can take the lead with a sac fly or a well-placed groundout. Not to mention the extra out to play with.
Seattle intentionally walks Hafner, walks Peralta to load the bases, and Garko strikes out.
Ugh.
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