Indians 6, Dodgers 4 (box)
Indians 7, Dodgers 2 (box)
How about that home run? Don’t worry, more on that in a second.
First things first. Can these starting pitchers get a little help here? Cliff Lee and C.C. Sabathia have been nothing short of dominant over the last two days. Their combined numbers: 14.1 innings, 11 hits, two earned runs, 13 strikeouts, two walks. Oh, and two “no decisions,” or ND for the stat heads.
The combined numbers for Joe Borowski and Masa Kobayashi? Three innings, four hits, two earned runs, three strikeouts, two walks. Their results? Two wins and a save.
I won’t complain too much, considering the Indians came out with two wins in the end. However, for the bats to not show up until two extra-inning slates is a bit unnerving considering the efforts given by Lee and Sabathia.
Speaking of Sabathia, is there any way we can start to get this guy some extra at-bats? Micah Owings pinch-hits for Arizona, so it isn’t far-fetched. For a team that continually trots out guys like David Dellucci (.258 career average) as a designated hitter, I think it would be worth a shot.
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As evidenced by Sabathia’s 440-footer over the visitor’s bullpen, the guy can swing the bat. On an offesive starved team, why not put your best hitters out there? Yes, he’ll strike out on the occassion (he did that twice yesterday as well), but I think you have to at least consider it an option. We constantly hear that he’d like to bat. He was reportedly counting down the days on his calendar, trying to figure out if he would have gotten to hit in Colorado or Los Angeles. So instead of trading him to a National League team to grant his wish, give him some rips while he’s here. Small sample size, yes, but the guy is a .300 career hitter. Extrapolate away!
The big man has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games with an at bat. He now has more home runs than Victor Martinez, Andy Marte and Jamey Carroll combined. Dellucci has hit safely in two of his last 11 games.
Just food for thought.
