Bob Golic’s Bar & Grille, Coming Soon
August 12, 2008Rucker Out, Depth Disappearing
August 13, 2008Indians 7, Orioles 5 (box)
Maybe he’s just a second half guy? I’m not sure what has gotten into Asdrubal Cabrera lately, but I am not going to complain one bit. Following his 3-for-4 night against the O’s, delivering his second game-winning hit in as many games, Cabrera has been on quite a roll. How big of a roll? Try this on for size…
For the month of August, Cabrera is hitting .324/.395/.588 (.983!) with 20 total bases and five runs scored. Since being called up on July 18th, Cabrera has increased his batting average by 35 points, and has nearly matched his run total from the entire first half of the season.
It appears that being sent down to Buffalo actually worked for Cabrera, which is great to see given his potential to impact a game in the field. I just wish that the same would happen for Andy Marte (who did manage to get a hit last night). When Josh Barfield returns, I think things will become a lot clearer on that front. Jhonny Peralta continues to mash, even to the point where we could justify having his bat at third. Would you turn down an average of .280 with 25 home runs at third base? Granted, it isn’t David Wright-type numbers, but it’s a lot better than anything we’ve seen at the three-bag since the late 90s. Just throwing it out there…
Oh, and a quick box score note. If anyone can share the logic behind giving Rafael Perez the blown save, please do. The earned run went to Masa Kobayashi, who again failed to record an out. Insight is appreciated.
Defenders 4, Aeros 2 (box)
Despite fanning seven batters in four-plus innings, Steven Wright allowed four earned (mostly thanks to two deep balls) in a loss to Coneticuit. The Aeros couldn’t touch Joe Martinez, as they did not post their sole run until the eighth after an RBI single by Brandon Pickney.
K Indians 7, Hilltoppers 0 (box)
Two big innings was all it took for the Kinston Indians, who scored seven runs on five total hits. Jerad Head hit his tenth home run of the season, this one was of the three-run variety. John Drennan went 1-for-3 with a double, scoring twice. Catcher Carlos Santana went hitless, dropping his batting average to an unacceptable level of .367. Obviously, I’m kidding.
In NY Penn League news, five members of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers have been named to the All-Star team. The game is to be played on August 19th, and representing the Scrappers will be catcher Robbie Alcombrack (the leading vote-getter), infielder Lonnie Chisenhall (.272, 33 RBI), first baseman Brock Simpson, second baseman Isaias Velasquez, and pitcher Eric Berger.
No word on Lonnie Chisenhall’s hand injury. For now, I’d consider him to be day-to-day.
7 Comments
Good to see Asdrubal finally hitting
i think since he was on the mound when the run scored, raffy gets the blown save even though it was masa’s earned run. i think its the same for a loss – had that been the winning run, masa would have gotten the earned run but raffy would have gotten the loss.
does that seem silly to anyone else? would it have been the same say if we were up three and masa loaded the bases? (not far-fetched by any means)
Since Raffy was on the mound when the tying run crossed he is considered the “pitcher of record”. This is similar to what happened Monday night- Mujinca was technically the pitcher of record when we took the lead so he got the win.
When Barfield gets back, will this team please, please, please, PLEASE at least TRY using Peralta at 3rd, Cabrera at SS, and Barfield at 2B? Lets see for ourselves how it looks and whether or not it can be a viable situation for next season.
My understanding is that it’s very difficult to transition from SS to 3B…some guys can do it, but most can’t.
I will be happy to be proven wrong, but I maintain a lingering feeling that Hafner will never return to anything close to old form, and if that’s the case, Peralta at DH makes a lot of sense.
Do I have to mention how much of an upgrade Cabrera was at ss last night? That spinning stab of a one hopper? No way on earth Peralta makes that play…