While We’re Waiting… Hickson Talks, Parker Moves and Tribe Wins
July 19, 2011I’ve Finally Forgiven Jim Thome
July 19, 2011What a day for the Tribe. First off, my real job randomly had me flying to Minneapolis for a day. So you know what I had to do. OK, I tried, but I just couldn’t make going to both ends of Monday’s day/night doubleheader work. However, I managed to finagle my way to the nightcap at Target Field. More on that in a few.
Heading into yesterday, the two teams posted starting pitchers that nobody would say resemble a Cliff Lee/Roy Halladay type duo. The Indians sent David Huff and Fausto Carmona to the hill. The Twins, who started the day five games back and were hoping to make a run at the division leading Indians, countered with righty Anthony Swarzek and rookie left-hander Scott Diamond, making his Major League debut.
So if I told you the Indians two starters would allow just two earned runs in 13 innings pitched, would you have believed me or would have asked me for some of what I was smoking?
Just an amazing and unlikely day from two of the more maligned starting options the Indians have.
Lets start with Huff. The former Sandwich pick who was 2-11 last year before being sent to AAA for seemingly good, turned things around for himself with a solid first three months in Columbus. He was 8-3, but still didn’t excite many in the Wahoo Nation. Manny Acta gave him a spot start, which was supposed to be just a one time gig, and then he was going to return to Columbus between games.
Three hours late, he is your newly minted fourth starter.
In a sweltering heat (I can attest being in Minneapolis yesterday) Huff cooled the Twins bats for seven innings. With fastball velocity regularly hitting 92-93 mph, the left-hander dominated. Let me repeat – David Huff dominated. For seven innings, the Twins couldn’t touch him and barely mounted a rally. Big Dave scattered five hits, striking out five and walking two.
The offense did just enough to get him comfortable. In the third inning, Ezequiel Carrera – your new regular centerfielder replacing the DL’d Grady Sizemore, singled in Lonnie Chisenhall to put the Tribe on top 1-0. After Michael Brantley – the offensive star on the day – singled, Asdrubal Cabrera put the dagger in Swarzek – a three-run blast to right field. The 4-0 lead was all Huff would need, though the Tribe tacked on another in the ninth on an Austin Kearns upper deck job to left.
Huff was so good that after the 5-2 win, the Tribe sent down Jeanmar Gomez instead of Huff. The lefty earned another look after his masterful performance this afternoon.
Follow me on this. I went into a meeting. I came out to find out David Huff pitched seven scoreless and Austin Kearns crushed a homer, upper tank. I thought I had stepped out of my meeting and into the bizarre world.
So to the nightcap we went.
I bet I’ve been to around 1,500 or so baseball games in my life. Last night’s game was the single hottest night tilt I have ever attended. Indians.com beat reporter Jordan Bastian tweeted that Carmona was so sweaty, he went through SIX, count em, SIX hats, six undershirts, and two jerseys. I believe it 100%. I was through two shirts myself. Since I was at the game, I decided to give an ode to my good friend here at WFNY and fellow Tribe junkie Jon Steiner, and “Live-tweet” the game.
What you need to know: Carmona went six innings, allowing two runs on seven hits. He struck out just one and didn’t walk anybody. Michael Brantley had three hits on the night, and six on the day. Lou Marson’s first homer of the year, his second hit on the night, broke up a 2-2 tie in the seventh. Rafael Perez and Joe Smith were phenomenal again pitching the seventh and eighth. Lastly, I was very, very hot.
Did I mention that?
And here, my friends, is my live-tweet from last night:
7:10 CST Tweeps – its ya boy live from Target Field for the night cap of Twins/Tribe. Sometimes work travel pays off.
7:12 Have to say, this is the hottest night game I’ve ever been to. 92 degrees, zero wind. Everyone is fanning themselves and sweating. (Cont)
7:13 How these teams played today in the sun in polyester uniforms is beyond comprehension. Good thing girl on my left is wearing jeans
7:14 Very fast 1-2-3 for the Tribe against the rookie lefty Diamond. Looked like Brantley, AC, and Hafner couldn’t get to the dugout fast enuff.
NOTE – Orlando Cabrera makes a great play moving to his right on a ground ball out.
7:20 That’s the most range OC has shown since 2004 as a Red Sox SS. He wants to get into the clubhouse for Air Conditioning as well.
NOTE – Twitter was out for over an hour during the game, I tried to post tweets, thinking they didn’t go through. Some of them did.
7:50 Twitter picked a great time to be out for a half hour. U all missed my witty “OC’s range” commentary.
7:55 Carmona drills another batter. Gives the “my hands were wet” motion. That or he doesn’t have much control anymore.
NOTE – With Jack Hannahan on first with two out in the third, Michael Brantley rips a double into the right-field corner. He is held at third by Steve Smith. I think my late Grandmother who died at 94 could have scored with a piano on her back.
8:11 I just received 3 texts at the same time from different people after Brantley’s double. All essentially said “Wow is Hannahan slow.”
NOTE – Two outs, and nobody on in the fifth, Marson doubles and Carrera is walked. Brantley’s bloop single scores Marson. Asdrubal’s bloop single scored Ezequiel.
8:43 Wow. My tweets magically appeared! Gotta love Lou Marson – best backup catcher in the game! Started the two out lightning.
8:45 U know what my father used to say about those bloop hits – “line drives in the boxscore.”
NOTE – I head up to the concourse for some ice cream. I needed something cool. Badly.
8:46 I thought it was hot in my seat. Concourse is worse. And it smells like 25,000 un-sanitized armpits.
8:47 Target Field faux pas – not nearly enough concourse TVs. I have no idea what is going on while I wait for my ice cream.
8:52 Austin Kearns has 2 hits in the same day and David Huff pitched seven scoreless. It must be me hallucinating in the sweltering heat.
NOTE – for the first of two times on the night, Acta calls for a hit and run with Jack Hannahan at the plate and Kearns at first.
8:55 Hit and run w Hannahan and Kearns. That’s AL Central first place baseball at its finest.
8:59 Everyone loves them some Kiss Cam at Target Field. The Tribe loves facing obscure lefties (ha ha). Its a trend that never changes no matter the year
NOTE – Carmona gives up a game-tying homer to Danny Valencia in the sixth.
9:03 Carmona and the home run ball. Its like Peanut Butter and Jelly in 2011. U can’t have one without the other. And we are tied at 2.
9:07 If u told me Carmona would give up just 2 runs thru 6 after Huff’s gem, I’d have said I’d take it. Issue is Tribe needs more offense again
9:11 Lady down the row from me is holding a baby, maybe 6 months old, just in a diaper. Kid is freaking out. Solid call bringing him.
NOTE – Marson cracks the solo homer to put the Tribe ahead 3-2 in the seventh.
9:16 Louuuuuu!!! Best backup catcher in baseball baby!!!! Crushed that ball. Was that his first bomb of the year? I’m hi-fiving random Tribe fans
9:19 Zeke gets picked off and beats the throw to second. Brantley wisely bunts him to third. That’s some quality #actaball That’s all for the kid
NOTE – Twins manager Ron Gardenhire goes to lefty Phil Dumatriat. With two out in the seventh, Travis Hafner singles in Carrera. He replaces Dumatrait with Alex Burnett.
9:23 Pronk! Punched it out to center. Keep that line movin boys! 4-2 and two on still. I call out the O and they wake up. I like it.
9:25 Dumatrait 5.89 ERA followed by Burnett 6.59 ERA. Makes me long for the days of the Scott Stewart/Jose Jimenez duo.
9:30 They are starting the wave in left field – the sure sign of a loss upcoming for the home team. That’s an amateur move from a veteran crowd
9:31 Raffy The Red Glove Perez coming into pitch the seventh. With Mauer due 4th, I bet he faces 4, then we see Joe Smith.
NOTE – The bat slips out of Kearns’s hands and ends up in the stands.
9:35 Quick, enter your “Austin Kearns’s bat flew further then….” jokes here.
9:36 If Jackie isn’t bunting here….. Ok he didn’t. Hit and run failed and Kearns is gunned. Stick to the basics Manny. #actaball
9:45 Excellent work by the silent member of the #bullpenmafia Raffy Perez. Loved Carlos making like Scott Fujita on that bounce out by Mauer.
NOTE – After four up and four down from Rafael Perez, Acta calls on Joe Smith. Facing Michael Cuddyer he fields a little tapper and chucks it into right field.
9:48 Smitty doing his best Jake Delhomme impersonation. High and wide to Santana. Cuddyer on 2nd Yes, my 2nd Browns reference of the last 2 mins.
9:52 Allright Joe Smith!! Great recovery. We head to the 9th clinging to a 4-2 lead. I’ve got to make the 10:19 Light Rail train. Let’s speed up
9:55 Ezequiel…love him. But when I think of #12 I think of Benny Francisco. “When u think of garbage, think of Akeem.”
NOTE – Michael Brantley singles off of lefty Chuck James, and is balked over to second. Hafner drives him in.
10:02 Travis Freaking Hafner. The single gets a huge insurance run and allows me to live a dream – see Sweet Luis Valbuena live in the road grays
NOTE – Carlos Santana delivers the knockout blow, an RBI triple. Its 6-2 Tribe in the ninth.
10:04 Los baby Los!!! A Triple scores Sweet Luis who was sprinting from first. No save chance for Pure Rage but he will gladly take it. #3moreouts
10:06 Pure Rage gives up a solo to Trevor Plouffe. Dude may have the worst name in the game. Come on Rage!
10:10 Winner. 6-3. Well done tonight boys despite the twitter outage. Now off to the Light Rail where I will stand amongst sweaty Twins fans
And…..scene.
AP Photo/Genevieve Ross
16 Comments
Marson and 400 foot blast were not two things i thought would be typed in the same sentence this year
that was sweet. sweet lou even
Perez was told if he gave up a dinger then Pestano could get another save chance #Durbin
any ‘live’ status update that includes a Coming to America reference is a good status update.
92 hot? If your work ever brings you down to Austin, then I’ll take you to a Round Rock Express game. You’ll be begging for 92 degrees.
I like the regular recaps. This felt like i was reading text messages about the game
This scares me to write, but I’m going to do it anyway – Fausto Carmona is the key to the Indians’ second half. If he can just give the Tribe an above average performance from the back end of the rotation, the Indians will probably be in good shape. If he can’t get it together and we’re looking at a combo of Huff/Gomez/McAllister, it’s going to be rough sailing. Even if Alex White is able to come back this season, he likely won’t have enough time to build up his endurance to go into the rotation, so he would likely replace Durbin in the bullpen. That’s why Carmona is so key.
Speaking of Durbin, could this guy be more useless? He can’t even get one guy out up 5 runs in the ninth? If he can’t perform in that situation, I really see no point whatsoever in keeping him on the roster. He’s a veteran retread with no chance of a future with the team, so why not bring up one of the Clippers for the mop up role who might actually be able to get a few people out?
Awesome feeling getting the sweep after losing those two games over the weekend to the pitiful Orioles. The Indians have a chance to bury the Twins season right now in this series.
You’ve attended 1,500 baseball games? That has to be an exaggeration. Right?
@AMC – as long as Masterson continues to do what he does, Tomlin doesn’t regress too much, and Carrasco regains some of his Tabasco. Oh, and Huff becomes the answer at #4. Wait, I didn’t just write that, did I?
honestly, this season is all about survival. we don’t have to thrive in the AL Central. we have to survive. and we have the advantage of having the lead and the ‘best’ schedule after Aug. 9th. if we can get to that date with the division lead, then I really like our chances at making the playoffs.
Tonight’s matchup between Masterson and Liriano should be great. One or two runs may win it.
Enjoyed watching Ezequiel Carrera play last night. The Twins had him picked off and he still made it into second safely. Has a much better arm than Sizemore too. With his speed and bunting ability, he could be the difference if both pitchers are on their games.
Go tribe!
“And it smells like 25,000 un-sanitized armpits.”
Geek out
The offense worries me far more than the pitching rotation. We can’t possibly win a the AL Central, let alone the the ALCS and World Series, with a outfield that consists of Carrera, Kearns, Buck, Duncan and Brantley.
We NEED a right hand bat.
It’s so cute when people from up north gripe about “hot” weather.
Doc,
I agree with you, but don’t forget that Choo will be back relatively soon.
O-cab hit 5th. OMG
Wow i completely forgot about Jose jimenez.
Please. Someone tell me they have the video of Ezequiel Carrera stealing second on a pick-off throw. Please tell me that we have this, on video, and can upload it to YouTube.
Francisco Liriano is just the Minnesota Twins version of Fausto Carmona. He’s living off a good season that has long since past and now he’s hit or miss on his starts. I say we get to him early and often.
(hey it worked on Jeremy Guthrie)
Can we please just release O-Cab and bring up Kipnis? He swings at everything and his OBP is a joke.