While We’re Waiting… Optimistic About Colt, Arms Waiting in Columbus and Rush Defense
August 19, 2011Browns vs. Lions: What We’re Watching For…
August 19, 2011
Justin Masterson got four runs in support of the effort last night and that was all he needed. That is seemingly about all he has needed all season. Yet, his W-L record sits at 10-7. That brings the deficit in the A.L. Central standings to 1.5 as the Tribe heads into Detroit for three more games and a chance to overtake the Tigers. The Indians will come to do battle with Tomlin, Huff and Jimenez and the Tigers will bring Scherzer, Fister and Porcello. These are playoff games and we haven’t even hit September on the calendar yet. As TD has been saying recently, root hard and enjoy the ride, because this is so much better than being out of it.
Back to the victory over the White Sox, John Hirschbeck and the umpires were at it again. This isn’t a complaint about unfairness. The umpires have been relatively consistent both ways, but I have to be honest that I am tired of putting up with bad umping even if it is going both ways. Travis Hafner got rung up on a pitch that he probably should have been protecting, but there is little doubt it was low, inside or both. Yes, Gordon Beckham was punched out looking to end the bottom of the sixth right after, but it doesn’t excuse the fact that baseball fans are watching some of the most inconsistent and liberal balls and strikes since Greg Maddux was rocking in the late 90s. You know. Two wrongs still don’t equal a right. Ask my mom.
The Indians bullpen is the story of the game for me. Given a two-run lead, they worked three scoreless innings. Yes, Vinnie Pestano had me sweating when he loaded the bases with two down on a walk of Tyler Flowers. Pestano manned up and struck Gordon Beckham out swinging in a five-pitch at-bat. Yes, Chris Perez made me a bit nervous as he scattered fly balls before getting Paul Konerko to pop out to end the game. Nerves are fine when they are in my living room. It is good to see these young relievers show no fear in the face of a two-run lead this late in a season as a playoff spot is on the line. These are the games and moments that could pay dividends in the playoffs if the Indians can play their way in.
The bad news is that the Indians were forced to put Jason Kipnis on the DL. Luis Valbuena is reportedly already with the Indians. Kipnis was playing well, and really helped spark the Tribe offense, but this team is used to dealing with adversity and injuries this year. So the Indians will have to move forward with Luis Valbuena and Jason Donald.
It isn’t ideal, but then again over the course of 162 games it never really is, right? Isn’t this fun?
21 Comments
Luis Valbuena is fun like throat cancer…
Kipnis news sucks.I thought I heard/read he was supposed to play last night, so this comes as a small shock.
A few thoughts:
– That shot to the Sox’s starter’s head was the scariest thing in a sporting event this year. The players on both teams can be forgiven for having trouble concentrating on the game after that.
– At the end of spring training, who would have thought Masterson would be a starter capable of winning tis type of game, without his best stuff. Nice to have a surprise ace.
– Sox have issues. Tribe held them to 3 runs in 2 games, at home. The starter’s injury also made them burn through their pen again, softening them up for their upcoming series v. Texas.
– Epic 39 strike outs in 3 games, many by Choo and Haf; Jason Donald, et al. forming black hole at the bottom of the lineup; no one really driving the ball … and we take a road series? WTF?
Manny Acta’s glasses make him look like an 80 year old woman.
Just keep Valbuena out of left field, please?
That pitcher was the luckiest guy ever. I watched the replay a couple of times. Not sure if this was discussed during the game (I missed the first few innings), but if you watch closely, you’ll see that the line drive hits the bill of his cap, creases it, and then flattens it against his forehead. Amazing. He could owe his life to a fabric-covered piece of carboard.
(Some other link wizard will have to provide the link. I’m too busy to look for it.)
What a tense August/September this will be. Every night it feels like the biggest game of the year. Props to these guys for taking two after losing the opener.
And Laporta — more of that please.
Memo to C. Santana:
Re: Catching Tip
I know you have a lot on your mind, what with playing two positions and trying to stabilize your hitting approach, I know we just won a big series but I gotta vent.
Umpires don’t give borderline strike calls to pitches snagged by a catcher while skidding into the batter’s box. You sometimes look more surprised by what’s thrown than the batter; are you paying attention to your pitchers’ stuff? Read the location, get there, set your mitt. And if no one’s on base, don’t spear it with a backhand just to catch it in the pocket; shift your weight and frame it, even if you risk not catching every pitch cleanly. A grizzled vet pitcher would have carved you a new one by now. Help your pitchers get close calls in close games. Watch some tape, man, Scoscia or Javy Lopez. Or talk to Sandy . Please. It’s making me nuts.
@6 Agreed…the slow mo replays are unreal. The New Era company has some new slogans for their hats. He is one lucky dude.
@ Harv:
Agree. I can’t figure out why the grizzled old catcher that coaches 1st hasn’t done that carving yet.
@ Ben:
It completely defies physics. “New Era: Better than Kevlar”; or, “Protect Your Brain Bucket With New Era”
Somebody else mentioned here a few days ago – Santana is starting to come off like Manny Jr. In short, a complete airhead. He doesn’t seem to attend to the details of his craft.
“Epic 39 strike outs in 3 games, many by Choo and Haf; Jason Donald, et al. forming black hole at the bottom of the lineup; no one really driving the ball … and we take a road series? WTF?”
needed a repeat for the craziness of it.
@Harv: Brilliant point. I think the most telling example of this was one of the wicked sliders that Pestano threw: it clearly caught the outside corner, but Santana did his little mitt-snag into the left-handed batter’s box and the ump called it a ball. The STO booth was roasting the ump, but that one falls on Santana.
@13: that one was my last straw, the one that put me in the fetal position.
Credit is due when it is earned. This is why I bashfully tip my cap to Matt LaPorta. After being way out infront of that first pitch that he roped into the stands, I told my wife; “Man I know he is going to strike out.” Next pitch, strike. Now down 0-2 I felt guilty in my innerNostradamus only to laugh and clap at his monster center field bomb. Nicely done Mr. LaPorta. This team is so fun to watch and really look forward to this weekend’s series and the fact that we don’t face Verlander. If we win the first 2, I can see Leyland putting JV on the bump for Sunday. Go Tribe
Harv- Spot. On.
I am a little annoyed with Sandy. Santana looks like a little leaguer behind the plate. Man I wish Marson could hit.
Count me in the camp that does not care if Marson can hit. Santana just needs to be moved to 1st full time and be done with it.
Kipnis hasn’t played in a week so this could be a very short DL stay for him. Mist just need a couple more days.
Oh I wish Lapota turned into a 30HR/100RBI guy. Be nice to fit him in when THaf leaves
Kipnis almost started last night he was a game time decision why the F*** put him on DL?
@ 19
If he as a pulled or even strained hamstring (which was the word last night, when the injury occurred), you don’t want him to play and risk a much worse injury. Those take a couple of weeks to heal, so you put him on the DL. If he’s not on the DL, he takes up a spot on the roster. In the kind of race we’re in, you need to have available as many healthy guys as possible each night.
I don’t think it’s a big thing. We’ll see him back in a couple of weeks.
Aside from the series with Detroit we have a fairly easy schedule coming up. A homestand with KC and OAK on it sounds nice to me. Hopefully that’s all Kipnis misses.