Yankees’ Girardi rips MLB scheduling after back-to-back rainouts in Cleveland
April 12, 2013NFL Draft Day Contest
April 12, 2013Judging from the reactions of most fans—not including those who attempted to brave the elements—the consecutive rain-outs, effectively preempting the final two games of the Indians’ four-day Opening Series, was a welcomed relief.
The excitement and anticipation surrounding the lineup is largely still there, but the concern over the rotation, having just allowed 25 runs to the injury-riddled Yankees, is very real. Save for Justin Masterson, who has managed to defeat Cy Young winners in each of his first two outings, the men taking the bump to start games invoke emotions that range anywhere from cautious optimism all the way down to the throwing of blunt objects. The successful 2013 debut of Ubaldo Jiménez is largely an afterthought due to his woeful start in front of 40,000-plus fans on Opening Day. Brett Myers has yet to show that he resembles anything close to a middle-of-the-rotation arm let alone one that commanded $7 million and forced would-be starters to various minor league situations. Zach McAllister has the peripherals that say he should take the leap this season; he had a quality start during his first outing of the season, but the Indians lost.
Then there’s the revolving door at the back end—Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco, Scott Kazmir—that has managed to provide little aside from a head-scratching debut and a forehead-slapping return. Certainly, Kazmir has little blame to be tossed his way as he has yet to contribute to the blood-letting of his peers. Given his injury history, however, how can we asceratain that the veteran lefty can pick up where he left off during spring training? Kazmir threw some long toss earlier this week and is slated to have a bullpen session this weekend. But even if these go as planned, fans are looking at at least another week of simply hoping that the starting pitchers can stretch through enough innings to keep the bullpen in working order.
Not helping matters is the fact that the Indians, coming off of two-straight games that would have had parents asking about the mercy rule had they been played at a suburbial field, will host the rival Chicago White Sox this weekend. The good news is that regardless of the score, the losses against the Yankees only count as one a piece—the Indians are just 2.5 games out of first place in the division. The break also allows catcher Carlos Santana, day-to-day with a bruised thumb on his catching hand, to mend without missing games. The rub: the Indians have allowed 16 home runs thus far, the third-worst number in baseball, while the White Sox are amongst top-four in the league when it comes to hitting them.
Tribe fans can easily recall what Adam Dunn has managed to do to this team over the course of his career, whether it’s winning games in Cincinnati or adding a few runs to the box score with the White Sox. Paul Konerko may have single-handedly turned the Tribe’s tides in 2012,1 hitting a go-ahead home run in the third game of what would be a series sweep. The Indians entered that series winners of eight of 10, but were outscored 35-16 by the Sox. For good measure, Alex Rios is off to a torrid start, hitting .429 with four home runs and eight runs batted in to go with three stolen bases.
There is plenty to hang your hat on if you opt for optimism. The Indians, after all, have managed to score at least six runs in two of their five losses, a number that is well north of the average per game in the MLB. Masterson will take to the mound on Friday night, an evening which is expected to be cold, but at least dry. If the team has anyone who resembles a stopper, it is Justing Masterson. Due to the consecutive rain-outs, Jiménez will see his next start pushed into next week as McAllister will follow up Masterson’s start on Saturday. If these two men can throw as they have, and the bats can provide what is expected instead of the goose eggs that were laid in Tampa Bay, there’s a chance that this team heads into Sunday as the winner of two-straight, looking to sweep a divisional opponent.
The two-day break was much-needed. The players should be rested enough to allow Terry Francona to deploy his starting lineup for all three of the upcoming games. The bullpen should be completely available. Carlos Santana may be close to returning. Let’s just hope that it provided the same level of mental ease to the team as it did the fan base.
- Among other things [↩]
11 Comments
Quintana v. Masterson (Q might find the ’13 Indians less to his liking)
Sale v. McAllister (Zach’s turn at a Cy Young candidate)
Peavy v. Myers (even getaway lineups for both teams would hit well)
———————–
side note: I’ll be at the Indians game in Houston on Saturday. Currently, the 2 rainouts have lined up the starter for that game to be: Brett Myers
Can I get a Trevor Bauer spot-start for that game? Please? Please!?!
We’ll be expecting to see some short of shout out as to identify you. It’s not like it should be that difficult right the ‘Stros don’t exactly pack ’em in these days right?
4th largest metro in the USA
Opening Day/Series vs. hated Dallas team (Houston hates Dallas)
Retractable roof and nice weather anyway
25th in attendance
I fully expect that a family of 6 in Tribe gear in the lower section should get some airtime on STO, right? if Myers does pitch, then maybe they’ll even interview us during the inevitable 3rd inning pitching change.
(full disclosure: both my sons like the Astros as well as the Tribe. I’m not going to stop them if they want to wear their Houston stuff)
A sign will help preferably to Shamrock but I’ll settle for WFNY too! And what, you need to straighten those sons out man. But honestly it’s bad enough to be an Indians fan but an Astros fan too. That’s borderline child abuse even for Texas so I’d keep that sorta thing quiet. ;o)
On a side note Terry Pluto showed some love to WFNY last night on MS@LL. He says he reads my comments I mean WFNY religiously and named it as one of his top web site hits for material.
You’ll get Myers and like it!
Brett Meyers hasn’t resembled a “middle of the rotation arm” because he is not a middle of the rotation arm. At best he is a number five/spot starter at this point in his career.
I know it’s a long season, but I have no faith that we’re even a .500 team. We are what we thought we are and all those big signings won’t mean diddly which this rotation. They’re as bad as predicted and there aren’t any reinforcements. Even if there was one, we’d still only have two decent starters. Doom and gloom. Doom and gloom.
at least I’ll get to see the Orange Train go back and forth a bunch
no way on the Astros. they are in the first phase of the Nats.
they are a big market with a huge TV deal. they are tanking for talent and then will start adding pieces and re-signing their own too. it’s the smart way to do things.
(at least there is a light at the end of their tunnel that isn’t another train)
great for WFNY