While We’re Waiting… How valuable is Ubaldo?
September 25, 2013NFL News: Brian Hoyer will start for Browns Sunday against Cincinnati
September 25, 2013Trying to start this recap has not been easy. I am trying to come up with the words to describe the emotions, the ups and the downs, the highs and the lows of last night’s ninth inning at Progressive Field. In a season of magical moments, we have now seen the pinnacle. The best part about it – this moment was delivered by the most popular player in the clubhouse, a 42-year old gray beard who sent Tribe fans everywhere into a frenzy. It was a time warp back to the 90’s when we almost took flashes like this for granted.
And make no mistake, the Indians HAD TO win this game with the pathetically awful Houston Astros providing zero help against the Texas Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays shutting out the New York Yankees. Losing a game against the Chicago White Sox with your best pitcher on the mound in your home stadium just could not happen.
Getting there required a what felt like a ride on the Millennium Force at Cedar Point. The Indians offense couldn’t muster much against White Sox lefty Hector Santiago. Ubaldo Jimenez again pitched like an ace, departing the game in a 1-1 tie with one out in the seventh inning after giving up a single to Gordon Beckham and a walk to Josh Phegley. It was a tough call for manager Terry Francona, who chose to lift his best starter for reliever Cody Allen. Allen has been terrific this season as well, but he was greeted by an RBI single from Alejandro De Aza. The 2-1 Sox lead wouldn’t last long.
As he has done time and time again this season, Michael Brantley delivered when his team needed it the most. Earlier in the game, Brantley had driven in the Tribe’s only run on an RBI flair to center in the second. In this at-bat, Dr. Smooth took Santiago deep to right field to tie things up at two. It was his 10th home run of the season, none was bigger than this one. Mike Aviles followed with a single. He would end up on third with two outs, setting the stage for Jason Kipnis. The Tribe’s All-Star second baseman has been in a funk, but with the lead run on third, Kipnis clutched up with a single the other way off of reliever Nathan Jones.
Everything was set up for the Tribe to close things out. Joe Smith pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning and the Indians held that 4-3 lead into the ninth. Chris Perez came out of the bullpen to face he bottom third of the Sox lineup. There is less than a week left. Every single game means so much. If there was ever a time for CP to make things easy on his team and Tribe fans everywhere, it was this one. Instead, the first batter Perez faced, Dayan Viciedo, took him deep the opposite way to tie the game. Three batters later, De Aza followed suit. After giving up a single to Alexi Ramirez, Francona emerged from the dugout to lift his closer.
I’ve seen a thousands of baseball games in my day, and I can’t ever remember a player getting booed this mercifully in his home stadium. And he deserved every single bit of it.
Here is the thing about baseball. You have to get 27 outs before you can win. The Indians still had one more chance to make magic one more time at Progressive Field.
On came Sox closer Addison Reed, who entered with 39 saves. He blew away Yan Gomes for the first out. Brantley was next. He hit a hard grounder to the hole between first and second. Beckham made a play on the ball, but somehow the ball took a funny hop on him and got into right field. The Indians were suddenly bringing the winning run to the plate. Aviles would K for the second out and the top of the order came back around. Michael Bourn had jammed his shoulder an inning earlier and had been replaced in the game by Drew Stubbs. Matt Carson had come on for defensive purposes in right. He was due up, but Francona had his one big bullet ready – Jason Giambi.
Earlier this summer, Giambi hit a walkoff homer to beat the White Sox. It was one of the most memorable moments of this season to remember. Could he do it again?
Brantley stole second base without a throw and with the shift on for Giambi, any ground ball to the left side would tie the game. After the game, Giambi admitted that this was what he was trying to do. Instead, he got a fastball in that he could drive. And then, this happened.
What an unbelievable moment. Does it get any better than that? Jason Freaking Giambi put himself down in Tribe history forever with one swing. He will never have to buy a beer in this town for the rest of his life. The Indians mastery of the White Sox continued. You have to wonder what the guys in their clubhouse must be thinking. It was the third time the Indians have beaten them with a walkoff homer at Progressive Field. Two of them have come off the bat from the 42-year old part time DH/full time mentor. With one game remaining in the season series, the Tribe has now taken 16 of 18 and 13 in a row against the South Siders.
Now lets get back to Giambi. It has been said time and time again that he is the most beloved player in the clubhouse. Just watch the video again and check out the reaction shots from his teammates. You can see it in their eyes. They couldn’t be more happy for the man they call “Big G.”
Said Nick Swisher: “I almost started crying when he hit that ball.”
“I think I have a man crush on ‘G,'” Francona said. “That was pretty awesome. Boy, did he hit that ball. Wow!”
So how did Giambi feel?
“This is the stuff you dream about,” said Giambi, 42. “Coming down the stretch, trying to get a playoff berth. It doesn’t get any bigger. It really doesn’t. I’m speechless……I ran into it. . .I hit it. There’s nothing more special. That’s what keeps you coming back every year.”
As I said before, losing this game would have been completely devastating, knowing they were three outs away from the win. But as they showed time and time again, the Indians just don’t die.
“That had to have been, by far, one of the more emotional wins that we’ve had, especially considering where we are in the running,” said Swisher. “If you lose that game, man, you never know what’s going to happen. We’re in that position right now where we’ve got to win out. We’ve got to win.”
Now the only lingering question is what to do about Perez. Ever the consummate teammate, Giambi made sure to seek out the Tribe’s embattled closer after the game.
“I made him give me a hug,” said Giambi. “And I gave him a big hug. He was a little down. He needed it. There’s not a worse feeling than being in that situation. I’ve struck out in big situation. He’s going to be a huge part of us all the way down the stretch.”
Francona was asked if he planned on making a move in the closer role. As expected, he is sticking with his guy, saying it was too late in the season to make such a change. Keep in mind though, there is precedent in recent years that has worked. The Cardinals used Adam Wainwright as their closer in 2006 on their way to a World Series title. He had ZERO saves in the regular season. They also moved Edward Mujica out of the role last week, replacing him with Trevor Rosenthal, meaning they will have a new closer in this year’s playoffs.
Regardless, let us not spoil this incredible night with more Perez talk. This is all about Giambi and what he means to this team. So many people were up in arms about keeping him around on the roster all season. I noticed nobody is bringing that up this morning. In a career of high highs and low lows, this was an all timer for Big G.
“Right now it’s top of the world. I don’t think I even touched the ground. They might have been able to appeal because I don’t know if I touched any of the bases,” he said.
Tonight will be the last regular season home game at Progressive Field. A crowd over over 21,000 came out last night. Let us see if we can do better tonight Tribe fans! Danny Salazar (1-3, 3.09 ERA) will take the ball, sans the pitch count, tonight for the Indians. He will face off with Dylan Axelrod (4-10, 5.72 ERA).
(SIDE NOTE – I give STO’s Matt Underwood grief, but his call of Giambi’s blast was terrific)
(photo via Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer)
90 Comments
Can Salazar close?
I would prefer Masterson.
Underwood’s call was epic. The “oh my” was straight from the heart and the “right here, right now” as he rounded third … amazing. But that “are you kidding me?” was the best.
I didn’t even notice the bat flip the first time I watched it … I just kept thinking, “stay fair!”
Also, the two dudes hugging in right field (one is wearing a vest of some sorts). LOVE IT.
I was probably the only person letting out Ric Flair Woos! around 10:15 in my corner of Brooklyn last night. Then I made my wife high five me. Then I called my dad and he just answered the phone with, “I saw it.” He mentioned Perez, and I just replied, “accentuate the positive.”
I think this is my favorite Tribe team in my 33 year old lifetime.
I can’t even begin to describe my celebration in my living room last night. I can’t freaking to go to the game tonight!
On another note, I found this very very interesting.. to anyone in the Wild Card chase who gives the Indians grief about playing the White Sox so many times… the Rangers record against the Astros looks awfully familiar.
No one in baseball is as bad as the Astros. Not this year. Not maybe ever. The White Sox have 11 more wins than the disAstros this season. That’s 20 percent more. Also the bottom three of the AL Central is far superior to bottom three of AL West.
Ha.. disAstros. The “bottom 3” in the AL Central include a playoff contender in Kansas City! I wish the tiebreaker between the Rangers and us was just head to head record.. I would feel much more comfortable with that cushion.
I’ve seen a thousands of baseball games in my day, and I can’t ever
remember a player getting booed this mercifully in his home stadium.
Hmmm… i think you mean mercilessly. At least it sounded pretty merciless when I was watching it on TV. Not sure what merciful booing would sound like, maybe like ‘BOOOO, You’ll get him next time’ or ‘BOOOO you tried your best and thats what counts!!’
Thank goodness for MLB.tv. If the Indians make it to the ALCS, I might just fly up to CLE, even if only to hang around downtown during the series.
What a great game last night’s was, and what a great game baseball is.
Let’s say we win a wild card spot.
One game playoff.
Chris Perez.
Oh no.
This is exactly what this team needed in the first game vs. Detroit when Perez melted down. What a moment. I’ll be in attendance tonight so I hope they can keep this rolling.
Went back and watched the huggers twice – great stuff. Although I imagine that’s exactly what I would have been doing.
That’s allright, that’s okay, you’ll be working for us someday.
2003 Tigers would like a word with you.
White Sox were just going for broke in the 9th last night. Each swing was either a homer or a whiff with no in between the way they were swinging. Perez made 3 mistakes and 2 of them ended up over the fence.
Then, we counter with our very own all-or-nothing guy and he comes through too. Man, what a wave of emotions going last night (feels like we have it w/ Ubaldo+Smith rocking, then upset we gave it up, and ending on pure joy).
I love playoff baseball and these past few games have been virtual playoff baseball for the Tribe.
Underwood earned a lot of love with last night’s call.
I think i saw this in that recent Ken Rosenthal article, but the Rangers have the 26th most difficult schedule in baseball this year.
Think you mean”…booed this *mercilessly.*” Although perhaps after the game, Perez’s dog mercifully gave a wag of the tail and slid the bong over his way.
As I mentioned when that article came up before, the difference in strength of schedule in MLB is about .02 between the hardest and easiest schedules. Such a miniscule difference may mean a few wins, but it hardly would put the NYY or BAL in the wild card at this point.
Giambi on Perez: “I made him give me a hug,” Giambi said. “He was a little down. He was a little down and I gave him a big hug. He needed it. There’s not a worse feeling, I think, than being in that situation. I’ve been up there striking out in a big situation, so I know the feeling.”
Agreed on mlbtv.
I was trying to come up with a scenario where I could justify the $350 plane ticket. I’d love to try to get tickets to a game in Boston for the ALDS provided Cleveland gets there, because the bus ride up is a lot easier than the flight to Cleveland, and my wife is a Sox fan from Boston.
Does MLB offer a postseason version of MLB.tv? If so, any idea on what it costs?
I think I’m going to break down and get it for the remainder of the regular season. Seems like a good deal for $4.
Pffffffffffffffffffffft, he didn’t say anything new!
so negative
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I am no Underwood fan but agree. His call trumped Hammy’s. Hamilton went with his standard “waaay back … Gone”, and for once Underwood did not and harpooned the moment with “are you kidding me” – exactly what we all felt.
Almost lost in so much drama was Brantley’s game. With so much on the line he seems in the middle of everything good thing that happens. Unusual instance of a quiet player with a real flair for the moment.
So what happens if they tie for the second wild card spot?
double-play-in games. extra playoff baseball (as long as we win).
so Cleveland would play Texas for the right to play Tampa Bay to get to the ALDS?
As would your tribe of August 2012.
Yo momma and I can’t stand him!
if we tie, then yes. and, the game would be in Cleveland (we hold the tiebreaker).
also, if we tie with TB & Texas, then we can play up to 2 games (only have to win 1) to make the WC play-in game as we hold the tiebreakers there too.
I prefer Hamilton’s “Mardi Gras in September” to one of Dunderwood’s lamo repetitive lines anyday!
Can you lay out the situation where the three teams tie and multiple play-in games are required?
Totally worth it. Plus, you can select your feed (Home w/ TV audio, Home w/ Radio Broadcast, Away w/ TV audio, Away w/ Radio, Park Microphones only). To me, being able to watch the games while listening to Hammy is such a gift. Back in the day, you could only do that by using a stereo in the room, and the radio broadcast on WTAM would be on a few second delay anyway. It’s actually a better viewing experience now that I’m so far away.
A one game playoff –
We have won a wild card spot!
Chris Perez: Oh no.
I cant even describe what as going on in my college apartment in Texas when Giambi went yard. My roommates had to come in and check to see if everything was alright as I was just going insane. What a season saver and I would really like to see Salazar or Masterson to close in the postseason
Dude are you on Chris Perez’s payroll? I understand I am way too negative about the Indians but the defense of Chris Perez is just horrendous. Look at his numbers since August 3. He’s also given up the most HRs in baseall as a closer this season. He’s terrible and practically costs us every game.
Let me clarify: until the ball stopped rolling. By the time Giambi touched third Hamilton snapped back to his usual greatness and let it flow. When he finally drops the canned stuff Undie Boy must be rewarded.
Not old enough to have seen any of the expansion Mets I see.
Though the 2003 Tigers were special as well.
No no no Hamilton was simply letting the obvious speak for itself until the precise moment in which he capped the momentus feat with the “Mardi Gras in September” retort.
Underwood is the nj0 to Hamilton and I!!!
Heath Bell and Huston Street. Not that that’s really a defense of Perez, but it would help your cause a lot (not just here, but everytime you post) if you even bothered to look up some facts before your hyperbolic ranting.
I’ve got a feeling Postseason TV is going to be a lot of money. Probably would be cheaper to just get cable for a month (if that’s possible).
Glad you agree a broadcast w/o Underwood is a huge plus!
As I’ve said else where, I really don’t this 2013 Astros club is any worse than a lot of other bad teams. I think what’s remarkable about them is that they don’t even have one name that your average fan knows. Altuve is their best known guy and he’s having a down year. Even the ’03 Tigers had Dmitri Young.
OH SNAP…I’ve missed you Steve almost as much as a case of genital warts!
I listen to so little of Underwood that I didn’t realize that was a canned, Hawk Harrelson-esque line. That definitely takes some of the glow away.
I think you have more canned lines than anyone here. Think that makes you the Underwood in this neighborhood.
You can’t say he doesn’t bring it every time.