Cavs only team engaged in Love trade talks?
July 31, 2014
Columbus no-hitter and Kevin Love almost cried? … While We’re Waiting
July 31, 2014
If only Corey Kluber could start every game for the Indians……
Last night I was fortunate enough to attend the matchup of aces at Progressive Field. Felix Hernandez, currently the favorite to win the AL Cy Young Award took the mound for the Seattle Mariners. Kluber, the Indians clear number one, opposed him. If you are a baseball purist and love pitchers duels, this was your night.
I took both of my kids with me to the game. My seven year old son kept score for all nine innings, afterwards, I told him to save that scorecard. As I said to both him and his younger sister, “you may never see a pitching performance like this ever again.”
Kluber was filthy. Nasty. Disgusting. Un-hittable. Untouchable. Whatever adjectives you want to come up with that can describe a great outing, that was Kluber last night. On the same day the Indians traded their former top dog Justin Masterson, their true ace showed everyone what a top of the rotation starter looks like. As a homage to their departed teammate, the Indians all pulled their socks up. Everyone emerged looking like Masterson, except for Kluber.
“No one let me know about it so I had to run up here and change after I warmed up,” said Kluber. “I didn’t want to be the only one with them down. It was a little late notice.”
Once the socks came up, Corey pitched the game of his life. He and Hernandez traded zeroes for the first four and a half innings. Kong Felix actually was better to that point. He was perfect. But then the offense did just enough to give Kluber all he needed.
Carlos Santana walked to end the perfect game in the fifth in front of a Lonnie Chisenhall double. A strange infield single by Nick Swisher loaded the bases. After David Murphy’s groundout forced Santana at home, the Tribe’s hottest bat, Yan Gomes, came up with the only hit of the night that truly mattered. The Yanimal slapped a double the other way past a diving Logan Morrison at first, scoring two. He continues to make the Indians look like geniuses for stealing him away from Toronto for nothing.
The two runs were all Kluber needed. His four pitch arsenal was on full display. The Mariners had nothing for him. They rarely worked him deep into the count. Kluber only had one three-ball count and threw just 16 balls all night. Think about that for a minute.
“That’s always my game plan,” Kluber said, “try to get that early contact and just try to stay the course. They came out of the gates aggressive and they got more aggressive in the middle of the game.”
As the game got longer, Kluber just kept getting better. After Morrison’s one out single in the fifth, the Tribe ace retired the final 13 batters in a row on the way to his first career complete game shutout.
“There have been three or four times when I’ve seen him like this,” said pitching coach Mickey Callaway. “In his last two starts, after he warmed up in the bullpen, I came in and told Tito, “He’s going to pitch pretty good tonight.’ The key for him is fastball command. He’s throwing 95 mph and putting it where he wants.”
In baseball circles, a “Maddux” game is almost as revered as a no-hitter these days because they are so rare and impressive. A “Maddux,” in reference to Hall of Fame starter Greg Maddux, is a complete game shutout of less than 99 pitches. What Kluber did was a Super Maddux – Nine innings, zero runs, three hits, eight strikeouts, and zero walks in a tidy 85 pitches.
“It’s almost just as good as a perfect game or no-hitter,” Gomes said of Kluber’s stellar night. “I was actually getting kind of nervous in the ninth. I’m like, ‘This is good — can’t mess this up.'”
Here are some numbers that truly put put into perspective just how amazing this was:
Nobody has thrown a 9-inning shutout with fewer than 17 balls since 1998. Corey Kluber just did with 16.
â Jacob Rosen (@WFNYJacob) July 31, 2014
Since 1988, this was just the 20th complete game shutout of 85 pitches or less. Only four of those instances saw the pitcher strikeout eight or more batters. The last to do it was Rich Harden over none years ago. Let us not forget that Kluber did all of this coming off of nine innings in Kansas City where he didn’t allow an earned run. That brings us tho this:
Corey Kluber 1st pitcher in MLB history to face 28 batters or fewer in back-to-back starts of at least 9 IP. â Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) July 31, 2014
“Our guys were battling their butts off. That guy is good,” said Seattle skipper Lloyd McClendon. “I’ve faced him many times in the past [with Detroit] and what he did tonight was not a fluke, trust me.”
Kluber and Hernandez made such quick work of their opponents that this one ended in two hours and 10 minutes. One thing that may go unnoticed here but certainly won’t nationally; King Felix has now set a new Major League record with 14 consecutive starts of seven innings or more with two earned runs or less. That is Hall of Fame kind of stuff. But in this one, he was the losing pitcher.
“Rarely do you see two guys that are that good and then on top of their game to boot,” said Francona. “The way Felix is throwing, the only way you’re going to win is by somebody doing something pretty special. And that’s what Klubes did.”
Despite the incredible performance from Kluber, there was still an air of sadness within the clubhouse, knowing that they had lost one of their favorite teammates. The high socks and Kluber gem were a fitting send off for Masterson.
Said Kluber: “He’s (Masterson) been a big part of helping me learn to be a big leaguer and learn to pitch up here. Hopefully I can pass along some information he’s given me along the way. I think we all accept a little bit more responsibility now. He was the quote, unquote leader of the staff. Guys looked to him. Now, we have to do a little bit more.”
The 2-0 win stemmed the tide for now, but the Indians still have a lot of work to do. Today’s 4 PM trading deadline could see shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera go or another veteran piece come in. You just never know with this team. Tonight they will lookm to take the series by sending Zach McAllister to the mound to face off with Seattle right-hander Chris Young.
SIDE NOTE: During last night’s game, a foul ball tip from Jason Kipnis got loose and ended up in Asdrubal’s hands. I held up my four year old girl and yelled “Cabby.” He looked right at me, pointed to her, and threw the ball my way. A man in front probably two seats to my left, leaned across three people and caught the ball. Then didn’t give it to my daughter. It was clearly meant for her. The guy never even wavered or turned around despite being heckled by many sitting around us. I hope he slept well last night.
(photo via Thomas Ondrey/The Plain Dealer)
130 Comments
sure, but those guys werent around for these big playoff pushes the Rays had, they have had decent scouting and development in effect for quite a few seasons now, and Id argue they have some of the best pitching development in the league, second to the Cardinals.
Friedman drafted those guys. Not sure the negates the “losing lets you draft good player” argument.
Which led to some nice very high draft picks. Early futility meant Price and Longoria on cheap contracts.
So? Those picks still had to pan out. At least TB knows how to draft unlike another team we all know.
Btw speaking of affordable draft picks I’ll tie up all of Cleveland with a single shot. Kinda reminds me of the debate going on with the Cavaliers and the two camps: those who want to sit and wait on all these high draft picks and my camp, the one who says you use these high unproven draft picks to get proven guys and to win now.
I think Beane is always going to be the man when it comes to analytic approaches to baseball and GMing, if he doesnt work nobody does it and baseball is still more of the same, the guy literally changed the landscape of baseball.
Exactly. I’d love to one day get a ball, but unless it’s a foul/HR right to me and there’s no kid right next to me, I can’t imagine keeping it.
You wouldn’t believe how many grown men get just as excited for getting a ball as a kid. I’ve heard on more than one occasion “I’ve waited 30 (pick your number here) years to get a ball, that kid can wait that long too”.
The Rays went 10 straight years picking in the top eight. Seven of those times were top three. The Indians have just four top eight picks and zero top three. As anyone who pays attention to the MLB draft knows, it’s kind of like the NBA, where there are a couple slam dunk candidates at the top and it really peters out into a crapshoot quickly. Picking top three in the MLB draft year after year is a huge advantage.
Yeah, the Indians would never sign a guy like Cespedes. Never. Too much of a chance. Slow and steady? Proven vet like Swisher? Sign us up.
And even if we did sign a guy like Cespedes, we would NEVER trade him in an attempt to make our team better to win now.
To you and nj0, I won’t take anything away from Friedman and the success that the Rays have had in building a roster. But I ask, where are they if they don’t have Longoria and Price, who they obtained pretty much just because they sucked? They still might have a decent roster some years, but that’s 8-10 cheap wins, and even more in some years.
I’m well aware mgbode has pretty much told me the same thing to dismiss TB and build up Cleveland. Whatever works for you.
So, you admit those points are a discussion-ender? Fantastic.
I’ll go out on a limb and say you’ll never see a Cuban defector ever play (as an Indian) in Cleveland. It takes stones but more importantly money. Neither are possessed by the Indians.
Here are the Rays 1st round picks. Make of it what you will.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?query_type=franch_round&team_ID=TBD&draft_round=1&draft_type=junreg&
A friend had tickets right behind home last night and I went along – best seats I’ve ever sat in by far, and a fantastic place to watch Kluber and King Felix from.
What was craziest about watching from there is how ridiculous King Felix is – there are pitches in his arsenal that are absurd. An 81mph breaking ball? An 89mph change? His stuff looked absolutely insane for those first four innings, and again after the fifth. Even the hits off him seem lucky, like someone happened to stick their bat in the right place when guessing fastball. The only person I can remember watching in person that was this ridiculous is Pedro in his heyday.
Meanwhile, Kluber… dude just does not miss the strike zone (I’d say a few of his balls were pretty close, though he did get at least one K on something that looked out). It’s like watching a pitching machine. I looked up at one point in the sixth and saw he was at 56 pitches and was wowed just by that. If you looked away for 10 seconds you could miss an entire batter in this game.
The one thing that was striking was when someone somehow got bat on ball vs. Felix, you heard it loud and clear. With Kluber, every bat on ball seemed weak. Absolutely amazing game to watch, and that it was 8:05 or so when they started the 5th made it even better. I think the last three innings took like 20 minutes.
I’m thinking Acab for a middling bullpen prospect. TRIBE TIME NOW!
Partly but there are no sure things either. I give TB credit because they built on those draft picks. The Indians haven’t drafted well for a long time. Fortunately that has started to turn around. You are seeing more guys drafted actually helping the team. John Hart just said on MLB Network that a huge piece of what happens with the major league team starts with the minor league system.
Agreed on all counts. A 90+ MPH change-up… how does that even work?
demonstrably had more success
either push the Indians back to ’97 and do a year-by-year or push the A’s up to ’01 and do the same.
how many playoff series won? how many WS appereances?
his success can be shown to be slightly better or slightly worse depending on the parameters set. I’d say they are about equal though, yes, on a slightly smaller budget.
I just get annoyed that the A`s are considered the model small market team when the same team here would be panned by most.
“I give TB credit because they built on those draft picks. The Indians haven’t drafted well for a long time.”
And if you switch things around – Give the Indians a bunch of top three picks, they’ll suddenly look like a good drafting team. Anyone will for that matter – ok, maybe not the pre-Huntington Pirates. Take the Rays out of the top three? Well, as nj0’s link shows, their best pick becomes Rocco Baldelli.
Beautiful! But the Rays drafted Price and Longoria man. Funny how the others don’t get mentioned. I see this kind of commenting a lot here especially when it’s about the Indians. It’s evidence by omission.
I am not dismissing Oakland and didn’t mention TB. They have done fine jobs building their teams. I just get annoyed when they are pointed to as great and the Tribe FO as garbage when the actual success between Oakland and Cleveland is about equal.
Well then the Indians should copy the Cavaliers and completely bottom out OR hope baseball goes to a lottery. Maybe Nick Gilbert will be available.
I’m not sure how even the Rays missing on first round picks is evidence of anything other than drafting amateurs is incredibly hard.
I couldn’t understand it. I saw the mph on the board and just laughed. His stuff was so good (and that walk to Carlos was a lot of close pitches) that we were discussing what we’d root for if it were 1-0 in the 9th and he was going for a perfect game. (My friend had been at Cone’s perfect game in the 90s as well.)
I was referring to TB’s drafting we’ve had that discussion before.
The Indians FO isn’t garbage but it’s most certainly overrated. Because of it the Dolans take the bullet. At least from me.
I’m in favor of there being no difference between winning 70 games and 80. Especially now that draft pick bonuses are capped.
I can’t argue with the culmination of the arguments because as everyone here knows I’m about titles. Oakland has failed, failed miserably BUT at least they’ve been entertaining and been there in what seems much longer then the Indians. And the pressure is on Oakland now. Lets see what happens.
I’m jaded on the Indians I can admit it. Perhaps that’s why I’m so harsh on them. I just don’t like the Tribe speak which for me is a subtle way of making excuses. I love Francona. For me he’s the best thing that’s happened to this team in a long time. It will be a shame to waste his presence.
Sounds about right.
I’m comparing Beane and Shapiro, not Oakland and Cleveland. Considering that, I think the numbers I used are appropriate.
As for playoff series wins, Shapiro has one.
But forget the numbers: I’ll take Beane’s 11 of 16 seasons of competitive, compelling baseball over Shapiro’s, what, 4 of 13. Being an A’s fan has consistently been more interesting and fun and unpredictable than being an Indians fan.
I’m the biggest defender of Shapiro you’ll find, but the last decade plus has been downright torturous and infuriating at times. The bad times dwarf the good. Just my opinion.
Whatever you want Steve I don’t know why I even bother. Have a nice day!
Entertainment from your baseball team? What a novel concept.
where do the yankees go if they dont sign Alex Rodriguez, CC Sabathia, et al? What do the Red Sox do if they dont make moves for players like Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz? Where are the tigers if they dont get Miguel Cabrera and Max Scherzer? Where would the giants be without Buster Posey? Do you see how silly these questions are?
The Rays have developed quite a few good players, more than just top first round picks (who dont always develop, by the way), and do so consistently. Youre implying they’ve lucked into two great players, which isn’t correct.
Nobody’s saying that EVERY ball that goes into the stands should be given to a kid. But when a player points at someone, and that someone isn’t you (and if you’re a grown man, it ain’t you), then that ball should go to the person (i.e., kid) identified by the player. Nobody’s saying a grown man CAN’T be a douche; he just SHOULDN’T be one. I mean, if you want a baseball that badly, go buy one. If you (not the personal “you,” but the generic “you”) want a baseball that was touched by a baseball player that badly . . . well, then buy counseling.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again the Indians are horribly boring. I mean two of their best: Kluber and Brantley are the opposite of exciting in the way of flash, flare and personality. They just deliver. Kind of ironic no? The one guy, my personal favorite Kipnis, has a personality and talent but has fizzled. I think he’s playing through that oblique still. He’s not 100%.
LoL the whole Kluber is a stud section has been hijacked which is partly unfortunate but I blame the Indians!
I had a chance at Kluber on waivers in multiple leagues and didn’t make the move – argh! Fortunately my teams are doing well but still, oh well.
Beane has averaged six more wins a year on $10M less. Not sure how that makes our success equal to theirs.
I’ll give you the playoff wins argument, but that line of attack ignores the fact that in the playoffs the A’s are competing with teams with payrolls double theirs. No, he hasn’t won, but what small market team does? Who gets as far as the A’s as often with as little? (The Rays have for a while, but not for as long as Beane.)
If you’re going to define World Series win as the only viable measure of success then every small market GM is equally terrible. That makes it a useless measure. Yes, it’s the ultimate goal, but not a useful measure on a GM’s competency.
Oh, reminds me of another interesting anecdote… I realized during the game last night how little I know outside of the Indians when it comes to MLB these days. When I played fantasy I knew almost every player; now, I know the Indians and that’s about it.
For MLB, that’s fine with me, but also reiterates why I love NFL fantasy, because I enjoy knowing the teams that much more.
Before Rocco Baldelli got hurt people thought he was the next Lou Gherig and was trending upward. I fail to see how rocco baldelli was a bad pick.
The Tigers made shrewd trades for those two, and the Red Sox dug Ortiz out of a dumpster in Minnesota. I give a lot of credit for those three moves. The other three? Being able to pay the most doesn’t impress me too much.
Now, if the Rays come out and say they played the (real) long game, intentionally tanking so they could pick in the top three to get Longoria and Price, I might buy that they had a great strategy. But just like the Cavs getting Wiggins this year, there’s no genius to taking highly rated players at the top of the draft.
Swisher too. Personality who fizzled. Apparently having some flair and winning are impossible in an Indians uniform.
No Lackey for us đ
Rich get richer.
If the Indians can’t get a guy like this who is dirt cheap people should take notice.
I’m like that with MLB too. It provides the little joy of catching a National League game and going – that guy still plays?!?! Who knew Kenny Lofton was on the Padres!
He could have been special, but Lou Gherig comparisons are more than absurd. He put up seasons of 99 and 100 OPS+ before the injuries took their toll. His top season had a 122 OPS+. Nice, but not comparable to an inner circle HoFer with a 179 OPS+.
And a lot of teams are shaking their fists at the injuries that befell their top young players. The Indians could have had Escobar and Sizemore in the same outfield.
Seriously. For a mediocre reliever and a struggling first baseman. We can’t beat that offer?
I find I agree with you more often than some people on this website, but you’re completely out of the ballpark on this one, Steve.
Whats the difference between being bad and intentionally tanking? Nothing, the end result is still the same. The rays tried to play the game like the other big teams in the east and buy players and wins, couldnt match up, so tried a different approach. Sounds like the strategy that winning teams like the As use to get to the playoffs.
What youre saying is literally ‘well if the rays didnt pick those guys then what’ as if there was nobody else to pick instead of them. Go to every team and take away their best picks and see what you end up with. Its a ridiculous scenario and an unfair comparison that doesn’t merit any kind of legitimate ability to judge on a comparison, you’re arguing for arguments sake.
See I’m the opposite I love fantasy sports because I learn other players. It’s why despite having some favorite teams I also love to watch other players. I love Miguel Cabrera I have since he was a rookie with the Marlins. Sure he plays for Detroit now but so what he’s the best hitter in the game. But I also like lesser know guys…Polanco in Pittsburgh, Springer in Houston and many more who are the next generation. My favorite position player is Mike Trout. My favorite pitcher is Chris Sale. My favorite closer is a tie between Aroldis Chapman and Greg Holland.
Lofton ended up on just about everyone.
BoSox baby even in bad year still relevant!!!