Hating Derek Jeter’s retirement party, Josh Gordon’s maturation, Coinmonster and Pabstolutely
September 19, 2014Week 2 Film Room: The Offense
September 19, 2014From the first pitch, an 89-mile-per-hour sinker from the hand of the towering Houston Astros starting pitcher Scott Feldman, this Thursday night contest had given off the scent of weirdness. The Cleveland Indians had trouble with the 6-foot-7-inch, right-handed Feldman. The Astros, they had trouble with Danny Salazar, the 24-year-old who barely touches 6-feet. The umpires had trouble with pretty much everything—the strike zone, plays in the field, and even those pesky ground rules.
But when the final out was tallied, some 370 pitches and 13 innings later, the Indians, despite having just three hits heading into the ninth inning, came away with the win, a 2-1 extra-inning affair, which, in turn, keeps them mathematically alive in the American League Wild Card hunt.
“We say every day, we need to be one run better. We’re sort of taking that to an extreme, unfortunately,” said manager Terry Francona. “But we won, and when you win a game like that, it doesn’t matter how hard it was when it’s over.”
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“We say every day, we need to be one run better. We’re sort of taking that to an extreme, unfortunately. But we won, and when you win a game like that, it doesn’t matter how hard it was when it’s over.”
— Terry Francona
A few minutes with the headsets confirmed that Vanover had failed his first real test of the evening. Both Vanover and Ramirez would serve to play key roles from this point forward, despite the lack of hitting from both teams.
Danny Salazar tossed seven and on-third innings of one-run ball, a run that may have very well been saved had Ramirez got more glove on what was a luke-warm grounder up the middle. He was matched inning for inning by Feldman who, despite doing less in the way of strikeouts (two to Salazar’s nine), gave up just four hits and one earned run of his own in eight-plus innings. It would be the battle of the bullpens, however, and this was when the Indians pounced, once again with the help of video replay.
Michael Bourn led off the top of the ninth inning with a drive to deep left center, one which appeared to bounce off of the Minute Maid Park bullpen, get lost in the padding for a split second, and then appear on the warning track. Houston center fielder Dexter Fowler threw his arms in the air to signal a dead ball, but the umpires did not do the same as Bourn wheeled all the way around for what appeared to be an in-the-park home run which had tied the game. Angel Hernandez, dressed in black and manning second base, ran into the depths of the quirky park’s outfield, picked the ball up off of the track and signaled that Bourn was indeed safe—this was until more headsets were required. After several minutes, Vanover and company ruled that the ball, despite only disappearing for about one and one-half second, was indeed out of play and signaled Bourn to second base.
Take a look for yourself:
(You almost have to feel for a guy like Fowler who is responsible for that corn maze of an outfield some 80 times per season, don’t you?)
Nevertheless, a legislation of ground rules led to Mr. Bourn being sent to second base with zero outs in the ninth inning and Ramirez, sacrifice bunter extraordinare, coming to the plate. And would’t you know—Ramirez laid down a beautiful bunt down the third-base line, moving the still-shifty Bourn to third, only Ramirez himself possesses some speed, beating the throw to first base, once again only to be called out by Vanover. To the Bat Cave they went, headsets and befuddled looks in place, only to call Ramirez rightfully safe—again.
Notice who you didn’t see in that frame? Vanover, who was so far out of position that CB Bucknor, who was decidedly not even in Houston, may have been able to make a better call—and we’re talking about CB Bucknor here.
This would prove to be incredibly important as Bourn, having been home, on second and then third in that exact order, was subsequently caught in a run down and thrown out at home. For you math guys, first and third with no outs is roughly two-times better than first and second with one out, especially when the guy on third was arguably the fastest of the bunch. Good news though: Carlos Santana couldn’t give two flying ones about your math, delivering a single to the gap to score Ramirez all the way from second base, ultimately allowing the Tribe bullpen to send the game into extras.
Through the 10th, 11th and 12th innings, noble relievers like Chad Qualls, Marc Rzepczynski, Jose Veras and Byran Shaw duked it out, shutting the opposition down frame after frame. It would not be until the top of the 13th, however, where the Indians would strike the deciding blow. Ramirez (how about this kid?) took a 3-1 cutter to left-center field for a much-needed double. After walks to Carlos Santana (intentional given what he did earlier in the contest with Ramirez standing on second) and Michael Brantley (not intentional), Good Squad member Mike Aviles drove a fly ball to right field, allowing the up-and-coming shortstop to score on the sacrifice.
Tribe closer Cody Allen carried the torch of those who preceded him, fanning two Astros (what’s up, Dexter Fowler?) en route to his 22nd save of the season.
There were replays. There were rules governed. There was a lot of anxiety and a lot of Jose Ramirez. But in the end, there was another Indians win and the hopes of October baseball.
Oh, and there were costumes. Lots and lots of costumes.
Winning!!!!! pic.twitter.com/YtE72MVoOH
— Chris Gimenez (@ChrisGimenez5) September 19, 2014
Who knew, that after all that took place, things wouldn’t get really weird until after the game? These guys, I tell ya. Could be delirium at this point—who knows.
“Everybody in [the clubhouse] feels good,” said Francona. “And instead of being tired and dragging, we’re going to be tired and happy and ready to play tomorrow [at Minnesota]. It makes tomorrow’s game a lot more fun.”
33 Comments
Before I even read the recap and comment on Bourn’s play in the 9th…who’s wearing the bikini fat suit and WHERE CAN I GET THAT???
When Bourn’s shoulda-been inside-the-parker got overturned, I thought for sure we were going to lose. (And yes, I absolutely think that call should have stood as an ItPHR)
When Bourn got thrown out at home, I thought for sure we were going to lose.
When Carlos’s 3-0 pitch got called for an ARE YOU SERIOUS strike, I thought for sure he would then GIDP and we were going to lose.
When I saw Bryan Shaw come into the came, I thought for sure we were going to lose.
This is why I tried to give up on the season after the sweep in Detroit, to avoid some of this consternation.
http://readeroffictions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/gif-i-wish-i-could-quit-you-brokeback.gif
once the ball goes on the other side of the wall, it is out of play. I think that one was correctly called even though it did a Chuck-E-Cheese style ball return.
and, listening to the game rather than watching it is absolutely brutal when there are few runs scored and so many long at bats. I cannot even imagine how terrible listening to a game would be if it wasn’t for Hamilton.
But WHICH wall? I don’t think it went behind the chain fence (in other words, into the bullpen). It just went behind a pad and out of sight, but not necessarily out of play.
Bartolo Colon was visiting and it’s not a fat suit.
just going by the GIF above, you might be correct. still, when the ball gets stuck behind the tarp by 1B/3B, the refs will call it dead too. I think once it goes out of sight like that, Fowler is correct to raise his arms (and smart) and it’s the correct call.
Daily Wild Card Standings
WC#1 Oakland – 4 games back
WC#2 KC – 3 games back (assuming 1/2 inning win)
Seattle – 3 games back
Yankees – 1 game UP
Blue Jays – 2 games UP
Need that 3 game sweep against KC. At that point, Oaklands fade might play right into our rise. Please, please, please. Philly, Anaheim(that’s what I said), Texas isn’t exactly a murderers row finish for the A`s though.
It’s Roberto Perez.
Thankfully…
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m63jh6Qme01r82bbmo1_500.gif
Won’t be shocked if they lay a huge egg tonight. Not much rest…
24 straight days of baseball (minus one postponed game, though they still had to show up). Six more days/games to go with an extra inning thrown in there for good measure.
I won’t be shocked by anything this team does anymore.
I’ll just beat Shamrock to it and ask what are they celebrating?
I love listening to Hamilton during these long, drawn-out, poorly-called games and will chose him over TV. I am guessing that Hammy is a peaceful soul, but given the chance, I think he’d love to clobber Angel Hernandez for just about any reason.
The disservice their front office does them!
yep, terrible job creating a team that competed for the playoffs in back-to-back years and has a ton of young talent on the team and coming up in the next few years. if only we could have the Twins FO!!!
yea ok set that bar high with the Twins!
Why would the guys the front office trusted enough to acquire have issue with the front office? “Those guys that hired us suck!” Go ahead and complain, but at least make sense.
Yea like the players would come out and say it publicly gimmie a break Indians apologist #2!
Talk is cheap man win something first, anything, try a playoff game, just one!
Its probably too little, too late for 2014, but 2015 looks promising with this group. Especially the pitching. If only we had another bat. Cant help but wonder what might have been if Kipnis and Swisher had matched their 2013 production. We would probably be right there with Detroit and KC fighting it out for the division.
how about Oakland? we have basically competed evenly with them over the years and might jump them these last couple of weeks.
won 92 games last year. let’s see how many we get this year. seems they are winning a game here an there, no?
I think it would be hilarious if Swisher openly admitted what a mistake it was for the FO to sign him to a $15mil/year contract.
if Kip and Swish had matched 2013 production and all else stayed the same, then I think we’d be running away with the division right now.
b-r says 5.9 + 3.8 vs. 0.8 + -1.2 –> 10.1 win difference
But, even if we say we were unlucky or those stats aren’t quite on, then you are talking about a 6 game swing and we are in 1st place right now.
Well played!
what?
What you said.
LoL ok.
I’m tired of what ifs, not having this player or that one, just win and get in.
Well you know how it is on here when it comes to the Indians all I know is the bar is consistently moved depending upon the time of the year and the FO has nearly as many excuses made for it as people who make excuses for the Browns. Or try to anyways. Lets not forget what this FO did this winter. David Murphy and Josh Outman were their major additions. Wow. Then lets fast forward to the trade deadline what did they do they traded away guys for prospects. Ironically the two guys, Masterson and Cabrera, were two guys who I wanted to get rid of for the last two years. If that’s not bad enough lets talk Justin Masterson. If not for his greed this same great FO would have resigned him. Funny how that little fact is consistently overlooked or ignored. Wait, I’m not done. How about the Tigers getting JD Martinez? How about the Orioles with Steve Pearce and now De Aza? I guess the Indians couldn’t have used an OFer. Oh that’s right they picked up Dickerson who the Pirates dumped.
What the Indians have is one of the best managers in baseball. He’s the one who has spun the FO straw into gold despite some questionable in game moves. Oh and a defense that for 3/4 of the year was worse then little leaguers. But what do I know, lol.
You know what they needed this year? A right handed bat, like the past 3 years..
I think they’ve needed a right handed power hitting outfielder for longer then that I just get annoyed when I see other teams “finding” guys when it matters most. I give the Indians credit because they do find guys it’s just that the guys they find take 2-3 years if they develop at all. And in most cases they had to trade something away just for a chance that the guys they got in return develop.
The positives are the starting pitching. Calloway is second to Francona as far as coaching. I’d like to see a new hitting instructor brought in besides a power hitting right handed outfielder. I move Kipnis to 3b, Lindor at SS and Ramirez at 2b. I use Chisenhall as trade bait for that Ofer.