Browns select OL Cameron Erving with No. 19 pick
April 30, 20152015 NFL Draft, the first round come down, tobacco, and shame: While We’re Waiting…
May 1, 2015Glenn Anthony “TJ” House was not a first round draft pick. He never strutted up to a podium to shake Bud Selig’s hand, nor was he ever handed an ill-fitting Indians cap to balance on his head while flash bulbs popped around him. After his selection as the 501st overall pick in round 16 of the 2008 MLB draft, House’s jersey remained unavailable at all Indians Team Shop locations, and his name went unmentioned by even the most astute of local sports talk radio callers. TJ House was never supposed to be the “next big thing.” But after seven years of hard work, he certainly earned his chance to stick in the Tribe rotation. Unfortunately, tonight’s frustrating 5-1 loss to Toronto—his fourth ugly loss in four starts—might force a major detour in that journey.
Re-Capping
It seems like April is rarely kind to the Tribe, but this one—considering the preseason expectations—was epically brutal. Cleveland’s 7-14 record marks their worst opening month in 12 years, and has them heading into May like a lamb, tied for Texas with the worst record in the American League. Imagine Chief Wahoo running full force into a Kendrick Perkins pick and you might get the basic idea. Tonight’s loss followed a disturbingly familiar plot to the 13 before it—albeit with a much rosier outlook from the bullpen, if you’re desperate for a silver lining. And let’s face it, we all are.
Once again, the Indians’ offense showed an almost stubborn refusal to dirty up the run column with troublesome digits. Despite rapping out 11 hits against five different Blue Jay pitchers, the ever-elusive “big inning” never quite materialized. The best chance came in the second inning, when a bases loaded, one-out rally was quickly extinguished by a Michael Bourn pop-out and Jason Kipnis flyout. Even late in the game, still within striking distance, Cleveland put its first two men on in the 8th inning and its leadoff man on in the 9th. Both innings ended in double play groundouts. All told, despite three-hit efforts from the team’s two most consistent hitters all season—Michael Brantley and Ryan Raburn—the Indians were doomed by a 1-for-9 line with runners in scoring position. This is the 9th time they’ve scored two runs or less in a game, falling to 1-8 in those oh-so-thrilling contests.
At least this one didn’t waste a great pitching effort, though.
A couple months after TJ House was selected in that aforementioned 2008 draft, the recent high school grad attended an Indians vs. Orioles game at the ballpark formerly known as Jacobs Field on August 14. House, who—in fairness—had been one of the top pitching prospects in the state of Mississippi, fell to the 16th round largely because he’d committed to attending Tulane University in the fall. The Indians took him anyway, and with a potential contract deadline approaching, Shapiro and Co. put on the full court press, inviting House to Cleveland to see the life that could await him. That night, TJ watched the Indians pitching staff fall apart in one disastrous inning, as a 3-3 tie turned into an 11-3 Oriole lead. Rafael Perez alone gave up four runs without retiring a batter. Moments later, House signed his pro contract, foregoing a college career and changing the course of his entire life. Maybe he just felt more needed in Cleveland.
Tonight, though, it was House pulling a Raffy Perez, collapsing in the fourth inning and eventually surrendering five runs without getting an out. Things had looked very promising up to that point, as TJ was keeping the ball down, getting groundouts, and skating along nicely—zero hits through three frames. Then the Jays adjusted and slapped three straight hits to right field. Mickey Callaway came out to have a word, but to no avail, as Kevin Pillar promptly crushed a two-run double to send House (0-4, 13.15 ERA!!!) to an early shower yet again. It shouldn’t be forgotten that House didn’t lose 4 games all of last year (5-3, 3.35 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 7.1 K9 in 18 starts). But what good is nostalgia?
C-Cap Recap Custom Box Score
April 30, 2015
Blue Jays 5, Indians 1
Green Highlight (as in “Great”): As mentioned earlier, the only remotely optimistic thread to pull from this sad effort was the clean-up work of the beleaguered pen, led by new arrival Ryan Webb. Webb isn’t some untested youngster like Austin Adams or a generally bad pitcher like Anthony Swarzak. He’s a 29 year-old vet with 318 big league appearances under his belt and a career 3.38 ERA. Webb stopped the bleeding tonight with three strong innings, and Bryan Shaw finally looked like 2014 Bryan Shaw.
Yellow Highlight (as in “Almost Green”): When virtually everything is going wrong, we should at least appreciate that not quite everything is going wrong. Michael Brantley, after the back setback, is hitting everything on the screws.
Red Highlight (as in “Stop, You’re Bad”): Michael Bourn and Jason Kipnis, your supposed plate setters as either the 1-2 or 9-1 hitters, share roughly the same current on-base percentage at .264. Jose Ramirez, who mercifully sat out tonight, has also hit in the two-slot and has an OBP of .221. The current league average OBP is .317. Good night.
19 Comments
If we’re discussing people with unacceptably low OBP, let’s not forget Lonnie Chisenhall.
The sad thing is that we have a few different options as far as straight up hitters. Sands was doing well before he got DFA’d. Raburn is having a good season thus far. David Murphy is… okay in a small sample size. Moss is doing well enough. Even Aviles is doing way better than he has any right to be doing.
All of those players save Aviles play basically only RF though. And with Swisher coming back soon, there’s just not enough room at DH and RF for them. The problems for this lineup come from the positions that don’t have ready replacements on the roster, and are guys that aren’t moveable for one reason or another. I used to think it would be a wonderful problem with Lindor came up and we had to choose between Kipnis and Ramirez at 2B. Now I’m wondering if Zach Walters or Mike Aviles could be that answer instead. Would Ryan Raburn be acceptable defensively at 2B these days (probably not).
Hey, Giovanni Urshella is doing really well in Columbus since returning though. And Lonnie does have an option left.
God bless anyone who yearns to talk Tribe today, or this week for that matter.
That is like yearning to be kicked in the crotch repeatedly… by a clydesdale.
This team is structured in such a way that every star, planet and comet in the universe must align just so in order to win. So frustrating to watch.
when I was young, our mule kicked me in the groin. I thought it was the worst feeling in the whole wide world. then, the next week, my mom died and I didn’t care so much about my groin. ya’ see where i’m going here?
-Rube Baker
So, what do you do when the internet goes out? Well, if you have an awesome wife like me, you get welcomed to one of the most under-rated comedies of all time in Major League 2.
Jobu meet Buda, Buda – Jobu. Now, I don’t want any trouble here.
That was April. It is now May. Completely different team this month. Right?
We can pray
Indians: 11 hits, 2 walks, 1 run
Blue Jays: 7 hits, 5 walks, 5 runs
Unlucky.
Point taken, I will amend my statement: “That is like yearning to be kicked in the crotch repeatedly… by your dead mother.”
This isn’t even counting the hard outs.
Luck is nothing but applied skill.
Luck is where preparation meets opportunity.
Andrew Luck is a really good QB with a really bad beard.
LOOOONG SEASON.
http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=0&type=1&season=2015&month=0&season1=2015&ind=0&team=0,ts&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=18,d
yeah, but that is not just luck there. bad defense plays a signficant part in that particular equation.
Absolutely, but last year’s league worst fielding led to a .309 BABIP against and ERA underperforming FIP by 0.15, and we’re currently at a .352 BABIP against and underperforming by 1.01. Even with the worst defense in the majors, this is an unsustainable run.
I’m glad the site has 3 guys recapping, because if just 1 person did then he would have gone insane by now.
#FreeDrSmooth
So then how does “not clutch” grab ya?
By definition, “not clutch” can’t grab anything.