Day games are a double-edged sword for those that work downtown. The down side is that you have to watch thousands of people having a way better time than you are – even if they’re about to watch a relatively disappointing baseball team. But on the flip side, rush hour is a lot lighter. Even more so when you have a game that is over in two and a half hours.
Such was the case yesterday afternoon as the Tribe beat the Twins 2-1, with the game-deciding run coming in the seventh inning after Trevor Crowe drove in Travis Hafner with an RBI double.
On the hill, Fausto Carmona pitched his second solid yet not dominating game since returing to the big leagues. If you recall his first game back, Carmona held the Tigers to four hits and two earned runs. The issue came in the four walks and 101 pitches through five innings. Yesterday’s game featured a healthier pitch count (97 pitches in six innings), but Fausto still walked three batters. However, while the bases featured Twins for the majority of the game, Carmona was able to pitch out of any trouble by allowing only six hits through the day thanks to 12 ground ball outs.
The walks are still troubling, but it is relieving to see Carmona maintaining composure with guys on base. Prior to Arizona, one could see the wheels flying off with each pitch. With these two starts, Carmona has almost lowered his ERA by a full run.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the bullpen combination of Tony Sipp, Joe Smith and Kerry Wood. Over three innings, the trio allowed one hit, walked none and struck out three. Sipp recorded the win, Joe Smith got his eighth hold, and Kerry Wood notched his 15th save.
Asdrubal Cabrera, Shin-Soo Choo and Hafner each collected two hits on the day. Cabrera has been hitting the ball extremely well as of late, with even a few of his outs being very solid swings. In fact, five of his last six games have featured at least two hits.
In the same span of games, Trevor Crowe has recorded a hit, going 9-for-24 (.375) with six runs scored, for RBI and a slugging percentage of .583. Even if this is a span of overachievement, it is more production that the Indians have seen from a “fourth outfielder” in quite some time.
The team travels to Chicago for tonight’s first of three games with the White Sox. Tonight will feature Jeremy Sowers (looking for another quality start following his six solid innings last Saturday) against the recently struggling Mark Buehrle. First pitch is at 8:00PM EST.
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(AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Author: Scott
Scott is a co-founder/editor of Waiting For Next Year who resides in Cleveland, Ohio. Feel free to follow him on Twitter or email him at scott@waitingfornextyear.com.Scott has written 1701 articles for Waiting for Next Year.
I am enjoying the games a bit more recently, given not only the success, but you can also see where they are gaining some confidence…knowing that you are going to be playing most days and in the same position is giving some of the guys a boost of confidence…
I am also liking the way that the bullpen is rounding into shape a bit…
is there any indication of when Masterson will start?
Kudos to Fausto, good to see him get some confidence with a solid outing.
The kid has big time stuff, it’s a shame he’s been handled so incompetently by the Indians player develpment team. Far too many in this organization have serious pitching mechanics issues.
Captain Negativity rings in yet again..
DK-we all enjoy your singular perspective. Always refreshing to read comments from someone who barks like a seal.
@ Isis – “The kid has big time stuff, it’s a shame he’s been handled so incompetently by the Indians player develpment (sic) team. Far too many in this organization have serious pitching mechanics issues.”
Have you ever been a scout? I know we are all fans and can all tell when a pitcher is allowing a bunch of hits or a bunch of home runs. But if you seriously believe you have the answer for Fausto Carmona’s pitching problems over the last calendar year, along with knowing the exact method for developing every single one of our young relievers, then I implore you to apply for a job in Cleveland’s front office.
Until you make use of your incandescent knowledge however, there seems to be nothing else you know that we do not know and thus stop hanging your head around like you know more than us.
“is there any indication of when Masterson will start?”
He’s not listed yet. I felt that he would replace Huff, but that isn’t the case just yet. I assume the team is still looking to trade Pavano.
@ scott – thanks for the update…I hadnt heard anything about it…
@Isis – for someone who has the same perspective as other ultra whack-o conspiracy theorists, I really do enjoy reading your posts because I just picture a grumpy, 65 year old man with pants up to his chest yelling at clouds because they’re too poofy. If your arguments had any basis to them I would be surprised. You seem to have all the answers, yet never have anything to back it up. But I do get a kick out of reading your stuff. It lets me know that I’m right about what I’m saying when you say the exact opposite.
Pavano’s next scheduled start was supposed to be Saturday against Chicago. Masterson last pitched 3.0 innings of relief Saturday against Detroit, but I would be surprised to see him the Indians gearing him up for starting in a week like that.
I guess Masterson could surprise us all with his versatility. Either way, as of right now there is a big fat TBA scheduled against Chicago Saturday. Here is the rest of the upcoming rotation:
Friday – Sowers
Saturday – TBA
Sunday – Huff
Tuesday – Laffey
Wednesday – Carmona