Just In From the Desert

Let's speak first of what didn't happen.  Jared Goedert did not play... again.  Given the split squad deployment of today's action, I find that quite telling.  At this point it seems obvious that the organization does not have any faith in the man and that he won't get a fair shot this spring.  Goedert went 0-for-4 with 2 strikeouts in the first two games and hasn't played since.  There might be an injury concern, but I have nary a word.

In that same arena, Jason Donald was hit on his left hand while batting in the third inning today.  He was removed from the game and had x-rays.  Those films were negative and Donald will likely sit 2-3 games as a precaution.

Curious as to why we're not talking about Jayson Nix or Luis Valbuena?  Well, they're just not hitting.  Nix is 0-for-7 with 3 K's and Valbuena 1-for-10 with a pair.

Utility OF Battle: Chad Huffman (.571) continued to rake with 3 hits, including a double.  Huffman scored two runs, drove one in, and stole a base.  Shelley Duncan went 1-3 in his spring debut, playing 1B.  His utility may play into the final decision.  Ezequiel Carrera (.294) played 9 innings walked, singled in a run and stole his 3rd bag.  Travis Buck (.500) singled, walked and scored a run.  Buck started again in center and, if he proves to the staff that he can play the position, he takes a step into the lead.

5th Starter:  David Huff threw 3 more shutout innings and hasn't been scored on yet.  Huff surrendered 2 hits and whiffed a pair.  He is neck and neck with Josh Tomlin.  Jeanmar Gomez (8.31 ERA) is not.  Gomez allowed 4 ER on 4 hits and walk over 2 and a third.  Jeanmar had to be removed in the middle of the 3rd inning after reaching his pitch count.  He threw only 30 of his 53 pitches for strikes.

Vinnie Pestano and Tony Sipp each threw a perfect 9th inning.  Sipp struck out 1, Pestano the side.

And not to be a Debbie Downer but Matt LaPorta leads the team in ABs (19) yet has only 2 hits and 1 RBI outside of his grand salami.  On the up side, both hits are doubles.  Matty says that he feels healthy for the first time in a year and a half.  LaPorta is out of excuses should he not produce this season.

Justin Masterson starts tomorrow against the Rockies.

Thanks again to Jordan Bastian for not posting.  I'll leave him alone from now on, unless he gets worse

Suicide Squeeze - Vlad Guerrero ('92 Upper Deck)

If We Want the First Pick, We Got To Stop Playing the Knicks

Cavs record against teams from New York?  3-0.  Cavs record against teams not from New York?  9-49.  The Cavalier traveled to Madison Square Garden for Baron Davis' debut and came away with more than they bargained for... a win.

On a night when the team shot 57% from behind the arc and chose not to play defense (NYK shot 55% overall), JJ Hickson led 7 Cavaliers in double figures with 23.  Davis added 18 & 5 (assists) and Luke Harangody(?) put in 18 of his own as the Knicks were felled 119-115.

The Cavs trailed 104-92 with under 7 minutes to play, but Boom Dizzle turned on the magic.  He netted half of the team's tally during a 14-2 run to tie the game at 106 and dropped an around the world dime that left all of Manahttan wondering what had happened to the ball.  Baron and Anthony Parker both canned treys inside the final minute and Samardo Samuels (they haven't released him yet?) drew a charge on Carmelo Anthony with 2 seconds left to seal the Cavs 11th victory over the Knicks and first road win since November.

The wine and gold are playing with an energy that no one could imagine the league's worst team possessing in March.  Some of that is the charismatic new #85 and some of it is leaving the streak behind (4-4 since), but, most of all, Byron Scott seems to have taken the team to Hell and back for the better.  I could take or leave defense anyway, I'd rather see 250 points on the board every night.  If they can supplement the core with 2 successful lottery picks, the future may be closer on the horizon than we could have dared to hope.
 
Also, the Heat lost to the Spurs.  They lost their second in a row and 4th of 5.  They lost by 30.  And it might have been 40 if both teams hadn't cleared their benches halfway through the final quarter.  As Mike Breen was fond of saying tonight it was "a good old fashioned NBA blowout."

Cheers.

Pretty Girl 03.05.11 - Lara Logan

American journalist sexually accosted by a throng of Egyptians during the protests.  I wonder why?