"Hell, there are no rules here - we're trying to accomplish something." - Thomas A. Edison
"I have found that people who can successfully resist temptation invariably lead depressingly stunted lives." — C.D. Payne
"So don't weep for me now, my friends, because science insists that I have not died.
Energy just always changes state and I refuse to believe that human consciousness is the sole exception to this universal law."
- Mark Millar
"Do only butterflies die in flames? What about those devoured by the flames within them?" - E.M. Cioran

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Minor Points Of Interest

Nick Hagadone continues to demand a promotion with his play upon the ball field.  Tonight, Nick picked up his second win of the season in a 6-3 Akron victory.  Hagadone scattered three hits over two and a third and struck out one to run his 2011 scoreless innings streak to 17.  Soon, the Indians will be forced to make room for him at AAA.

Kinston was able to finish up Tuesday's suspended game and take a 5-1 win.  Adam Miller pitched the 9th for the little Indians and was much more successful than in his first appearance.  Miller (13.50 ERA) pitched around a hit and a walk in a clean frame, striking out one.  Best of continued luck to Adam, both because the man has endured long enough in order to get into games and because he would eventually be a nice addition to big league 'pen.

Lake County 1-hit Bowling Green, defeating the Hot Rods 4-0 to open their series.  Seven innings came from Mike Rayl, who did allow the hit but fanned 11 against zero walks.  Rayl, a 15th round pick in 2009 who will turn 22 in November, has started 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA for the Captains.  Derek Dietrich struck out in each and every one of his three plate appearances.


Cheers.

White Dogs, Cool Tricks







Happy birthday, Mom!

A Quest Called Tribe

I feel like I'm in the minority.  Not that it's an uncommon sensation for me, I just don't think so many Tribe fans stay up for these west coast contests.  Tonight's game was certainly worth it.  In a true pitcher's duel, Fausto Carmona went 8, allowing just a run on five hits.  A clutch Matt Laporta single tied it in the 7th and the offense took the lead for good in the 9th off of A's closer Brian Fuentes, who did not retire a batter.  Michael Brantley singled to begin the inning but was picked off when he misjudged Fuentes' movement to the plate.  His mates picked him up though.  Singles by LaPorta and Jack Hannahan, in front of an Oakland outfield playing five feet from the track, put the go ahead run at third with one out.  Orlando Cabrera, who had entered in the 7th as a pinch runner, came through with an RBI single to put the Indians on top.  Two batters later, Asdrubal Cabrera brought in a pair.  Then, of course, came Pure Rage.

If a team is going to put together a 20-8 record (best in baseball, ahem) to start a season, it is likely to win in a variety of ways.  Such is absolutely the case with the Indians.  Tonight's game exemplifies the focus that the Manny Acta's boys have.  Held scoreless for six innings by a virtual unknown (Tyson Ross?) the hitters kept a good approach until Ross finally faltered.  Although it may seem like a small issue, the fact that Acta has kept his entire bench involved in the starting lineup is a big part of that focus.  Despite starting the game on the bench (Adam Everett got the nod at second), O-Cab delivered the biggest hit of the night.  The players are locked in both individually and as a team.  When Brantley gaffed in the 9th, there was no admonishment, the guys simply went back to work and took the lead anyway.  In case I have yet to mention it, that's called teamwork.


The funny thing about Choo's DUI?  He stopped and asked the Sheffield Lake 5-0 for directions to his house just before getting pulled over.  Then he proceeded to blow .20!  Choo knows how to party, but call a cab, bro.  We do not need another Donte Stallworth.  This is the second such incident for the Tribe this season.  I had totally forgotten about the Austin Kearns/Kentucky thing on the eve of spring training.

For any of you wondering about Indians radio coverage in the Columbus market, the Dispatch has a nice piece here, although it's a month old.  There have been no further developments.  Bummer.

I saw an article today that indicated that Indians were pitching over their heads, but the offense would keep them in the hunt when the staff, inevitably, regressed.  Although a nice compliment to the bats, any sort of Saber-metrics that doom the hurlers to disgrace is a load of hooey.  The big quote, "This just isn’t a great pitching staff, and while the results have been good, there’s a ton of room for regression there."  This just isn't a great pitching staff.  If you're going to manipulate numbers, fine, but don't make blanket, judgmental statements.  Such things make we want to punch certain statisticians in the mouth.  C'mon, two starters are on the shelf already, the ace has just reached .500 with an ERA of about four and a half and the big free agent arm (Chad Durbin, ugh) has a WHIP of 1.90 and an OBA of .388.  This sort of statistical wizardry is based on past performance and generalized trends; I shan't go any deeper.  I'll talk to FanGraphs in September as the Indians prepare for the ALDS.

Cheers.

Pretty Girl 05.04.11 - None

Withheld in honor of my mother's birthday.  Send her some love with your mind.