You're Waiting For a Train...: May 11, 2011

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

A Quest Called Tribe

I have heard a lot of chatter that, if the Indians want to contend during the dog days, they will need a "veteran, right-handed set-up man" to pitch in the 8th inning. Uh-huh. That sounds suspiciously like Chad Durbin. This has all been prompted by the fact that Vinnie Pestano has had the gall to post a .176 OBA and a 1.84 ERA. Sure, Pestano gave up a solo home run to one of the best hitters in baseball last night. Sure, the proximate cause was the likely Pestano's youthful ignorance on how to pitch one of the best hitters in baseball with a one run 8th inning lead. But, seriously folks, let's not deplete the farm system to acquire Kyle Farnsworth ;-j. I doubt anyone would argue with applying the quoted description to Farnsworth and, guess what, he too is fallible. If Rafael Soriano and Joaquin Benoit haven't proven that over-valuing the set-up position is a huge pitfall, I do not know what can.

I know the Tribe is winning (23-11) and I have been explicit that I am giving Manny Acta the benefit of the doubt. Still, I'll quibble with him on the use of Justin Germano and I will continue to contend that Grady Sizemore should be hitting elsewhere in the lineup. Just consider how much easier everyone's breathing would have been last night had Grady's lead-off yank had been a three-run shot. Also note that Michael Brantley's OBP is 40 points (.375 vs .333) higher than Sizemore's. And, AND, that Grady's slugging percentage (.641) is nearly 300 points higher than that of Shin-Soo Choo (.348) or Carlos Santana (.389).

Props to Brantley on the true walk-off and Farnsworth on his classy-classic reaction. That is the best method of defeating the five man infield.

File under things I'm not going to worry about: Josh Tomlin giving up 1-run long balls. His WHIP is 0.86 and his OBA .185.

Frank Herrmann, recalled yesterday to provide extra insurance in the 'pen before Carlos Carrasco was activated, was sent right back to AAA when the starter's move was made official. It was the second time this season that Herrmann has been up for a single day and without appearing in the game.

Roll Tribe.

Cheers.