You're Waiting For a Train...: May 28, 2011

Saturday, May 28, 2011

I Was Distracted So I'll Trust the Count At 99

99 words for boobs - watch more funny videos

What about cans or melons or bazongas or awoogas or sweater puppies? Maybe yahvos or magic 8 balls? Memorable mammaries? ;-j

Pretty Girl Update! - Lindsay Lohan

Now that's what I call art!

I should be focused on praising Corey Kluber on his best start of the season. Corey pitched into the 7th (officially 6 IP) and allowed just two runs (1 ER) on 4 hits, a walk and 2 K's. After an horrific start to the season (0-3, 8.04 ERA) Kluber has found himself in winning his last three starts (3.86 ERA) to even his record. With some shakeups likely to affect the Clippers pitching staff going forward (cough...Zach McAllister), consistency from Kluber is paramount.

That is where my mind should be. Instead, all I can see is Ezequiel Carrera with 3 hits (R, RBI, .316). I am dwelling on Cord Phelps 3 hits (2B, 3 RBI, .315). Even Jason Kipnis (3B, R, BB, SB, .292) and his blend of speed (9-for-9 SB) and power (.500 slugging percentage) has me distracted. Why are these kids still marooned at AAA while a gaggle of retread scrubs (you know who you are) are delivering out after meek, pitiful out for the Indians? Obviously the smart guys with the big paychecks know what they are doing, just look at all of those World Series banners in the outfield.

Bah. Grow a set and make the moves.

Other Minor Points of Interest --

Jared Goedert continues to progress nicely in his rehab assignment. Jared (.276) laced an RBI single, walked and scored a pair in Akron's 9-2 victory tonight. He played first base tonight and, in addition to his natural third, has also seen time in left field. If he can get his timing back quickly enough, he may have an opportunity to take Shelley Duncan's job

Matt Packer was the winner tonight for the Aeros as he pitched brilliantly for his second win of the season. Packer (3.91) has thrown better than his 2-5 record would indicate and was finally rewarded with a victory after tossing seven innings of four hit ball. Matt allowed one run and walked three, while fanning four. He is a contact pitcher who relies on hitting his spots and changing speeds with his four pitch arsenal (FB, CB, SL, CU). Do not let the fact that he does not get much ink fool you, he the chops to make the bigs.

LeVon Washington has hit one hell of a slump with low-A Lake County. Washington is 0-for-his-last 20 with 8 strikeouts, dropping his batting average from .250 to .167. There is some conjecture that he is not yet fully healed from a spring training knee injury and he is certainly still working back to true game form. No need to worry.

Cheers.

A Quest Called Tribe

The good news is that Josh Tomlin gutted his way through six innings and, despite allowing a pair of two run dingers, gave the Indians a chance to win. The icing is that Josh threw 5+ innings for the 22nd consecutive start to begin his career. That puts him in third place since 1919, behind only Steve Rodgers (24) and Daisuke Matsuzaka (28). This phenomenal streak seams sort of hollow coming in the midst of a three game losing streak that has seen the Tribe score a grand total of four runs. Cough...cough...Cord Phelps.

The lineup fiasco today was a joke. I was all for juggling it a bit to get Grady into RBI situations and take some pressure off of Carlos Santana, but WTF. It is as if Manny Acta took a whole bottle of Mickey Rooney's crazy pills as he filled out the card. I understand the concept of lefty/righty matchups, but for a man who had been unbelievably consistent with his lineup all season tonight was quite a departure. I almost thought the sequence was a typo when I saw it pregame. Matt LaPorta (.453 slugging) ahead of Sizemore (.641)? All of this reordering and Shelly Duncan (.632 OPS) still hitting cleanup? Orlando Cabrera (.288 OBP) in the two hole? All this AND Austin Kearns remains? That is a great way to put up zero runs, which is exactly what they did. If Acta wants to shake things up, the answers are right up the road in Norfolk, Virginia where the Clippers are playing the Tides. Cough...cough...Lonnie Chisenhall.

I suppose that I cannot lay all of the blame on the structure of the batting order. For all of their success in 2011, the Indians have been pitiful against top tier starters.

04.12 - Danny Haren: 9 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K

05.11 - David Price: 8 IP, 5 H, 2 R/ER, 0 BB, 7 K
05.18 - Jake Peavy: 9 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K
05.24 - Josh Beckett: 6.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R/ER, 3 BB, 6 K
05.27 - David Price: 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 12 K

All losses. I am not counting Jered Weaver or Mark Beurhle as a top tier starter and Beckett had injury concerns the first time out. For a team looking to make it into October this trend has to turn around.

Although it is still May, a true losing streak would test the mettle of a very inexperienced team. Tomorrow is as close as you can come to must win 50 games in. Let's get it done, boys.

Cheers.