You're Waiting For a Train...

Monday, July 11, 2011

Pretty Girl 07.11.11 - Hope Solo

The ladies advance to semis with a wild PK win over Brazil. Also, no good cheesecake on Hope. Someone needs to remind her that she's hot. Or maybe I just have a thing for soccer chicks. ;-j

While I Was Sminking

Well, let's see... everybody lost... twice. Luis Valbuena injected some much needed energy into a sluggish offense by scoring one hit in 8 AB's and striking out 3 times. Our All-Star closer picked up loss number four by squandering a thrilling 9th inning comeback. From June 7th to June 29th, Carlos Carrasco was 4-1 with a 0.98 ERA. Since then, 0-2 with 14.14, lasting 4 innings in one start and three in the other. Joe Smith tossed two more scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 0.85. Frank Hermann, after watching his ERA bounce between 7 and 11 for the first two months of the season (much like he bounced between Columbus and Cleveland), has now posted a 0.56 since June 3rd. Carlos Santana, despite a .230 average, goes into the break 4th in the AL in walks and 16th in OBP. Some have wondered on the timing of resting Asdrubal Cabrera's on Sunday. AzCab (.293) noted that back-to-back days off are invaluable. Remember, kids, he starts on Tuesday. Orlando Cabrera, on the other hand, has hit the skids again. Coming off of a six-game streak in which he hit .522 (13-for-23) from June 26th to July 2nd, O-Cab (.247) meets mid-season with just two hits in his past 25 AB's (.080).

The results down on the farm were no better. AAA Columbus arrived at its own halfway point by losing six of seven. Cord Phelps (.290), perhaps feeling a bit of a let down after his demotion, produced just one hit in ten at bats in his first 3 games back for the Clippers. Nick Johnson (.218) was shelved with an wrist injury sustained sliding into third base. There is no timetable for his return. Scott Barnes (7-4, 3.68) had to be pulled from his start in the 6th inning yesterday when something "popped" in his knee. Intially, the injury is considered quite serious and might cost the left hander the rest of his 2011 season. On the other hand, Jason Donald (.295) takes his breather in the midst of an 8-for-18 (.444) streak that has included two homers and a 1.333 OPS. He is just begging for a recall. Similary, Nick Hagadone (5-2, 2.96) has not been scored upon since June 21st and has posted a 0.82 ERA since June 14th. His combined numbers for the first half include a .211 OBA, a 1.09 WHIP and a 9.26 K/9.

The All-Star Futures game was a mixed bag for Indians' prospects. Columbus 2B Jason Kipnis launched a home run to lead off the game for the US team, the only long ball for his team. Jason was 1-for-2, playing the first four and a half innings.

The results were not so good for Drew Pomeranz, newly promoted to AA Akron. Pom came on to start the 6th and went ahead and allowed all four runs that the World team scored, including their sole round tripper. Overall Drew lasted two thirds of innings, surrendering 3 hits with a walk and a strikeout. Remember folks, that this was an exhibition game, so no need to get worried. Sure it would have been nice for Pomeranz to showcase himself a bit better, but he does have outstanding psychological make-up. This will not adversely affect him in any way.

Hey, a half game back at the break. If someone had offered it to you in March, you would have taken it greedily. Here's to the second half push.

Cheers.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

What's Up My Jegger?

Can I at least visit this school?

MVotD - Debbie the Online Dater - Can't Hug Every Cat

Pretty Girl 07.10.11 - Natalia Cigliuti

This looker showed up on The Glades a few weeks ago. Bonus points if you can remind where I know her from, cuz I can't finger it out.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Pretty Girl Update! - Giada De Laurentiis

A cornucopia of multimedia hotness!

Truce 3000

Just for today, much love, Derek. Cheers.

A Quest Called Tribe

If you ask me, Mitch Talbot is headed to Columbus. Following a start in which the Blue Jays made the right hander look nothing but hitable, I do believe that the Indians will send Mitch to Columbus and replace him in the rotation with either Jeanmar Gomez or Zach McAllister. Now maybe it has just been awhile since I have seen Jeanmar pitch at the major league level, but I cannot see him throwing any worse than Talbot. Mitch was touched up for 7 runs (6 ER) on 10 hits and 2 walks (2 K), including a mammoth home run, while failing to get through the sixth inning. Four of the first five runs scored with two men out as he struggled to close out the second and fourth innings.

For a team that has beset by a seemingly endless run of injuries, the gods have finally cut the Tribe a break. Although he has sustained a severe facial contusion and a sinus fracture under his right cheekbone, the word on the street is that Lonnie Chisenhall will avoid the disabled list. The Chiz Kid has shown no signs of a concussion and did not break the cheekbone itself. Not bad for getting beaned in the face. The medical staff has not confirmed that the young third baseman will be available before the all-star break, but he is expected back no later than the beginning of the Baltimore series. The timetable will be determined by how quickly the swelling around Chisenhall's eyes goes down. Word is that as soon as he can wear a protective mask, he will return to the lineup.

Oh, and in case you missed it, Lonnie's first MLB round tripper came off of LHP Boone Logan. It was Chiz's first big league hit against a southpaw. In fact, in each and every other appaearance against a left (4), he has struck out.

Michael Brantley is once again hitting the ball well. In stark contrast to a 4-for-39 skid that began on June 26th, Brantley has socked eight hits in his last 13 AB's over three games. When he is slumping, Michael has a tendency to roll over high pitches and bounce out harmlessly to the right side. He has, for the most part, avoided this proclivity in the most recent contests and the hits have followed. Brantley has also stolen a base in two of those games, raising his season total to 12.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the night at the plate had by Jack "MF'ing" Hannahan. Jack singled twice and doubled for his third three hit game of the season and his first since April 26th. Hannahan brought home the Tribe's first run and got the 8th inning rally started with hit #3.

Cheers.

P.s. Asdrubal Cabrera is you starting shortstop for the American League All-Star team.