A Quest Called Tribe

I guess that Manny Acta must read the blog.  Tonight, with the tying run on base, Acta chose to bring in Raffy Perez to face Tsyoshi Nishioka.  What did we learn yesterday?  Nishioka hits .171 against lefties.  What happened?  Raef threw 3 pitches.  Nishioka swung three times and made exactly no contact before slinking back to the bench.  I do not have many positive comments to make on Manny these days, but I will say that he is not a big enough dolt to make the same mistake in consecutive games.

How about a little love for Josh Tomlin?  Dude went out and tossed another beauty.  Tomlin (12-5, 3.97) was masterful in allowing just three baserunners through the first six before Matt LaPorta's dumb ass (we shall get to that) and a healthy respect for Jim Thome ushered him from the mound.  Still, Josh lowered the fifth best WHIP in the AL to 1.038.  I, unrepentantly, love watching Josh Tomlin pitch.  Command seems to have returned to his cutter (15 of 24 first pitch strikes) and he has shown a noticeable progression back to form over his last three starts.  While I would have left him in today, I begrudge Acta nothing for making a move rather than just watching.  By the way, Tomlin has now pitched 5+ innings in his first 36 career starts (different than the appearances record that he continues to extend), one shy of the MLB record held by former Indian John Farrell.

So, we know LaPorta is an imbecile.  Even so, each day brings a new opportunity for Matty to show what a bag of mulch he truly is.  Today, after misplaying Justin Morneau's smash to begin the 7th, LaPorta took a Sunday stroll down the first base line, allowing Morneau to reach second, the first Twin to do so all night.  And then, of course, Morneau would score Minnesota's only run.  I will call it now.  Matt LaPorta is a colossal bust.  I no longer hold any hope for his eventual success.  He is the object of my ire and, by far, the most aggravating Indian.

I complain quite a bit, so I will leave with what I dug the most about tonight's game -

- Asdrubal Cabrera cracking his 20th career home run (accounting for all 3 Tribe runs), after belting just 18 in his career prior to 2011.

- Jason Donald.  His fire.  His attitude.  His hustle.  And the way he stays right on the ball before lasering a line drive.

- Captain Jack's phenomenal play to begin the 4th.

- 1-2-3 from Chris Perez to Jimmy Thome.  Nice.


Here's to sweeping our first series since Pittsburgh in mid-June. (Hey, I was there!)

Cheers.

Clip Joint's Outta Control

Zach McAllister started both games of a double header yesterday.  Andrew Baldwin, Rochester's starter in Game 1, threw 138 pitches.  Jason Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenhall had hits for the Clippers.  Confused?  You should be.

Friday afternoon saw the completion of a June 10th game between the Clippers and Red Wings that began in Columbus and was suspended due to a rain storm, the likes of which I had never before seen.  IL scheduling being what it is, the game was completed in Rochester.  Baseball rules being what they are, none of the statistics became official until the contest passed the four and a half inning mark.

Thus, McAllister (9-3, 3.27) was finally credited with the work he did back in June (3 IP, 3 H, ER, 4 K) in addition to the performance that he actually turned in yesterday.  It was nearly a gem.  Zach shut out the Red Wings over the first 6 frames of the 7 inning game, before allowing four hits in the 7th and leaving one out shy of a complete game victory.  The outing (6.2 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 6 K) was still good enough to earn him his first victory since June 21st.  The combined line of 9.2 IP, 0 BB, 10 K, not too shabby.

Brett Brach, who you might remember from a dazzling spot start with the Aeros early in the season, entered with the resumption and tossed 4.2 innings of solid ball (6 H, 2 ER, BB, 2 K).  Brach notched the W and has now won at three different levels of the Indians' organization in 2011.

Nick Hagadone struggled with his control (1.1 IP, 3 BB, 2 K) in closing out game 1, but still earned his 4th save.  Despite the wildness on Friday, the issue of command has seemingly resolved itself for Hagadone (2.73 BB/9).  All of his numbers look great (6-2, 2.59, .212 OBA, 9.62 K/9) and I would be surprised if Nick, already on the 40-man, does not see time with the big club in September.

At the dish, Jerad Head (.282) finally got credit for home run #22.  With 66 RBI, an .862 OPS and a right handed stick, Head is the top candidate to fill the empty spot on the 40-man, should the Tribe not make a waiver wire deal.  Cord Phelps (.301) led the charge in game 2 with a two run, first inning shot and Chad Huffman (.249) continued to tattoo the baseball (2-for-3, 2 2B, RBI, .594 over his last 10).

The Clips took both games (6-3, 4-3) and now sit at 76-45 (.628), tied for the 2nd most wins in all of minor league ball.

The Clippers have not announced their starter for tonight's 7:05 tilt (it is David Huff's spot, but he starts for the Indians tomorrow).  If I was forced to guess, I would go with Mitch Talbot.  ;-j

Other Minor Points of Interest --

Here is the cream of the crop for the Captains.  Make the drive and check them out.

Felix Sterling -  Felix spent the first half of 2011 at extended spring training, before making six appearances for the AZL Indians (2-3, 4.10, 10.59 K/9).  He was promoted to Lake County in late July and has made three starts thus far (2-1, 2.20).  Sterling is a big kid (6'3", 200) and has explosive stuff.  The challenge going forward will be command.  While he has limited Midwest League hitters to a .179 clip and fanned 13 in 16.1 innings, he has walked 13 as well.  His last outing produced more than half of those (5 IP, 2 H, ER, 7 BB, 5 K) and resulted in his first loss.  The Tribe will bring the 18 year old along slowly, so expect 2 or 3 more starts this year and a return to Eastlake in 2012.

Luigi Rodriguez - L-Rod tore up the AZL (.379, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 12 SB, .987 OPS) before a July promotion and has entered a period of adjustment at the new level.  His numbers (.256, 5 SB) are not bad, but it is clear that the 18 year old has never competed against this type of talent before.  There are no shackles on Rodriguez, he will advance as quickly as his performance does.  Similar to Sterling, expect him back at High-A in 2012.

LeVon Washington - 2011 has been an injury plagued and frustrating season for the 2010 2nd round pick.  LeVon did not get into game action until mid-May and has just returned from another month on the shelf.  While his production has clearly been affected (.228, 3 HR, 17 RBI, 13 SB, .667 OPS), he delivered an inside-the-park home run yesterday, in his first game back.  Overall, Washington is 8-for-17 (.471) in his last five with 5 runs scored and 4 RBI.  Where the 19 year old ends up in 2012 will be entirely dependent on what he shows over the next month and his ability to stay healthy.

Kyle Blair - The 2010 4th rounder was not expected to spend this much time at Low-A.  Blair, who turns 23 next month, has dealt with a nagging right knee injury all season and it has notably affected his performance.  The hefty (6'3", 236) lefty has sturggled (3-5, 6.09, 1.66 WHIP) through 16 appearances and has only just returned to active duty.  Kyle pitched 2 innings out of the pen last night and showed rust (3 H, ER), though he also avoided much damage (0 BB, K).  He does not have much time left to make his mark in 2011 and, at this point, it is a coin flip as to whether be begin 2012 with LC or Kinston.

Michael Goodnight - Dude is not really a prospect, but I love his name, so we shall take a look.  A promising season (5-4, 2.49 through mid-June) for the 2010 13th round has circled straight down the crapper.  Over his last 10 starts Goodnight is 0-7 with a 7.48 ERA and a .318 OBA.  It had been ever worse before a solid outing on the 8th (5 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 BB 4 K).  In the four starts prior Michael had posted a 10.69 ERA and a 2.06 WHIP.  The end result of these streaks has been a mediocre statistical line (5-11, 4.45, .234 OBA) and a sense of urgency for the right-hander to deliver down the stretch to ensure his place in the system.

Cheers.

Pretty Girl 08.13.11 - Imogen Poots

Another Brit, she's the eye candy in Fright Night.  I'd bite her.

A Quest Called Tribe

I can no longer abide by Manny Acta's sins of omission.  Tsuyoshi Nishioka bats .245 against righties.  Not great.  Guess what he hits off of left-handers.  Go ahead.  I will wait.  Ready.  One.  Seventy.  One.  .171.

One play does not make a game.  That I understand.  We could banter all night about how the Tribe failed to take advantage of the Twins' defensive miscues of the 6th and 7th.  It is true; I admit it.  The boys should have had more runs on the board.  Still, Acta ostensibly paces the dugout while he actually straddles the fence.  "Should I pull him or should I not?  I just do not know."  Personally, I would have yanked Justin Masterson (7.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, BB, 4 K) after Jim Thome's at-bat.  The key is not just to throw your starter until he is absolutely exhausted, it is giving your team the best opportunity for success during every single circumstance of the game.  Obviously, Bat had lost his good stuff, his command at the very least.  If you leave him in to get that second out, you certainly make the move with Nishioka coming up. 

I have often said that managers only have a pronounced effect on game outcome during the post-season.  Good managers get wins and poor managers take losses.  Manny Acta has caused me to drastically reconsider my position.  The Indians hang around in nearly every contest.  Therefore, the regrettable non-calls of a man who seems more committed to his fashion eye-wear than to fasioning victories have an exaggerated effect.  How does any sane human being take the bunt off of Jason Kipnis with runners on first and second, nobody out in the 6th, in a 1-0 game?  How do you not put those two runners in scoring position for your best fucking hitter?  Acta will come out after the game and drop his usual line of bullshit about how all decisions can be second guessed and how the team had other opportunities to win the game.  You know what, shithead?  Your job is to give them more chances to win, not take them away.  Your job is to understand each situation and act accordingly.  I am not second guessing.  If I sit idly by, wait for Manny to do what he will and then chastise him if it does not work, that is second guessing.  Even if Masterson (9-7, 2.69) had gutted his way through the 8th, the success would have been in spite of Acta, not because of him.  I call the guy out in real time because he is, incontrovertibly, a fucking idiot.

Thank god for Carlos Santana (.375, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 4 2B, 4 multi-hit games in his last 8) and a little bit of luck.

Here's to a lot more of both.

Cheers.

Strike Up the Band And Drop the Confetti

Austin Kearns has been DFAed!

Oh yeah, and Shin Soo Choo was activated from the DL.  I would guess that Kosuke Fukudome will move to left.

Cheers.

UPDATE:  I did not see this one coming.  Kusoke to center.  Ezequiel Carrera batting 9th in left.  Choo in right... leading off?  I guess we shall see.

Jade Bile

The night is hot and sticky; it reminds me of my youth.  There is a foreign town and a pretty girl and all of the wonderment attained rather than denied.  I see things that I cannot remember, hear things that I will never forget.  The rest is a blur, but I can still feel the warm rush of anticipation running through me.  Now, forever distant, it would seem that I must alter my wishes, evolve my desires.  I neither want to, nor intend to.  If it is irrational to deign a set of values as worthy and staunchly adhere to them, then please be man enough to lock me up.  In a world of naught but concession and rationalization, I reject their necessity.  The only dead dreams are those that I might strangle with my hot, bare hands.  While many might lay comatose, struggling to breathe, the proverbial plugs have not yet been pulled.  Deny compromise.  Ignore the demands of an irrelevant society.  On to find unique order in a sea of cookie cutter chaos.  Don't like it?  Fuck you.  Moving on.

Youth Is Wasted On the Young

Siddown, Bryce.

Pretty Girl 08.12.11 - Talulah Riley

And the British Invasion begins...  (I surrender).

A Quest Called Tribe

It was nice to see Asdrubal Cabrera step up into a leadership role.  It was nice to see Fausto Carmona settle in and give the team a chance to win.  It was nice to see AzCab and Carlos Santana crack clutch hits off of, arguably, the best pitcher in the league.  Still, something must be done about the Lonnie Chisenhall situation and I do not refer to the baserunning blunder.  I repeat, on nearly a daily basis, that his throwing motion is not sustainable at the hot corner.  The Chiz Kid was drafted as a shortstop and he continues to throw as such.  The errant toss that led to the Tigres' first run is a perfect example why he must learn a proper motion.  It is not as if he cannot throw overhand; I have seen him do so on balls behind the bag.  If Lonnie can make that throw accurately then Az does not need to chew out Santana for letting the ball go to the dugout.  If Austin Jackson does not reach on the gaff, then Carmona's head stays screwed on and, not only is the first inning run averted, but the three in the second likely disappear as well.  If Fausto limits Detroit to 2 runs, instead of 4, then the clutch hits equal a series sweep and a one game deficit.  For want of a nail...

In happier news, Anthony Reyes has been released.  Part of the 2009 opening day rotation, Reyes had pitched just 13 minor league innings since going down 8 starts in.  He had been rehabbing from a variety of injuries (including Tommy John surgery) with the AZL team and had made three successful appearances in recent weeks.  Ultimately, the organization made the decision that Anthony would have better opportunities elsewhere and cut him loose after paying him for two and a half years of recovery.

Shin Soo Choo started in right and played all nine innings for the Lake County Captains.  Choo went 0-for-4 with a K.  He did pick up an RBI, but it came on an 8th inning fielder's choice in a bases loaded, none out situation, trailing by 2 runs.  Shin Soo is hitless in eight trips for the LCC,

In case you are wondering, Michael Brantley sat for the 4th time in 7 games thanks to a sore right wrist.  He did not look healthy last night.  Matt LaPorta, on the other hand, spent a second straight game on the bench, not due to injury, but rather because he is a friggin' idiot.  Manny Acta must be as sick of it as I am.

Props to Jason Kipnis on becoming the first Indians' rookie with 5 hits, 4 runs and 3 RBI in a game.  Kip is also just the third Tribe player ever to post a five hit game within his first 16 big league contests.  Neither you, nor I, nor anyone else has ever heard of the other two.

Here's to a mistake free Friday night (and hopefully a win).

Cheers

P.s. For a some great shots of briefly tenured Indians, click here.

Nooner At the Clip Joint

Jared Goedert

So I was all geared up for Shin Soo Choo (maybe a bit too much).  Primped and primed to head to the ballpark, all I needed was some official confirmation that he would, indeed, be suiting of for the Clippers today.  After checking all of my online sources and finding a big pile of bupkis, I rang the Clips office.  The chickadee on the other end enlightened me that the front office had no knowledge of Choo coming to town.  Clinging to hope, I checked the LCC site again only to discover a large display promoting that the Tribe's right fielder would be appearing tonight at Classic Park.  Damn.

At least I did my diligence and was not forced to needlessly sit through another Columbus loss.  Jeanmar Gomez (10-5, 2.45) turned in a reasonable start (6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K) as the offense remained stagnant.  Only a fifth inning solo shot from Jared Goedert (.232) put the Clips on the board.  Goedert has been raking of late (.367, 3 HR, 9 BB in his last 10) and remains a fringe prospect in the organization.  We should no longer expect him in Cleveland, but he does provide nice depth at the corner infield positions and some solid power from the right side of the plate.  Luis Valbuena (.308) added 2 hits and a walk.

The Clippers head to Rochester tomorrow.  Up at 5:05p is the resumption of the suspended game from June 10th, followed by Zach McAllister on the hill in the regularly scheduled game.  Choo might make the trip.

Other Minor Points of Interest --

Drew Pomeranz and Abner Abreu are long gone, but here are a few quick updates on the little Indians.

Toru Murata - As Murata is already 26 years old with three years of experience under his belt in the Japanese leagues, conventional wisdom would suggest that he would produce well at Kinston and so he has.  After struggling to a 5.52 ERA through mid-May and sitting out six weeks with a lat injury, Toru (1-2, 2.61) has rebounded with 16.1 scoreless innings over 10 appearances.  The organization had experimented with him as a starter, but he had now firmly cemented his position as a short man.  In seven games since returning from the DL, Murata has pitched 11 innings and allowed just one hit and two walks while striking out 14.  If there is a shuffling of relievers at the higher levels, he may see a late promotion.  Otherwise, expect him at Akron to begin 2012.

Giovanni Soto - The good news is that you did not miss anything.  The bad news is that he has been on the shelf since early June with a left (pitching) elbow injury.  Soto did throw a simulated game over the weekend and, while the organization will exercise great caution, he is likely close to returning to action.  Before landing on the disabled list, Giovanni's numbers were excellent (4-4, 3.02, .232 OBA, 9.21 K/9).  Look for the 20 year old at AA next season.

Jesus Aguilar - I was reluctant to give the big (6'3", 241) 21 year old his due until his name started swirling at the trade deadline.  In addition, his power is hard to ignore.  Aguilar's production at Lake County (.292, 19 HR, 69 RBI, .915 OPS) earned him a promotion to Kinston and a place on the radar.  Although Jesus has shown some growing pains at High-A (.205 in 44 ABs), last night brought a pair of hits including his first home run.  He still has a great deal to prove in order to become an elite prospect, but this season has certainly been an excellent start.

Anthony Gallas - While he is not truly a prospect, Gallas grew up in Strongsville and smashed 49 home run at Kent State, so we will pay attention for the time being.  His statistics for the Captains (.314, 6 HR, 21 RBI, .910 OPS) were a pleasant surprise, just as his line at Kinston has been a disappointment.  In 35 games, Anthony has batted just .203 with a .619 OPS, although he has driven in another 21.  Despite sitting out since the end of July, Gallas has earned himself a third year in the system, at the least.  Not too shabby for an undrafted free agent.

Manana, Los Capitanes.

Cheers.