Pretty Girl 04.15.12 - Angela Sarafyan

You'll want to see A Good Old Fashioned Orgy (it's a comedy, not a porno), if for no other reason, just to watch her take her top off.

A Quest Called Tribe

Well, it's certainly difficult to complain about yesterday's 13-7 victory that brings the Tribe to .500 (4-4) for the first time this season, but I'm going to do it anyway.  We'll begin with Ubaldo Jimenez.  Yesterday I had the opportunity to initiate another into the cult of "Chris Antonetti is an idiot."  I got to explain how the Tribe traded the farm to acquire Ubaldo (1-0, 4.50) last summer.  I had the pleasure of pointing out that it was the sort of trade that needs to return a sure thing.  Given the skilled players that the Indians shipped to the Rockies, Ubaldo should be going out and mowing down hitters like a well manicured lawn.  Sadly, he is not.  During his 2011 struggles, we heard that his delivery would be rebuilt in the off-season to facilitate better repeatability.  If that was actually attempted, it certainly has no been successful.  Yesterday, despite 10 Indians runs over the first 5 innings, Jimenez barely qualified for the victory after tossing 112 pitches over 5 innings.  He allowed 9 hits and walked 3.   His first start was brilliant, but if you cannot trust your #1b starter to go out and shut down the Royals, you're gonna have some problems.

Next, it may be Rafael Perez (7.36) who crumbles before Tony Sipp (13.50).  Neither has been at all reliable thus far in 2012.  Raffy was inserted to begin the sixth, walked Alex Gordon, balked him to second and watched him score on a Billy Butler single.  Not the sort of performance that inspires confidence in your teammates.  Sipp bounced back with a clean inning, but who knows what he will bring in his next outing.

Honsetly, outside of the starting pitching and the bullpen, it was an awesome game to watch.  A lot of those batting averages (Hafner - .292, Cabrera - .282, Duncan .320) are looking a lot better.  Others (Kipnis - .179, Kotchman - .219) remain low, but their owners showed excellent power in the series.  Speaking of power, Pronk's 5th inning solo home run distance has been adjusted from an original estimate of 456 feet to a whopping 481 feet.  That is the longest blast in Kauffman Stadium history, erasing Bo Jackson's 475 footer of 1986.

Also in the record books - 32 runs in 3 game series.  That is the total that the Tribe put up against KC.  It is also the largest number that they have ever aggregated in the first three road games of the season and the most in any 3 game series since an April 2000 set against Tampa Bay.  The series also did wonders for the Indians' overall offensive numbers.  The team batting average is all the way up .238 and, while that still ranks 11th in the AL, the team OPS is now .779, good for third in the league.  Part of that is the power.  Their 15 home runs lead the junior circuit and the team has gone yard in each of the first 8 games.  Don't forget the walks, though.  The Tribe draw 44 bases on balls in eight games (5.5 per) which is also third and pretty much mitigates the 58 strikeouts.  Oh yeah, their 52 runs scored is 2nd.

Enough for now.  If I'm sufficiently aware later on, we'll dig into some statistics on Josh Tomlin and Travis Hafner.

Cheers.

P.s. Is it any wonder that KC demoted Jarrod Dyson after his play over the first two games of the series?

Old Kentucky Clip Joint

After their quick start, the Clippers have settled in six game win one/ lose one funk.  Such was the case with Saturday and Sunday games in Louisville.  On Saturday, Chris Seddon (1-0, 5.59) pitched well enough to win (5.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K) and did, despite surrendering a pair of home runs.  More importantly, Nick Hagadone continued his sublime start.  Following another 1 and 1/3 scoreless innings, the opposition had raised its batting average to a dazzling .125.  After 5.1 innings in 2012, Hagadone has still issued just one walk.  Tony Sipp be very afraid.  Sunday was less heartening as Zach McAllister (0-1, 4.00) got knocked around for 5 earned on 9 hits over 6 innings (BB, 3 K).  With a Jeanmar Gomez suspension likely coming down from Bud Selig's mount on high, Z-Mac has certainly not positioned himself for that spot start.  Frank Herrmann (3.00) and Chris Ray (3.00) finished off the game with a scoreless inning apiece.

At the plate, Cord Phelps (5 H, 2B, 2 RBI, .340), Lonnie Chisenhall (3 H, RBI, 2 R, .333), Trevor Crowe (5 H, 2 2B, 2 BB, .429) and Beau Mills (HR, 2 RBI, .278) supplied the offense.  Matt LaPorta (.314, 4 HR) saw action in neither game, while Ryan Spilborghs (.167) continued to struggle.

The Clippers close out their series with the Bats tonight @ 6:35p with Kevin Slowey (1-1, 2.45, the guy who is in line for that spot start) ready to take the hill.

Other Minor Points of Interest...

Akron
Jared Goedert (.355) launched a pinch 3-run homer on Saturday and followed it up with 2 hits on Sunday.  Do not give up on this guy.  Chun Chen (.179) had 2 hits on Saturday but fanned 3 times over the two games and has whiffed 12 times in 8 games so far.  Nick Weglarz (.133) has conituned to flounder as well with 13 Ks and just 4 hits on the season.  Giovanni Soto (1-0, 5.00) was unable to follow up a strong first start with another, allowing 4 earned on 7 hits over 4 innings on Saturday.  Gio has K'ed 11 in 9 innings in 2012.  Keep an eye on Rob Bryson (1.69), the oft-injured last piece of the CC Sabathia trade.  Always a big strike out guy, Bryson has punched out 10 in 5 and 1/3 this year, while holding the opposition to .118 average.

Carolina
Tony Wolters' abysmal start sunk even lower over the weekend.  An 0-for-8 skid dropped has dropped the prospect's average to a horrific .108.  Jake Lowery (.382), on the other hand, added four hits and a walk to raise his OPS to 1.006. 

Lake County
If you can belive it, the Captains lost to Bowling Green yesterday, 22-12, with the Hot Rods scoring 11 times in the top of the 9th inning.  Somehow right hander Kyle Blair (20.86 ERA) was left in to allow 13 of those runs!  At least the offense continued to chug along.  Luigi Rodriguez (.368) rapped 3 hits, drew 2 walks and drove in a pair.  Alex Lavisky (.323) spanked hit first home run and drove in 2 to raise his team leading total to 10.  The only hold out was Francisco Lindor (.313), who took an 0-for-5 collar, but still drove in a run and drew a walk.  LeVon Washington (.440) sat out for the 2nd straight game.

Also...

Friend of the blog Tyler Tufts is off to a fast start for the Round Rock Express of the Texas Rangers system.  Seeing AAA action for the first time, Ty has two wins in his first 3 appearances and has posted a 1.35 ERA.

Uber-prospect Bryce Harper has struggled to find his own footing at AAA.  The 19 year old is off to a .220 start over his first 10 games for the Syracuse Chiefs.  Harper has yet to homer, has driven in just 1 run and has limped to a .597 OPS.

Indians righty Jason Knapp (the oft-injured last piece of the Cliff Lee trade) has yet to throw yet this season.  Still rehabbing from his second shoulder surgery, many are scared that he will never stay healthy enough to make the bigs.

Cheers.

MVotD - Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know

No, I don't think that because 159 million people saw this video before me indicates that I'm "out of touch."

Flick to Click: Looper

Opens 09.28.12 (Ugh, that's so long from now...)

Pretty Girl 04.15.12 - Kristen Wiig

So, like, is it possible that Kristen Wiig is hot?  Cuz then I'm gonna reevaluate literally everything that I have ever considered true.  The Yankees still suck, right?

A Quest Called Tribe

What a shame.  On a day when the a new vigor and strength poured from the Indians like so much strawberry wine, I would have liked to pound out a purely positive piece.  I know the bullpen had to pick up the reigns in the 3rd inning after Jeanmar Gomez's ejection, but it was the 6th by the time Josh Tomlin finished fanning the flames.  Last season, handing the bullpen a three run lead was tantamount to etching the tic mark in the win column.  Tony Sipp is a mess, just a god awful mess (19.29 ERA, 3.43 WHIP, .462 OBA).  For a guy who had a poor spring and has all three options remaining, he is certainly not pitching like someone who wants to keep his job.  As has been mentioned countless times before, Nick Hagadone is ready for the big time.  With such a bevy of left handed pitching stockpiled, the Tribe could have easily moved Sipp (or Raffy Perez, whichever) in the off-season for the quality prospect that is so conspicuously missing for the AA level.  It's not just Sipp either, the entire 'pen has been sloppy.  Despite avoiding their third loss tonight, the aggregate ERA is a ridiculous 6.48.  I understand the concept that it is difficult to rely on individual relievers to consistently produce quality season after season, but the whole staff at once?  This is a nightmare.

Someone commented to me that he appreciated the new "angry Tribe attitude."  You want some leadership?  Captain Jack's got your leadership all the way to the clubhouse.  I agree that it is heartening to see fire in the bellies of a team that had seemed resigned to its role as a mid-market kick-dog (and in spite of woManny Acta, get it woman-Manny), that sort of chip doesn't do any good to shoulders that cannot carry a seven run lead.  

Also, I am concerned about Josh Tomlin.  I saw a comparison to Jeremy Sowers (who has, apparently and quite quietly, retired) earlier in the spring, noting that we have seen how quickly a soft tosser can circle down the drain.  Jamie Moyer notwithstanding, I can see the point.  Even so, Tomlin is running into trouble because he, quite simply, is not hitting his spots.  For a man to whom control is absolutely paramount, he has left far too many pitches in the prime hitting zone.  I'll pick this up again tomorrow when I can see some statistical breakdowns.

All of that being said, thank god for Jarrod Dyson.  I am seriously confused as to how this kid is a Major Leaguer.  It was bad enough for him after the Kipnis ball yesterday and the Brantley triple in today's 3rd.  Then the kid gets caught stealing in the bottom of the 9th on a helluva throw by Carlos Santana.  When Choo got that ball up in the air to center in the 10th, I said aloud "There's no way Dyson's catching this."  True to form, the guy ran dead out, got leather on the ball and nearly broke his face as the ball rattled back onto the outfield grass.  No disrespect brother, but thank you, thank you so much.  This one would have hurt. 

Cheers.

P.s. Jack can't get kicked out anymore (espceially with Jose Lopez at DH), because Jason Donald CANNOT play third.

Oh, yeah.  Break your brooms.

Pretty Girl Update! - Kaley Cuoco

Um, Kaley, if you're gonna do Playboy, then maybe you should take your clothes off.  OK?

Clip Joint Bluegrass

The Clippers (6-3) headed south yesterday to begin a weekend set with the Louisville Bats and came  up on the short end of a 4-2 final.  Despite outhitting Louisville 9 to 5, the Clips pitchers issued 6 walks in the first six innings and the Bats bats took full advantage.  Scott Barnes (4.09) started and looked good (5 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 6 K) except for his control.  Hector Ambriz (1.93) further fueled the fire with two walk of his own before CC Lee (1.1 IP, H, 2 K, 3.38) was able to close the sixth inning.  Jeremy Accardo, yet to be scored on (and a helluva nice guy, met him the other day) pitched a perfect 8th, fanning one.

At the dish there was very little to write home about.  Chad Huffman (.375) continued his hot hitting with a pair of doubles and one of the two RBI.  Lonnie Chisenhall (.333) added a pair of singles, but more pertinent is the injury to Matt LaPorta (.314).  While the fastball that bruised Matty's right hand in the 5th did not break any bones, it remains to be seen just how it will affect his ability to handle the bat going forward.

Also on the injury front, both Luke Carlin (.357) and Andy LaRoche (.200) are headed to the DL with Michel Hernandez and Justin Toole replacing them on the active roster.

The Clipper ship docks in Louisville again tonight with lanky right hander Chris Seddon (0-0, 6.75) getting the 6:05p start.

Other Minor Points of Interest...

Akron
Although Jared Goedert (.308) and Nick Weglarz (.136) each had two hits for the Aeros last night, the similarities past that are few.   Both have shown little power, but Goedert has practiced excellent plate discipline (6 BB/5 K) to produce an .822 OPS, while Wegz has struggled (2 BB/ 11 K) and has posted an abysmal OPS of .345.

Steven Wright (1.59) and his ever improving knuckler got their second start and Trenton failed to meet the challenge.  Wright stymied the Thunder over 5 and 2/3 (2 H, ER, 4 BB), while punching out 7.  The opposition is hitting just .132 against Wright thus far.  Japanese import Toru Murata threw 1.1 innings of clean relief and has yet to be scored upon this season.  Cody Allen, just promoted from A+ Carolina, tossed the last two innings perfectly for his first career save.  The 2011 23rd round pick is blazing through the system and even made a couple of appearances with the big club during spring camp.  So far in 2012, opponents are hitting .053 off of Allen over 6 innings in which he has fanned 10 and walked none.

Carolina
While power prospect Jesus Aguilar (.407) is having no problems adjusting to the Carolina League, top infielder Tony Wolters (.138) is finding the slope a bit more slippery.  Aguilar has supplemented his first home run with a trio of doubles and has matched his strikeouts and walks at 3.  His OPS is a stunning 1.096.  Wolters, having fully skipped over low A Lake County, is just 4 for his first 29 with 10 Ks.  The same transition has yet to limit catcher Jake Lowery (.346).  He has produced a .952 OPS and 6 RBI in the season's first week.

Lake County
The Captains are the most talented of any affiliate this season and all of the boys are hitting in the early going.  LC played a afternooner today and the top two in the lineup certainly came to play.  Luigi Rodriguez (.324) doubled and tripled en route to scoring a pair of runs, while top prospect Francisco Lindor (.349) singled 3 times, scored one and drove one home.  Despite taking an 0-for-5 collar, Alex Lavisky (.308) still leads the club with 8 RBI.  All of this without LeVon Washington (.440), who got the day off.

Whew.  I kinda feel caught up now.  Watch out for A Quest Called Tribe, going live later this week.

Pretty Girl 04.14.12 - Rachael Harris

She's a bit of an acquired taste, I know, especially if you're used to her astringent character from the Hangover flicks.  If you need something to seal the deal, check her out in the Archer episode "Movie Star."  (She's the movie star.)