Gimme That Oil!

Mideast Regime Change: The Game - watch more funny videos

I'm waiting for the deluxe edition.

Just In From the Desert

A 10.80 ERA is nothing to smile about, but Mitch Talbot threw significantly better today than in any of his previous starts.  After a 1st that featured an "Arizona sunshine triple" based run, Talbot showed more dominance in each progressive inning and became the first Indians pitcher to work 5 innings this spring.  He scattered 6 hits, struck out 3 and retired the last 6 hitters he faced.  Mitch was also able to keep the ball down after a number of hard hit balls in the first two innings.  Given the exhibition nature of these games we have to make use of a real "what have you done for me lately" attitude and, thus, Talbot is all aces until his next start.  Today's performance was happily reminiscent of the first half of 2010 and the sort effectiveness we need out of our presumptive #3.

Both Carlos Santana and Matt LaPorta went deep to break out of significant slumps.  Santana (.286) was a triple short of the cycle, scored thrice and drove in a pair, his first of the spring.  LaPorta's dong was his only hit of the day, but I'll take anything I can get from the guy hitting .158.

I am not a fan of Anthony Reyes.  Maybe it's his weight, maybe it's because he's always hurt, and maybe, just maybe, it's because he stinks.  Seriously.  In 3 rehab starts an Akron last year his ERA was 23.51.  Not a typo.  In 5 and 2/3 he gave up 8 runs, 11 walks and threw 5 wild pitches.  Today he got 2 outs and surrendered 2 runs.  I shan't waste any more time on him.

Jensen Lewis (10.80 ERA) "relieved" Reyes in the 7th and promptly gave up 2 three run homers to blow a 6-1 lead.  Of Lewis' first 14 pitches, 9 were balls, 1 was a single and 2 left the park.  Jensen was visibly upset leaving the field as this is the sort of outing that might cost him a job.

Utility OF Battle:  Chad Huffman (.455) hit a "wall-scraper" home run, his second of the spring, and is still knocking the ball well to all fields.  He also drew a walk and remains a viable candidate.  Travis Buck (.371) did not play.  He did give an outstanding interview that reinforced my understanding that baseball is most essentially a mental game.  Citing the stress of injury and inconsistency during his time in Oakland, Buck said he is thrilled about a fresh start with an organization that can showcase his talents and new-found maturity.

Who's Got Third?:  Luis Valbuena (.250) singled twice and remains my pick for the utility infield spot and Jason Donald's understudy.  Cord Phelps (.154) looked timid in taking a called third with the bases loaded.  Jack Hannahan (ugh) (.393) drove in a run with an infield single.  In case anyone is wondering, no, he cannot be the next Casey Blake.  And for the following 3 reasons - (1) Hannahan is 2 years older (31) than Blake was when he joined the Indians in 2003, (2) During his last AAA season, Blake hit .309 with an .874 OPS.  Last year, Hannahan hit .237 at AAA with a .714 OPS  (3) Before coming to Cleveland, Blake had gotten just 112 major league ABs.  Despite the fact that Casey hit a mere .232, that's still better than the .224 that Hannahan has put up in 856 at bats.  So, no, no, no.  Please, I am begging you.  I am down on my knees.  Do not give Hannahan a roster spot.

Backup Backstop:  Paul Phillips (.409) replaced Santana in the 7th and delivered a go ahead single.  If Phillips can compliment his solid defense with a few clutch hits, he's exactly what the Indians are looking for.

25th Man:  Justin Gemano pitched a clean 8th and has not yet allowed a run this spring.  Vinnie Pestano (1.93) came in for the 9th to protect a 2 run lead and sent the Brewers down in order, finishing off the final 2 hitters via the K.  Also, after today, you can add Jensen Lewis to the list and open up spot 24 as well.

The Tribe has an off day on 03.16 (their first of the spring). We'll keep an eye on Josh Tomlin, who will start a minor league game.

Suicide Squeeze - Indians Prospects Part 2 ('92 Upper Deck)

NITche Market

Support your Cleveland State Vikings at 7p tonight as they host Vermont in the first round of the NIT.  I know that it's a bit of a dissapointment that the Vikes couldn't beat Butler all year long and gave away the conference regular season championship over the last four games, but a post-season home game is pretty rare.  Tix are 10 and 20 bucks and the Wolstein Center offers "hoopy" hour (mmmm, cheap drinks) on the north concourse starting at 5:30p.  If you can't get your lazy butt downtown, tune in on ESPN3.com for exclusive coverage, dig 30 pages of game notes here and read a great ESPN profile of CSU's NBA bound point guard here.   My prediction:  Fighting Norris Coles 81, Catamounts 68.  Gotta support the team.

Pretty Girl 03.15.11 - Jennifer Love Hewitt

Perhaps a bit on the nose, but certainly not the bottom of the barrel.

Just In From the Desert

As dazzling as Justin Masterson was his last time out, he was just as troubling today.  Masterson (6.00 ERA) retired the first six, but gave up 2 in the third and 3 in the fourth on a total of 7 hits.  The good news is that Justin struck out 4 and didn't walk anyone.  The bad news is that we are all familiar with his Jekyll and Hyde act.  Masterson certainly has the stuff to overpower major league hitters, but he has to harness his wildness in order to be effective.  "Wildness?" you say, "I thought he didn't walk anyone?"  True, true.  Justin's problem is his lack of command inside the zone.  Even on days when he avoids the free pass, Masterson often allows clusters of hard hits as he unintentionally leaves the ball over the meaty part of the plate.  Remember, Acta is willing to shuffle starting pitchers 2 through 5, though I think Masterson is safe at the top of that list... for now.

Jeanmar Gomez continued to throw like sweaty goat crack.  Gomez (6.30) surrendered 3 earned on 3 hits and 2 walks today.  He was touched up for a pair of gopher balls and got pulled before he could finsih his third inning of work.  A quote on Gomez from an unnamed scout (via IPI) "Not ready. Very inconsistent secondary stuff. Impressed early last year but league quickly adjusted."  Given this, I question if Jeanmar will ever be a real MLB option.  Expect an announcement soon that either Gomez or David Huff has been removed from the 5th starter race.  My guess is [coin flips] Huff.

After today's cuts the Indians' roster is down to 47.  Zach McAllister, Lonnie Chisenhall, Nick Weglarz, Jason Kipnis, Alex White, Zach Putnam and Juan Apodaca were all sent to minor league camp.  So pffffft on all of you who said that Chisenhall would be at third on opening day.  Also, you should notice that Cord Phelps' name is not on this list.  He remains a viable infield candidate.  The Tribe was impressed by the performance of all of these players during the spring.  You can expect at least the first 5 in Cleveland sometime this season.  Putnam, a right handed reliever, will also have a shot.  Forget the name Juan Apodaca.

A quick Adam Miller update: He's thrown 8 bullpen sessions so far this spring with the Indians restricting the "volume" of pitches that he's thrown.  This basically means that Miller hasn't been cleared for the amount of pitches that both warming up and throwing in a game would entail.  He has dropped the change-up from his repertoire and is focusing on just his fastball and slider.  This should actually result in better performance as the change was his least effective pitch and he won't need 3 as a reliever.  The Tribe and Miller hope to get the righty into a minor league game or two before they break camp and Adam will start the season either at Columbus or in extended spring training... unless he's hurt.

Joe Smith hasn't pitched since Wednesday and will not pitch again until Friday, at the earliest.  Jojo has an abdominal strain.

Utility OF Battle:  Shelley Duncan (.304) had a day - single, double, walk, 3 RBI.  He looks good for that last guy on the bench.  Travis Buck (.371) added another hit, but struck out twice and stranded 4 runners.  I still think that he's in the lead and that, in some, way both of these guys make the club.  That leaves Ezequiel Carrera (.300, 0-1 today) and Chad Huffman (.500, SF, RBI) on the outside, looking in.

Backup Backstop:  Lou Marson (.125) and Luke Carlin (.111) each went 0-for-2 today with a K.  Serve held.  Paul Phillips (.400) maintains his hold as the #2 catcher.  It suits him.  Think about it.

Who's Hot:  Jack Hannahan (ugh) (.370, .950 OPS, 2-4, 2 RBI).  We cannot give this guy a spot.

Who's Not: Shin-Soo Choo (.200, .539 OPS, 0-3, R, RBI)

Pitchers for 03.15: Mitch Talbot (starter), Chris Perez, Anthony Reyes, Jensen Lewis, Justin Germano and Vinnie Pestano.

Cheers.

While I'm Writing

Do you care about Bryce Harper's struggles in middle class Las Vegas?  Read about it here.

Wanna feel bad for a bunch of people who are tremendously athletes, got to play pro ball, and enjoyed all of the perks of being the best player on their high school baseball team?  Do so here.

See ya soon.  Cheers.

Kanye Sez "Watch This Enough And You Will Become Limitless"

What a tool.  But a cool tune.  Cheers

Suicide Squeeze - Andy Marte ('92 Upper Deck)

Pretty Girl 03.14.11 - Malin Ackerman

It's amazing what a little eyeliner can do.