A Quest Called Tribe

Time to put Joaquin Benoit on suicide watch.  After surrendering the now famous walk-off slam to Carlos Santana on Friday, the 17 million dollar set-up man allowed the Tribe their only rally of the day to facilitate the 5-4 win.  How ballsy was Steve Smith?  Sending Choo on a ball fifteen feet behind third and then Duncan on a hot shot to left?  Too bad Shelly didn't get to run over the Detroit backstop.  More than anything else I enjoy the dugout shots of this team.  Regardless of who is in frame, there is always a lot of chatter.  These guys are bonding as they pile up wins.  This would be their 13th straight win at home, 6th overall, and their 5th series sweep of the young season.  They swept a grand total of four series over the entire course of 2010.

I do not agree with Manny Acta's decision to send Justin Masterson out to start the 8th with the big guy having already thrown 115 pitches.  We all understand how taxed the bullpen was after the 13 inning affair yesterday, but the move shows just how little faith Acta has in someone like Justin Germano.  Understandably, he's not the ideal option for the 8th inning, but if you can't put the ball in his hand to get a few outs, then why is he on the team?  Garbage time only?  There has to be a better option.  That being said, props to Chad Durbin (ugh) for actually getting out of the 8th without further damage and earning the win.

There have been some rumblings around fandom recently that Austin Kearns' days may be numbered.  The organization did give him a million dollar contract in the offseason, but the need to add production trumps that.  Kearns is hitting .139!  With Chad Huffman and Travis Buck tearing up AAA pitching, it's a coin flip now whether such a move will be made anytime soon.  A significant consideration will be the health of Travis Hafner.  Pronk has not played in four games due to inflammation in his right ankle.  A Friday MRI revealed a strained tendon in the bottom of the foot and Travis has been wearing a walking boot for the past few days.  While he has not started, he has supposedly been "available" to pinch hit, though we have not seen him.  Between Kearns and Hafner, something has to give to put a potent bat into the mix.

Let's spend a minute on fundamentals.  Specifically, I have to compliment the Indians on two: sacrifice bunting and pitchers covering first base.  Even though Grady Sizemore and Asdrubal Cabrera could not get the run across in the 7th, Adam Everett's bunt was astounding.  Just to get the bat on the ball would have been impressive, but Everett put the ball in a place where the only play was to first.  Wicked.  In stark contrast to the past few seasons, when the team looked like Brennan Boesch trying to bunt (whoops, he hasn't, ever, memo to AL teams, he can't), the Tribe has been apt so far in 2011.  Similarly, I have never seen so many pitchers take return throws on double play balls.  I know the Indians staff throws a lot of ground balls.  Even so, the consistency with which the hurlers get themselves into good position after delivery is remarkable, exemplified by the play that Rafael Perez made to close the 11th inning yesterday.  Add this reliability to the overall skill on the infield and the runs saved (still tops in baseball at +22) translate into more and more wins.

Nice homestand for both Michael Brantley (.368, .981 OPS) and Matt LaPorta (.316, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1.139 OPS).  That's exactly the kind of production that they need to provide in order to make fans forget what the Indians gave up to get them. ;-j

Unfortunately, the Tribe takes Monday off before heading west to start a series with Oakland on the 3rd.


Cheers.