The Other Guys

In case you wanna watch the little dances...

The CIT (as the CollegeInsider.com Tournament is called) reseeds teams after each round, thus there is no bracket.

Cheers.

Not So Fab

Get ready to rewrite your brackets, kids.  Syracuse sophomore center and Big East Defensive Player of the Year Fab Melo did not travel with the Orange to Pittsburgh and will not play in the NCAA Tournament.  I repeat Fab Melo will NOT play in ANY of the NCAA Tournament games.  For the second time this season the Brazilian big man has been deemed ineligible for academic reasons.  This is a serious blow for a team that was a consensus #1 seed and most people's pick to come out of the East Region.  Now, Buck-Nuts, Sully & Co have a real opportunity to get to the Final Four.  So much for Cuse's vaunted defense without their man in the middle.  Coming off of a gut wrenching loss in the Big Ten Championship Game, this news has to turn the hearts and minds of the OSU ballers a complete 180.  They now must be considered the favorite in the East and it cannot be understated how far confidence can go with college basketball players.  I look forward to a deep run.

Cheers.

Throw It Down, Big Fella!

What do you want me to say?  It's tourney time!

Just In From the Desert

Props to Ubaldo Jimenez (1-2, 6.00, 3 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 BB, K) for taking a big step in righting the ship and to the whole team on a solid 3-2 victory.  These are the sorts of games that will make or break a team without big boppers and it's quite heartening to see the boys pull one out.

Hot Corner:  Lonnie Chisenhall (.286) played a full 9 innings and singled once in four trips.  The Chiz Kid has yet to do anything to pull ahead in the third base race.

#5:  Nada.

Left of Center:  Shelley Duncan (.250) was your DH today and brought home a pair of runs.  Duncan knocked an RBI single in the first, before coming in to score himself.  He also drew a bases loaded walk in the 4th pushing in what proved to be the contest's decisive run.  Often it's easy to forget what kind of hitter Shelley is.  Sure, he dipped to .231 before today, but his OPS has stayed consistent at about 1.000.  The organization is obviously looking for an upgrade, but it would be a shame if they did not give this guy a chance to play every day.

Somewhere Out There:  Aaron Cunningham (.294) doubled in three plate appearance, scored a run and struck out.  I just don't feel it from Cunningham.  I get a real Travis Buck vibe off of him and, god knows, we don't need anymore of that on the lake.  Still, the combination of his lack of options and a solid spring probably puts him on the roster.  Russ Canzler (.368) aims to make that decision as difficult as possible.  The fan favorite added two more hits today.  Ryan Spilborghs (.143) now has a 2-game hitting streak after an RBI rip.  Ezequiel Carrera continues to sputter, as he went 0-for-2 with a punch out.  Remember that the Tribe does not need to carry a second true center fielder if they feel comfortable with Jason Donald as the backup. 

Bench Me:  Jose Lopez (.455) (who I think is the only guy left in this category unless they carry five outfielders...) saw time at first base and made an error.  Do not expect to see him play first during the regular season except in emergency.  Oh wait, am I assuming he's making it?  Hmm.  Lopez was 0-for-1 today.

Mightier Than the Sword:  Dan Wheeler (21.00) blew another opportunity for a good outing.  Wheeler put three guys on (2 H, BB) while allowing a run and fanning one.  I honestly believe that his spring is already too far gone.  Dan will have to string together a number of impressive innings to get back to zero.  Nick Hagadone (1.80), on the other hand, was, once again, impressive.  Nick pitched 2 clean innings with 2 hits and a punch out.  Although he threw a wild pitch, he has still yet to walk a batter this spring.  Jeremy Accardo (2.25) threw effectively as well.  Accardo would be in the bullpen if Spring Training ended today and was dominant against the D-Bags as he allowed a hit and struck out 2 in earning the save.

Watch the Indians play the Rangers tomorrow @ 4:05p.  STO will carry the game.

Pretty Girl 03.12.12 - Vanessa Minnilo

I think Nick Lachey is just working his way through every (current) chick on this list.  Gotta give an Ohio boy props though.  ;-j

Just In From the Desert

Sheesh.  Good thing it's Spring Training because I realized that Asdrubal Cabrera is hitting .071 (and also seems kinda chubby) and the Tribe lost two games by an aggregate of 23-3.  

Hot Corner:  Bad day for Jack Hannahan (.182).  Despite an RBI, Jack went 0-for-3 with an sloppy E5 in the field.  The Indians expect consistency from Hannahan this season and, if it looks like they're not going to get it, they will go with Lonnie Chisenhall (.300, 0-1, K) as the Opening Day starter.

#5:  A pair of 5th starter possibles toed the rubber on a day of split squad action.  David Huff went against the Angels and took a dramatic step backwards.  Following 2 strong starts, Huff (6.75) was abysmal today in allowing 5 runs (4 earned) on seven hits (BB, 2 K) over three innings.  Huff now lingers behind both Jeanmar Gomez and the Kevin Slowey, the starter versus Texas.  Although he was not particularly sharp, Slowey (3.60) kept his team in the game (5 H, 2 ER, K) over his three innings of work.

Left of Center:  Hallelujah!  Matt LaPorta (.143) finally broke through today with 2 hits.  He still has a long way to go to get back into this.  Shelley Duncan has fizzled since a quick start, highlighted by an 0-for-3, 3 K performance this afternoon.  Felix Pie (.231) was 0-for-1.

Somewhere Out There:  Aaron Cunningham (.286) keeps hanging around.  He banged out his first extra base hit today, scored a run and added an outfield assist.  Since he is out of options, he could easily win a tie breaker with another player.  Russ Canzler (.313) is that kind of player.  Russ singled in three trips today, but his aura has faded over the past week, leaving him susceptible to a business move rather than a baseball move.  Ezequiel Carrera (.200) continues to fade as well.  Zeke posted an 0-for-5 with a pair of Ks against the Angels.  Fred Lewis (.125) did about half as poorly, fanning once during an 0-for-2 game.  Just like LaPorta, Ryan Spilborghs (.091) rapped his first base knock of the spring today.  He also committed an error and will have to get really hot, really quick to remain viable in this field.

Bench Me:  Fighting for another shot in the bigs, Cristian Guzman (.200) simply is not going to make it.  Not only was he 0-for-3 at the dish today, he committed his second error of the spring campaign.  I am officially dropping him from this tracker.  Jose Lopez (.500) was 0-for-1.

Mightier Than the Sword:  Speaking of losers, we can also forget about Chris Ray (18.00).  Ray's fourth spring outing was just as atrocious as his third.  As opposed to a guy like Frank Herrmann (7.20) who has gotten better and better (including 2 scoreless innings of 1 hit ball today) since a horrific first game, Chris has descended deeper into the crapper with each successive go-round.  Three runs on four hits and a walk today effectively relegates him to AAA.  Although it would take a minor miracle to get him onto the Opening Day roster, Chris Seddon fanned six in 2 1/3 clean innings (1 hit) today.  The journeyman was pressed into extended action after the first 4 Indians pitchers surrendered 17 runs against the Halos.

Red Tags: Austin Adams, Tyler Sturdevant & Chun Chen, all of whom have been injured thus far with Chen the only seeing any game action.

Tribe/D-Bags tomorrow at 4:05p.  Enjoy it on MLB Network.

Word Of the Day - "Cappucino"

Pretty Girl 03.11.12 - Angelica Bridges

Supposedly this one was on Baywatch back in the day.  A bit before my time, but just my style.  ;-j

Just In From the Desert

Another bummer of a game offensively, although Justin Masterson did lower his ERA to 14.54 and Shin-Soo Choo did launch this solo homer that had the vendors beyond the outfield lawn ducking for cover.

Hot Corner:  Lonnie Chisenhall (.333) took his turn in the spring platoon and proceeded to ring up a pair of Ks in his only two trips.  Chiz Kid will have to start mashing to win the starting spot.

#5:  Scottie Barnes (0.00), who the media don't want you to believe is competing for the 5th spot, pitched two scoreless frames, allowing two hits and fanning a pair.  No matter what anyone tells you, everyone is competing.  If Barnes finishes the spring with an ERA under one and all of the other possibles struggle, he will be in the rotation.

Left Of Center:  Matt LaPorta (.000) played the entire game, although I think just about everyone (including Matt) wishes that he had not.  Matty went 0-for-4 with 2 Ks and is now hitless in 10 spring at bats.  Felix Pie (.250) started in center (remember that CF is where he will be playing) and fared a bit better, singling in three trips.  Pie has flashed the leather that he is known for, so even a middling spring offensively will likely earn him a spot.

Somewhere Out There:  Russ Canzler (.308) doubled in a run in the 7th and continues to show a bat that might be big enough to stick.  Ezequiel Carrera (.300) & Fred Lewis (.167) were each 0-for-1.

Bench Me:  Jose Lopez (.556), the (cough) former all-star, laced a sharp single in three trips and is looking more and more like a guy that Manny Acta will want as his utility man.  Andy LaRoche (.500) went 0-for-1 with a walk and a run scored, but is not getting a lot of PT.

Mightier Than the Sword:  Jeremy Accardo (3.00) overcame three straight singles to begin the 9th, limiting the damage to one run and ending the inning with a strikeout.  Hector Ambriz (2.25) surrendered a leadoff jack in the 8th, but sent the next three down 1-2-3, including a punch out of his own.

Remember, kids, to spring ahead tonight, which means that the games will generally be @ 4:05p from now on. Tomorrow's slate features split squad action with Kevin Slowey facing the Rangers and David Huff taking on the Angels.  The latter will be carried on the MLB Network.

Cheers.

Pretty Girl 03.10.12 - Laura McKeeman

I found this one watching the Pac-12 (ugh) basketball tournament.  She's a "social media maven" or some such nonsense, which is not nearly as important as how damn fine she is.  And, yes, I know it's two Laura's in a row.  Deal with it.