There was a scene in the Indians game earlier tonight when the bases were loaded with two outs and Chase Utley was at-bat. Logic would be "All right, let's go with a lefty/lefty match-up," but with the way Utley has been hitting lefties (just a mere .400 BA) it may be a better bet to send in a righty.
Eric Wedge skipped on th second and went with the first, but that isn't even the problem! The problem is the person he brought in to face Chase Utley.
First, you have Reafel Perez who was been completly dominant. In just 18 innings (since being called up in the beginning of June) the rookie has struck out 20 and walked only 3 with an ERA of 1.00.
Then, you have the "veteran" Aaron Fultz who, in 18 innings, has struck out 18 and walked 9 with and ERA of 1.93.
Guess which one Wedge went with? If you guessed Aaron Fultz, the go collect your prize because that is exactly who he went with and guess what happened? Three runs scored putting the Indians out of the game for good.
Then it got even worse when he put in Roberto Hernandez, who is the worst pitcher the game has ever seen.
At this point, I think I would be a better manager.
~~Ally
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Time to Get Crazy.
Before tonight's game, Indians ace C.C. Sabathia had a record of 8-1 with no complete games this season. He can now proudly say he has a record of 9-1 with one complete game. And did I mention, it was a complete game shutout? Oh, and it was his 5th shutout in his career. The best part? Sabathia is only 27 years of age.
Earlier this year, Sabathia threw his 1,000 strikeout and joined "the club" few pitcher's have reached. The "Pitchers Under the Age of 28 to Reach 1,000 Strikeouts" club. He was the second youngest pitcher under the age of 28 to reach his 1,000 K and he also leads the league among active pitchers under 28 with the most wins (he now has 70 wins after tonight's game).
On Tuesday night vs. the Kansas City Royals, C.C Sabathia allowed just 5 hits with NO runs while striking out eight. One word and let me do the honors of spelling it out for you. O-W-N-A-G-E.
Now, I know it was against the Royals, so who cares? Lemme answer that one for you. Everyone. I turned on the TV today and Tim Kurkjian, who does not like the Indians, said that "C.C. Sabathia is the best bet to win this year's AL Cy Young award." he then went on to say "Pitchers like Sabathia and other starters and relievers are part of the Cleveland Indians is what is going to lead them to the 'AL Central Crown.'"
Then, highlights were plastered all over SportsCenter about his "complete game shut-out gem".
The Indians are 12-1 this season when Sabathia starts, so it's almost as though when he walks onto the mound, something starts to turn in those Cleveland works and they just move forward and never look back.
"I need to be that guy if this team is going t make the playoffs," Sabathia would say. "I'm definitely trying to raise my game up."
And did he do well with that.
~~Ally
Earlier this year, Sabathia threw his 1,000 strikeout and joined "the club" few pitcher's have reached. The "Pitchers Under the Age of 28 to Reach 1,000 Strikeouts" club. He was the second youngest pitcher under the age of 28 to reach his 1,000 K and he also leads the league among active pitchers under 28 with the most wins (he now has 70 wins after tonight's game).
On Tuesday night vs. the Kansas City Royals, C.C Sabathia allowed just 5 hits with NO runs while striking out eight. One word and let me do the honors of spelling it out for you. O-W-N-A-G-E.
Now, I know it was against the Royals, so who cares? Lemme answer that one for you. Everyone. I turned on the TV today and Tim Kurkjian, who does not like the Indians, said that "C.C. Sabathia is the best bet to win this year's AL Cy Young award." he then went on to say "Pitchers like Sabathia and other starters and relievers are part of the Cleveland Indians is what is going to lead them to the 'AL Central Crown.'"
Then, highlights were plastered all over SportsCenter about his "complete game shut-out gem".
The Indians are 12-1 this season when Sabathia starts, so it's almost as though when he walks onto the mound, something starts to turn in those Cleveland works and they just move forward and never look back.
"I need to be that guy if this team is going t make the playoffs," Sabathia would say. "I'm definitely trying to raise my game up."
And did he do well with that.
~~Ally
Bad news for Jeremy Sowers.
~Note~ *I posted this earlier at my LiveJournal, but for some reason, I just feel like posting it here on my Blog, so read away!!!
So, here I am, sitting at the table with my laptop, eating a couple of pancakes and listening to "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" on ESPN Radio online. Ahh, Colin Cowherd, my favorite sports talk radio host. He's harsh, he speaks his mind, he makes great points, but sadly, nothing of what I just said is my point.
As I sit here eating my breakfast (which is very yummeh, by the by), I started to think about the my Tribe's starting rotation, thankies to a blog I recently read by LJ user by skywise12. (Sorry, I can't link because it screws up my laptop, but check that blog out, Indians fans. Some interesting thoughts in there.)
I was thinking about how great horrid Cliff Lee and Jeremy Sowers have been lately. Sowers has been nothing but ugly since the season started with a record of 1-6 and an ERA of 6.63, but Lee's numbers over the past few games have been quite suckish, too, as he is now 2-3 with and ERA of 6.35. Now, usually this wouldn't be a problem considering their numbers after the All-Star Break are usually so much better, but the fact that the Indians will have to clear a spot for Jake Westbrook when he comes back...now that creates a problem.
They would be crazy to send down the 23-year old Fausto Carmona, who has a record of 6-1 with and ERA of 3.29. He is quite something, isn't he? Coming back like that after the scary start he encountered last year as the Idnians' closer. The thing that I truly love, though, is the fact that I never gave up on the kid. He would step on the mound and, yeah, I would be nervous, but I so badly wanted him to do well and now he is. He's owning every team he faces, not to mention he's beat out last year's AL Cy Young winner Johan Santana...twice.
No, if the Indians are smart, that kid isn't going anywhere, but I'm writing because I think I know who is gonna get "the boot" right out of the rotation and down to the Minor Leagues. It'll be Jeremy Sowers, which I am very sad about because I loved to watch him pitch...last year. Now, it's almost agonizing to watch him throw and when he takes the mound, I get that same feeling I had for Fausto Carmona last year.
Now, I know, why can't it be Cliff Lee, right? Well, one big factor is that he only has two minor league options left in him and sending him down would be like wasting a pitcher. Also, Lee, who is 28, seems like he is old enough to cope with the pressure, where as Sowers, who is 25, is having some confidence problems (he even admitted to that himself).
He may be only three years younger, but Jeremy has never been through a "drought" like this and he doesn't know how to pick himself up, which is why I think they will have to send him down and do with him what they did to Carmona. Just sit him down, make him watch videos of himself last year as composed to this year and see what the difference is. He's a smart kid, so I have no doubt in my mind that he will be back by at least next season. I know it's a long time away, but this kid seems crushed, on the verge of deppression almost, and buliding him up may take awhile, but he's worth it. He's a great pitcher, a smart pitcher, and I think if he is back and pitching by next season, he will be like he was last season after the all-star break with that ERA of his under 2.50, again.
I know people may not like the idea of Sowers leaving, but he really needs to be "built up" again, so it may be the for the best to send him to the minors and keep Carmona in the rotation.
So, here I am, sitting at the table with my laptop, eating a couple of pancakes and listening to "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" on ESPN Radio online. Ahh, Colin Cowherd, my favorite sports talk radio host. He's harsh, he speaks his mind, he makes great points, but sadly, nothing of what I just said is my point.
As I sit here eating my breakfast (which is very yummeh, by the by), I started to think about the my Tribe's starting rotation, thankies to a blog I recently read by LJ user by skywise12. (Sorry, I can't link because it screws up my laptop, but check that blog out, Indians fans. Some interesting thoughts in there.)
I was thinking about how great horrid Cliff Lee and Jeremy Sowers have been lately. Sowers has been nothing but ugly since the season started with a record of 1-6 and an ERA of 6.63, but Lee's numbers over the past few games have been quite suckish, too, as he is now 2-3 with and ERA of 6.35. Now, usually this wouldn't be a problem considering their numbers after the All-Star Break are usually so much better, but the fact that the Indians will have to clear a spot for Jake Westbrook when he comes back...now that creates a problem.
They would be crazy to send down the 23-year old Fausto Carmona, who has a record of 6-1 with and ERA of 3.29. He is quite something, isn't he? Coming back like that after the scary start he encountered last year as the Idnians' closer. The thing that I truly love, though, is the fact that I never gave up on the kid. He would step on the mound and, yeah, I would be nervous, but I so badly wanted him to do well and now he is. He's owning every team he faces, not to mention he's beat out last year's AL Cy Young winner Johan Santana...twice.
No, if the Indians are smart, that kid isn't going anywhere, but I'm writing because I think I know who is gonna get "the boot" right out of the rotation and down to the Minor Leagues. It'll be Jeremy Sowers, which I am very sad about because I loved to watch him pitch...last year. Now, it's almost agonizing to watch him throw and when he takes the mound, I get that same feeling I had for Fausto Carmona last year.
Now, I know, why can't it be Cliff Lee, right? Well, one big factor is that he only has two minor league options left in him and sending him down would be like wasting a pitcher. Also, Lee, who is 28, seems like he is old enough to cope with the pressure, where as Sowers, who is 25, is having some confidence problems (he even admitted to that himself).
He may be only three years younger, but Jeremy has never been through a "drought" like this and he doesn't know how to pick himself up, which is why I think they will have to send him down and do with him what they did to Carmona. Just sit him down, make him watch videos of himself last year as composed to this year and see what the difference is. He's a smart kid, so I have no doubt in my mind that he will be back by at least next season. I know it's a long time away, but this kid seems crushed, on the verge of deppression almost, and buliding him up may take awhile, but he's worth it. He's a great pitcher, a smart pitcher, and I think if he is back and pitching by next season, he will be like he was last season after the all-star break with that ERA of his under 2.50, again.
I know people may not like the idea of Sowers leaving, but he really needs to be "built up" again, so it may be the for the best to send him to the minors and keep Carmona in the rotation.
~~Ally
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