Indians Tidbits (2008 season)

[osugrad21]

CPD

With three homers, Indians' power game just too much for Kansas City, 9-4

by Paul Hoynes Wednesday August 20, 2008, 12:12 AM


Chuck Crow/The Plain DealerGrady Sizemore's 28th home run of the season gave the Indians a 7-3 lead in the sixth inning over Kansas City at Progressive Field and some much-needed breathing room for the Tribe's bullpen.
In a season where the Indians' personality has changed colors like a chameleon on the run, the one constant has been the bullpen. That is to say it has been constantly bad. So when Anthony Reyes did a five-and-fly Tuesday night, the 4-2 lead he handed the bullpen looked as secure as an open vault in a convention of bank robbers. Asking the worst bullpen in the AL to protect a two-run lead for four innings seemed like an invitation to more late-inning pain.
This time the invitation went unanswered in the Indians' 9-4 victory over Kansas City for two reasons. The offense kept scoring and the bullpen allowed just two runs.
"Overall, it was a good ballgame for us," said manager Eric Wedge.
Reyes improved to 2-1 with a 2.60 ERA in three starts since the Indians acquired him from St. Louis on July 26. He allowed two runs on six hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

Wedge ended Reyes' night after 84 pitches.

Cont..

 

[buckeyemania11]

nice comeback tonight, 5 runs in the bottom of the 8th and the bullpen hangs on

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Gutierrez's 3-run HR in eighth rallies Tribe, 8-5, completing Royals' night of pain

by Paul Hoynes Wednesday August 20, 2008, 11:20 PM


Chuck Crow/The Plain DealerFranklin Gutierrez begins circling the bases after his three-run homer off the Royals' Joakim Soria gave the Indians a 7-5 lead in the eighth inning Wednesday night at Progressive Field.
Franklin Gutierrez was waiting all season for this at-bat. All-Star closer Joakim Soria spent the same amount of time trying to avoid them. The two met Wednesday night in the eighth inning at Progressive Field and Gutierrez hit a three-run homer to bring the Indians from behind for a 8-5 victory over Kansas City. The Indians have won nine of their last 12 games.
The victory was marred by a fifth-inning beaning of Royals rookie outfielder Mitch Maier. Tribe starter Zach Jackson hit Maier in the right side of the face with a cut fastball. Tests at Lutheran Hospital revealed that Maier, who was struck while trying to bunt with runners on first and second, suffered three broken facial bones including his cheekbone.
"It was a cut fastball that slipped," said Jackson, describing the pitch. "I was trying to go down and away. He was trying to give us an out there by bunting. I was more than willing to take it."

Cont...

 

[LitlBuck]

Before I start please remember I am just throwing this out for purposes of discussion:). We have a number of young outfielders and it is starting to become apparent that we also have 2 pretty good catchers. I was wondering what we could get for one of those good young outfielders and one of the catchers. I do not want to trade Francisco and possibly we could substitute Garko for one of the catchers if Victor would be willing to play first base the majority of the time.

 

[Piney]

Been awhile since I posted. Been catching up a bit and wanted to bring up Adam Miller. Why is everyone so ready to put Miller in the bullpen? Injuries??? Has he had shoulder surgery? Elbow problems? Those injuries maybe I can see the thought of turning him into a bullpen guy.

But his problems have been with his hand. And that being a fixable issue that should have no long term effects as long as it is 100% fixed and given the amount of rest needed to heal. The reason it kept popping up was because it was hard to diagnose. Now that they know what they are dealing with I am sure he will come back 100%. It hasn't affected his ability (he suffered the same 'injury' in the fall but even though they didn't treat it properly he was unhittable at Buffalo.) Nor has it affected his stamina.

This guy still is a potential ace and it is amazing how quickly people want to just toss him into the bullpen. I know we need bullpen help like no one else, but you can't waste a talent like his until you exhaust every chance at being an ace starting pitcher.

 

[LitlBuck]

being a fixable issue

The hand is a very complicated part of the body and I would not be so sure that it is going to be a fixable issue without knowing the damage that has been already done.

 

[Piney]

The hand is a very complicated part of the body and I would not be so sure that it is going to be a fixable issue without knowing the damage that has been already done.

agreed, but that is why it took them forever to find the issue (Adam Wainwright has the same issue, but he is being rushed back cuz the Cards need him) and since Miller is young and the Indians tanked this year they can afford to do everything they can to make sure the problem is fixed for next year. But Miller was still able to pitch through it, the problem was it caused blisters. While pitching through it he had a 1.88 ERA in Buffalo. So basically it wasn't affecting his 'stuff', it just made him uncomfortable and at least they are taking care of it now before he changes his mechanics that might cause bigger issues (shoulder/elbow)

 

[NFBuck]

Cliff Lee = 18-2

Also, Grady is now one HR shy of 30-30, unless I'm mistaken (I can't recall anybody doing it during the 90's), Joe Carter is the last Indian to accomplish that back in 1986.

 

[Mac]

Wow Cliff Lee this year has been almost PERFECT. I looked up his stats for every start this year on ESPN. Take a look at this:

Record: 18-2


NO DECISION #1 (May 12th)....9IP, 7H, 0ER
LOSS #1 (May 18th)........... ...5.2IP, 10H, 5ER
NO DECISION #2 (June 14th)....6.1IP, 8H, 2ER
NO DECISION #3 (June 20th)....7.1IP, 6H, 1ER
NO DECISION #4 (July 1st).......8IP, 6H, 1ER
LOSS #2 (July 6th).................7IP, 6H, 4ER
NO DECISION #5 (July 30th).....5IP, 10H, 6ER

That's an ERA of 2.51 in those 2 losses and 5 No Decides. That's pretty impressive


He could easily have 20-22 wins. If this guy could somehow continue this next year and for years to come, with all the other good young pitchers we have, we could have a special starting rotation like we had last year

 

[LitlBuck]

agreed, but that is why it took them forever to find the issue (Adam Wainwright has the same issue, but he is being rushed back cuz the Cards need him) and since Miller is young and the Indians tanked this year they can afford to do everything they can to make sure the problem is fixed for next year.w)

I just hope it is not a circulation problem because this is not the first time he has had problems with this hand/fingers. I think that is the reason (recurring problems) that most people feel that he would be best suited for the bullpen. Of course, another reason is that the bullpen needs a lot of help and hopefully he could provide some help. If he comes back and has no problems with his hands, I would not have any problem putting him into the rotation.

 

[tsteele316]

I just hope it is not a circulation problem because this is not the first time he has had problems with this hand/fingers. I think that is the reason (recurring problems) that most people feel that he would be best suited for the bullpen. Of course, another reason is that the bullpen needs a lot of help and hopefully he could provide some help. If he comes back and has no problems with his hands, I would not have any problem putting him into the rotation.

therein lies the question. his previous injury was the elbow btw. the question is whether or not the repetitive blistering issue is best minimized by pitching every 5 days, or by throwing fewer pitches out of the pen.

they are sending him to winter ball to pitch as a starter mainly to get him innings. based on that, they'll assess whether or not he's going to be a rotation guy or in the pen.

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Sizemore steals Lee's show Seven RBI take some of spotlight away from pitcher
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Friday, Aug 22, 2008
CLEVELAND: It's difficult to fathom what Grady Sizemore was thinking, daring to impose himself into a Cliff Lee start.
Not only did Sizemore decide to become a presence when Lee was on his way to an 18-2 record, but Sizemore also pretty much stole Lee's thunder by hitting a home run, a triple, two singles and amassing the obscene total of seven RBI, as the Indians beat the Kansas City Royals 10-3 Thursday at Progressive Field.
Couldn't Sizemore have used a little discretion and declined a couple of those hits and maybe an RBI or two?
''The triple got us going, then he was able to finish it [the game] off with the home run,'' Indians manager Eric Wedge said. ''But that single he got to drive in the [sixth] run in the sixth inning was big for us. He had a great day.''
Sizemore lifted his home run total to a career-best 29, and his bundle of RBI raised his season total to 79, two short of his career high. He also stole his 31st base, which is two shy of his personal best, established last
year.
It is not a stretch to believe Sizemore might be unaware of these numbers and where they rank on his resume. Sizemore plays to play. What more could anyone want to do?
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

With 7 you get 18: Sizemore's big day supports Lee's AL-best 18th win in 10-3 rout of Royals

by Joe Maxse Thursday August 21, 2008, 6:35 PM


Chuck Crow/The Plain DealerCliff Lee became the first 18-game winner in the American League by working seven innings in Thursday's 10-3 victory over Kansas City at Progressive Field.
It was just what you would expect from a couple of all-stars. Cliff Lee continued to baffle hitters and Grady Sizemore confounded three different pitchers as the Indians finished off a three-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals, 10-3, on Thursday afternoon at Progressive Field.
Lee went seven innings to notch another win and improve to an American League-best, 18-2. Sizemore, struggling the past two weeks at a .185 clip, supplied all of the needed offense as he drove in a career-best seven runs.
"I felt great and saw the ball well," said Sizemore, who had a home run, triple and two singles in five at bats. "Each day is a grind and some times things don't go your way. When you struggle, you just keep at it."

The same can be said for Lee, who dodged a few bullets along the way to win his fourth straight. The left-hander benefited from four double plays, the Indians turning a season-high five on the day.
"I really didn't feel I had my best stuff," said Lee, who allowed more than two runs for only the seventh time in 25 starts. "I had to battle and the double plays were a big part of it."

Cont...

 

[NFBuck]

Well, despite the bullpen's best efforts to cough up another one, Tribe holds on for a 7-5 win.

They really need to work with fausto on his control this offseason. I don't know if it's lingering issues from the hip injury or what, but his control has been shaky at best.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Carmona nears '07 form as he pitches surging Indians past Rangers, 7-5

by Paul Hoynes Friday August 22, 2008, 11:33 PM


Mike Stone/Associated PressFausto Carmona's best outing since he returned from his injured hip shut down the Rangers to just one run over six innings in the Indians' 7-5 victory Friday night at Arlington, Texas.


ARLINGTON, Texas -- The last time Fausto Carmona faced Texas this season, he strained his left hip after two innings and went on the disabled list for over two months. It ruined the encore to his 19-win season from 2007 and helped deflate the Indians' big plans for 2008.
Carmona re-introduced himself to the Rangers on Friday night at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. This meeting went better for the big right-hander. Not only did he last more than two innings in pitching the Indians to a 7-5 victory, he actually looked like Fausto Carmona, circa 2007.

Continued......