And we’re underway!
Asdrubal Cabrera leads off spring training with a home run. A good omen, I think.
We’re Back!
Baseball games are here at last! Here, have a cool video.
Bobblehead!
I went to the game today. Not a whole lot to cheer about. So, I’ll talk about things that weren’t the game.
I had fairly good seats – Section 101, Row T, seat 1 – right next to the Indians bullpen.
The weather was nice
The Travis Hafner bobblehead is nice – picture here. Note – that blue thingy he’s holding is the pen.
Omar!
I went to the game last night, and the Indians won, which was great. Also great: Omar Vizquel! When he came to the plate to lead off the game, he actually got more applause than any other player – including the Indians.
The game itself was great – other than the third inning, it was pretty much a pitcher’s duel. Cabrera at short might as well have been Omar, the way he was fielding. (The best play of the night didn’t even get a video clip!)
So, yeah.
Indians Birthdays
My previous entry piqued my interest, so I decided to see how all the current Indians have done on their birthdays. As it turns out, only seven have ever played on their birthdays. The sample size is far too small to say anything, but it’s still interesting. The information is as follows:
Hafner: 4 gms, 5-13, 4 R, 2B, 3B, HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 2 HBP (Team 1-3)
Peralta: 5 gms, 6-19, 6 RBI, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 BB, SB (Team 3-2)
Shoppach: 1 gm, 1-4, HR, 2 RBI, R, HBP (Team 0-1)
Sizemore: 6 gms, 8-24, 2B, 3B, HR, SB, 3 R, 5 RBI, SF, BB, SB (Team 4-2)
Total: 16 gms, 20-60, 10 R, 3 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 5 BB, 3 HBP, SF, 2 SB
(Team 8-8)
BA: .333
OBP: .406
SLG: .650
OPS: 1.056
Laffey: 1 G, 1 GS, 5.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, ND (Team 1-0)
Lewis: 1 G, 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, L (Team 0-1)
Wood: 2 G, 2 GS, 8 IP, 6 H, 13 R, 13 ER, 11 BB, 8 K, 2 HR surr, 0-1
(Team 0-2)
Total: 4 G, 3 GS, 14 IP, 10 H, 16 R, 16 ER, 17 BB, 13 K, 2 HR, 0-2
(Team 1-3)
ERA: 10.29
WHIP: 1.93
K/9IP: 8.36
BB/9IP: 10.93
If the current Indians on their birthdays were a single player, that batting average would be enough for 25th all-time, and 1st among active players. Their on-base percentage would be 44th all-time, and 6th among active players. The slugging percentage would be 2nd all-time, and 1st among active players, and their OPS would be 9th all-time, and 3rd among active players.
Their pitching is less promising. That ERA, WHIP, and BB/9 obviously aren’t making any leaderboards. The K/9, though, is enough for 21st all-time, and 10th among active players.
More complete data after the jump.
(more…)
Happy Birthday, Grady Sizemore
I’d say this was a pretty good present.
Over the last 6 years, including today, the Indians are 4-2 on Grady’s birthday. Sizemore himself is 8-24 for a batting average of .333. He’s got one double, one triple, one homer, one walk, three runs scored, and 5 RBI, with an on-base percentage of .346, a slugging percentage of .583, and an OPS of .929.
Trade Deadline Past
The trade deadline has come and gone, along with Victor Martinez.
This trade makes more sense to me than the Lee trade; Martinez is also an All-Star, but catching is something the Indians have in abundance. With Martinez and Garko gone, I’m guessing Gimenez will take over first base, and the newly-called-up Trevor Crowe will take left field. I’m guessing Gimenez will also serve as a backup catcher; Marte or Carroll will probably slot into the infield when Gimenez is behind the plate. Lastly, I’m guessing somebody (Abreu, maybe?) will get sent down to Columbus to make room for Masterson in the bullpen, with LaPorta or Marson taking his roster spot; we probably don’t need to carry 14 pitchers.
My Musical Roster record so far:
- Crowe or LaPorta up – Partly right (Crowe up) – 1/2 point
- Carmona up after one more AAA start – Partly right (Now, not later) – 1/2 point
Cliff Lee Gone
There are a few things I just don’t understand about this trade.
First of all, I don’t get why we’re trading Lee at all. Sabathia last year made some sense; he was a free agent at the end of the season. But the Indians have an inexpensive club option for Lee for next year. Why trade the reigning Cy Young winner if you can easily keep him?
Also, why are we getting another catcher? We have three in the Majors already, and Toregas still at AAA. Even if the Indians are preparing for a trade involving Martinez, we have more catchers than we need.
And then we have the inevitable game of musical roster spots which will now ensue. I’m guessing Crowe or LaPorta to the majors to take Francisco’s spot. I’m guessing Carmona will come up to take Lee’s spot after maybe one more start at Columbus, with maybe Perez filling it until then.
(Note that my opinion may be colored by the fact that I really liked Lee.)
No Freakin’ Way!
7 run ninth, 6 with two outs, and the
Indians win it!
Two games, one win
Cleveland 6, Kansas City 5.
Orlando 107, Cleveland 106.
Because apparently only one Cleveland team at a time is ever allowed to win.
This, folks, is the curse of being a Cleveland sports fan.
Oh, and Martinez? 2-5, still hitting .400. In late May.
masterbratac
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