Spring Training Games Thread

[skatingtripods]

Branyan just hit a bomb off of a 86 MPH Lewis fastball

'

I almost messed in my pants when that happened.

But you gave away both of your nuts, so that was impossible for you to accomplish.

[onlyindreams]

That decision to give Lewis a spot so early is looking iffy. Why not have the competition run until they break camp? Hopefully it's just a dead arm, because this is supposed to be the time of spring when pitchers are rounding into form and using their entire arsenal.

[Chris]

3 runs in one Inning for Lee today.

/facepalm

Just end Spring Training already, please. Let's get the show started and see what we really have.

[dazindiansfanuk]

Hafner just turned on a Felix Hernandez fastball on an 0-2 count on the inner half of the plate and yanked it out to RF for his second HR of the spring.

Does that allay any fears about him being able to turn on a Major League fastball?

[skatingtripods]

Hafner just turned on a Felix Hernandez fastball on an 0-2 count on the inner half of the plate and yanked it out to RF for his second HR of the spring.

Does that allay any fears about him being able to turn on a Major League fastball?

Very few pitchers have a fastball like King Felix's. That's extremely encouraging. On an 0-2 pitch too. Obviously Felix missed his spot, but I wouldn't be looking fastball 0-2.

[Steve Buffum]

Hafner just turned on a Felix Hernandez fastball on an 0-2 count on the inner half of the plate and yanked it out to RF for his second HR of the spring.

Does that allay any fears about him being able to turn on a Major League fastball?

Of course not. But it's better than not doing it.

I'll take it.

(While I'm here, I'll take a couple bunts to third with The Shift on, too.)

[dazindiansfanuk]

Hafner just turned on a Felix Hernandez fastball on an 0-2 count on the inner half of the plate and yanked it out to RF for his second HR of the spring.

Does that allay any fears about him being able to turn on a Major League fastball?

Of course not. But it's better than not doing it.

I'll take it.

(While I'm here, I'll take a couple bunts to third with The Shift on, too.)

Well, he singled to LF in his first AB..... that's probably as good as you're gonna get on that front.

[dazindiansfanuk]

Lee's given up 7 runs already and we're in the bottom of the 4th.

Hegan and Hamilton are talking ad nauseum about the ball just flying everywhere today...... Hegan spent 5 minutes this inning talking about a ball that he called a "pop-up" ending up being caught on the warning track.

[British_Pharaoh]

I hope this is an elaborate joke by Cliff Lee

diabolical pitching this spring

[dazindiansfanuk]

Haf lines an RBI single to RF on a 1-2 pitch in his next AB.

3-for-3 today, 2 balls pulled hard - one a HR..... all against King Felix.

[dazindiansfanuk]

Masa gives up 5 runs in the 7th

[Chris]

Encouraging game from 1/2ner...will he finally earn the name Hafner back? Or even Pronk? let's not get carried away but...good game by him today.

Kobyashi back to his gas can ways, thank goodness Kerry Wood is still lights the fuck out.

[dazindiansfanuk]

The Frisco Kid 4-for-5 with 2 2B, HR and 3RBI.

12-10 M's lead top 8th..... crazy game today.

[dazindiansfanuk]

Crazy 14-14 tie today

http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/b ... b_seamlb_1

[noles1]

Lee's given up 7 runs already and we're in the bottom of the 4th.

Hegan and Hamilton are talking ad nauseum about the ball just flying everywhere today...... Hegan spent 5 minutes this inning talking about a ball that he called a "pop-up" ending up being caught on the warning track.

That said... Game 1 is at ...(drumroll)... Texas.

Are we in for more of this from Lee?

[exiledbuckeye]

Lee's given up 7 runs already and we're in the bottom of the 4th.

Hegan and Hamilton are talking ad nauseum about the ball just flying everywhere today...... Hegan spent 5 minutes this inning talking about a ball that he called a "pop-up" ending up being caught on the warning track.

That said... Game 1 is at ...(drumroll)... Texas.

Are we in for more of this from Lee?

Well, it's not ridiculously humid here in Texas yet, not like it is in the summer. I am hoping this will help.

[Chris]

More facepalm worthy pitching today, from Reyes this time.

/sigh

Been one of the worst camps for our pitching that I can recall. Do you guys think since it's the end of ST Reyes and the other guys are just throwing and getting work in, and not really trying to do too much?

[onlyindreams]

A lot of it is just being in Arizona instead of Florida. I get worried about individual outings too, but I try to keep telling myself it's just spring. We really won't know how the pitching staff looks until the real games start.

[exiledbuckeye]

Picking up today's game on TV since the Tribe is playing the Astros...

Looks like we have pretty much the opening day lineup out there, except Carroll is playing 2B and batting 9th instead of Cabrera. Choo is in LF, Francisco in RF today. Pavano pitching.

DeRosa lines a nice double in the 1st, love the look of that guy. Sizemore flies out to right, Martinez weakly to right, Hafner pops up a 3-1 pitch to 3B. Mike Hampton pitching for the Astros.

Pavano gives up 1 run on 2 singles (SB, SF in there as well) with a K. Looks like he has decent movement on his pitches, but is leaving too many of them higher in the zone.

[exiledbuckeye]

2nd inning...
Tribe scores a run on ugly defense by the Stros. 2 errors, and an infield single to Peralta on a ball Hampton gave up on but would likely have made a play on in the regular season. Shoppach with a nice single to left, Francisco with an ugly K on a high fastball. Choo looking a little rusty at the plate.

Pavano looks better in the 2nd, three up three down with another K.

[exiledbuckeye]

3rd inning...

DeRosa Ks, Vic with a nice infield single into the hole between 3B and SS. Hafner fouls off some pitches, keeps grabbing at his lower back after swings - not sure if it's pain or something with his uniform bugging him. Looking a little faster on the basepaths - hits a double-play grounder to 3B but beats the throw at 1st. Peralta walks after working the count pretty well. Choo singles to RF, Hafner thrown out at the plate.

Pavano still looking good, Ks Bourn on a nasty split-finger. Gives up a single into RF off Vic's glove at 1B. Other outs are groundout to 3B, pop-up to CF.

[exiledbuckeye]

Nothing too exciting in the 4th, Pavano still looks pretty sharp.

[exiledbuckeye]

5th inning...

Not much going on offensively. New pitcher for the Astros, but I missed who it was.

Garko playing RF, Pavano still looks OK, another K. Garko makes a play going back on a ball that is carrying pretty well, looks good. He really has dropped a lot of weight.

[British_Pharaoh]

that is one ugly couple

[exiledbuckeye]

6th inning...

The new Astros pitcher this inning is Russ Ortiz. Ks Peralta and Choo, Shoppach pops out to short.

Kerry Wood pitching now. Gives up a leadoff single, SB, back to back doubles to Berkman and Chris Johnson. Berkman's hit was nice work by him, hit a nice 3-2 slider from Wood.
Shoppach's throws to 2B have been pretty high today.

Marte playing 1B, Cabrera at SS, Crowe in CF, Graffanino at 3B this inning

[exiledbuckeye]

Indians batters making Russ Ortiz look like a good pitcher.

[exiledbuckeye]

Joe Smith pitching, man he is wicked. Loving this guy in the bullpen.
3 Ks this inning, looking really good.

[exiledbuckeye]

Well, Kobayashi didn't completely suck that inning.

[exiledbuckeye]

Tribe loads the bases in the 9th on a hit, error, and HBP and Trevor Crowe knocks in 2 to tie it with a single to RF.

[exiledbuckeye]

Another error for the Astros, Tribe takes the lead 4-3

[exiledbuckeye]

Nice to see a comeback. Kobayashi with the win, Zach Jackson with the save.