4/13/11 Indians @ Los Angeles of Anaheim

[Jumbo]

Bleh.

[dazindiansfanuk]

Well, I wrote this game off as a loss about the 6th inning so what difference does another 6 innings make?!

Didn't play well today and got what we deserved.

[skatingtripods]

4-2 trip. 8-4 coming home with a lame Baltimore team (losers of three straight after a 6-1 start). If I said we'd have an excellent shot at 10-5 in our first 15, you'd all have said I was nuts.

I'll take it.

[Dellucci TailGator]

Chad Durbin need not get on the plane after tonight's game.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

I don't think i've ever seen a pitch out with the bases loaded.

[bookelly]

They left a couple runs out there. Not all Durbins fault. Though he did shit the bed.

[dazindiansfanuk]

I don't think i've ever seen a pitch out with the bases loaded.

With the way Durbin was throwing, I wouldn't have called it. But, in fairness to Acta, if there's one manager in that situation who would call for the squeeze play it's Scioscia.

[RedDawg53]

I don't think i've ever seen a pitch out with the bases loaded.

Same here. Not even during the Wedgie years.

[Am I Here Again?]

I was hoping when Belcher went out to talk to Durbin he had a stun-gun with him. Looks like we're the ones who got shot. Damn. Can we DFA Durbin when Smith comes back???

[peeker643]

I was hoping when Belcher went out to talk to Durbin he had a stun-gun with him. Looks like we're the ones who got shot. Damn. Can we DFA Durbin when Smith comes back???

I'll drive him to the airport if he's this piss-poor in a month. Missed a bunch of spring so let's see what he looks like in 2-3 weeks and if he's found the feel on the breaking ball. If not, pull cord-deploy chute.

[GodHatesClevelandSport]

Poor managing by Acta tonight.

1) Why walk Trumbo? Guy's a walking strikeout. Go after him. Even with second and third occupied, there's a good chance for a whiff.

2) Pitchout with guy who can't throw a strike? Come on.

3) Hannahan on the bench. FAIL.

Most mad about walking Trumbo.

[Rat_Tail]

Like I said before, Acta shouldn't be bringing Durbin into any games that are even remotely close right now.

Not bitter about being 8-4, but we had a legit shot at 9-3 until Durbin came in. No way in hell was he the best option.

[British_Pharaoh]

I blame the bottom of the 12th on Manny Acta. Pitchouts in 1-0 counts and forcing your guy on the mound to pitch from behind when he's struggling to throw strikes.

[gotribe31]

I blame the bottom of the 12th on Manny Acta. Pitchouts in 1-0 counts and forcing your guy on the mound to pitch from behind when he's struggling to throw strikes.

I blame the bottom of the 12th on the fact that we were in extra innings in the first place. Manny Acta didn't personally strand runners on 3rd with less than 2 outs. Manny Acta didn't tell Choo to fall asleep on the bases and get doubled off. Manny Acta didn't tell Asdrubal to throw behind the runner for no reason and airmail the ball into the dugout.

I wouldn't have called for the pitchout, but if the squeeze was on we'd all be talking about how brilliant he was. In the end of that AB, the guy hit a flyball to fairly shallow CF, so I don't think the pitchout really changed the at bat very much.

The Indians played a poor fundamental baseball game last night and lost to a good team with a good starting pitcher in extra innings. Based on what we've seen so far this season, last night is an outlier. Let's all relax on calling for Acta's head already, shall we?

[pup]

The end of the first roadie of the season. Against a team that can pitch it pretty well. Hitters seemed to lose their discipline of the strike zone and started to press. A lot of pull happy swings as the game went on.

It happens. Get back home. Get a good day of work in Friday during BP and come out ready to go.

[gotribe31]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ exactly

Works out very well that they have an off day today. If this was the middle of a long west coast swing, I'd be a little more worried. But an off day and a home series should be just the thing to get them back on track.

[Lokais]

So just to make sure we're all on the same page here. If some of you were the owner- of this team, you'd have signed Acta to a new 10 year contract two days ago and fired him today?

[pup]

So just to make sure we're all on the same page here. If some of you were the owner- of this team, you'd have signed Acta to a new 10 year contract two days ago and fired him today?

Don't think anyone is saying either of those.

The man received praise for the team playing well and executing his decisions.
Now he has received some admonishing for making a couple of choices that not only did not pan out, but were questionable at the time.

[WiscTribeFan]

Like I said before, Acta shouldn't be bringing Durbin into any games that are even remotely close right now.

Not bitter about being 8-4, but we had a legit shot at 9-3 until Durbin came in. No way in hell was he the best option.

Who was then?

Germano and Herrmann have given up runs in just about every game they've pitched in, and you've got to keep Raffy Perez in tow in case you need to close the game out later. Realistically, he had no great options left, short of bringing in a starter to pitch an inning.

Once he blew threw his top relievers (rightfully so) the Tribe was vulnerable, but he played it straight by putting a veteran out there rather than his long man or Herrmann who is struggling similarly.

Rock and hard place.

[peeker643]

If I'm questioning Acta on anything it's starting a struggling young catcher coming off reconstructive knee surgery and not giving Marson yesterday's start.

Santana is about ready to grind the handle into sawdust and could have used the day off for sure. I know he has today but you could have bought him an extra mental health day and day to recover physically. Then to have that game go extras and be forced to stick with him because removing him eliminates another catching option behind Marson just compounded the issue.

Despite how we see him he's still a young kid and this is the first 'epic' struggle he's seen at the dish (IIRC).

Should given dude the day off and most of us said it before yesterday.

The game itself was multiple little fundamental issues already discussed adding up to costing you runs on both sides of the scoreboard. That shit happens and good teams will limit the number of games in a season that it occurs.

[Jumbo]

The end of the first roadie of the season. Against a team that can pitch it pretty well. Hitters seemed to lose their discipline of the strike zone and started to press. A lot of pull happy swings as the game went on.

It happens. Get back home. Get a good day of work in Friday during BP and come out ready to go.

Yeah. That was one of those games that "just happens" - more annoying than infuriating. Games with mental mistakes will happen, and to every team, no matter what the coaching staff and the manager does. It's been a credit that they've been able to limit those mistakes so far. Just don't do it this weekend.

To me, the three big takeaways from this game are:

1) The pitching staff, especially the non-Durbin bullpen, had another strong game.

2) The bottom of the order is turning back into a pumpkin. Grady needs to get back, and soon, to move Brantley over to left and replace Kearns/Buck.

3) Carlos Santana needs to get it going. Hopefully the day off will be enough, but another 0-fer and he gets a full day off (not 1B) on Saturday.

[Jumbo]

Despite how we see him he's still a young kid and this is the first 'epic' struggle he's seen at the dish (IIRC).

FWIW, after getting off to his hot start last season after getting called up, he struggled for a few weeks before getting hurt. So, although he struggled last year, he never got around to actually figuring out how to get out of the slump.

So yeah: he still needs to get it together mentally. A day off yesterday would've helped, but I guess we'll see if today's will do the trick.

[motherscratcher]

If I'm questioning Acta on anything it's starting a struggling young catcher coming off reconstructive knee surgery and not giving Marson yesterday's start.

Santana is about ready to grind the handle into sawdust and could have used the day off for sure. I know he has today but you could have bought him an extra mental health day and day to recover physically. Then to have that game go extras and be forced to stick with him because removing him eliminates another catching option behind Marson just compounded the issue.

Despite how we see him he's still a young kid and this is the first 'epic' struggle he's seen at the dish (IIRC).

Should given dude the day off and most of us said it before yesterday.

The game itself was multiple little fundamental issues already discussed adding up to costing you runs on both sides of the scoreboard. That shit happens and good teams will limit the number of games in a season that it occurs.

Exactly. I think Santana should have had the day off yesterday. Even if theres an off day today, it's not the same as getting the day off from a game, where you get to sit in the dugout, watch, maybe joke and laugh with the guys a bit...just relax.

That's not the same as a scheduled day off. Think about Memorial day coming up. How many times do you hear people say "I don't need Monday off, I was already off on Sunday."? Never. People go apeshit for the long weekend. There's something to getting a work day off as opposed to just a scheduled off day.

That being said, I don't think it's some kind of huge mistake or anything that Acta played him. Kid just looks like he needs a breather is all. It would have done him good.

The Tribe played a shitty game. Let one get away. It happens. No need to panic.

[Erie Warrior]

Manny Acta didn't tell Asdrubal to throw behind the runner for no reason and airmail the ball into the dugout.

Saw that throw this morning. If it's anyone's fault, Acab is the goat. A 2 base error when there was zero chance to make a play.

[skatingtripods]

Gotta be honest, I don't mind a little adversity like this early in the season. They got away from what won them 8 straight and they saw the consequences. There's enough leadership in that clubhouse now (read: Orlando Cabrera) that it should end right here. They've got their best (so far) pitcher on the bump to start the next series and have a team coming in town that has lost 3 straight.

Learn from it and move on.

[danwismar]

Santana is way too pull-happy, and teams are going to keep pitching him away until he starts going the other way with it.

[peeker643]

Santana is way too pull-happy, and teams are going to keep pitching him away until he starts going the other way with it.

Steady diet of change ups and breaking balls too. His turn to adjust to them.

[Rat_Tail]

Like I said before, Acta shouldn't be bringing Durbin into any games that are even remotely close right now.

Not bitter about being 8-4, but we had a legit shot at 9-3 until Durbin came in. No way in hell was he the best option.

Who was then?

Germano and Herrmann have given up runs in just about every game they've pitched in, and you've got to keep Raffy Perez in tow in case you need to close the game out later. Realistically, he had no great options left, short of bringing in a starter to pitch an inning.

Once he blew threw his top relievers (rightfully so) the Tribe was vulnerable, but he played it straight by putting a veteran out there rather than his long man or Herrmann who is struggling similarly.

Rock and hard place.

I think pure rage could've gone an extra inning.

Durbin almost gave up a walk off HR to Hunter his first or second pitch. I mean, really?

Time to move on though.

[skatingtripods]

I think pure rage could've gone an extra inning.

Durbin almost gave up a walk off HR to Hunter his first or second pitch. I mean, really?

Time to move on though.

No April game will ever be worth sending your closer out for 2.1 IP.