Tribe vs. Detroit: 05.01.11

[Erie Warrior]

Courtesy of Chirs Perez:


Lineups when released please, I have a date with some Speckled Trout.

Masterson going for number 6.

[Erie Warrior]

So I just watched that clip: Holy Marty Feldman Eyes!

Not sure what to make of it, but if it gets Tubby Jesus amped, I'm good with it.

[dazindiansfanuk]

Lineups out already

CF Sizemore
SS Cabrera
RF Choo
C Santana
DH Duncan
2B Cabrera
LF Brantley
1B LaPorta
3B Hannahan

RHP Masterson


2B Rhymes
SS Santiago
RF Kelly
1B Cabrera
DH Boesch
LF Raburn
C Avila
3B Inge
CF Jackson

LHP Coke

[noles1]

Have to like the Coke matchup based on history and Masterson vs. those RH hitters. If he's got that sinker going today he could make short work of that putrid lineup. (Det desperately misses Victor...)

[skatingtripods]

Leyland moves down his .180 leadoff hitter to promote his .200 second hitter. He's lost looking for answers right now.

[shamwow imitator]

After an awesome April, let's start the month of May strong by sweeping the kitties!

GO TRIBE

[Dellucci TailGator]

Saw the note in the pregame notes page that Masterson is looking to be the first Tribe starter to go 6-0 since Cliff Lee's 2008 Cy Young season. More amazingly, the last right hander to do it? Stan Coveleski in 1920.

[British_Pharaoh]

Santana has no excuse there

[skatingtripods]

Santana has no excuse there

Other than the inning should be over because that was as routine as they come on the Boesch DP ball.

[dazindiansfanuk]

Santana has no excuse there

Other than the inning should be over because that was as routine as they come on the Boesch DP ball.

And he was setup inside and that ball sailed way outside.

Still should've caught it but Masterson was about as far off with his location as we've seen all year.

[Am I Here Again?]

Gack! I log in to find us losing 2-0? My plan was (still is) to take the laptop and speakers outside and work in the garden and let my (2) Red Sux and (a) skankee neighbors enjoy the sounds of a good team and a really great play-by-play guy.

It's early - we gots time, right? Go Tribe!

[British_Pharaoh]

Santana has no excuse there

Other than the inning should be over because that was as routine as they come on the Boesch DP ball.

That would be passing the buck, not an excuse for the passed ball.

[skatingtripods]

That would be passing the buck, not an excuse for the passed ball.

I thought it would be relatively obvious that Masterson missed his spot by about 2 feet, so I thought I'd give you a different reason.

Guess not.

[British_Pharaoh]

Masterson is way off his spots

[British_Pharaoh]

That would be passing the buck, not an excuse for the passed ball.

I thought it would be relatively obvious that Masterson missed his spot by about 2 feet, so I thought I'd give you a different reason.

Guess not.

Never mind

[skatingtripods]

Masterson's all over the place and our bullpen is taxed. Going to have to use Durbin and/or Germano today almost without question.

[British_Pharaoh]

Wooo

[skatingtripods]

That was huge. Now put some hits together so Masterson can get a little breather.

[British_Pharaoh]

The best thing about Cabrera's good series is he's doing it hitting 5th

I wa slaughed at for suggesting that he hit 5th in a bit of a lineup shift around

[British_Pharaoh]

LaPorta looking slick in his last what 13 game snow hitting over .300

[British_Pharaoh]

LaPorta looking slick in his last what 13 game snow hitting over .300

Best part is he's taking the ball to the opposite field

[noles1]

NICE LaPorta!!!

Couple piss rods and then an impressive peice of hitting by Matt.

If he evers takes a consistent approach at the plate and trusts his skill set, he could be something.

[Mr. X]

Atta boy Matty.

[skatingtripods]

Flash of momentary brilliance from LaPorta. Kid's strong.

[noles1]

The best thing about Cabrera's good series is he's doing it hitting 5th

I wa slaughed at for suggesting that he hit 5th in a bit of a lineup shift around

Hitting 6th today?

[skatingtripods]

Will Adam Everett hit a ball that far again all season?

[British_Pharaoh]

The best thing about Cabrera's good series is he's doing it hitting 5th

I wa slaughed at for suggesting that he hit 5th in a bit of a lineup shift around

Hitting 6th today?

Dammit you're right...hit 5th yesterday though

[noles1]

Yeah I think yesterday was an aberration because of Hafner out. Friday he hit 6th too.

I like Orly but his numbers might be the worst 5 hole hitter in the league. That said, he got the rally started...

Justin settling down it looks like. Good sign. Need him to get thru 6 IP. Now let's get to Phil Coke, because he's Phil Coke and all...

[dazindiansfanuk]

A huge quick inning for Masterson there in the 3rd.

Pumping the fastball in there at 96 that frame.

[skatingtripods]

I like Orly but his numbers might be the worst 5 hole hitter in the league. That said, he got the rally started...

Could be. But, we could also be the Seattle Mariners who have .174 Ryan Langerhans in the 3 spot and .214 Miguel Olivo hitting 4th.

[gotribe31]

The best thing about Cabrera's good series is he's doing it hitting 5th

I wa slaughed at for suggesting that he hit 5th in a bit of a lineup shift around

He's hitting 6th, and was only hitting 5th one day, and only because Hafner is hurt. He doesn't belong anywhere near the top 2/3 of a lineup, let alone in the 5 hole.

[British_Pharaoh]

They are getting good lumber on these pitches but hitting them right at the infielders

[Dellucci TailGator]

I like Orly but his numbers might be the worst 5 hole hitter in the league. That said, he got the rally started...

Could be. But, we could also be the Seattle Mariners who have .174 Ryan Langerhans in the 3 spot and .214 Miguel Olivo hitting 4th.

I think the eventual hope is that LaPorta emerges as a true six-hole hitter. Obviously, we haven't seen it, but I think that's the hope. And I think Chisenhall projects as a seventh-place hitter as a rookie, so maybe you can put LaPorta sixth, Chisenhall seventh and then have a double leadoff with Brantley and Cabrera serving as an extra top two of the order at the bottom.

So many intriguing questions about this team with Chisenhall, Kipnis and Phelps knocking on the door. I have no idea what this line-up looks like in August.

[skatingtripods]

I think the eventual hope is that LaPorta emerges as a true six-hole hitter. Obviously, we haven't seen it, but I think that's the hope. And I think Chisenhall projects as a seventh-place hitter as a rookie, so maybe you can put LaPorta sixth, Chisenhall seventh and then have a double leadoff with Brantley and Cabrera serving as an extra top two of the order at the bottom.

So many intriguing questions about this team with Chisenhall, Kipnis and Phelps knocking on the door. I have no idea what this line-up looks like in August.

Unless Hannahan hits .200 from now until August and starts throwing balls in to the camera bay, Chisenhall won't be here until after the minor league playoffs are done. Can't afford to lose his defense.

But, next year, yes, it will be interesting to see where Chisenhall hits.

[noles1]

We know Kipnis can play OF in a pinch but any chance on Phelps?

I say this to simply eliminate the existence of one Austin Kearns... but think it needs to be with a fellow RH bat.

[Dellucci TailGator]

Is there a contest we can start to see whose beard will be more impressive by the end of the year: Masterson's or Chris Perez's?

My money is on Pure Rage, but Masterson could have a surprise growth spurt at some point and catch up.

[Dellucci TailGator]

I think the eventual hope is that LaPorta emerges as a true six-hole hitter. Obviously, we haven't seen it, but I think that's the hope. And I think Chisenhall projects as a seventh-place hitter as a rookie, so maybe you can put LaPorta sixth, Chisenhall seventh and then have a double leadoff with Brantley and Cabrera serving as an extra top two of the order at the bottom.

So many intriguing questions about this team with Chisenhall, Kipnis and Phelps knocking on the door. I have no idea what this line-up looks like in August.

Unless Hannahan hits .200 from now until August and starts throwing balls in to the camera bay, Chisenhall won't be here until after the minor league playoffs are done. Can't afford to lose his defense.

But, next year, yes, it will be interesting to see where Chisenhall hits.

Hannahan is a career .228 hitter, so -- yes -- he will hit about .200 the rest of the year.

In his lone season with 500 plate appearances, he hit .218. I love the guy, but realistically he's a great back-up. I want him on this roster. I don't want him playing every day when reality hits.

My bold (or maybe not so bold) predictions: Lonnie Chisenhall is the everyday third baseman by July 1. Orly Cabrera is still the starter at second by July 1.

[skatingtripods]

We know Kipnis can play OF in a pinch but any chance on Phelps?

I say this to simply eliminate the existence of one Austin Kearns... but think it needs to be with a fellow RH bat.

Chad Huffman and his .996 OPS would probably be the first player considered. There aren't any RH OFs on the 40-man anyway except Kearns and Duncan.

[skatingtripods]

Hannahan is a career .228 hitter, so -- yes -- he will hit about .200 the rest of the year.

Well, his career BABip is .292. This year with us, it's .309. It's the strikeouts in 28% of his career PA that kill his average. Even in his one full year with OAK, his only year with 500 AB, his BABip was .286. .218 average overall.

So, if he puts his bat on the ball, seems like he can be effective enough at the plate and his glove is worth dealing with a production drop.

What I'm saying is, I'll take .250 if he keeps picking it at 3B.

[Dellucci TailGator]

Yeah, I wouldn't want to be Antonetti making these decisions. Do you keep the mojo going with Hannahan and Cabrera, or do you look long-term with Kipnis and Chisenhall.

I just don't think the Indians were prepared to be in this situation. It's kind of like the 2004 season when the Indians made that mid-season surge a year before they were expected to contend. It will be interesting to watch, that's for sure.

[Dellucci TailGator]

Watching Miggy Cabrera play first base on a pop-up is like watching a baby panda learn how to walk on its hind legs.

[Dellucci TailGator]

Well done, Justin Masterson. Well done.

[skatingtripods]

Intentional or not, I like it. I'd have hit someone a little more noticeable than Santiago.

[statmasta]

I know people want Chisenhall and Phelps up here, but we can't do it. We can't afford to lose the defense of Jack Hannahan and Adam Everett (strangly, this is actually serious. No sarcasm.)

You guys really want to risk going back to defense the caliber of Jhonny Peralta and Jayson Nix? Not me. I'll keep the gloves, let the kids wait.

[Dellucci TailGator]

Matt LaPorta is an oaf.

[statmasta]

I'm glad Matt LaPorta's just standing around.

[noles1]

I know people want Chisenhall and Phelps up here, but we can't do it. We can't afford to lose the defense of Jack Hannahan and Adam Everett (strangly, this is actually serious. No sarcasm.)

You guys really want to risk going back to defense the caliber of Jhonny Peralta and Jayson Nix? Not me. I'll keep the gloves, let the kids wait.

At this point, I agree. I was simply bringing up to remove the corpse that is Austin Kearns body. Then again, if he's manning the keg after the games, I'm inclined to keep him for consistency in the locker room.

[Dellucci TailGator]

We can't afford to lose the defense of Jack Hannahan and Adam Everett

I think that's easier to say when you're 10 games over .500 and the rest of the division is as low as its going to get. The Tigers committed to Adam Everett as their everyday shortstop last year, remember? Guess who they were trading for by midseason? Jhonny Peralta.

If it's July, you're running neck-and-neck with the Tigers or Sox for the division, Sizemore and Hafner are on the DL again and you have no pop, you can't throw Hannahan out there if he's his old self again.

Like I said, it will all depend on what this team's needs are. If Sizemore and Hafner stay healthy, you can ride the defense. If not, you need some thump in the line-up.

[statmasta]

We can't afford to lose the defense of Jack Hannahan and Adam Everett

I think that's easier to say when you're 10 games over .500 and the rest of the division is as low as its going to get.

If it's July, you're running neck-and-neck with the Tigers or Sox for the division, Sizemore and Hafner are on the DL again and you have no pop, you can't throw Hannahan out there if he's his old self again.

Like I said, it will all depend on what this team's needs are. If Sizemore and Hafner stay healthy, you can ride the defense. If not, you need some thump in the line-up.

I can agree with this.

[Dellucci TailGator]

We can't afford to lose the defense of Jack Hannahan and Adam Everett

I think that's easier to say when you're 10 games over .500 and the rest of the division is as low as its going to get.

If it's July, you're running neck-and-neck with the Tigers or Sox for the division, Sizemore and Hafner are on the DL again and you have no pop, you can't throw Hannahan out there if he's his old self again.

Like I said, it will all depend on what this team's needs are. If Sizemore and Hafner stay healthy, you can ride the defense. If not, you need some thump in the line-up.

I can agree with this.

One thing I we all can agree on is that Hannahan needs to be a part of this team this season no matter the role. I'd like to keep him around for more than this year as a mentor to Chiz. He also plays a fantastic defensive first base.