5/2: Blue Jays vs. Indians

[consigliere]

Okay, we'll try and start these game threads each day/night so we can try and keep most of the comments about a game in one place. The board traffic has picked up a lot, so this was a good idea by Rich.

Anyone can start these up anytime, BTW.

Toronto (13-13) vs. Cleveland (15-8) @ 7:05 p.m. ET

Probables: Victor Zambrano (0-1, 5.06 ERA) vs. Jake Westbrook (1-2, 7.96 ERA)

[swerb]

No pictures? You're slackin' T ...

[CLEfan86]

RF Alex Rios
LF Adam Lind
CF Vernon Wells
DH Frank Thomas
1B Lyle Overbay
3B Troy Glaus
2B Aaron Hill
C Jason Phillips
SS Royce Clayton

vs. Jake Westbrook (1-2, 7.96 ERA)



CF Grady Sizemore
LF David Dellucci
DH Travis Hafner
C Victor Martinez
RF Trot Nixon
1B Ryan Garko
SS Jhonny Peralta
3B Casey Blake
2B Josh Barfield

vs. Victor Zambrano (0-1, 5.06 ERA)

[swerb]

Nice work CLEfan86. Welcome to the boards, and thank you.

[skatingtripods]

This is a huge game for Jake. This is a pretty good lineup that scores a lot of their runs by the long ball. If the sinker drops, he'll have great results.

[consigliere]

Thanks CleFan86.

Let's keep it rolling tonight.

BTW, Adam Miller outstanding again today (six shutout innings).

[skatingtripods]

That kind of year for Jake. Bleeder double and then a single gets him home.

Here's the obligatory "Choo would have thrown him out".

[CLEfan86]

That kind of year for Jake. Bleeder double and then a single gets him home.

Here's the obligatory "Choo would have thrown him out".

Obligatory indeed especially from our fellow baseball know-nothing fans.

[Steve Buffum]

That kind of year for Jake. Bleeder double...

Gameday described it as a "ground rule double," which usually means it bounced over the wall. What was it?

[skatingtripods]

Down the line and bounced into the stands where the wall is really low. He basically just flicked it and it fell in.

[skatingtripods]

Exactly what we don't need. Hopefully it's nothing serious.

[consigliere]

Whelp, here is why we don't trade Byrd I guess. Looks like Carmona will be back up. I hope it isn't serious with Jake.

[skatingtripods]

Whelp, here is why we don't trade Byrd I guess. Looks like Carmona will be back up. I hope it isn't serious with Jake.

I don't have STO at school. Did it look like something happened? Let's just hope it's not his arm.

[Dozen]

I hope he's ok, the look on his face wasnt positive

[StewieG]

Up comes Lee, and down goes Westbrook. How much longer til Carmona can come back up? I'd imagine Slocum comes up and gets a start if Carmona can't come up in time.

[skatingtripods]

Up comes Lee, and down goes Westbrook. How much longer til Carmona can come back up? I'd imagine Slocum comes up and gets a start if Carmona can't come up in time.

If Westbrook goes on the DL, Carmona can be back tomorrow because it would be an "emergency" callup, I think.

[Steve Buffum]

Hey! What the fuck happened?!?!

[skatingtripods]

Hey! What the fuck happened?!?!

Martinez went out and visited Westbrook and a couple pitches later, Wedge, Soloff, and Victor were back out there.

Hegan said on 1100 that Westbrook was taking some deep breaths behind the mound. I pray it's not an oblique.

[StewieG]

I couldn't see anything wrong. He was just walking off the mound, which the announcers said he never did. Trainers came out, and he came out of the game. Didn't appear to be favoring anything. At this moment, my knee-jerk reaction is that it's nothing serious, maybe just a tweak. But, we'll find out soon.

Also, why not bring in Jason Davis into this situation? I would assume he's the designated "long reliever". Is it because Wedge feels more comfortable with Cabrera taking care of Jake's runner? It just seems like this is the situation you'd want to use your long man for...

[skatingtripods]

Also, why not bring in Jason Davis into this situation? I would assume he's the designated "long reliever". Is it because Wedge feels more comfortable with Cabrera taking care of Jake's runner? It just seems like this is the situation you'd want to use your long man for...

Well, aside from throwing an inning last night, I'd offer that Wedge doesn't trust Jason Davis. Also, if Davis is off, you'll end up using more pitchers. Cabrera's more reliable and it's completely up in the air how much length you will get from Lee tomorrow in his return.

[consigliere]

First, Carmona could be called right back up if Westy hits the DL. The 10-day rule does not apply if a player goes onthe DL.

Second, I am not watching the game. Listening to it on the radio. According to Hammy, they have no idea what it could be, but he said it is possible it is illness. Martinez had gone out a few pitches earlier to talk to him as supposedly Jake didn't look right.

Boy. Amazing though. Since he signed his extension he has been dogshit and now potentially has a serious injury.

[skatingtripods]

Boy. Amazing though. Since he signed his extension he has been dogshit and now potentially has a serious injury.

Sounds like Cleveland, doesn't it?

[skatingtripods]

Anyone up for keeping Carmona in Buffalo and giving Adam Miller a chance to see what he can do while we're still early in the season? We all know what Fausto can do.

[CLEfan86]

Atta boy Garko.

[skatingtripods]

Garko makes a sweet play at first, now hits a home run, and Eric Wedge probably still isn't convinced that he is an everyday player.

This just hit me, any likelihood that Westbrook got hurt going after Clayton's sac bunt? He did nearly throw the ball down the right field line.

[consigliere]

Anyone up for keeping Carmona in Buffalo and giving Adam Miller a chance to see what he can do while we're still early in the season? We all know what Fausto can do.

Nope.

Fausto deserves it. And, no need to start Miller's option and service clock any sooner than we have to.

[consigliere]

BTW, does Jason Davis exist? What IS his role? So Wedge doesn't use him in close games anytime from the 7th inning on.....and tonight doesn't use him in the long man role. Let's see. Can't use him close and late. Check. Not using him as the long man when the starter doesn't go 4-5 innings. Check.

So, in other words, the only time JD is useful is when the game is a blowout and it is mop up duty? His days are numbered.....

[skatingtripods]

Rotoworld offers that Westbrook "may have pulled a leg muscle". No proof to that as of yet though.

[Charboneau]

Davis - we have to keep him around so he can do the Redneck Report on Totally Tribe.

Barfield - great glove. Can't wait until he adjusts to AL pitching. Getting very frustrating watching him be an automatic out.

Westbrook - let's wait and see. Hopefully, nothing serious. Jake is nibbling way too much. It looks to me like he is always trying to make the perfect pitch. I was a pitcher, but not in the majors, so I should shut up.

[consigliere]

Oh, and since we are about to blow through our bullpen tonight, don't be suprised if not only Cliff Lee is activated for tomorrow's game, but we bring up another fresh bully arm from Buffalo. Could see Francisco, Choo, or Masnty sent down to callup someone like Lara or Mujica.

[Andouble]

Mujica got destroyed today in Buffalo.

Isn't there a minimum amount of time a player has to be in AAA after he's sent down?

[skatingtripods]

but we bring up another fresh bully arm from Buffalo. Could see Francisco, Choo, or Masnty sent down to callup someone like Lara or Mujica.

Mujica got blown up today. Lara's been doing that regularly. Sikorski hasn't been all that great either. How about Jason Stanford?

[dmcdougal]

why isn't that lump of crap Jason Davis pitching? Isn't this the only reason he is on our team?

[skatingtripods]

Per Hegan: "Left abdominal tightness" for Jake. Sounds MRI worthy...

[Steve Buffum]

So, CC, Lee, and Westbrook all get obliques ... can we implement a stretching regimen or something?

[Steve Buffum]

By the way, nice decision by Casey to throw to second there ...

[Charboneau]

So, CC, Lee, and Westbrook all get obliques ... can we implement a stretching regimen or something?

I'm sure they are well stretched. Sounds more like a strength training issue to me. I wonder if the off season program has lifts or excercises in it that would lend itself to these types of injuries?

[Steve Buffum]

Wells picked off! Can I get a "neener!"?

[skatingtripods]

Wells picked off! Can I get a "neener!"?

By Fernando Cabrera too. Of all people..

[consigliere]

OK. Grady running on the pitch and Dellucci hits a double that one hops the wall.....how does Sizemore not score there? Was he carrying Ryan Garko on his back or something?

[Steve Buffum]

Sizemore single, Dellucci double ... surely they walk Hafner, right?

[skatingtripods]

I just hope Victor continues to make it hurt when they walk Hafner. Eventually, they may pitch to Hafner. Especially if VMart hits .400 with RISP for a while.

[StewieG]

Sizemore didn't score because he wasn't sure if the ball would be caught or not. I'm guessing he didn't get a good read of it off the bat.

[StewieG]

Bases loaded. They've got us right where they want us. Choo's not up.

[StewieG]

Sac fly by Nixon brings in a run. 2-1 Tribe. 2 outs, runners at 1st and 2nd. Garko up.

He must've got it off the end of his bat. I thought it was gone when I first saw the swing.

[skatingtripods]

Meh, better than nothing so far. We need to get at least one more out of this. Bases loaded 0 out against Victor Zambrano and only get one is sad.

[Steve Buffum]

Vic grounds intoa 5-2, bases still loaded.

Just get me to Peralta, bay-bee!

[StewieG]

Ah, the great game of "who wants it less".

Zambrano throws a wild pitch, runners advance. No force out now. Not that it matters with Garko running.

[StewieG]

Peralta's up with the bases loaded after a Garko walk. He's either going to hit a grand slam or strike out. There will be nothing in between. I'm absolutely positive.

[skatingtripods]

Peralta's up with the bases loaded after a Garko walk. He's either going to hit a grand slam or strike out. There will be nothing in between. I'm absolutely positive.

Career 1-for-6 against Towers.