Game Thread: Twins @ Tribe 5/15

[dmcdougal]

Alright well seems like we all took the weekend off and their wasn't much action on the game threads, but here is tonight's preview.

Pitching Matchup

CLEVELAND
Paul Byrd (2-1) 2.84 ERA, 16 K, 3 BB, 1.29 WHIP
Career Vs. Minnesota
12 GS, (6-3), 1 CG, 3.73 ERA, 36 K, 20 BB, 1.27 WHIP
Last Three Starts This Season
19.2 IP, 6 ER, 2.75 ERA, 9 K, 1 BB, 1.22 WHIP

vs.

MINNESOTA
Ramon Ortiz (3-3) 3.80 ERA, 18 K, 9 BB, 1.11 WHIP
Career vs. Cleveland
7 G, 5 GS, (3-1), 2.20 ERA, 21 K, 14 BB, 1.09 ERA
Last Three Starts This Season
16 IP, 11 ER, 6.19 ERA, 6 K, 7 BB, 1 HRA, 1.56 WHIP

Starting Lineups

Cleveland
1. Grady Sizemore CF
2. Casey Blake 3B
3. Travis Hafner DH
4. Victor Martinez 1B
5. Jhonny Peralta SS
6. David Dellucci LF
7. Jason Michaels RF
8. Josh Barfield 2B
9. Kelly Shoppach C

Minnesota
1. Luis Castillo 2B
2. Jason Bartlett SS
3. Michael Cuddyer RF
4. Justin Morneau 1B
5. Torri Hunter CF
6. Jason Kubel LF
7. Mike Redmond C
8. Garrett Jones DH
9. Nick Punto 3B


First thing that caught my eye was Shoppach hitting in the 9th hole and Barfield hitting in the 8 hole. I don't like Barfield in the 8. He is our future 2nd hitter in the lineup but Wedgie says that he likes him more at 9, however he hasn't been hitting him ninth the last couple of games. Anyway, I guess it has more to do with Shoppach struggling than Barfield. Should be a good game. Byrd is a hot pitcher right now and Ortiz is struggling.
Ortiz doesn't give up many homeruns so hopefully the Tribe can manufacture a few runs tonight. The Twins are a pesky team so hopefully Paul can keep their speed off the basepaths. Will be a good game.

[dmcdougal]

great job by the offense to bat through. Looks like we caught Ortiz on another tough night. Like I wrote earlier, Ortiz had only given up 1 homer in his last 3 starts.

[StewieG]

I deem this the game thread.

Twins score 2 in first off Byrd, Tribe scores 4 and counting in the bottom of the first. Peralta with a smash to left, and Ortiz is getting hit hard. Even Jason friggin Michaels doubled off him.

And as I type, Shoppach with a 2-run double, 6-2 Tribe, and still counting.

[StewieG]

Man, they are just hitting the ball HARD tonight. 2 real hard ground balls that the Twins couldn't handle leads to 2 infield singles (1 by Sizemore, 1 by Barfield)...and I didn't see what Blake did in his first at bat, but I know he got an infield single. I guess they're pissed about the other day.

[StewieG]

Wow. Peralta's shot was about halfway up the bleachers. He just absolutely crushed it.

Blake pops out to end the inning. Jerk.

[dmcdougal]

wow 6 in the first. Let's hope Byrdie can keep the lead

[dmcdougal]

Nice. Indians pile on a few more here and this one could be over. Definitely a shot in the psyche department if you score a few in the top of the first, give it all back and then suddenly you're down 6 runs

[StewieG]

Get to this guy now, get deeper into the bullpen, and get yourself an advantage for the rest of the series. That should be their focus tonight.

[StewieG]

Wow...Peralta's hitting the ball really hard tonight. Ground ball ate up Punto at 3rd, and he literally spun out of the way of it when it took a bad hop on him. You really did have to see it as it's very difficult to explain.

Looks like Dellucci's the guy that's going to get all the outs tonight.

[StewieG]

If we lose this game, I'm done.

We are getting every single break tonight. Michaels hits a doubleplay ball that goes off the pitcher's glove, past the shortstop, into centerfield. 8-2 Indians.

[StewieG]

And Barfield with a bloop single into shallow right, another run scores, Michaels out at 3rd trying to advance. It was a really nice throw by Cuddyer, but it got him by 2 steps.

9-2 Tribe.

[StewieG]

Shoppach plays bat-toss again. That's...what, 10? Already?

[He Gone]

Mourneau...GONE

Oh well, if Birdman can get us 6 solid innings, ill be happy.

[StewieG]

He'll go at least 7, probably 8. He's only at about 80 pitches right now.

[He Gone]

The way he ended the inning, hes definitely going 7, but doubt 8.

He doesnt have that great of stuff tonight, why not get someone in the penn some work instead?


Cmon Josh...

[StewieG]

And there's the icing on the cake.

Next victim...

[He Gone]

Uh oh....

I think the bats have awoken...

[swerb]

Man, what the hell did I miss?

[He Gone]

An explosion

[StewieG]

Tribe bats woke up. At one point, they were 8 for 11 with RISP. Yes, that is absolutely correct. 6 runs in the first, several other crooked numbered innings.

And Fernando Cabrera has just fallen off the face of the earth since that 2 and 2/3 inning performance when Westbrook left injured. Gave up 2 more runs today, another hit, and a walk before being pulled for Oldberto.

[He Gone]

Im not worried about Taxi(Cab), I think hes mature enough now to where he can work on it and fix it in non crucial situations, hell get out of it.

[pup]

Man, what the hell did I miss?

Akkow me to introduce you to one Ramon Ortiz...

[swerb]

FCab LaLoosh ... another two bombs?

[He Gone]

Yeap, Taxi is in a funk right now.

Servin up meatballs like the lunchlady.

[consigliere]

I just wanted to say one thing about this game....

Does anyone think there are people on Twins message boards ranting and raving about how Gardenhire left Ortiz in too long?

[dmcdougal]

Yeap, Taxi is in a funk right now.

Servin up meatballs like the lunchlady.

yet, some people continue to say he should be our closer over Borowski and they claim that Borowski serves meatballs.... continues to baffle me

[StewieG]

There may be a day when Cabrera is a better closer than Borowski could ever hope to be. But that day is not today. As our roster stands right now, Borowski is the best option at closer we have. That's all I'm going to say on that subject.

[FUDU]

Another home win and more importantly a nice win over a division rival, both being the two most important things the Indians must do this season.

[leadpipe]

Yeap, Taxi is in a funk right now.

Servin up meatballs like the lunchlady.

yet, some people continue to say he should be our closer over Borowski and they claim that Borowski serves meatballs.... continues to baffle me

Not claiming he serves meatballs. Just watch him pitch.

[dmcdougal]

lol Lead Pipe i'm just playin with you now. I know we disagree so I'm having some fun. I'll give it a rest because I think all the Borowski-haters realize that there's just no other option.