Game #39 5/18: The Battle Of Ohio Episode I - The BP Menace

[consigliere]

Feel free to add the lineups, pics and all that guys. Here is Sykes preview for tonight's game:

http://www.theclevelandfan.com/article_ ... hp?id=1755

Pitching Matchups

If I were a betting man, I would have to seriously consider taking the over for runs scored in the first game of the series. Cliff Lee will start for the Tribe and he has beaten the Reds in two out of three starts, plus a no decision... that is nice. He also has a SEVEN POINT ZERO FOUR earned run average against Cincinnati... that is not so nice. Most of that damage came in his first start against the Reds, when he didn't make it out of fourth inning before giving up seven runs.

Lee will be making his fourth start since coming off the disabled list and will be looking for win number two. Lee has either been exceptional (complete game win) or not very good (eleven innings, nine earned runs in other two starts) over his first three starts.

You want the real reason to bet the over in this game? The Reds starter, Kyle Lohse, has worse number against the Indians than Lee does against the Reds. Lohse signed with Cincinnati for two reasons, they were the only team that wanted him and he figured he would not have to make any more appearances at Jacobs Field, where he has only won two games in eight decisions and is sporting a nifty 7.31 ERA.

Lohse is coming off a pretty good spanking at the hands of the LA Dodgers, being tagged for six earned runs in four innings. One of Lohse biggest faults is the lack of any type of reliable out pitch as he has needed an average of 102 pitches to get through six innings of work.

Reds Offense

I guess it all starts with Ken Griffey Jr, when talking about the Reds offense. Griffey has managed to stay healthy enough to appear in 35 of the Reds 41 games and leads them in batting average with a .311 average. Griffey is second to Adam "Branyan" Dunn on the Reds in home runs (11-8) and they are tied with a team high 25 RBI.

The Reds have a second baseman named Brandon Philips, but I was unable to obtain any information on him. According to the error report when I search for Philips, it appears Mark Shapiro snuck into my Internet and disabled the find former Indians who have made me look really stupid search capability.

The Reds also employ the feel good story of the 2007 season in Josh Hamilton. It appears he is no longer hooked on crack and he has returned to hitting baseballs really well. Good job Josh!

Reds Bullpen

For those of you curious about how the Indians plan on getting by with Joe Borowski closing baseball games, let me introduce you to David Weathers. Weathers would struggle to break a plane of glass with his fastball. He is also seven for eight in save chances and holds a 1.89 ERA. Other than Weathers, the Reds bullpen has been pretty much full of gasoline cans. The bullpen earned run average is close to five earned runs. Want to know how bad the bullpen is? The Reds are eagerly awaiting the return of Eddie Guardado.

[Dozen]

Cant wait for this series, I'm going tomorrow and Sunday

[consigliere]

I think this is the ONLY Interleague type series which works. Cle-Cin, Yanks-Mets, Cards-Royals, White Sox-Cubs, Nationals-Orioles, Marlins-DRays, SF-Oakland, Texas-Houston, Angels-Dodgers....teams with immediate proximity to each other.

I could see keeping Interleague, but just having it be a home and home series with ONE rival. And leave it like that. I could care less about playing anyone else in the NL except CIN.

So, I'd do this:

Cle-Cin
Yanks-Mets
Cards-Royals
White Sox-Cubs
Nationals-Orioles
Marlins-DRays
SF-Oakland
Texas-Houston
Angels-Dodgers
Twins-Brewers

Not sure how you'd matchup the other teams: Sea, Det, Bos, Tor, Atl, Phil, Ari, Col, Pitt, SD

So maybe you just dump it.

[MadThinker88]

While I understand the thought of Cleveland vs Cincinnati, I'd be interested in flipping it over to a Cleveland vs Pittsburgh matchup since those cities are a lot closer.

It would then allow Detroit and Cin to matchup.

[tribefan333]

I agree with that. Other than playing for the "Ohio" title it's dumb imo.

[Dozen]

For me the Indians vs Reds has a better feel than Indians vs Pirates

[consigliere]

Pittsburgh/Cleveland is a football only rivalry. We have as much a rivalry with the Pirates (Pit) as we do ther Orioles (Bal). Cincinnati is the clear baseball rival in the NL.

[Mr. MacPhisto]

I don't think we have any real rivals in the NL. Cincy is in Ohio (or Kentucky, depending on who you ask) but I've never had much animosity towards the Reds because they're a NL team. I rooted hard for them against the A's in 1990 (though I pulled for the Dodgers and Giants against the A's as well - that 1988 Series is still one of my faves with Gibson's blast).

It's hard to consider any non-AL team as a true rival. Our truest rival in the modern era would probably be the White Sox as they have been the most persistent agitant in our division.

I used to favor the Interleague Play and think it might be interesting to bring in back for a year every decade to make it special, but I'd prefer getting rid of it and returning to a balanced schedule.

[intenso]

The only reason it's even still around is b/c of OMG SUBWAY SERIES!!!!11

[consigliere]

1-0 on an RBI groundout by Hafner. Hafner not hitting still, but still getting RBIs.

[consigliere]

Anyone see Garko's inside the park HR? What happened? How does RYAN F GARKO GET AN INSIDE THE PARK HR? Is there a sniper in the stands that shot the kneecaps off all the outfielders?

Man, the Indians and Cavs are unconscious tonight so far.

[consigliere]

Looks like I am solo on a Friday night.

Sizemore with a bomb to make it 9-4 good guys in the 3rd.

Starting to get that Jacobs Field vibe back. Their play to date in their house is 90s-esque.

[BruceK]

Well, now that the Cavs game is over a few of us may wander over....

[StewieG]

Good win. 13-2 at the Jake this year, best start in stadium history.

[consigliere]

Building the mo. This is exactly the start they needed to grab the attention of the fans and start making believers out of us.

With the Cavs still in the playoffs, the Indians will play second fiddle and rightfully so....but when the Cavs playoff run is over hopefully the Indians will still be playing well and people will gravitate over to them. Would make for one helluva fun summer and into the fall for Browns football.

(And hopefully after the Indians playoff run, the Browns young nucleus starts playing well and we build on that....could be a great year in C-Town sports).

[StewieG]

Ok, so regardless of what happens with the Cavs since they've already reached the EC finals for only the third time ever...if the Indians stay in it, and the Browns start a resurgence, could this be the greatest year ever, overall, in Cleveland sports history? I'm still fairly young, but I can't recall a year where all 3 teams had good seasons, can anyone else?

[consigliere]

Bucks go to the National Championship game in football and basketball.

Cavaliers in the EC Finals and possibly can go further.

If the Indians make the playoffs, it is the best season in my lifetime even if the Browns go 5-11.

[StewieG]

Very true. I didn't even factor the Buckeyes into the equation.

And to completely change the subject, we own Kyle Lohse. Though to be fair, a lot of teams own Kyle Lohse.