5-19 Reds @ Indians game thread

[tribefan333]

Sorry guys, didn't see a gamethread so I thought I'd put one up. I don't have time right now but I hope to be posting during the game.

Feel free to add anything.

[pup]

For the middle game of the series, the Indians will send Jeremy Sowers to the hill. Sowers, coming off a very good rookie season for the Indians has struggled so far in 2007, failing to complete the third inning twice in his last five starts. Sowers has yet to earn the victory in a start this year and the Tribe is just two and five in his seven starts. With Jake Westbrook getting closer to his return and the rest of the rotation pitching well, Sowers is down to a couple more starts before going down to Buffalo to figure things out.

Sowers made his major league debut in 2006 against the Cincinnati Reds, allowing four earned runs via two long home runs, in five innings of work. The Reds first got to Sowers the second time through the lineup and that trend has held true so far in 2007. Sowers has been brutal the second time through the lineup this year, allowing an absolutely staggering 20 hits and 15 earned runs in 12 innings pitched.

Matt Belisle will oppose Sowers on Saturday, bringing his three and three record with a four plus earned run average with him. Belisle has been the definition of hot and cold in his first eight starts, which should put him in line to be pretty good this time out. Belisle has gone two very good starts, two very bad starts and then alternated good and bad over his last four. His last time out, Belisle allowed seven earned runs in five innings against the San Diego Padres.

Belisle made two appearances against the Indians out of the bullpen in 2006. He gave up two runs on three hits in the first and one run on two hits in his second, each in one inning of work.

Obviously, a big start for Sowers. He will be the odd man out either way, but it would be nice to see him put a couple good starts together before going down and tweaking things in Beeeeeeefalo.

Tribes won 9 straight, 13 of 14 and are 15-3 overall at home. Defend the Teepee!!!!!

[pup]

NO. CINCINNATI
1. R. Freel, CF
2. N. Hopper, RF
3. K. Griffey Jr., DH
4. B. Phillips, 2B
5. J. Conine, 1B
6. A. Dunn, LF
7. A. Gonzalez, SS
8. J. Keppinger, 3B
9. D. Ross, C

CLEVELAND
1. G. Sizemore, CF
2. C. Blake, 3B
3. T. Hafner, DH
4. V. Martinez, C
5. T. Nixon, RF
6. J. Peralta, SS
7. D. Dellucci, LF
8. R. Garko, 1B
9. J. Barfield, 2B

[pup]

Pronk

[StewieG]

Man, if Hafner's starting to get back on track, this offense is scarygood.

[tribefan333]

HR by El Pronko...always nice to see him get it going.

[CLEfan86]

Sowers gets out of the second inning for once, alright!

[StewieG]

Enjoy your trip to Buffalo, Jeremy.

[CLEfan86]

Adam or Jake please get healthy immediately.

[StewieG]

There ya go, Vic. Nice job of hitting with the bases loaded. Single scores 2, and we're down just a run.

[StewieG]

Wow, nice play by Conine. Saved at least 1 run.

[StewieG]

Real nice crowd at the game tonight. Might be pushing 35k. Haven't seen any shots of the stadium in a little while though, so that might not be all that accurate.

[CLEfan86]

David Dellucci proving once again to be completely worthless and washed up. At least you're spending money Shap, ugh. We're back in it at least.

[StewieG]

While I agree with the generality of that statement, I can't fault him for that AB. He hit it hard, it just happened to be right at the SS. A couple feet towards 3rd base, or a couple feet higher, and it's a 2-run single.

[CLEfan86]

Agreed, hit it well, just been a huge waste so far.

[Wahoot]

Grady and Blake -- two pitches, two outs. Come on, boys.

[Wahoot]

David Dellucci proving once again to be completely worthless and washed up.

But he LOOKS like a baseball player. Shouldn't that count for something?

[StewieG]

I officially have man-love for Josh Barfield. He's been very good defensively, and he's starting to heat up offensively as well.

[CLEfan86]

David Dellucci proving once again to be completely worthless and washed up.

But he LOOKS like a baseball player. Shouldn't that count for something?

Good Halloween costume?

[DarNoor]

Why is Sowers still in there? He's getting rocked.

[Mr. MacPhisto]

Miller is okay and scheduled to start on Tuesday, I believe. It's time to call him up and send Sowers to AAA. This guy is becoming very akin to Jason Johnson last year and we have to put a stop to it. Let him work in AAA and give Miller a shot, or at least bring up Stanford.

[Charboneau]

I agree with everyone here. I was very hopeful (as most were) for Sowers coming into the year - but we can't afford to waste his start while he's working out the kinks. Tough start for him tonight - I think he's headed down. The Reds were averaging 2 runs per game on the road comign into tonight. Jeremy was just what the doctor ordered for them.

F-Cab seems to be walking the world tonight.

[Wahoot]

F-Cab seems to be walking the world tonight.

Cabrera may need to "pull a hamstring" and go on a little AAA rehab assignment. There's something screwed with either his mechanics or his head.

[Charboneau]

F-Cab seems to be walking the world tonight.

Cabrera may need to "pull a hamstring" and go on a little AAA rehab assignment. There's something screwed with either his mechanics or his head.

He seems to be feast of famine. He's really good or off. Seems to have very little middle ground. With his stuff he is tough when he'e on.

[MadThinker88]

Will Westbrook need a rehab stint in Buffalo before he returns to the Cleveland rotation????

[Wahoot]

He seems to be feast of famine. He's really good or off. Seems to have very little middle ground. With his stuff he is tough when he'e on.

All famine since April 28th:

8.2 IP 15 H 11 R 9 ER 4 HR 7 BB 13 K 9.35 ERA

[tribefan333]

Well one positive to take away is Barfields fielding is a blessing. When he got to that ball I thought "Don't even make the throw, you're too deep." Nope! Great play Josh, keep it up. We need it with "Honny" on the other side.

[Dozen]

I still cant believe Mr. Blake hits in this lineup let alone the 2 hole. Sizemore left alot of opportunities out there but he'll be fine. Peralta at 3rd is looking better and better daily. Sowers just seems to have lost all of his confidence, I think I'd give him maybe 2 more starts and see if Miller is ok. But I heard he will make his next scheduled start. C'mon Shapiro.................go freeze off some off these warts!

[DarNoor]

Well, this team can't afford to wast any time with Sowers if he contiues to pitch like he is. This divison is too hard to wait for a pitcher to come out of his slump. Every game is important.

[MadThinker88]

[quote="DarNoor"]Well, this team can't afford to wast any time with Sowers if he contiues to pitch like he is. This divison is too hard to wait for a pitcher to come out of his slump. Every game is important.[/quote]

Definitely each game is important but baseball is a marathon and not a sprint.

[Mr. MacPhisto]

Definitely each game is important but baseball is a marathon and not a sprint.

True, but we don't want an almost certain loss every fifth game because of Jeremy Sowers. If anything else falls apart then we can have a very bad week. We need to have a chance in every game and I don't see us having that as long as Sowers continues to pitch like he has.

It's Miller Time!

[tribefan333]

5-20 REDS @ INDIANS GAME THREAD

Didn't want to make a new thread, so any posts on the Sunday, 20th game go here.

Top 4, 2-2, Byrd vs. Harang. Take it away...

[tribefan333]

Barfield doubles in the 4th to give us the lead!!!

4-2 Tribe, Josh steals 3rd. Shoppach up with no outs.

[tribefan333]

Wow. Kelly Shoppach with an infield single for an RBI and Grady up. Still no out, Indians up 5-2.

Let's end this one early.

[tribefan333]

Sizemore can't be stopped right now. Runners on the corners, and the look on Grady's face was one of a SB attempt coming up.

I just hope Casey doesn't ground into a double play.

Disclaimer: HD is amazing.

[Wahoot]

Harang has already thrown 87 pitches . . . in 4 innings!

[KFletch]

Barfield is getting better and better IMO. I like him. Thoughts?

[CLEfan86]

Barfield is getting better and better IMO. I like him. Thoughts?

The glove I think was always there. Now that he's starting to hit the ball it looks like his confidence is soaring.

[Tribegirl214]

Barfield is getting better and better IMO. I like him. Thoughts?

I've been telling everyone I know to watch out for Mr. Barfield. He's definitely got some talent. Even in the beginning of the season he was hitting the ball, and fairly hard it was just normally always at someone. He's finding holes now and when he gets on base he's fast. I really like the combo of he and Grady. I'm thinkin' they need to move Barfield up the leadoff guy and put Grady in the number 2 spot. That could be a great combo for us.

Barfield's great at second base too. He's almost what Grady is to centerfield. You see a ball coming at him and you're like..no worries he's got it. And 98% of the time he does.

[intenso]

Barfield is getting better and better IMO. I like him. Thoughts?

I've been telling everyone I know to watch out for Mr. Barfield. He's definitely got some talent. Even in the beginning of the season he was hitting the ball, and fairly hard it was just normally always at someone. He's finding holes now and when he gets on base he's fast. I really like the combo of he and Grady. I'm thinkin' they need to move Barfield up the leadoff guy and put Grady in the number 2 spot. That could be a great combo for us.

Barfield's great at second base too. He's almost what Grady is to centerfield. You see a ball coming at him and you're like..no worries he's got it. And 98% of the time he does.

Well, 96.6% of the time.

[Steve Buffum]

I'm thinkin' they need to move Barfield up the leadoff guy and put Grady in the number 2 spot. That could be a great combo for us.

I'm thinkin' a leadoff guy with a sub-.300 OBP is a Truly Bad Idea (tm).

Maybe someday ... but the man doesn't walk, the chances are remote that he'll morph into a good leadoff guy any time soon. Let's just be happy with what he is rather than wishing he were something else: he's a good glove at 2B, he's hitting better, you can do worse than having Josh Barfield your #8 or #9 hitter.