Game 54: Cleveland Indians @ Minnesota Twins
by Jesse on Jun 3, 2009 6:46 PM EDT
in Game Threads
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PrintCleveland Indians at Minnesota Twins, Jun 3, 2009 8:10 PM EDT
First Pitch: 7:10pm CDT
TV: FSN
Radio: Twins Radio Network
Know Thine Enemy: Let's Go Tribe
Starting Pitchers
We've seen Anthony Swarzak pitch two good games for the Twins so far, and it's hard to imagine him having been any better. Six innings and three runs against the Red Sox followed on seven innings of no-run ball against the Brewers, meaning that all things considered the Cleveland offense should be the easiest major league task he's come up against so far. Which, naturally, should cause alarm bells to go off. Nothing is ever as easy as it seems in baeball. Indeed, on that point: Swarzak's FIP is 5.62, which is a far cry from the traditional ERA of 2.08. He's succeeded in large part to the following three things: a wicked low BABIP against (.207), the stranding of his base runners (98.5%), and a relative cornucopia of pop-ups (15.8%). Since joining the Twins, he's thrown his fastball nearly 80% of the time. It's his third MLB start tonight, so he's going to need to mix it up a bit more; I'm hoping to see more of the curveball.
Cliff Lee's fastball keeps getting faster. According to FanGraphs, Lee's fastball averaged 87.2 mph in his rookie year of 2002. Seven years of steady incline later, it's averaging 91.2 mph. Fun fact. At any rate, Lee's been the unlucky benefactor of no run support, courtesy of his offense. He's now strung together nine consecutive quality starts, doing the job of the Ace he is. Luckily for the Twins, the splits insist he's not the same pitcher on the road as he is in the comforts of Cleveland. Can Minnesota take advantage?
Lineups
Cleveland Indians
Ben Francisco, CF
Jamey Carroll, 3B
Victor Martinez, 1B
Shin-Soo Choo, LF
Jhonny Peralta, SS
Mark DeRosa, RF
Ryan Garko, DH
Luis Valbuena, 2B
Kelly Shoppach, C
Minnesota Twins
Denard Span, RF
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Joe Crede, 3B
Jason Kubel, DH
Brendan Harris, S
Delmon Young, LF
Carlos Gomez, CF
Alexi Casilla, 2B
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I'm glad Joe Crede's back!
I’m not sure he’s right to hit clean-up, but there aren’t many options. To a lesser extent I suppose it’s not a bad thing to split up the four left-handed hitters at the top of the order.
Yes Gomez is in the lineup!
stop by Waving the Wheat (http://wavingthewheat.wordpress.com/) and The College Hockey Blog (http://thecollegehockeyblog.wordpress.com/)
why?
Why are people excited about Gomez being in the line-up? He’s a pathetic hitter right now. The announcers from other teams just laugh. He brings more to the club than Young, but that ain’t saying much.
best CF in the league. Well, top 2/3 for sure.
stop by Waving the Wheat (http://wavingthewheat.wordpress.com/) and The College Hockey Blog (http://thecollegehockeyblog.wordpress.com/)
agreeing with fetch9
did you not see that play that Gomez made last night??? Span never catches that. Gomez defense makes up for his offense.
another nice inning by the kid
So when Perk gets back, it has to be Cisco to the pen right?
I like watching pitchers like Swear-zzzzzack! and Slowman
that was a pathetic
single by Martinez. None of the hits have been hit…just blooped. Swarzak keep doing what you are doing. They cant get all the bloopers to drop in.
alright come on
that was a good single…but three bloopers and that solid hit was all up the middle. Time to throw them some offspeed junk cause they are getting hits with the fastball.
So much for the Swarzak era
At least now he can just be a young pitcher with a lot of potential.
The only stat that counts is W
you mean just because of a few
ducksquirts, a solid hit, and homer…the Swarzak era is over??? They should have been out of this inning long ago if one of those bloops was caught. Swarzak has done a good job besides the homer. He sawed them off inside but they somehow were able to get on.
Not at all
It was just after he started with a seven inning shutout and held the Red Sox in check for most of the game, there was was overheated commentary (mostly not around here) about the second coming of Santana or the 2006 Liriano. Swarzak is a good young pitch who is probably as good a starter as any of our regulars. But I don’t think – at this time – he will be an overpowering pitcher.
The only stat that counts is W
BTW
What the hell is it with Twins pitchers and two out hits. Does Rick Anderson teach them “Two outs, your job’s done?”
The only stat that counts is W
what in the world???
Gladden had me thinking that Crede just hit a homer! “this might have a chance, looks up, and he runs it down.” How bout you just say he catches it from now on?
Delmon will come around....
jsut watch he is always a slow starter – remember, lol
But it is definately too bad he can’t shed just some pounds, maybe he has?
by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Jun 3, 2009 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions
I hate to say this b/c I don't like the White Sux
but it’s amazing how quiet this place gets when the Twins are losing…
When the Twins are kicking the snot out of Chicago, their site still gets tons of posts… just saying…
"everything is forgotten" according to Gladden
yeah right! Dont be surprised if Dickey throws at the first batter.
Morny needs to keep his swing from the first month and a half. He’s starting to swing a little out of his element and his elbows are getting farther and farther away from his chest when he swings – a sign a slump is coming or he may finish the season with only 23 homers again.
by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Jun 3, 2009 10:02 PM EDT reply actions
Prediction
everyone how many HBP will there be when the game is all said and done with?
I’ll say 6 being there is already 4.
by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Jun 3, 2009 10:31 PM EDT reply actions
Wow delmon. I hate him so much.
stop by Waving the Wheat (http://wavingthewheat.wordpress.com/) and The College Hockey Blog (http://thecollegehockeyblog.wordpress.com/)
thanks for garza and bartlett :)
NFL- Vikings,Lions,Texans,Bills Adrian Peterson!
MLB-Rays,Marlins,Reds,Twins Evan Longoria
NBA-T-Wolves,Cavliiers,Warriors,Bobcats Lebron James!
NHL-Wild,Penguins Sidney Crosby!
NCAA-Gophers,Gators,Longh orns,ND Tim Tebow!
all in the order in which i root for 1st
Jesse was a prophet
He seemed to have inkling that Swarzak and the Twins were about to receive a behind the woodshed thrashing.
"I don't think it's nice, you laughin'. See, my mule don't like people laughing. He gets the crazy idea you're laughing at him. Now if you apologize, like I know you're going to, I might convince him that you really didn't mean it . . ."
by Skippy tastes better than Jiff on Jun 4, 2009 1:28 AM EDT reply actions
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