While We’re Waiting… Butch Davis Fired, Tribe Woes and Pryor Hate
July 28, 2011Breaking Tribe News: Indians On Verge of Acquiring Fukudome
July 28, 2011
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse for the Indians offense, it does.
Roughly 14 hours after losing a 2-1 heartbreaker where they had the bases loaded and nobody out in the ninth but failed to score, your Wahoo Warriors failed to get a single hit against Angels right-hander Ervin Santana. The no-no was the ninth in Angels history and its first since the Mark Langston/Mike Witt combo in April of 1990. It was the first no hitter in Jacobs/Progressive Field history and the first time the Tribe has been no hit since Jim Abbott’s gem for the Yankees in 1993. The Tribe pitchers on that day were Bob Milacki and Bill Wertz! Quite the tandem.
The first two games of this series, the Indians had to face the ace combo of Dan Haren and Jered Weaver. They managed a split with the chance to win the series with a win Wednesday afternoon, instead, a moribund offense hit rock bottom against a pitcher was entered 0-6 in his career against them. He picked the right time to be on. The Indians bats are officially asleep. Santana struck out 10, walked just one (Lonnie Chisenhall in the eighth). He was never really challenged on the day. It was getaway day and the Tribe took a lot of getaway day at bats, swinging early in the count and letting Santana get into a groove. I looked up in the seventh inning and he had only thrown 68 pitches.
Said Manager Manny Acta: “A lot of times on a no-hitter, you do have to have good stuff, but not necessarily your best stuff. But he was terrific today. … Regardless of how our lineup is doing, you can’t take credit away from him.”
Of course to make matters worse, the offense wasted another solid outing from one of its starters. On this day, David Huff got to know what it felt like to be a real member of the Indians rotation. You know you have earned your stripes as an Indians starter when you allow one earned run in six innings and end up a loser. No one will talk about it, but Huff was very good in his second start. He has now pitched 12.2 innings and given up just one earned run (0.71 ERA).
“I really liked what I saw from David Huff,” Acta said. “I like his new, aggressive delivery. His off-speed pitches were better. And his fastball has been better, too.”
Now back to the offense. So many guys are struggling right now it hard to keep track. Their best hitter, Asdrubal Cabrera, is two for his last 18. Carlos Santana is three for his last 22. Matt LaPorta is three for his last 26. Michael Brantley is three for his last 19. It seems like if Travis Hafner isn’t coming up with a big hit, they don’t score. Actually, it doesn’t seem that way, it is that way. They can’t seem to get anything going and the losses of Shin-Soo Choo and Grady Sizemore coupled with these slumps are killing this team.
“Tomorrow is a new day,” said Carlos Santana. “You have to stay positive.”
Lost in all of this horrible offense talk was the Tribe defense, which was as bad as it has ever been Wednesday afternoon. They made not one, not two, but FIVE errors. Throw in Carlos Santana’s passed ball (which should have been ruled an error) and you had just a horrific, horrific day. Huff did his best to work around these errors, but Santana’s botch job was a killer. The score was tied at one with two outs and a man on third. Acta pulled Huff for Joe Smith to face the right-handed hitting Peter Bourjos. Smitty threw a pitch in the dirt that Santana originally blocked away from the plate. When he went to pick it up, he kicked the ball, allowing Torii Hunter to score. The Angels took the lead for good.
In the ninth, despite the fact that they were being no hit, the Tribe still had a shot, trailing by just one run. With one out, Howie Kendrick attempted to steal second base. For the second time in a week, Santana airmailed the throw and Kendrick ended up at third. He scored on a Bourjos single. The extra run didn’t matter because Santana would finish off his historic day.
“I would encourage all of them to do what I’m doing tomorrow,” Acta said. “Go out and play in the golf tournament — the charity event for the team — and to relax and come out the day after that.”
I don’t know what else they can do at this point. The crazy part about this is the Tigers lost again to the White Sox yesterday afternoon and the Indians didn’t lose any ground again in the AL Central, which is now a true three team race. The Indians are two back while the White Sox are just three and a half back. Meanwhile the Sox traded starting pitcher Edwin Jackson in a three-team trade yesterday. Rumors are that they are also looking to see what they can get for OF Carlos Quentin. I don’t see why the South Siders would be traded anyone, considering how neither the Tigers nor the Indians look like they want to win this division.
The Tribe needs to regroup during this off day and hopefully GM Chris Antonetti can add a bat before the Sunday trade deadline. If this team offense stands pat, next week’s murderous seven game trip to Boston and Texas could be a long one.
23 Comments
Fuk U Dome?
Playoffs? Playoffs? We can’t even get a hit! Are you kidding me? Playoffs?
On a more serious note: 1 run, 0 hits, and 5 errors has to be one of the most bizarre box scores in MLB history. There’s no way that has ever happened before…
This team can make ANYONE look like a Cy Young candidate. I can’t tell if this was more our ineptitude or Santana just really being on.
It seems as though that “pick each other up” attitude is gone from these guys. We’ve gone from seeing a different hero every night to a different goat every night.
I know they’re missing Choo and Sizemore desperately right now but these guys just are NOT putting together quality at bats. I’m tired of seeing everyone being so darn patient at this point, these starters are throwing meat down the pipe to get ahead of these guys and they just keep the bats on their shoulder. The book is out already, swing please.
white sox do have a history of surrendering the division at the trade deadline when they are right in the thick of things 🙂 🙂 🙂 (yes, 3 smileys are warranted for that memory and the fact that they may be doing it again)
http://www.suntimes.com/mobile/6740523-463/white-sox-trade-was-good-business-not-sign-of-surrender.html
Funny that Carlos Quentin is exactly what the Tribe needs…
Don’t worry guys. Fukudome is on his way, bringing his 13 RBI in 293 ABs with him. Our troubles are over.
and I do not want Fukudome. we better be giving them players we would never need because he’s just not that good.
I am completely at a loss (in many ways). I missed the game; how did we get a run?
http://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-royals/2011/7/28/2300174/chicago-cubs-trade-kosuke-fukudome-to-the-cleveland-indians
Guesses as to prospects?
I would have rather sold the farm for Pence than send anyone (even Luis Valbuena) to get this guy. Seriously, this is a craptastic move.
sigh, Fukudome. really? we better not be sending anyone good back to them.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/baseball/mlb/07/28/cubs.fukudome/
what is with the AL Central this year? we can’t even trade good! (Tigers, White Sox and now Indians have all made trades that haven’t necessarily made them better)
one positive: he will have the highest OBP on our team and his OPS is only behind Hafner, Asdrubel and Carlos Santana.
but, still, not a fan. hopefully, he can change that.
I’m just gonna pretend this game didn’t happen. Have they won a day time game yet this year?
and the Fukudome trade is so not sexy. but i like it. small and smart.
If the huge impact trade isn’t available it’s not available. can’t get mad about that.
Minor League Pitcher and an Outfielder….hmmm
@ Reep – Just saw that myself. I honestly don’t like the sound of it. It better be guys I’ve never heard of.
I don’t think it will be possible — since it’s been pointed out to me that he’s an AL-only guy with only 9 HRs — but I think we need to trade Pronk and get what we can for him.
This team, should it make the playoffs, will get swept in the first round. It is simply not very good. As disappointed as I will be in yet another 90+ loss season, I say we suck it up and get ready for 2012.
Fans will hate that decision and probably stop going to the ballpark (did they ever *start* going?) but it is what it is. We can’t trade any prospects for a mediocre rent-a-player. We just can’t.
Abner Abreu and Carlton Smith. Reportedly.
No hitter aside, since the 30-15 start, this team is 22-35. The last 5 games have been abysmal. Maybe they make a run when Choo and Sizemore return, but all indications at this point are that they are simply not a playoff caliber team. If they were in any other division, we would have pulled the plug a couple weeks ago.
I don’t want to sound like I am quitting…I will still follow them and be pulling for them to get it together…but the fact of the matter is that this is a .500 team, maybe even a little below. I’m OK with that this year…I said prior to opening day that .500 would be a nice season for this club, and that the window is just starting to open. I still beleive that we will have a contender on our hands over the next 3-4 years, but they are just not quite there yet. It’s been a fun ride…better than I expected. The next few years should be fun as well…
@Buckeyedawg – let me give the other side of the coin.
the last 5 games have demonstrated outstanding pitching performances. if we can find a way to just get enough hitting and our defenders get back to not making so many mistakes, then that might be enough to win this pathetic division. sure, we might get our heads beaten in by NYY, Boston, or Texas; but, I’d rather get to the playoffs than not.
mgbode – fair enough. And I sincerely hope you are right. I hope they can find the mojo that they had in the first 45 games…I guess we’ll see. I am taking comfort in the belief that we are looking pretty good for the next few years, regardless of how this year turns out…
While were at it, lets see if we can pry Carlos Pena away from the Cubs. A right fielder and a first baseman in one trade? Ill take it.
Not overjoyed by the thought of Fukudome, but like MG mentioned he would have the second highest OBP on the team. Hes an upgrade over what we currently have in right field, which is the 2 headed monster of Kearns and Buck.
As long as the trade doesnt involve Kipnis, Chisenhall, White or Pomeranz, Im ok with it.
Yeah, I agree. We should be in good shape moving forward.