Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Winter Scheduling


The great Cleveland snow storm from a couple years ago that wiped out an entire four game series was a logistics issue, and much debate ensued about what could be done about games at such cold weather locations in April. I don't know that I ever read about anything official being done to avoid the problem, but in glancing at the standings this morning I found that Cleveland has played the fewest home games of any team in the majors (3). Colorado also has played but 3 home games, which given the recent Denver snowstorm seems to have been a prudent scheduling decision. Even still, one has to wonder if this lopsided scheduling alters the fairness of the schedule. I wouldn't blame all of Cleveland's poor start on the road schedule, but it does put them in a hole. On the reverse side, if they had played decently during the stretch, then they would have a big homestand or two during the final weeks of the season. Eh, interesting.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Wang to 60 Day DL?

After three outings in which Chien-Ming Wang has pitched a grand total of 6 innings (23 ER), I would imagine we are about a week away from Wang heading to the 60 day disabled list. These types of bad outings are usually an indication of some terrible injury. While the Yankees haven't said much other than "slow to recover from off season surgery", one has to figure that a guy with a career ERA of 4 is pitching pathetically for some reason.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

The rout and the rant



Cleveland Indians: 20
New York Yankees: 2
Bottom of the 5th Inning


I have tried very very hard to stay away from writing that "season is over in April" post that I so badly wanted to write after the Tribe started 1-7. Everything was going wrong, and I feared that the hope that shines so brightly during Spring Training was the proverbial on-coming headlights of a semi-truck.

My biggest concern for Cleveland has been the bizarre line-ups that manager Eric Wedge has taken a liking to. Don't get me wrong, I am pleased that he feels we have such a good group of players that tinkering with the starting order is the only way to get people at bats. But, could we please stop it with a different line-up every single night?

Trevor Crowe has played in six of the first eleven games. Why? He's hitting .211 with no home runs and a slugging percentage of .263. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a huge Ben Francisco guy, but Trevor Crowe?

I get that Travis Hafner may still be recovering from shoulder surgery, but he's actually hitting the ball. Why take him out? He's rested two games already, not to mention the day off in the middle of that always strange opening series schedule. The guy has 3 homers in those nine games and an OBP of .405.

Ryan Garko and Kelly Shoppach are pretty much a push offensively. I suppose I'd rather have Garko playing first than Victor Martinez, which means Shoppach is the odd man out. I'm sure there will be an injury soon enough that gets him in the line-up.

So with a batting order of

1.) Grady Sizemore
2.) Mark DeRosa
3.) Victor Martinez
4.) Travis Hafner
5.) Jhonny Peralta
6.) Shin Soo Choo
7.) Ryan Garko
8.) Ben Franscisco
9.) Asdrubal Cabrera

Cleveland put up 20 runs on the road against the Yankees. Mr. Wedge, could we please let these guys stay for awhile? Thanks.

Oh, please don't get me started with Carl Pavano.