Hello Tribe fans everywhere!
Already we're seeing why the Indians never should have dispatched Ben Francisco to Buffalo as quickly as they did. Grady Sizemore turned an ankle late in Saturday's game against the Yankees and was unable to play on Sunday. Chien-Ming Wang shut Cleveland down on four hits yesterday, so perhaps Sizemore's loss didn't mean anything, but it would have given Indians fans a better feeling to have Francisco in the lineup, rather than both David Dellucci and Jason Michaels.
With Franklin Gutierrez in center, it gave the Indians a weak-hitting outfield. Actually, Dellucci has been having a decent year at the plate, but Michaels (.173) and Gutierrez (.227) are still suffering. When you're facing really good pitching, you need every good hitter you can get.
That's why I don't understand why the Indians stay with a player like Ryan Garko when he's really in a slump. Garko fanned three times Sunday and his average has now slipped to .238. Why not go with Victor Martinez at first and move Kelly Shoppach behind the plate? You never lose anything with Shoppach's defense, and considering Garko's slump, he might have been an improvement at bat. Shoppach can hit for the long ball on occasion.
As it was, the Indians wasted a superb pitching performance by C.C. Sabathia, who surrendered only a solo homer by Melky Cabrera in his 8 innings of work.
One more note about Wang. The guy's not shy about making his point. As Michaels went to bunt, Wang, who had excellent control all day long, suddenly fired a pitch right at the right fielder's head. Michaels was lucky to just spin out of the way.
Later, after Sabathia pitched out of a jam and pumped his arm with emotion several times on the mound, Wang hit Garko with a pitch. Kind of interesting.
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The answer to the last quickie quiz is: Cliff Lee's middle name is Phifer.
Today's quiz: Who was the player Tribe GM Frank Lane talking about when he traded Rocky Colavito and quipped, "I just traded a hamburger for a steak." Name the steak.
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-- Kevin Cuneo

