Three Up, Three Down – Week One

Here is a weekly series here at the Tribe Time Report. It’s Three Up and Three Down. Where I give you the three hot people with the Tribe and the Three Cold people.

Without further ado…

First Up: Ryan Garko

Ryan Garko was outstanding this first week of the regular season. He’s been the most consistent hitter from the start.

Garko is hitting .333 with four walks, four runs batted in, and a home run.

Garko has played half of the games so far on the West Coast, his home area where he is notoriously good.

He’s also had the luck of facing the A’s, a team he is really hot against. Another team he does well against, the Angels, are up on deck. Expect his hot start to continue.

Second Up: Grady Sizemore

I’m always mum when talking about Grady. I think he is an awesome player, but I also think other people give him way too much credit.

I spread the love around.

But Grady deserves it. He’s leading the team in batting average, homers, runs knocked in and total bases.

He started the year off great with a big home run, and has just continued to get on base and hit the baseball.

I mean the reason he is up this week is because of his statistics, but watching him swing the bat you can tell he’s improved.

He’s making great contact, hitting the ball hard to the gaps. It’s real impressive to watch him mature as a hitter.

Third Up: Craig Breslow

How about that for a late season addition?

Breslow came over after being cut by the Red Sox.

The Indians were not impressed with Aaron Fultz and decided to make a change to a kid they’ve had their eye on.

Breslow has come right in and has been impressive.

In two appearances he’s pitched in two innings and given up only one hit with a strikeout. He is earning more than just left handed specialist appearances.

First Down: Jason Michaels

Jason Michaels started the year off in a bad way.

He started opening day due to the left handed Mark Buehrle pitching.

Michaels was not swinging the bat well. Sunday was the first game where he collected a hit.

His worst performance was his debut in the third spot, where he struck out in his two at bats.

Michaels when he plays against the left handed pitchers, is the normal second hole hitter.

So he has to be able to create for the guys behind him. Yet so far he has collected only two walks and struck out four times. If this team is going to get some runs against the lefties, Jason has to have the year he did in 2007.

Second Down: C.C. Sabathia

In his 10.2 innings so far this season, C.C. Sabathia has given up nine runs and walked seven batters.

C.C has struggled against both the White Sox and the Athletics in his first two starts. His control has not been great and he’s having trouble locating his pitches.

It’s nothing to get worried about at this point in time, but it certainly deserves being pointed out.

Sabathia only walked 37 batters in 34 games last year, so the walks are something to be concerned about.

But don’t expect this trend to continue. C.C. has notoriously been bad at Oakland and the cold weather might have effected his control in the opener.

Third Down: Eric Wedge

I’ve learned to live with Eric Wedge and some of the decisions he’s made, I rarely want to second guess and blame him for things.

But this first week he has earned it.

With Victor Martinez out, Wedge has had some lineup shuffling to do.

He choose to revert to a lineup that worked for awhile, but eventually fizzled because of the pressure Jhonny Peralta couldn’t take.

For the first few games Peralta batted third and was absolutely awful. The pressure was too much for him and he at times would kill rallies.

Wedge’s latest decision on Saturday was to bat Jason Michaels in the third spot.

What would possess a man to do this? With Ryan Garko swinging the bat like he is, why not give him a shot?

Low and behold in Sunday’s game, Wedge had Hafner back in the three spot and Garko hitting cleanup. It’s no coincidence that Jhonny Peralta had two hits.

Victor Martinez should be back on Monday, so we can forgive Wedge for now.

Tribe Salvage Series; Lee Looks Great

The Indians survived a sweep at the hands of the Athletics on Sunday. Cliff Lee made his first start of the year and got enough offense to get the win.

Garko The Man: Shark has been the lone man from the get go this season. He’s hit safely in all the games up until today (he did go 0-2 with a pair of walks), and has been the sole reason the Indians offense hasn’t been completely awful.

Travis Hafner had another hit today, but he continues to just not feel comfortable. Hey I’ll take the garbage hits and just wait for him to get comfortable.

The two RBIs in today’s game came from Cabrera and Garko, both who didn’t record hits. That was an ugly offensive put together, but they got the job done.

Andy Marte played and he came up big.. He got a hit in that inning the Indians scored their two runs, and was replaced by Carroll to run. But it’s encouraging to see that.

Jason Michaels got his first hit of the year.

Andy finally out of the 3 hole and hitting behind Garko like he should be, Peralta got two hits.

Cliff Lee Makes Debut: Cliff Lee made his first start today and boy was he good.

He went 6.2 innings giving up only 4 hits and a walk. He gave up a run but it wasn’t earned. He also struck out 4.

If Cliff Lee can pitch like this most of the time… MAN that would be awesome. He is technically the fifth starter, and to get this kind of production or at least close to it would be great.

Raffy Dos worked 1.1 combined innings to bridge the gap to Jumpin’ Joe, who slammed the door for his second save of the year.

The Indians make the short trip to face the Angels for a three game series. Fausto Carmona takes on Joe Saunders at 10:00 P.M. E.T.

[BOXSCORE]

Jhonny Peralta Says Eveland "Got Lucky"

So Jhonny Peralta who has had a dismal start to the season, which has included a few games playing horrendously in the three spot, has called out Dana Eveland, the pitcher from yesterday’s game against the A’s.

Okay so he’s not really calling him out.. But If you were Dana Eveland how would you feel about this.

“He was lucky, he’s got a good fastball – 92 mph to 93 mph, but it’s straight. We just aren’t hitting. It happens.” – Jhonny Peralta

Jason Michaels wasn’t as outspoken but he too hinted at the fact that it was more about them than Eveland.

“I’m just going to hold my cards, I know that’s not what you’re looking for, but I’ve got nothing for you guys.”- Jason Michaels

I just think it says something to the fact that the Indians’ players know it’s them, and not the other pitcher. You have to credit them for knowing when they are in a bad way. Sometimes a hitter will admit the pitcher was just good, but in this case it’s Justin Douschereherher and Dana Eveland. You know something is up with the bats.

Plus watching the Tribe take awful hacks at Justin D’s curveball, you can just tell they aren’t in their normal ways.

I do find it funny though the two guys who couldn’t HACK it at the 3 spot are both the ones talking.

You can read the entire story here.

Web Round Up: Cliff Lee, CC and Schedule Talk

GAME RECAPS

Anthony Castrovince from Indians.com complete with quotes

“I didn’t have really good command,” Sabathia said. “[The A's] do a good job of making you make pitches, but I wasn’t even close. It was one of those days.”

David Wiley of Bleacher Report

“A is for Ace? Not in Cleveland’s case. C.C. Sabathia made his second start of the season, and left in the sixth sporting a 7.59 ERA for the year after being roughed up yet again. “

Rick Hurd talks about the chance for the Tribe to be the ones to reverse a curse.

“Oh, thought this was going to be another discussion regarding those lovable losers about 345 miles to the west? Not this time. We’re likely to hear about the century-long wait the Chicago Cubs have endured about 100,000 times over the next six months, and, well, what can be said that hasn’t already been mentioned during the past 100 years?” – (Contra Costa Times)

Sheldon Ocker answers fan’s questions.

“By the way, I guess you weren’t watching him make six errors in exhibition season. I don’t know whether Marte can play or not, but he has done nothing to merit a spot in the everyday lineup.” – (Akron Beacon Journal)

Sheldon Ocker again, this time talking about the Indians schedule.

“Competitively, this year’s slate of games is relatively fair to the Tribe, but the business side of the club has every reason to complain, though its protestations probably have fallen on deaf ears in the commissioner’s office.” – (Akron Beacon Journal)

Trade C.C. Sabathia? Michael Taylor of Bleacher Report says no.

“At a time when fans should be excited about their team and their march for a second straight division title, Cleveland fans can only worry and wonder what lies ahead for their beloved “hefty lefty.” – (Bleacher Report)

Final Game Preview from Castrovince focuses on Cliff Lee who is making his first start.

“The next-best thing to come out of his spring performance is an attribute Lee hopes to carry into the regular season.” – (Indians.com)