I’ll Have What Jhonnys Having

For some odd reason, Jhonny Peralta hit everything thrown in his direction tonight.

5-5, three doubles, three runs batted in, a home run and three runs scored.

That brought his average all the way up to .257, a little bit more respectable. He’s also had seven straight hits.

And all of a sudden, Eric Wedge is looking a little bit like a genius.

Now come on here..

The comeback came a little short.. The second Swisher home run hurt a bit, and the fact that Jeremy gave up both of those jacks with TWO outs.

It also stung that Jeremy gave up the three spot after we took the lead. It looked like it was going to be a good night offensively and it was. But the pitching did not hold up their end of the bargain.

Hey, thumbs up to the bullpen tonight. Squirrelly Cheeks Mujica and Joe Borowski pitched two scoreless and sandwiched in between that Mastny had the three innings. For five innings of work, one run is not bad.

Shin-Soo Choo had two hits for two RBI as well.

The Indians did out hit the White Sox, so that’s encouraging. Gotta get a better starting effort though, and oh look at that.

Tomorrow we got a doooooozy of a pitching match-up. Cliff Lee will try to stop ANOTHER three game losing streak against John Danks who’s been awesome this year.

[BOXSCORE]

Scott Elarton placed on Restricted List

Looks like I was totally wrong.. Turns out it was a strange move, because Scott Elarton is going on the restricted list.

The report is “personal reasons” so we probably won’t know much more than that for the most part.

Oh well. Wonder how much time Mastny will get. I wanna see him tried out a little, he did a good job in Buffalo this year to date.

It just proves what kind of year this is. You can’t pinpoint what moves are happening at all.

What is up Shapiro’s Sleeve? Mastny To Be Called Up

Could the Indians have made a move?

I’m not suggesting something has been done. But this is really odd to me.

Anthony Castrovince has posted that Tom Mastny has been called up to the major league team today.

What’s the big deal?

Well so far no corresponding move.

Castrovince said he will post it when he can.

What could be that move?

Someone getting sent down? Who would be sent down at this point?

Did someone get released? It had to be.

Or maybe traded?

Who knows..

I have a feeling there is a big shakeup coming.. And this is the start of it.. I mentioned it in the Minor League update the other day. Mastny is tearing it up in Buffalo, the call up is well deserved.

I’m gonna guess..

Rick Bauer got released
Dellucci got released or DFAed or traded

or this would be a big shocker.

Andy Marte is gone.

Something is happening here.. More Later..

Morning Update: It ain’t over till you’re mathematically out! Get me a bagel!

I think…?

Paul Byrd is pretty sure that if they are mathematically in the race, that they have a chance.

Well Paul that’s all well and dandy, but if you keep pitching like this we will be out of the race sooner than later.

This is the road trip though. They need to make something happen with the three top dogs in the division.. If not, then well good bye! Here’s your defining moment.

Masa Kobayashi hasn’t pitched more than 58 innings in a year. Well Wedge thinks he’ll pass that by far.

They are keeping an eye on him though. With him being the one guy who has been close to stable out of that pen, they have no choice but to continue to use him when hes needed.

Masasan has been good, he sometimes has those where did that come from inning, but he’s been as solid as you can ask for coming over from Japan.

Jamey Carroll finally got a day off, I would have waited till today, but Wedge decided he wanted Carroll for this entire divisional run. To his surprise, he was on the All-Star ballot for the players.

Wedge by the way said that the “element of surprise” is gone now that the “replacements” have been in there for a good time.

From the same article, Grady Sizemore has joined the Progressive Field 50 home run club.

A little tidbit I learned this weekend on Grady by the way. He’s three away from 100 on his career. That was fast…

You’ve seen me say it.. The players have said it, and Eric Wedge has said it.

Now.. Chris Herring says it.

I don’t know who Chris Herring is….

Kelly Shoppach has a few good quotes concering Adam Dunn on Sunday.

On Laffey hitting Dunn twice, “Whatever you do, don’t make this guy charge the mound. He’s bigger than both of us.” (Plain Dealer)

Then on the collison with Dunn at the plate, ”No hard feelings,” Shoppach said, smiling. ”I was able to ask him if that’s all he had. It was a clean play. I was just joking with him.” (ABJ)

You can blame the lack of attendance on whatever you want. Weather, poor performance. I like to blame it on the midges, but whatever.

But yeah it’s been bad. I’d blame it on the bad play.

Bill Livingston says the injuries are not to blame for the poor performance. I sort of agree with him, but the injuries are a part of it.

Minor League Update: Mulhern to DL, Rincon Activated

The Bisons have activated new reliever Juan Rincon to counter the move of Ryan Mulhern going to the Disabled List.

The Indians fully believe that Rincon will be in their bullpen sometime this year. It’s just a matter of what he does at Buffalo and what they see needs to be fixed.

For the record, Armando Camacaro was placed on the DL as well, Yamid Haad who was on reserve after accepting the Triple A assignment was activated.

The Bisons swept the double header the other night. over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. Yesterday they won 7-5, and tonight they go for the four game sweep.

Akron keeps winning and Trevor Crowe keeps hitting. The guy went deep again yesterday and had two RBI.

Kinston wins as well and they have the best record in the Carolina League.

To prove so, Josh Tomlin and Jason Denham took home both CL awards for this past week.

Tomlin is the pitcher of the week, and Denham is the player of the week. Denham went 7-14 with six runs batted in

Josh Tomlin’s award is well deserved though, as he officially threw a one hit shutout. He only threw six innings because of rain, but it’s officially a complete game shutout.

Marty Join The Party!

Everyone in the lineup got a hit today, except Andy Marte.

Man, not real good back up for the ones that want to support him. Then again can you blame him with the playing time he gets?

Like I said, everyone got a hit today. Benny Fresh had the late two run jack that got your hopes up. Grady had his 19th to pull into a tie for the league lead.

Aaron Laffey was playing with fire the whole time, and he finally got burned in the 5th. He just kept giving up hits and eventually home run capped it off.

I thought we could get back into it. Had Casey not gotten greedy with the double it would have been two runs on the Choo phantom triple.

Cruddy series to lose.. Especially since they swept the earlier one.

Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of the season in my mind. Just over the halfway point by a game, and the division is lined up for us three series in a row. It’s now or never for the Indians.

Gavin Floyd and Jeremy Sowers.. Oh Boy

[BOXSCORE]

Paul Byrd will let you hit his fastball

I’m not real into it tonight…. I also promise this is the last time I’ll use that kind of title.. I think the joke is over..

Most of my energy was spent writing this lovely gem.

Here’s what I got to say..

Casey Blake went 3-3 and his average has quietly perked up to .281. Hmm hitting at HOME and the road will do that for ya Casey.

Fear the Fu Man Choo, Sal Fasano gets two hits and a walk.

I love Fasano already. He’s got manager written all over him and I think we gotta sign him up somewhere.

I also think that if he hits a home run this year, everyone on the team should grow a Fu Man Choo to the best of their abilities.

Paul Byrd absolutely sucked. He got helped out in the first few innings with some great defense(Sal Fasano), and some lucky breaks. But they eventually got to him.

The offense didn’t get enough lucky breaks. They had guys on just about every inning and every other inning there was a legit scoring opportunity. You need to get those guys in.

Tomorrow we got Aaron Laffey against a joker named Bronson Arroyo. We better pound him into salt.

[BOXSCORE]

Morning Update: Hafner’s shoulder only at 50%

It’s 11:45, maybe if I hurry I can beat the Noon Deadline so this doesn’t become “Afternoon Update.” GO GO GO GO!

Jamey Carroll has not sat a game since taking over and I don’t think I blame Wedge. I’d play him every day against the National League, and why not? He played in it for the last few years.

Jamey has been giving Wedge and the team pointers on the NL.

Anthony Castrovince is always digging for a new story. Which is why I like him.. That and he’s Italian and his brother does the local sports here in Youngstown. Trust me, Anthony is the better of the two.. No Offense Bill.

BUT, for some strange reason he talked to Andy Marte… Marte provided some quotables about his playing time.. Here Here..

“I’m still young,” said the 24-year-old Marte. “All I need is playing time. If not here, maybe somewhere else. But I’d like to stay here. I like this organization and the way they’ve treated me. I like it here, but I’ve got to think about my career.”

We all believe that something needs to be done here.. If they fall out of the race, Casey Blake must be the second guy to go. We need to give Marte a real shot at showing he can play. They can’t have this guy hanging over their head next year.

So it turns out the bat C.C. Sabathia used was just a loner from Adam Dunn. Dunn planed to go get the bat back. Hopefully C.C. used all the power it had in or Dunn doesn’t use it this series. Garsh.

Since I brought him up (7 minutes to noon), I forgot about something on C.C. yesterday.

Jon Heyman of SI rounded up some stuff on Sabathia that likes.

Heyman said the Tribe will probably not committ to a fifth year for C.C., uh-oh. May I propose a mutual option?

There are as many as 12 teams interested and all the contenders have at least asked, excluding the Cardinals.

C.C. could be looking for 125 million.. Yikes, over 6 years thats 20 million, and over 7 thats around 17, but closer to 18.

And finally the Indians probably won’t give anyone a window to negotiate.. Why should they? Unless of course the other team sweetins the pot.

Cliff Lee is superstisious. Not really, but he steps over the chalked lines. Carmona hops over them, but Lee tries to make it subtle. I would do the same thing.

Also, Paul Byrd’s book is in and he gave it to the media members. I’m thinking of picking it up when it comes out, just to see what’s up about this steroid use. Straight from the Byrd himself.

Finally we got injury updates on Fausto Carmona and Travis Hafner.

Shoot, it’s noon.

Welcome to the Afternoon update…

First Fausto Carmona…

He played catch yesterday and also ran sprints. The plan is to get him throwing on a mound for a bullpen session in the next week, then go on some rehab assignments. Wedge is pinpointing right after the All-Star break for Carmona.

The news is less-exciting about Travis Hafner, who could be out for a longgggg time.

40-50% is the shape his shoulder is at. They want him to get it to 75% before they even think of letting him swing a bat and what not. There is really no time table, but Lonnie Soloff is supposed to talk to the media today sometime, so maybe he can provide a better insight into this 40-50% thing.

Minor League Update: Rondon To Play in Futures Game

Every year on the Sunday before the All-Star Break, the MLB gets together a bunch of the world’s best players to play a little thing called the Futures Game. ESPN usually televises it and you can see some of the best prospects in the minor leagues.

The Indians are usually well represented, especially on the World team, but this year they only had one selection.

K-Tribe Starting Pitcher Hector Rondon has been chosen to represent the Indians at New York next month.

You can check out the rosters here: US Team, World Team.

Congrats to Hector, and once next year rolls around I’m expecting the game to have a lot more Indians.

Akron laid a smacking on Reading last night 16-6. That man appeared again, Trevor Crowe went 3-5 and has a grand slam. He also scored four times. Josh Rodriguez also had three hits with thee runs batted in.

Kinston hit four home runs last night, including two from Beau Mills who is starting to get locked in.

The Captains swept a double header yesterday.

C.C. Sabathia dares you to hit his slider.

Wait a minute….

Two straight games of 8 inning shut out ball?

What the hell is going on here!

Then offense to support it?

The world must be coming to an end as we know it. The Tribe have won two straight in great fashion, manufacturing some two out runage after Sir Franklin struck out with runners on 2nd and 3rd and noooooooobody out! Kelly Shoppach had a sac-fly followed by line drive double by Grady Sizemore, who looked as if he saved the day in the 5th inning with a solo shot and rain coming down.

Sparkplug threw in a single up the middle, and thanks to some sloppy defense he got to second in addition to Garko scored almost surprisingly on the Grady double.

Let’s also mention that play Grady made early in the game. I swear to god I thought he broke his ankle, but man did he go up and get that sucker.

CC? Oh yeah 8 innings, 4 hits, 2 walks and 11 of those things we like to call strikeouts.

Looking good here.. Jamey Carroll’s average is up over .300 now by the way.

Tomorrow it will be Free Money Night, so I encourage you go and get your free money. You might also see Paul Byrd pitch a good game, but I wouldn’t hold your breath. Johnny Cueto for the Reds from Cincinnati.

Oh hey did everyone catch DAVE BURBA in the booth tonight? I think he did radio as well, but man. Gotta love Burba. They showed his home run as well. DAVE BURBA!!

Maybe that’s where all this good karma is coming from.

DAVE BURBA!! BRING HIM BACK!

[BOXSCORE]