Events Calendar
In This Section
City, county may ban bias based on sexual orientation
Researcher says she found text on Shroud of Turin
Ohio native takes second place on 'Project Runway'
White House at odds with bishops over abortion
End of an era: Oprah ending show after 25 years
Kin want right to sue after man assumed dead
Sen. Kerry's daughter arrested in LA on DUI
Raw Video: Cop Crashes Into Car Killing 2 Teens
Hundreds of rotting deer in yard cause big stink (with video)
Most Read Stories
Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Victim of beating in Kent last week is declared dead at Akron hospital
Can DNA tests free ex-Akron captain?
Dad accused of forcing son into field, killing him
Does it work? Test team returns to try out new products advertised on television
Man found dead in North Akron home is identified
Coventry man killed in crash at I-77 ramp
Zips men end tournament with 69-52 win over Howard
City, county may ban bias based on sexual orientation
Blogs:
Pets:
Cat-loving chihuahua suckles seven abandoned kittens
The Heldenfiles:
Sunday Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
Browns sick after sick loss in Detroit
Akron Zips:
Zips advance to Sweet Sixteen
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Post-game defensive quotes
Kent State Sports:
Kent State defeats Rochester College, 63-44
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Four area football teams play tonight
All Da King's Men:
The Sunday Sanity Challenge
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Will Health Care Reform Pass?
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (69) The Brookings Institute Study on "Bending the Curve" – Four General Strategies
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
George is looking for a Thanksgiving buffet in Akron.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – You are All Wrong About Jobs, or the Lack of Jobs, Being the Reason People Do Not Live in NEO
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 07:44 p.m. EDT, Jul 09, 2009
CHICAGO: It's the nature of the game for the Indians these days. Almost no win is easy or stress free, even when the team scores in double digits.
The Tribe salvaged one of three games against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday by earning a 10-8 win at U.S. Cellular Field, but not before wasting most of its seven-run lead.
''They got runs back in bunches,'' Indians manager Eric Wedge said. ''You still have to make pitches for nine innings. We've got a lot of young pitchers going through this stuff for the first time.''
It was a fun three innings for Indians hitters, but after that, it was back to the usual grind. Still, while it lasted, it was party time for the Tribe.
Asdrubal Cabrera set the tone by leading off the game with a double that began a two-run rally that ended with Jhonny Peralta's RBI single.
But that was only the opening act. In the second inning, White Sox starter Clayton Richard failed to retire any of the first four batters, the last of whom, Kelly Shoppach, ended Richard's workday by hitting the first grand slam of his career to give the Indians a 6-2 lead.
Shoppach has done more sitting lately because of an anemic batting average (.199) and his penchant for striking out. But he is trying to work his way out of his slump.
''Yeah, I watched Rescue Me on TV last night,'' he deadpanned. ''You know, I could punch out four times tomorrow. This was only one game.''
The lead ballooned to 9-2 in the third, as Shoppach got his fifth RBI by taking a walk to force in a run, another scored when Cabrera bounced into a double play and Victor Martinez's single scored a third run.
It might be a quibble, but the Tribe didn't come close to taking full advantage of White Sox pitchers issuing 10 walks.
''We had a couple of bases-loaded double plays,'' Wedge said. ''But you can't look at the offense when you score 10 runs. You have to be realistic. You have to win those ballgames.''
The Indians' final run of the day — important, because it produced a two-run cushion — occurred in the sixth inning, when Peralta doubled and Ryan Garko, who had four hits, singled him home.
It was obvious from the outset that David Huff was an unlikely candidate to pitch deep into the game, though one misplay cost him three extra runs.
That happened in the White Sox's four-run third that began with Huff retiring the first two batters. But a single by Jim Thome and a walk to Paul Konerko was followed by A.J. Pierzynski's RBI single.
That brought Jayson Nix to the plate with runners on first and second. Nix lifted a fly to shallow left. Cabrera faded back and Shin-Soo Choo came charging in after he got a late start on the ball, which fell in front of him for a single, scoring one run.
So instead of making the third out, Nix's accidental hit scored one run and brought up Chris Getz, who doubled home two more runs.
''David deserved a little better fate, but they were squaring up his pitches pretty good,'' Wedge said.
The fact that Choo failed to make a play doesn't let Huff off the hook for giving up eight runs (seven earned) and 11 hits in only 41/3 innings.
The rookie left-hander was hit hard — four rocket shots went for outs — and even though Peralta's first-inning error cost Huff a run, superior defensive plays by Cabrera and Martinez, playing first, saved him further grief.
''A starter is supposed to go seven innings,'' Huff said. ''I didn't do that, so it's very frustrating. When you have a 9-2 lead, you want to challenge the hitters.
''You end up throwing more fastballs than usual. If you start flipping off-speed pitches up there, it looks bad. They want you to throw more fastballs.''
Huff's problems turned a rout into a competitive game, because when he left after giving up two more runs in the fifth, the White Sox had trimmed a seven-run deficit to one.
After that, it was up to the Tribe's shaky bullpen, which tottered but did not fall. Jose Veras let in Huff's run but did not give up any of his own, working one inning. Tony Sipp, who got his first major-league win, walked a batter but retired the other two he faced.
Then it was Rafael Betancourt taking over with one on and nobody out in the seventh. In his first appearance after coming off the disabled list, Betancourt retired all three batters he faced, one on strikes.
''It was the first time I pitched in six weeks,'' Betancourt said. ''I understand [not wanting to use him in the eighth inning]. They were looking for a situation without so much pressure. But I was ready.''
Joe Smith started the eighth and struck out two batters then gave way to closer Kerry Wood, who got the final four outs of the game to earn his 11th save.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters. Follow the Indians on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Indians.
CHICAGO: It's the nature of the game for the Indians these days. Almost no win is easy or stress free, even when the team scores in double digits.
The Tribe salvaged one of three games against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday by earning a 10-8 win at U.S. Cellular Field, but not before wasting most of its seven-run lead.
''They got runs back in bunches,'' Indians manager Eric Wedge said. ''You still have to make pitches for nine innings. We've got a lot of young pitchers going through this stuff for the first time.''
It was a fun three innings for Indians hitters, but after that, it was back to the usual grind. Still, while it lasted, it was party time for the Tribe.
Asdrubal Cabrera set the tone by leading off the game with a double that began a two-run rally that ended with Jhonny Peralta's RBI single.
But that was only the opening act. In the second inning, White Sox starter Clayton Richard failed to retire any of the first four batters, the last of whom, Kelly Shoppach, ended Richard's workday by hitting the first grand slam of his career to give the Indians a 6-2 lead.
Shoppach has done more sitting lately because of an anemic batting average (.199) and his penchant for striking out. But he is trying to work his way out of his slump.
''Yeah, I watched Rescue Me on TV last night,'' he deadpanned. ''You know, I could punch out four times tomorrow. This was only one game.''
The lead ballooned to 9-2 in the third, as Shoppach got his fifth RBI by taking a walk to force in a run, another scored when Cabrera bounced into a double play and Victor Martinez's single scored a third run.
It might be a quibble, but the Tribe didn't come close to taking full advantage of White Sox pitchers issuing 10 walks.
''We had a couple of bases-loaded double plays,'' Wedge said. ''But you can't look at the offense when you score 10 runs. You have to be realistic. You have to win those ballgames.''
The Indians' final run of the day — important, because it produced a two-run cushion — occurred in the sixth inning, when Peralta doubled and Ryan Garko, who had four hits, singled him home.
It was obvious from the outset that David Huff was an unlikely candidate to pitch deep into the game, though one misplay cost him three extra runs.
That happened in the White Sox's four-run third that began with Huff retiring the first two batters. But a single by Jim Thome and a walk to Paul Konerko was followed by A.J. Pierzynski's RBI single.
That brought Jayson Nix to the plate with runners on first and second. Nix lifted a fly to shallow left. Cabrera faded back and Shin-Soo Choo came charging in after he got a late start on the ball, which fell in front of him for a single, scoring one run.
So instead of making the third out, Nix's accidental hit scored one run and brought up Chris Getz, who doubled home two more runs.
''David deserved a little better fate, but they were squaring up his pitches pretty good,'' Wedge said.
The fact that Choo failed to make a play doesn't let Huff off the hook for giving up eight runs (seven earned) and 11 hits in only 41/3 innings.
The rookie left-hander was hit hard — four rocket shots went for outs — and even though Peralta's first-inning error cost Huff a run, superior defensive plays by Cabrera and Martinez, playing first, saved him further grief.
''A starter is supposed to go seven innings,'' Huff said. ''I didn't do that, so it's very frustrating. When you have a 9-2 lead, you want to challenge the hitters.
''You end up throwing more fastballs than usual. If you start flipping off-speed pitches up there, it looks bad. They want you to throw more fastballs.''
Huff's problems turned a rout into a competitive game, because when he left after giving up two more runs in the fifth, the White Sox had trimmed a seven-run deficit to one.
After that, it was up to the Tribe's shaky bullpen, which tottered but did not fall. Jose Veras let in Huff's run but did not give up any of his own, working one inning. Tony Sipp, who got his first major-league win, walked a batter but retired the other two he faced.
Then it was Rafael Betancourt taking over with one on and nobody out in the seventh. In his first appearance after coming off the disabled list, Betancourt retired all three batters he faced, one on strikes.
''It was the first time I pitched in six weeks,'' Betancourt said. ''I understand [not wanting to use him in the eighth inning]. They were looking for a situation without so much pressure. But I was ready.''
Joe Smith started the eighth and struck out two batters then gave way to closer Kerry Wood, who got the final four outs of the game to earn his 11th save.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters. Follow the Indians on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Indians.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Canton, OH
Posted 07:50 PM, 07/09/2009
A " W " is a " W ". . .C'Mon. .
, OH
Posted 08:35 PM, 07/09/2009
I tried to type, GOOD JOB BY THE TRIBE BULLPEN, but spellcheck kept popping up and asking, "Are you sure that's what you meant?" Just kidding...it was actually some pretty good work by the guys out of the pen in this game. Maybe if Wedgie would have used Kerry Wood for more 4 or 5 out saves in some of those games earlier in the year, the outcome might have been different. Joe Torre did it for years with Mariano Rivera. I mean, if you're gonna use him in the 8th inning, why wait until now to try it? Personally, I would have tried it earlier...what did he have to lose? Now, the Tribe is out of the race, Wood is on the trading block and Wedge is probably gone as manager. I doesn't make any sense to me??? If I'm the manager of a team and I'm going down, I'd want go down with my best guys playing.
Naples, FL
Posted 07:44 AM, 07/10/2009
The Tribe was supposed to have Betancourt, Smith, Perez and Jensen Lewis for the late innings leading up to Wood. None started out well, Betancourt and Smith went down to injuries and Perez and Lewis just fell apart. I don't think you blame Wedge for not going to Wood in the 8th inning. Moving guys all over the pen was what they did last year and were trying to avoid by getting Wood and Smith. It's easy to blame the manager but guys simply have to do their job and Wood hasn't been great either. I can guarantee you Wood in not on the trading block.
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 09:05 AM, 07/10/2009
This is another one of those 2009 Tribe wins that even though it's a win, it STILL leaves you with bad taste in your mouth. I've watched many, many bad Tribe teams through the 70's and 80's, but I never remember a team so completely sucking the fun out of watching baseball these guys.
QUICK, name your top 5 memories of the 2009 season: First win at the new Yankees stadium on Grady's granny, shellacking the Wankees by 3 touchdowns in that same series, and then there's...um.....uh.............
, OH
Posted 10:29 AM, 07/10/2009
No, I really don't blame Wedge for the collapse of the bullpen. (though I do I blame him for some other things) I was just surprised to see him use Wood in the 8th of that game yesterday after he'd never done it all year. CleveRox is right... people have to do their jobs. It would be like trying to manage an office of 25 people who were hired to run computers and then suddenly finding out most of them can't type. It wouldn't really make that much difference what a manager does at that point! On paper the bullpen looked solid to start the season, but unfortunately games aren't played on paper and when the bullpen collectively took a dump or was beset with injuries, the Tribe had no real help available. Sure, some of that is just bad luck, but most of it lands in the lap of Shapiro who was either wrong in his assessment of the guys he had or was unprepared for the possibility of their failure. Sure, it's easy to criticize now, but that's the only thing we as fans seem to have left this year. And I'm not saying they are trying to trade Wood, but I feel like if they got the right offer they'd deal him because he's only here for next year and they would save a ton of money. After all, what good is a solid closer if you can only use him once or twice a week?
Stow, OH
Posted 11:07 AM, 07/10/2009
We can whine all we want, but the facts are,yes I agree Shapiro needs to shoulder most of the blame. Wedge also has made many bad decisions ,with juggling the line up all season long and coming out of spring training AGAIN not having a clue who should be playing in the infield,etc.
Problem is ..Shapiro is under contract till 2013 and the Dolans don't have deep pockets to buy him out ,in fact they have no business owning a baseball team in the Major leagues period. It takes money to get you out of these types of situations,money they do not have, so the Tribe will be in a mess for a long time to come .
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 12:23 PM, 07/10/2009
Shapiro is under contract till 2013?!?!?! How in the world did he get that deal? Based on stellar signings like....Jose Jimenez, Scott Stewart, Guillermo Mota, Roberto Hernandez, Jason Johnson, Jorge Julio, Juan Rincon, Brendan Donnelly , Masa Kobayashi???
Betchya those names brought back some wonderful memories for everyone. And that's just SOME of his bullpen guys!
Stow, OH
Posted 12:33 PM, 07/10/2009
Yes ,the Dolans ,in their infinite wisdom,gave Shapiro a 5 yr.extension in 2007, for doing what ,I don't know,but sure reminds ya of when Lerner gave Romeo and Savage extensions for almost performing.
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 01:01 PM, 07/10/2009
Doesn't Dan Gilbert have enough $$$ to buy the Indians? At least he appears to be TRY to win a championship.
, OH
Posted 06:02 PM, 07/10/2009
Yeah Bro, Kobayashi was the best wasn't he? And the worst part of it was that the front office had to try and save face after throwing so much money at him that they kept trotting him out there in critical situations when it was painfully obvious to most of us that he didn't have what it takes. That's where Wile E Coyote's comments come into play. If this were a team like Boston or New York with deep pockets a guy like Kobayashi would have been gone long before he was here in Cleveland. That's the biggest difference. The teams with the cash can afford to be wrong on a few guys...where as we simply can't... and that's part of what happened this season.
