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Do IT this week: Layering
Pitcher displays the vulnerability of the spring in season opener
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Tuesday, Apr 07, 2009
ARLINGTON, TEXAS: Cliff Lee probably will make at least 30 more starts this season, but frustrated Indians fans are likely to interpret his 2009 debut as a continuation of his vulnerability in spring training.
Certainly, he displayed similar ineffectiveness, giving up seven runs and 10 hits in five innings as the Texas Rangers dominated the Tribe 9-1 at the Ballpark in Arlington on Monday.
But spring training wasn't on Lee's mind when he delivered his first pitch, nor was he rendered powerless after being struck in the left forearm with a one-hop smash off the bat of Hank Blalock in the second.
At least that was the testimony of manager Eric Wedge, catcher Kelly Shoppach and Lee himself. However, Blalock's infield single began a four-run rally that included two-run singles by Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ian Kinsler.
''I don't think it did; he felt OK,'' Wedge said when asked whether he thought being struck on the arm weakened Lee.
But Wedge hedged a bit, saying, ''It hit him at the top of his forearm. He didn't have an issue with it. I don't know if it had anything to do with how it [the inning] turned out.''
Lee wore a protective blue sleeve on his left elbow after the game but insisted, ''I don't think that was the reason'' he gave up four runs in the second.
''I just got hit in the forearm,'' Lee said. ''They did a good job of hitting. I have to tip my hat to them. But I expect more of myself.''
Shoppach said simply, ''No, it didn't bother him. Overall, I think Cliff threw pretty well, but that's not going to show in his line. And in the second, he didn't throw real well.''
After Lee was hit in the forearm, Wedge and head trainer Lonnie Soloff trotted to the mound to check on him. Lee threw a practice pitch and the game continued.
''They all ran out to the mound,'' Lee said. ''I could have done without that, but I know that's the trainer's job. Something's got to be dangling or broken for me to come out of a game. When I get the adrenalin going, you're going to have to hit me with a sledgehammer for me to feel it.''
Lee yielded a single in the third but retired the side without damage. In the fourth, he gave up a double to Kinsler but struck out the side.
In the fifth, Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz led off with soft singles, and Blalock followed with a booming home run to right to make it 7-0.
''I messed up with the Blalock home run,'' Lee said. ''The other two hits were broken-bat singles. Nothing you can do about that. But my goal is to keep my team in the game, and I didn't do that.''
Wedge was hoping Lee would settle down.
''I thought he would settle down after the second and get us deep in the game, but it didn't happen,'' Wedge said. ''I was hopeful we would keep it at a four-spot and put an inning together.''
Lee did not think there was a carryover from exhibition season, when he compiled a 12.46 ERA in six appearances. But coincidentally, his ERA after one regular season start is 12.60.
''This is Opening Day, not spring training,'' Lee said. ''It's different from the spring. I was out there trying to get everybody out. In the spring, you work on things. I'm looking forward, not back. One or two plays today, and it would have been a different game.''
Not exactly. Even if Lee had allowed only a couple of runs, it would have made no difference in the outcome of the game. That's because former Indians starter Kevin Millwood gave up only one run, five hits and one walk in seven innings.
''Millwood was able to do something I couldn't do,'' Lee said.
And he has done that rather consistently to his former club. In five career starts against the Tribe, Millwood is 4-1 with a 3.86 ERA.
''Like always, Millwood made pitches,'' Wedge said. ''He always throws pitches where he wants to. He was good today.''
Third baseman Mark DeRosa hasn't faced Millwood since the right-hander started for the Philadelphia Phillies four years ago.
''He was very different today than he was then,'' DeRosa said. ''He was using both sides of the plate. His cutter was working, and he had command of his curveball. But we also didn't put any pressure on him.''
Millwood threw 113 pitches, so it was obvious Indians batsmen were trying to force his pitch count up.
''He's a horse,'' DeRosa said. ''Throwing lots of pitches doesn't affect him.''
Shoppach gave the perfect summation of Millwood's effectiveness.
''He threw a few more cutters and sliders,'' he said. ''But when I face him, I'm usually out on three pitches, so I don't really know what he throws.''
Shoppach wasn't kidding. Millwood struck him out twice.
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
ARLINGTON, TEXAS: Cliff Lee probably will make at least 30 more starts this season, but frustrated Indians fans are likely to interpret his 2009 debut as a continuation of his vulnerability in spring training.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 04:39 AM, 04/07/2009
You're doing a great job Wedgie!
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 06:18 AM, 04/07/2009
Lee hurt !!! Indians looked pathetic in this loss. Still hoping, but that hope is dimming. No veteran replacements because of the cheapskate Dolan's moth ladden wallet. GO TRIBE !!!
Bethesda, MD
Posted 07:19 AM, 04/07/2009
I won't judge Lee until the results of 5 starts are in the books.
Akron, Oh
Posted 08:09 AM, 04/07/2009
1 down and 99 to go, this team is PATHETIC.
Sagamore Hills, OH
Posted 08:12 AM, 04/07/2009
OMG is a phony fan. Root for the Pirates you frontrunner! You ARE NOT ALLOWED to root for the Indians and Cavs if you root for the Pittsburgh Steelbillys.
akron, OH
Posted 08:29 AM, 04/07/2009
lee just looks bad. hasnt looked good all spring.
hope they pull it together.
OMG i really would like to know why you dont cheer on the pirates?
Posted 08:34 AM, 04/07/2009
Oh my god, you guys are complete idiots. You are jumping off the bandwagon after one game? Good. Be gone with you morons. There are 161 games to go!!
akron, OH
Posted 08:41 AM, 04/07/2009
im not off the bandwagon, i will be at many indians games. just saying lee looks bad. every year they start off slow.
geez lancechad
Posted 08:45 AM, 04/07/2009
It doesn't matter that he gave up 7. The offense only scored 1 run. Unless someone actually thinks Lee is going to come out and throw a shutout every game, a single run isn't going to cut it.
Tomorrow we have Carmona on the mound. Let's hope he follows suit and pitches like he did all spring.
Akron, Oh
Posted 08:46 AM, 04/07/2009
Just like last year when the eternal optimists ordered WS rings after 2-0; how did that work out? Watch the slow painful season unfold and the annual fire sale around July.
Stow, OH
Posted 09:00 AM, 04/07/2009
That is the problem with Wedges teams , they start out so slow ,they take the pressure off themselves by being 10 games down by June.If this team still played in it's old division , playing Boston and the Yankees we would be talking 72 wins if they were lucky.
Hoping the other teams in your division stink worse than you is no way to win a pennant.
Paradise, Oh
Posted 10:21 AM, 04/07/2009
That sure seemed smart of Wedge to leave Lee in the game after he received that tennis ball sized knot on his throwing arm. Wedge is from another galaxy and knows more about baseball than anybody.
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 10:35 AM, 04/07/2009
I'm guessing that the off-season was pretty distracting for Cliff Lee, with the award and all. Hopefully he'll right the ship. What worries me more is the hitting. I have a feeling that (once again) there's going to be a lot of inconsitency at the plate. Baseball is full of streak hitters, but the Tribe seems to have more than its share, IMO.
Canton, OH
Posted 11:39 AM, 04/07/2009
Eric Wedge will be gone by the All Star Break. . .
akron, oh
Posted 01:18 PM, 04/07/2009
Its called teamwork. Lee was not the only good player on the team. But people kept bragging only on him. Wake Up.
Farragut, TN
Posted 06:54 PM, 04/07/2009
We, of course, need more evidence, but I don't see much to be especially optimistic about with this Indians team. Kevin Millwood can be a very good pitcher, but I'm not sure his pitching was the whole story yesterday. We should know a lot more in two weeks or so.
