While We’re Waiting… LRMR and CP3, D’Qwell’s Timetable, and 32 Great Receivers
August 13, 2010Browns vs. Packers – What We’re Watching For…
August 13, 2010After two frustrating nights down at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario, the Indians were in danger of being swept by the lowly Baltimore Orioles. Did they fret? Nope. They just turned to the old adage that has won baseball games for decades – pitching and defense.
Almost of out nowhere, the Indians have discovered a 22-year old “stopper,” Jeanmar Gomez. In his fourth start of the season, he again showed a mastery of the strike zone and pitched six innings of one-run ball, leading the Tribe to victory. They have yet to lose a game in where Gomez was the starter.
And to think they stumbled onto him because of David Huff’s rogue tweet!
Said Lou Marson, the man who caught him last night: “He’s a composed guy. He’s done well and hopefully that can continue. He hasn’t changed anything. He’s been aggressive going right at guys, which is what you want. Good for him. He’s a mature kid who’s got good stuff.”
Mature, and still 22 years old.
In his six innings, he allowed six hits and didn’t walk anyone, lowering his WHIP to 1.07, a great number for any pitcher. His ERA now stands at 1.54. Amazingly, Manny Acta said Gomez isn’t even at his best. “His ability to command that sinking fastball down in the zone is what has helped him,” Acta said. “He still hasn’t shown three solid pitches, or command of them, in any of those outings.”
While Gomez was shutting down the Orioles, some of the other kids were coming through with the bats. Michael Brantley, who is now the unquestioned starter in Center the rest of the way, had four hits on the night, igniting the offense. It was the second four hit game of his short career.
SIDE NOTE – When Grady Sizemore comes back next year, he should be moved to left. All you need to do is watch Brantley move in Center and watch his arm. While Sizemore’s arm is borderline at best, Brantley has a rifle.
“It’s only a matter of time for him,” said Acta. “It’s going to take a while before he can look up at the scoreboard and see a higher batting average, but it’s there and it’s not going away. I think he feels comfortable right now. He’s swinging the bat well and getting things going for us in the leadoff hole.”
Right behind him was “veteran” Asdrubal Cabrera who went 2-3 and drove in a key insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, giving our boy “Pure Rage” Chris Perez more breathing room. Trevor Crowe, strangely hitting in the five hole on this night, was clutch as well, with two hits that drove in two. In the first, he beat out an infield hit with two on and two out, scoring Brantley and putting the Tribe on top where they stayed all night. In the fifth, he ripped a double scoring Shin-Soo Choo who had been hit by a Kevin Millwood pitch.
“He’s been very good with runners in scoring position,” Acta said of Crowe. “He’s second on this team with doubles [18]. Right now I feel he makes us better hitting in the middle of those guys.”
Now there’s a sentence you certainly never thought you would ever hear uttered by a Tribe manager.
Andy Marte was one of the four Indians with at least two hits on the night, going 2-4 . The 4-1 win could have been much larger, considering the Indians 11 hits. However, they went 2-13 with runners in scoring position. Amazing considering that Travis Hafner wasn’t even in the lineup (I know, low blow to kick a man while he is down).
What shouldn’t be overlooked was the defensive exploits by AC and first baseman Matt LaPorta last night. Both made several nice plays, including LaPorta scooping balls out of the dirt as if he were a gold glover. Anyone else miss Russ Branyan? ha ha.
So with the 22 year old Gomez’s inning being watched, he was pulled after 88 pitches and six innings. Rafael Perez followed with two very impressive innings of perfection. I profess to you all right now, I was wrong about Perez Left. In early June, I was calling for his ouster. Today, I fully admit that was the wrong call. Rafael Perez has fought through the adversity and is the Indians best set-up man. On June 3rd, his ERA was 6.61. Today it stands at 3.25.
Pure Rage dominated in a 1-2-3 ninth inning to close out the series with a win.
“We definitely didn’t want to get swept by those guys at home, he said. “That probably would have been the low point of our season.” Then in master of the obvious mode, Perez said “that’s what happens when you get good starting pitching.”
With the Orioles behind them, the Indians take aim at another basement dweller, the sad sack Seattle Mariners. More importantly, this weekend is the return of Good ole’ Russ to Cleveland! Sounds like it could be time for another rousing game of “Blame Branyan.” Fausto Carmona (11-9, 3.90 ERA) looks to start the series off right for the Wahoos. He will be opposed by David Pauley (0-4, 3.38 ERA.)
photo via Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer
4 Comments
I was at the game last Friday. Gomez should be 4-0 right now. Perez just had a bad night and got the win instead of a trade.
and…AND we’re now in FOURTH PLACE! Keep rolling, boys. Keep rolling.
I actually got to watch this game being close enough to Baltimore to pick it up. I think it’s only the 3rd Indians game I’ve gotten to watch this season. Good stuff by Gomez, but I understand what Acta means when he says the command of all 3 pitches isn’t quite there yet. His sinker was hitting its spots, but the four-seam fastball and his off-speed pitch were both missing a little too frequently. Good presence and performance though.
Choo took a pitch off of his hand in this one… scared me for a little bit, but I guess he is okay. It would suck to lose him to injury again after just getting him back.
yeah, the choo pitch looked bad. right off that middle knuckle.