Why I hate firing managers and thoughts from a sports trip to China: While We’re Waiting…
September 24, 2015Mo Williams explains why he’ll wear No. 52 with the Cavs
September 24, 2015Frustrating. I believe the word of the day, of the series, of the season is frustrating. A day after the Minnesota Twins scored all of their runs in an umpire-aided inning, the Twins scored all of their runs in one inning again. And similarly, the runs from one inning were enough to stay ahead of the Cleveland Indians as the Twins won 4-2.
Despite the loss, the Indians did not lose any ground on the Houston Astros, who lost to the Los Angeles Angels. However, not only did the Twins and Los Angeles Angels move closer to the Astros (and further ahead of the Indians), but the Baltimore Orioles jumped the Indians in the standings. With each passing game, the Indians odds of making the postseason are getting more difficult, but it is still far from impossible.
Just last year, the Oakland Athletics gave the Seattle Mariners an opportunity to overtake them in the final 12 games as they went 5-7. However, the Seattle Mariners fell a game short as they went a meager 6-6. But recent history is littered with examples of teams either jumping into the playoffs or falling out of the playoffs as October draws near. In 2012, the Texas Rangers needed just one win against the Athletics in a three-game set to clinch a playoff berth, but were swept. In 2011, the Boston Red Sox went a horrid 3-9 over their last 12 games to allow a streaking 8-4 Tampa Bay Rays team to overtake them by a single game in the standings to close out the year.1 The NL had the Atlanta Braves also giving away playoff positioning that season.
One of the classic examples was in 2009 when the Twins used a 9-3 finish to overtake a 5-7 stumble by the Detroit Tigers. In fact, the Tigers were up by three games with just four left to play. The 2007 San Diego Padres were even worse, as they gave away a five-game lead in the last twelve.2 And, of course, there were the 2005 Cleveland Indians that lost six of their last seven games to allow the Boston Red Sox to sneak into the playoffs.3
So, yes, the Indians can still make the playoffs. However, it requires them to play exceptionally well over these last games along with none of the other teams in front of them going on their own winning streak. The chances keep getting smaller by the game and Thursday’s series finale versus the Twins might as well be a must-win.
Keys of the Game
One big inning is all the Twins need:
I am a fan of Mike Aviles as a utility player. He gives his all and has been a net positive on the team. His daughter, Adriana, has been a unifying force in the clubhouse.4 However, he is not the best player to have in the outfield. He has neither the speed nor the arm strength to threaten a good baserunning team such as the Twins. Minnesota took advantage by going for a double on any ball hit into left field.
Most of the night, the Indians’ pitching and defense masked the deficiency, but it came to roost in the fourth inning. After Brian Dozier led the inning off with a home run, Joe Mauer legged out a double to left center. After a Miguel Sano walk, Trevor Plouffe hit a double to the same spot and beat out the throw again as Sano scored. Corey Kluber would eventually load the bases, allow a 2-run single, then load the bases again before Terry Francona had seen enough and Ryan Webb ended the inning. But the damage was done, as the Twins scored all four of their runs.
Oh, and I suppose it should be mentioned: Torii Hunter is a baby. The rain was coming down hard, Kluber was having control issues, and there was no reason for Kluber to hit Hunter that I can see. (There is also little doubt that Hunter demanded retribution as Phil Hughes retaliated by hitting Roberto Perez in the next half inning. Stay classy, Minnesota.)
Defense stands strong:
One relative constant during the late-season push has been the Indians defense. They continued to make plays on Wednesday.
Kurt Suzuki forced Francisco Lindor into a difficult throwing position in the third inning, but the rookie still was able to make the throw quickly. However, the throw was offline and it took a nice grab and swipe by Carlos Santana at first base that forced Suzuki out of the baseline as he fell to the ground. Santana applied the tag on the fallen Suzuki just to be sure.
In the fifth inning, after Ryan Webb loaded the bases with just one out (the last base occupied due to an IBB), Bryan Shaw entered the game to face Hunter. Shaw induced a simple 6-4-3 double play on the second pitch that had Hunter beat by about 10 feet.
Jose Ramirez dove to his right and threw out Kurt Suzuki in the sixth. It was a great ranging play and smooth throw. Suzuki unwittingly tested the resolve of the Indians defense and lost on both occasions.
Finally, Lonnie Chisenhall took away a hit from Trevor Plouffe by using the wet grass as a slip-n-slide to make the catch in the seventh.
Demotion? What demotion?:
Phil Hughes had not pitched well in 2015 for the Twins, while battling back issues. He had given up seven runs in three innings the last time he faced the Indians on August 9; the Twins demoted Hughes to the bullpen on September 15. However, Tommy Milone could not make the start on Wednesday due to shoulder fatigue, but the Indians did not make Hughes look like a recently demoted pitcher.
In the five scoreless innings Hughes pitched, the Indians barely even threatened to score. The fifth inning was the only time the Indians even had a runner reach scoring position as Yan Gomes and Michael Martinez (pinch-running for Roberto Perez) were on first and second with one out. Alas, Abraham Almonte struck out, and Mike Aviles grounded out to end the inning.
Too little, too late:
Carlos Santana’s ninth inning two-run home run gave him 10 at Target Field, the second most (Jose Bautista has 11) for an opposing batter at the Twins’ (somewhat) new park. The runs gave some slight hope for a moment, but it was late and Yan Gomes would hit an infield pop fly to end the game. Minnesota closer Glen Perkins must have said something special to the home plate umpire to get ejected after the game officially ended. Weird scene.
- Indians fans though might not want to look at who was managing that Red Sox team. [↩]
- SD went 5-7, the Colorado Rockies went 11-1. [↩]
- It was during the Chicago White Sox sweep of the final series where Ozzie Guillen cemented his place in the rivalry with his choking gesture at the Indians dugout. [↩]
- Wednesday was pediatric oncology night in Minnesota and each player was asked to write someone they knew on a card for introductions. Every single player wrote Adriana Aviles and bundled the cards up afterwards for him to bring home to her. [↩]
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*sigh*