The Indians are back home. We will see whether or not this is a good thing. Supposedly there were dudes in chicken suits shagging fly balls in the outfield this evening, and rumor has it, it was Corey Kluber and Cody Allen. You know a slump is bad when people are dressing up like poultry (or bringing live poultry onto the field, as they did last year). Hey, if it causes them to play better than chicken suits for everyone!
Let’s hope Danny Salazar can build on his good start in San Francisco, because the last time he faced the White Sox on April 10, he only survived 3.2 innings, giving up 5 ER on 6 hits. He faced John Danks then too, who pitched 6 innings, giving up 3 ER on 6 hits. The Indians did well against Danks last year, but they did struggle against him the first time they saw him last year – scoring just 1 ER on 2 hits. Danks finished the season with a 6.30 ERA against the Indians, so perhaps there’s hope. Even though Salazar allowed just 2 ER against the White Sox in 2013, they did have the 3rd highest OPS against against him, and the highest overall team batting average.
I’m so glad Aviles and Swisher are batting 2-3 and that Elliot Johnson is in the lineup! (I say, as I am fitted for my straight jacket while laughing hysterically).
Lineups:
Indians:
Michael Bourn, CF
Mike Aviles, 3B
Nick Swisher, 1B
Carlos Santana, DH
Ryan Raburn, RF
Michael Brantley, LF
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
Yan Gomes, C
Elliot Johnson, 2B
White Sox:
Adam Eaton, CF
Gordon Beckham, 2B (No joke – I had a dream about Gordon Beckham a week or two ago. I think we went shopping together, it was bizarre).
Jose Abreu, 1B
Adam Dunn, DH
Dyan Viciedo, RF
Alexei Ramirez, SS
Alejandro DeAza, LF
Marcus Semien, 3B
Adrian Nieto, C
sigh. watching salazar pitch is like having your teeth pulled. here we go again.
Wait, where am I? I just got back from my daughters softball game where they took a terrible loss and planned to really go low by watching the tribe and …say what? 5-0 in the first and it ain’t even done yet? Oh crap, it’s done now. maybe it’s me?
Anyway, nice to see some offense instead of the offensive stuff I have been watching. Let’s go Tribe!
Didn’t listen to the start of the game. Now the tribe is up 5-0. Guess I won’t be listening to tomorrow’s game either.
And now that I start listening, it’s 5-2 and counting. Turning it off.
Nice. An error and two singles to the bottom of the order.
elliot johnson folks – he’ll be here all month!
Johnson’s performance makes me understand completely why Danny Salazar’s M.O. is to try to strike everybody out rather than pitching to contact.
!!!! Exactly.
Passed ball?! Are you KIDDING ME?!
santana en fuego!
Not really enjoying the Elliot Johnson Show but good to see the offense ticking along
This game could be the turning point if Eliot Johnson stays out of the way. Why is he on the team again? Why did we call up Jose Ramirez if we’re going to start this guy?
“Proven veteran” or something. Francona is the only human being on earth that thinks Johnson is a major leaguer.
The defensive mistakes are still so disheartening.
Try really hard to not be too negative, but the defense is killing me. I can still listen to bad offense for weeks, but bad defense makes me want to throw the radio through the wall. And there is no sign of that improving.
After this week/losing streak and the awful exam I probably failed today, its really heartening to tune into a 12-5 lead. I will ignore Elliot Johnson’s 0-4 with 2 errors and 2 Ks and pretend that we just didn’t play a second baseman today.
Also gonna think about Gomes pair of doubles over his passed ball, and Salazar’s mere 3 earned runs over his 100+ pitches over 5 innings. Can anyone comment on how Danny’s stuff seemed today?
Well, 7 hits and 3 walks in 5 innings pitched means he’s still at a 2.00 WHIP. He also gave up another HR. The errors and passed ball kept innings going, which certainly hurt. But with Tomlin and Bauer both pitching very well at Columbus, I’d have to think Salazar is on a short leash. It looks to me like he could use a month at AAA to work on his offspeed pitches.
can anyone speak to Johnson’s errors? I only had the gamecast going and didn’t actually see them. Were they bad?
I thought so. I suggested on Twitter that someone get a vaudeville-style hook and drag him out of there. A ground ball went to Cabrera and I actually stood up and screamed at the TV “TAKE IT YOURSELF, DON’T GIVE IT TO HIM.”
Yes, Johnsons Errors were bad. There is no reason a major leager should drop a chest high flip from 5 feet away, Id be upset if a a little leaguer made that error
Please hold off on “this will turn it around.” I don’t think that will really happen until some roster changes. BUT, being a teacher of sorts, it’s always nice when the pupils see what is possible.