Every time a team has a big night at the plate, my dad always jokes that they used up all of their runs for the next couple of nights. While we may not see another performance like last night, let’s hope that at least it doesn’t look like the recent road trip. Last night also goes to prove that flood of offense can wash away many of a team’s other sins – like abysmal defense and some shaky pitching (in part, exacerbated by the errors). It’s not like any of us forgets the bad stuff, it’s just that the good stuff can tend to minimize your anger.
Justin Masterson takes the mound this evening against rookie Scott Carroll. The 29-year-old RHP was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 3rd round of the 2007 draft. They eventually released him, and he signed with the White Sox as a free agent. He was brilliant in his first major league start on April 27 against the Tampa Bay Rays – allowing just 1 ER on 6 hits in 7.1 innings pitched. He was lights-out so far at Triple-A Charlotte in 2014, but had his share of ups and downs even at the minor league level over the past couple of years. It’s always nice to see a guy that’s bounced around (and had Tommy John surgery) finally make it to the majors at the age of 29, and to pitch a good game against a tough Tampa Bay team. (And to out-duel David Price, nonetheless) You also have to wonder if he’s like Cinderella – will he be able to maintain this success, or is the baseball going to turn into a pumpkin?
Masterson has been all over the map so far this spring; he gave up 5 ER on 7 hits over 7.1 innings against the Angels last week. When he last saw the White Sox on April 12 in Chicago, he gave up 5 ER on 7 hits and only lasted 4.2 innings. Adam Eaton had a big game against him, so perhaps it will help that he’s out of the lineup with a day-to-day hamstring issue.
I’m heading out to this one, so hopefully the rain holds off and the wind isn’t too brutal (although it could make things interesting tonight). I’m mentally psyching myself up for my first battle to get one of the limited giveaway items (the Hershisher bobblehead). Although maybe I’ll get lucky and the crowd will be under 10,000 – bobbleheads for everyone!
Roster moves: Elliot Johnson’s no-good, very bad weekend continues – he was DFAed today. Yan Gomes was moved to the paternity list, and George Kottaras and Nick Hagadone were recalled from Triple-A Columbus.
Lineups:
Indians:
Michael Bourn, CF
Nick Swisher, 1B
Michael Brantley, LF
Carlos Santana, C
Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
Jason Giambi, DH
David Murphy, RF
Jose Ramirez, 2B
White Sox:
Alejandro De Aza, LF
Gordon Beckham, 2B
Jose Abreu, 1B
Adam Dunn, DH
Dyan Viciedo, RF
Alexei Ramirez, SS
Jordan Danks, CF
Tyler Flowers, C
Marcus Semien, 3B
holy lineup adjustments batman! Brantley batting third, loving it. And very happy to see Elliot Johnson go.
I’m a sucker, I felt horrible for Johnson last night, but I can’t say I’m real upset to see him go either. Interested in seeing Rameriz, hopefully he can hold the secondbase fort down so Aviles can stay in his super-sub spot.
Nice to see Masterson put the team on his back for a night like old times. Good thing too. Still no defense and no hitting.
Great pitching by all involved, and of course, I switched over to WGN to listen to the mournful final call of one Hawk Harrelson… ;o)
Underwood brought up the fact that since the Tribe moved into Jacobs Field 20 years ago, the ’14 edition has committed more errors than any other. Kudos!
*…more errors in the first 30 games of the season than any other.
bud selig is f***ing a***hole. the sooner we get the doosh bag out of there the sooner baseball can get a more level playing field. also these players are paid way tooo much money and thats where you need to start cutting the fat. no one is worth what they are paying a lot of these guys. do you really think alex rodgriguez was worth the money the yankess spent on him? i didnt and never did and never that would bite them in the a** and it did. ticket prices would come down in price where people can afford them again. does anyone in the private sector make 14 million dollars for 6 months of work? these guys shouldnt either.
Ummmm…. isn’t MLB in the private sector?
if people would stop going to ball games and listened to games on the radio in protest of ticket prices then they would have to bring salaries in line. people cant afford the prices and its because they are paying way to much in salaries. how many people in the private sector make 14 million for 6 months work? sooner we get that loser bud selig out of baseball the sooner the playing field can be leveled so perhaps we can see these crazy salaries come down and ticket prices too
If you think Bud Selig leaving is going to cause the nation’s strongest labor union to allow a strict salary cap in MLB without a work stoppage of biblical proportions, you are going to be sadly disappointed.