We saw a number of roster moves yesterday, will we be seeing more in the near future?  Both Michael Bourn and Jason Giambi left yesterday’s game with various leg-related issues and are considered day-to-day.  I haven’t really read any details on the full severity of either injury, but I do know that you can’t play shorthanded for too long.  There were times during the past couple of seasons where the Indians were hesitant to place a player on the DL, yet they had several people who weren’t physically able to play in that day’s game.  Perhaps you’re hesitant to put Bourn in the DL, in case he is able to play again in 3-4 days…you don’t want to make him sit out for two weeks when he was starting to heat up.  But the DL seems like the perfect opportunity for Jason Giambi.  He stays on the 40-man and stays with the team (and could theoretically come back, if they wanted him to) but it opens up a roster spot.  They may not have to figure this out today, but they don’t want to let this drag on for too long.

Edit: It may not drag on too long, Nyjer Morgan has been spotted in the Indians clubhouse.  And he’s in the lineup.  The updates are happening faster than I can write.  Nick Hagadone was optioned to Columbus to make room on the roster, so there have been no DL moves yet.

Corey Kluber takes on Andre Rienzo this afternoon at the ballpark.  Kluber gave up 3 ER on 8 hits in 4.2 innings against the Angels last week, and was just coming off a brilliant complete game win against the Royals.  He faced the White Sox on April 13, where he gave up 2 ER on 8 hits over 7.1 innings as the Indians lost the game 4-3.  (That’s the game where the Indians pulled ahead in the top of the ninth, and John Axford blew the save).  Adam Dunn and Dyan Viciedo had good days off of Kluber, while Marcus Semien homered.

Rienzo did not make his first major league start until April 20 of this year, so he has not faced the Indians yet.  He currently is 2-0 with a 4.05 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP.  Rienzo did face the Indians twice last year, and they did well against him (although to be fair, they did well against the White Sox pretty much every time out in 2013).  Carlos Santana had a huge game against him last September, and did well against him when the Indians saw him at the end of July.  In July, Lonnie Chisenhall and Asdrubal Cabrera also had some success against Rienzo.

Lineups:

Indians:

Nyjer Morgan, CF

Nick Swisher, 1B

Michael Brantley, LF

Carlos Santana, 3B

Lonnie Chisenhall, DH

Asdrubal Cabrera, SS

David Murphy, RF

Jose Ramirez, 2B

George Kottaras, C

 

White Sox:

Alejandro De Aza, LF

Gordon Beckham, 2B

Jose Abreu, 1B

Adam Dunn, DH

Dyan Viciedo, RF

Alexi Ramirez, SS

Jordan Danks, CF

Tyler Flowers, C

Leury Garcia, 3B

 

19 Comments

  • D.P. Roberts says:

    ATTENTION INDIANS PITCHERS: PLEASE STOP PITCHING TO JOSE ABREU. JUST WALK THE GUY. THANK YOU.

  • D.P. Roberts says:

    Welcome to the big leagues, George Kottaras!

  • Bill says:

    and onother one… followed by a tony plush double

    maybe the tribe just needs to call up the entire AAA team to the show

  • The Doctor says:

    sigh. Walks by the closer are so painful.

  • Bill says:

    i didnt get to watch the game… just on mlb.com gameday

    was axford all over the place? a lot of the balls axford threw sure looked to be in the strike zone atleast according to mlb.com gameday

  • Mark says:

    Sad – Sad – Sad!
    Sad that the Indians lost one they should have won
    Sad that Kluber did not get a much-deserved win
    Saddest of all? MLB introduction of the “Save” statistic which created another category of overpaid players and forces takes away the manager’s instinct or ability to assess and play the right matchups

    • mondo dentro says:

      I couldn’t agree more. Even if you do want to think of a category of pitchers called “closers”, why think the team only has one? I’d have much rather seen Cody Allen in there today.

  • Mark says:

    With the save statistic, it sets up a team to sign and designate one closer. Because they are usually highly compensated, the manager must bring him in for a “save” situation without any thought. If there were more than one, then they would have to compete for the precious number of save opportunities. These opportunities are important as they use this meaningless save statistic to reward them with an even bigger payday in the future.
    Solution: Abolish the “save” statistic. Go back to letting the manager use the best pitcher for the situation (matchup).

    • Sean Porter says:

      You guys are absolutely on the money – the save stat should be abolished. When was the last time anyone ever saw a closer enter the game in a save situation and get pulled BEFORE he blows the save?

      It never happens, because managers today are programmed to “go down with the ship” regarding closers, even if its obvious they are going to implode.

    • Cale says:

      I think that’s a bit of an over-reaction. Did you make this argument after his last 6 outings as well, when Ax pitched a scoreless inning.

      Ax just had an off day with the walks. He’ll bounce back fine.

      • Sean Porter says:

        I can understand why you would feel that way, I can’t speak for the others, but this is how I generally feel regardless if Axford is successful or not in picking up the save.

        Axford in general has done a solid job as the closer this season. I’m not really complaining about him, just the “closer” mind-set of managers this last generation, or how bullpens are used in general.

        For example: Let’s say your team is up 4-2 after six innings, and you’ve pulled your starter. Today’s bullpen m.o. is that you have a designated 7th inning guy, a designated 8th inning guy, and a designated closer. A manager deviates from this at his own peril.

        But what if in the 7th inning the opposing team is trotting out their 3rd/4th/5th hitters? A smart manager would see this and say: “Here’s their best hitters, so I’m going to counter with my best reliever next inning…” This never happens, because whose best reliever is their 7th inning guy?

        • Ghost of Joel Skinner says:

          His BABIP is .194 (probably changed by now). That means he’s been lucky as S*IT! Those walks hurt him today. He’s behind almost every hitter he faces – again, he’s been lucky so far.

          And, yes – the “closer” is a manager’s snooze button. A “save” is a completely useless stat. It means f*cking nothing. Put Outman or Scrabble in to face Dunn. After his 6th consecutive pitch wildly missed the zone – Francona should’ve sprinted out there, slapped him in the face, and took the ball from him. The whole “we’re going to win or lose this game with OUR man” is such an out of date and horrible position. It’s like Braveheart, I didn’t see Mel Gibson on the field today, did you?

          Learn to watch what your players are doing Francona.

        • Cale says:

          I like having defined roles in the bullpen. How many times have you seen a closer come in , in a non save situation or an 8th inning guy not succeed at closing. This game is so mental for those guys, give them defined roles day in, day out, so they know exactly the situations they will be dealing with.

  • The Doctor says:

    it seems like axford has had more success when he pitches off his curve to setup the fastball, rather than vice versa. Man, a closer that walks people is frustrating to watch.

    • Sean Porter says:

      I didn’t see the 9th inning (thankfully), but there has been games where he comes in and his curveball command is MIA. It seems like that was the case today, making him a one-pitch guy.

    • Ghost of Joel Skinner says:

      If a pitcher can’t command a fastball – I have no interest in him.

      Axford can’t.

  • SD Tribe Fan says:

    Good lord, Axford. Why does it seem he’s had more than 2 blown saves? Did he allow ties or leads only to be bailed out by the offense? Maybe it’s because he’s given them both up on the same way. Anyway, what a horrible way to end a game that had great performances by Kluber and Kottaras.

  • shaun says:

    it sucks but at least it seems like the team is playing with some confidence again. i’ll take it