Rays starter Chris Archer pitched a good game against the Indians tonight–7.2 innings, 3 hits, 1 earned run, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts. Unfortunately for Archer, he was in a pitching duel with Corey Kluber, aka The Klubot, aka CyKluber.
Corey Kluber made his last start of the 2014 season on Friday night, and he left no doubt as to why he ought to win the 2014 AL Cy Young Award. He pitched 8.0 shutout innings, struck out 11, and gave up five hits and only two walks. Perhaps it was because Kluber was on the mound, but the Indians offense took the night off. The Tribe’s lone run came on a 1st inning home run by Jose Ramirez (yes, little Jose Ramirez, hitting his second home run of the year). It wasn’t much, but that was all it took for the win.
On the season, Kluber has 18 wins, 269 strikeouts, 2.44 ERA, 6.9 WAR (more than any other AL pitcher). His 11 strikeouts tonight also helped the Indians set a new major league record for the most strikeouts by a pitching staff in a single season with 1,429. His 269 strikeouts this year rank 6th in Indians franchise history and are the most since Sam McDowell‘s 304 in 1970. He’s had 11 double-digit strikeout games this year–it’s the most by an Indians pitcher since Sam McDowell did it 13 times in 1968. By any standard, he’s having a historic season. As I write this, the Oakland A’s are ahead of the Texas Rangers 6-2. Part of the convoluted scenario that has to happen in order for the Indians to make it to a tiebreaker game for the 2nd Wild Card slot is for Texas to sweep Oakland. It would be a waste of a magnificent season if Kluber loses the AL Cy Young Award simply because his team doesn’t make it to the playoffs.
Thank you, Corey Kluber, for a fabulous season.
frustrating end to a frustrating season. wasted a cy young caliber year by kluber. team didn’t deserve to make the show anyway, especially with that shit defense.
hopefully carrasco, bauer, and salazer can build off this year. hopefully Mickey Z can overcome some bad luck and down production to have a bounce back 2015. klubestar was an absolute beast and hopefully can emulate that success he had this year moving forward. and please god i hope we don’t burn out our bullpen like we did this year (they’re pretty good when rested!).
offensively if brantley’s season isn’t a one year aberration then we got something special (not to say wasn’t already a really good player). if yanny bench continues to be yanny bench then we got 1 of the 3-4 best catchers in the AL.
Captain Kip struggled mightly all year. hopefuly he turns it around. i like the idea of putting ramirez at 2B and kip in the OF. this might take a little pressure off him.
this ofcourse opens the door for the long awaited mr. lindor. our defense can use all the help it can get (the nicest thing i can say without using an unending cascade of profanity on the subject).
keep santana at first and hope lonnie can be a more consistent contributor offensively (as well as defensively).
i would say put lonnie at DH but what the hell would we do with mr. brohio? and finally, hopefully bourn can earn a little of that contract we gave him next year.
a lot of fun moments this year with all those walk offs and dominate pitching performances, but a lot more mediocrity and league worst defense.
here’s to next year, because of course there’s always next. maybe 2015 will be the one…