The Indians close out their second series of the young 2014 season today against the Twins. It would be nice to grab a win and take the series, especially when you have your #1 pitcher on the mound today. The Indians complete the homestand in a series with the San Diego Padres that starts tomorrow.
Here are the lineups for today’s game. Last week, I grumbled and grouched a little about Nyjer Morgan in the lead-off spot. With a .533 OBP though, it’s been successful and shows why I write blog posts instead of managing teams. Granted, .533 is likely unsustainable in the long run, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised and impressed by Morgan so far (who is also sporting a .400 batting average).
Today’s lineups:
Indians:
Nyjer Morgan – CF
Nick Swisher – 1B
Jason Kipnis – 2B
Carlos Santana – 3B
Michael Brantley – LF
Lonnie Chisenhall – DH
Yan Gomes – C
David Murphy – RF
Mike Aviles – SS
Justin Masterson – P
Twins:
Brian Dozier – 2B
Joe Mauer – 1B
Josh Willingham – LF
Chris Colabello – DH
Trevor Plouffe – 3B
Jason Kubel – RF
Kurt Suzuki – C
Aaron Hicks – CF
Pedro Florimon – SS
Ricky Nolasco – P
It would be nice to grab an early lead for a change.
Good lord I’m tired of playing from behind. At this rate our bullpen will be shot by the all star break
YAN GONE!!!!!
Seriously, that should be his nickname. I’m sure Mr. Gonzalez won’t mind.
Um, it would be great if someone covered second. Gomes got an error, but he was just playing heads-up ball.
This is becoming depressing.
This is why Masterson does not deserve 17mil a year
I was complaining about not signing him, but I gotta admit that I’m seeing the error of my ways. He’s being pulled in the fourth inning. Any time I see that, though, I’m wondering if there’s an injury…
Everyone loves the shutouts, but folks easily forget masterson is good for 8-12 of these starts a year where he just can’t find the plate at all. Painful to watch.
I guess getting out of that inning with only three runs (two earned) counts as “good”. If Masterson settles down, we can still win this.
Yeah – he looked just great.
This bold new “make sure the starter has thrown 70 pitches by the third” strategy that Callaway’s employing so far this year has had mixed results.
Yeah – Calloway told Mr. I Want $17Million to plunk 2 guys and throw the ball all over the kitchen like a 7 year old.
Just FYI:
2013: Number of starts where Masterson surrendered 5 or more ER – 7
Number of starts where he pitched 5 innings or fewer (not counting games at the end of the year where he came out of the pen for a while) – 3
A lot of the games where he gave up a lot of runs, they were still able to leave him in for about 6 innings or so.
2012: 5 or more ER – 9
5 innings or fewer – 9
2011: 5 or more ER – 4
5 innings or fewer – 5
2010: 5 or more ER – 8
5 innings or fewer – 13
These are his full seasons in Cleveland. I’d have to look up the particular games, but I wonder if some of those 5 inning or fewer games in 2010 were due tot he fact that he was transitioning from the bullpen to the rotation.
2011 was a career year for him – 3.21 ERA (career low as starter), 216 IP (career high)
Wahh, wahh…Masterson doesn’t get run support. Waaah! Waaah!