The Cleveland Indians are having one of those classic Jacobs Field home stands. Tuesday night, they scored five in the ninth to beat the A’s capped by a Kelly Shoppach home run. Thursday afternoon, Jason Michaels’ three run shot turned a 3-1 lead into a 4-3 win, and last night, the recently recalled Ben Francisco got his first major league hit in his first big league start, and in the ninth, he belted the game winning dinger in a 2-1 win over the Devil Rays. The Tribe is now 28-12 at home this year, one of the best home marks in the game.
The other good thing that came out of last night’s action was the performance of Jake Westbrook. The righty looked impressive in seven frames against a Tampa squad who has a few good hitters in their lineup. Westbrook has now pitched 14 innings allowing just 4 earned runs in his two starts since coming off the disabled list. He gives Eric Wedge a reliable starter in the rotation to go along with C.C. Sabathia, Fausto Carmona, and Paul Byrd.
Don’t be surprised if a pair of Millers join the Tribe’s relief corps soon. Matt Miller recently was reactivated off the disabled list at Buffalo, and you know that Wedge is more confident in him than Edward Mujica. Since Miller has pitched in back to back games this week, look for him to be activated on Sunday, or at least before the Indians head to Detroit for a big three game series next week. The other Miller is uber prospect Adam Miller, who the front office said will be used in relief since coming back from his finger injury. He could be another power arm in the bullpen that Wedge and Mark Shapiro are looking for.
It was funny to hear that Oakland dealt Milton Bradley to the Padres for minor league pitcher Andrew Brown. This is the second time Brown has been traded for the contraversial outfielder, the first time was when the Dodgers traded him and Franklin Gutierrez to the Tribe. It’s not often you get traded twice for the same player.
Here’s another thing I don’t undertstand. (I know there are many). Guys who torment the Indians like Jack Cust, Mike Sweeney, etc. Why doesn’t the scouting staff simply burn the reports on these guys. They obviously do not work. The scouts provide a game plan on how to work these hitters, but they continue to rack up base hits against our pitching. Wouldn’t we be just as well off just telling them what the pitchers are going to throw?
Three more with the Rays remain before a huge three game set against the Motor City Kitties. The All-Star rosters will be announced on Sunday and Victor Martinez and Sabathia appear to be shoo ins for the honor. It will be interesting to see if Grady Sizemore, Fausto Carmona, or Rafael Betancourt also gets picked. Sizemore would seem to have the best shot. After Detroit, it’s on to Toronto for three and then a much needed rest for most of the team. It’s been an eventful and successful first half for Cleveland baseball fans.
KM
Cleveland Sports Perspective 