How ‘bout that?

How about Jason Kubel?  The Twins slugger hit a pair of three-run home runs in his team’s must-win game against Kansas City just to force Game 163, and added a solo shot in the game against the Tigers that decided the AL Central.  For the season, Kubel hit .300 with 28 home runs, 103 RBI’s, and a .907 OPS – all career highs.  Additionally, since taking over in right field when Justin Morneau went on the disabled list and Michael Cuddyer moved to first base, Kubel has not made a single error, giving Manager Ron Gardenhire confidence in his team despite the loss of one of his best players.

Continue reading "Twins-Tigers game was exactly what I wanted"

Now I assume most of the Boston fans are screaming and their faces are steaming with team colors and pride.  But we have to look at match ups in the remaining schedule.  The Red Sox have a tougher remaining schedule than the Wild Card leader Texas Rangers and the only other team with an outside chance in Tampa Bay, has a tougher remaining season schedule than either and it would be one of the more amazing stretch runs if they make it.  The Red Sox have 20 games left against teams that are trying to make the playoffs, this of course comes with 6 games against all of Boston's beloved Johnny Damon and the New York Yankees, 6 games against newly acquired division rival Tampa Bay, who play tough at home, and 3 games with the Angels.  Out of the 20 playoff type team games left, there are 8 interesting games between the White Sox and Red Sox.  I'm not going to predict any winners from these games {insert 2005 playoff flashback here} but will be some of the most intriguing match ups of the season as Chicago has bolstered their hitting and pitching with the addition of Alexei Rios and SP Jake Peavy.  Peavy has been rumored for a late August return or early September return and could be a factor.  The White Sox are doing everything they can to try to win the Central this season.

Continue reading "Boston Red Sox to MISS Playoffs in 09"

In any case, here are some baseball tidbits from this week to take your mind off the Sox:

-Bartolo Colon will be pitching for the White Sox tonight.  Remember this guy? How could you not.  Who knows, if he pitches well enough we might see him pitch against the Red sox at the end of August.  I’m sure he’ll get a warm welcome from the Fenway Fans – and by warm, I mean not warm at all. 

-Mark Buehrle pitched a perfect game on Wednesday July 23rd.  That part you probably knew already.  But did you know he got a phone call from White Sox fan Barack Obama?? http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090723&conte

Continue reading "This Week in Baseball Notes"

By Brad VanFossan

Wednesday June 10, 2009

Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio

Carl Pavano vs. Gil Meche

My favorite Indian is on the hill tonight looking to help lead the Indians to three in a row and push the Royals a little further into last place. Tonight’s stats of the night going into the game: Pavano has struck out 56 hitters while walking only 15 in 72 innings pitched this season, and he has gone 6-1 with a 3.00 ERA since the end of April. To put that into perspective a bit, CC Sabathia has struck out 61 in 86 innings pitched while walking 27. Am I saying that Pavano > CC? No, not quite, but when looking at the stats, one thing is for sure, 1.5 million < 15.2 million. Ok, time for the game and any other random thoughts that might come along.

Continue reading "What a Meche that was Royals 9 Indians 0"

Cliff Lee vs. Brian Bannister

Tuesday June 9, 2009

Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio

The Indians are looking to win their second straight series vs. a divisional opponent tonight. With a win tonight, the Indians can also leap frog KC and climb into 4th place in the A.L. Central and climb out of the basement, hopefully for good. Some things that I kept my “I” on:

-I’m liking the navy alternate jerseys at home.

-Jamey Carroll’s hit streak sits at seven, we’ll see if he can make it eight tonight.

-Well that was quick, it’s now at eight, not too shabby for a utility guy.

-Before I forget, I would like to send my condolences out to Matt Underwood and his family for the loss of his mother.

Continue reading "Indians give General Lee the support hes been wanting Cleveland Indians 8 Kansas City Royals 4"

Tonight I’m going to try to write as the game is being played, or at least during breaks, we’ll see. For starters, I just want to say in a non-Indians related rant, it pisses me off that Sean Elliott said on The Herd with Colin Cowherd today that he thinks the Magic have a better roster than the Cavs, yes I’m biased but c’mon! Seriously? I guess when you are Sean Elliott you have to say things like that for people to remember who you are. I tried to find if Sean Elliott was doing any NBA analysis for anyone, but came up empty.

It’s one thing when Charles Barkley picks the Magic, and even for him to make that pick is turrible Ernie! I think Sir Charles is jealous of Lebron, and will always be bitter that he is ringless, at least on his hand, maybe not so much on his phone. I’m sure his fave five are calling all the time for gambling advice and to find out if there are any cool new mixed drinks he would recommend. Ok, back to baseball.

Continue reading "The Indians Win and the Cavs lose Who Wood believe it"

Fausto Carmona (2-4, 5.70) vs. Gil Meche (2-4, 4.60)

Can it get much worse for the Indians after last night? I think I should just copy and paste that question to use for the rest of the season. The season may already be lost, but a loss tonight will definitely cement that. This is a crucial game for the Indians tonight, win and stay on life support, lose and it’s sleeping with the fishes and or Washington Nationals and Pittsburgh Pirates of the world.

Let me take that back, the Indians need to win this series to stay on life support, but on an emotional level, they need to win tonight to have the fight it’s going to take to not only compete with, but beat Zack Greinke, the 2009 version of the 2008 Cliff Lee. If there is anything that is certain this season besides that the Indians bullpen should have a biohazard logo opposite the Herb Score patch on their jerseys, it’s that the Grady Sizemore of 2006, and the Fausto Carmona of 2007 are not returing. The case has even gone cold on David Caruso.

Continue reading "Foutain seats for 7 still available at Kauffman Stadium tonight I think"

Where do I begin? Can we say epic meltdown? Or is it not so epic when it has happened time and time again this season? Well I was wrong on some of my predictions, but possibly only one. The Indians did score some runs for Cliff Lee and they did score all of them while he was in the game. What I wasn’t wrong about, but looked like I was going to be for oh, say 8 1/3 innings was that the Royals were going to win. I’m thinking I might have been right in predicting Cliff Lee melting down too. Even though we didn’t witness it, my gut tells me while Jensen Lewis is laughing on the inside, Cliff Lee is losing it at the exact same time.

Ok, so I’m not saying I blame Wedge for bringing Wood in to close the game, I mean that’s what you do with a guy you’re paying 10 million a year and who hasn’t gotten much work this year. But I do have proof that I thought Cliff Lee had complete game stuff tonight and even suggested leaving him in. Here’s what I said on twitter during the game:

Continue reading "Jensen Lewis is laughing on the inside"