Can't say that I'm upset that Charlie Frye is gone, but what makes me the most ill is that the Indians are steamrolling through the league and are basically going unnoticed, thanks to the circus in Berea. It's almost as if other than the die-hards, nobody seems to care. Well I do! Another 8-3 win im Chicago last night, coupled with a day-time loss by the Tigers, and the Tribe's magic number is 11. Two nights ago, dodging raindrops, the Tribe took down the Sox 6-2 behind the man, the myth, the legend, Asdrubal Cabrera. After the Tribe tied it at two on a Ben Francisco RBI single, AC lined a Mike Myers pitch into the Sox bullpen in left to put the Indians up for good.
SIDE NOTE: I love how Trot Nixon literally doesn't sniff the field anymore. Against a rookie right-hander Monday night, Eric Wedge went with the rookie Francisco instead of Trot. It worked.
SIDE NOTE #2: Nice of the umpires to make the team sit through a two hour, 23 minute rain delay after the 7th inning and the Indians leading 4-2. The game probably shouldn't have even been played. There were literally puddles in the infield.
Last night's win was the Byrd Man's 15th of the season. The Indians now have three starters with 15 or more wins: C.C. Sabathia (17), Fausto Carmona (16), and Byrd (15). I love looking at these numbers: The Indians are 13-3 in their last 16. Since being tied with Detroit on August 15th, The Indians are 20-6. They are 7-2 on the current 10 game road trip which was the biggest of the season. They are 41-21 against the AL Central.
What about some national love? espn.com's Peter Gammons said the following about our boys in his insider blog on Monday:
Right now, the Indians have a lot going for them. They have been able to win against their rivals' best pitchers (Sabathia and Carmona went 6-1 against Johan Santana and Justin Verlander, the pitchers the Tribe had to beat). They have put '06 behind them with their response to the 23 straight games, the emergence of Asdrubal Cabrera and the promise that Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner will get hot sometime. It seemed a given that their starters would lead the league in innings and quality starts, but watching the finale in Anaheim against the team with the best home record in the game was even more reason for optimism. Seeing Aaron Laffey (16-5 between Double-A, Triple-A and the AL), rookie Jensen Lewis and arguably the best left-handed reliever on the planet, Rafael Perez (one extra-base hit by a lefty in two years with a slugging percentage under .140), handle the Angels.
Gammons was even more complimentary in Saturday's entry:
Look at Cleveland's lead over Detroit, then think about how they got where they are this weekend. Two-fifths of their opening day rotation -- 18-game winner Cliff Lee and Jeremy Sowers, who was second in the American League in ERA in the second half of last season -- ended up in Buffalo. So did Andy Marte. Josh Barfield didn't hit the way everyone thought, Trot Nixon and Dave Dellucci have been hurt and both Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore haven't approached their 2006 levels.
The Indians made one trade, for Kenny Lofton, using Max Ramirez, whom they got out of the Seattle organization last summer for Ben Broussard. Then, at different points of the season, they reached into their farm system for Fausto Carmona, Franklin Gutierrez, Rafael Perez, Ben Francisco, Jensen Lewis, Aaron Laffey and Asdrubal Cabrera. Carmona has been one of the league's premium starters (twice beating Johan Santana), Perez has been one of the best left-handed relievers (his .316 OPS against lefties going into the weekend is the best in the majors), Gutierrez is a Gold Glove-caliber outfielder with power and Cabrera has been an impact second baseman, hitting .300 with John McDonald hands.
The national press gives us props, yet this city is INFATUATED with the Browns QB carousel? For you Browns honks out there, here are some links from today reaction to the Frye trade:
Seattle Trade is Stunning and Baffling - Patrick McManamon, Akron Beacon-Journal
Helping Clear Path, but Not Cleared Up - Terry Pluto, Cleveland Plain Dealer
Frye is Better Off in Seattle - Jeremy Green, espn.com
Is Randy Watching? - Gary Benz, theclevelandfan.com
Anderson Starts and Quinn Waits - Tony Grossi, Cleveland Plain Dealer
SIDE NOTE: I love how Trot Nixon literally doesn't sniff the field anymore. Against a rookie right-hander Monday night, Eric Wedge went with the rookie Francisco instead of Trot. It worked.
SIDE NOTE #2: Nice of the umpires to make the team sit through a two hour, 23 minute rain delay after the 7th inning and the Indians leading 4-2. The game probably shouldn't have even been played. There were literally puddles in the infield.
Last night's win was the Byrd Man's 15th of the season. The Indians now have three starters with 15 or more wins: C.C. Sabathia (17), Fausto Carmona (16), and Byrd (15). I love looking at these numbers: The Indians are 13-3 in their last 16. Since being tied with Detroit on August 15th, The Indians are 20-6. They are 7-2 on the current 10 game road trip which was the biggest of the season. They are 41-21 against the AL Central.
What about some national love? espn.com's Peter Gammons said the following about our boys in his insider blog on Monday:
Right now, the Indians have a lot going for them. They have been able to win against their rivals' best pitchers (Sabathia and Carmona went 6-1 against Johan Santana and Justin Verlander, the pitchers the Tribe had to beat). They have put '06 behind them with their response to the 23 straight games, the emergence of Asdrubal Cabrera and the promise that Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner will get hot sometime. It seemed a given that their starters would lead the league in innings and quality starts, but watching the finale in Anaheim against the team with the best home record in the game was even more reason for optimism. Seeing Aaron Laffey (16-5 between Double-A, Triple-A and the AL), rookie Jensen Lewis and arguably the best left-handed reliever on the planet, Rafael Perez (one extra-base hit by a lefty in two years with a slugging percentage under .140), handle the Angels.
Gammons was even more complimentary in Saturday's entry:
Look at Cleveland's lead over Detroit, then think about how they got where they are this weekend. Two-fifths of their opening day rotation -- 18-game winner Cliff Lee and Jeremy Sowers, who was second in the American League in ERA in the second half of last season -- ended up in Buffalo. So did Andy Marte. Josh Barfield didn't hit the way everyone thought, Trot Nixon and Dave Dellucci have been hurt and both Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore haven't approached their 2006 levels.
The Indians made one trade, for Kenny Lofton, using Max Ramirez, whom they got out of the Seattle organization last summer for Ben Broussard. Then, at different points of the season, they reached into their farm system for Fausto Carmona, Franklin Gutierrez, Rafael Perez, Ben Francisco, Jensen Lewis, Aaron Laffey and Asdrubal Cabrera. Carmona has been one of the league's premium starters (twice beating Johan Santana), Perez has been one of the best left-handed relievers (his .316 OPS against lefties going into the weekend is the best in the majors), Gutierrez is a Gold Glove-caliber outfielder with power and Cabrera has been an impact second baseman, hitting .300 with John McDonald hands.
The national press gives us props, yet this city is INFATUATED with the Browns QB carousel? For you Browns honks out there, here are some links from today reaction to the Frye trade:
Seattle Trade is Stunning and Baffling - Patrick McManamon, Akron Beacon-Journal
Helping Clear Path, but Not Cleared Up - Terry Pluto, Cleveland Plain Dealer
Frye is Better Off in Seattle - Jeremy Green, espn.com
Is Randy Watching? - Gary Benz, theclevelandfan.com
Anderson Starts and Quinn Waits - Tony Grossi, Cleveland Plain Dealer
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