BASEBALL

[Destiny]

Sigh the sweep and not by us. But its not like I am surprised (see above where I complain about added pressures).

Game 1: Tribe 7 - CWS 9
Game 2: Tribe 2 - CWS 3
Game 3: Tribe 5 - CWS 6

Time to move on to the twins

Pitching match ups:

July 4: Paul Byrd vs Livan Hernandez
July 5: Aaron Laffey vs Kevin Slowey
July 6: Cliff Lee vs Glen Perkins

Now that matchup I am confused because it should go, Sabathia, Byrd, Laffey, Sowers, Lee, Now I don't know if its because of the day off but Sowers isn't mixed in there at all. So I will say that is subject to change until I find out why lol.

 

[Destiny]

Indians.com

Borowski designated for assignment
Indians to go with closer-by-committee in wake of decision

CLEVELAND -- The Joe Borowski era has ended for the Indians.

Looking to repair their battered bullpen and get a better read on what the future holds, the Indians designated the veteran Borowski for assignment on Friday. The club also designated seldom-used right-hander Rick Bauer, making room for Jensen Lewis and Brian Slocum to make their returns from Triple-A Buffalo.

Borowski had been the Indians' closer since the beginning of the 2007 season. He saved an AL-leading 45 games last year, despite a 5.07 ERA. It was the highest ERA in history for a league's saves leader.

This season, Borowski began the year pitching through a right triceps strain and blew two of his first four save opportunities. He went on the disabled list from mid-April to late May before rejoining the club. On the year, he was 1-3 with a 7.56 ERA and 6-of-10 in save situations.

The Indians are expected to go with a closer-by-committee situation, now that Borowski is ousted. Right-hander Masa Kobayashi might get the first crack at save opportunities. Manager Eric Wedge will address the situation when he meets with reporters before Friday's game in Minnesota.

Lewis, who was a key contributer in last year's bullpen and on the Opening Day roster, is returning after a five-week stint at Buffalo where he worked to get his command and velocity back in order. He went 1-2 with a 3.60 ERA in 11 appearances out of the Bisons' bullpen.

Slocum was converted from starting to relief work in early June. He made seven appearances out of the Buffalo 'pen, going 0-1 with a 0.69 ERA. Bauer made just four appearances with the Tribe. He allowed nine runs in six innings of work.

Okay closer by committee last heard was speculated to be Masa, Raffie and Raffie. Which if we remember correctly was the worst thing you could do because it messed with the mind set. Slocums stats are not that impressive I can tell you.

 

[Destiny]

Well we got swept by the twins thanks largely by Lee. Then as of right now it looks like we will be losing Sabathia to a trade with the brewers for two class A and one double A prospect. The rumor is its a done deal. Course the brewers would be renting him until the end of the season then the possibility of him returning at the start of the new season with a new contract is a thought.

I am sorry but this is the stupidest thing I have heard, your complaining and whining that your players are working up to the expections and that you need better, so you get rid of your best players or pitchers for prospects that may not even be ready next season. If they are your best players then who the heck would you think is better then them? :wtf:

It was complained about that there were to many veterans on the team (gee a whole 3) and that the younger ones should play, so they let them play and they are doing so well that they are making the veterans look promising. Francisco, Choo and Franky G. were suppost to be the outfielder who were power, shoot .. Franky couldn't hit the side of a barn if it had a target on it (he actually makes Dellucci look like a power hitter), Choo has this "you do your thing I will do mine, chemistry yeah whatever", and Francisco suddenly can only hit homeruns ever so often, apparently he doesn't believe real big in fouling off or getting singles, doubles, etc.

I swear you come in and mess with the team and the team suddenly went down the drain, okay getting rid of Michaels wasn't bad his ego got in the way, but Nixon was a bad idea he was the leadership of the team, and he may not have been a power hitter but he didn't do to bad considering all the problems he had at the beginning of last season.

Okay I am done venting, it just ticked me off C.C. Sabathia said at the beginning of the season that he wanted to hold off further talks until after the season or when he didn't have to worry about it affecting his game (the all star break would be a good time) and now they are saying that he won't even be here for the next game on tuesday, way to go.

 

[Jacquie]

It's been a few days since I last updated about the Jays but there hasn't been much good news to update on. The Jays did have good news yesterday, they didn't play so they didn't lose

On the All-Star front Roy Halladay has been named to the game. This will be his 5th time to the summer classic. Mind you with what Selig has done to the game how can you call it a classic anymore

Three Canadians have been named to the game. This is the most Canada has had in a game Russel Martin of the Dodgers, Justin Morneau of the Twins and Ryan Dempster of the Cubs Congrats to all and good luck in the game.

The Jays are at home to Baltimore for the next three games and then the dreaded Yankees come to play.

Go Jays and Tribe

 

[Destiny]

Yep Roy will join also Cliff Lee and Grady Sizemore (though Grady is on the reserve list). I agree its more the new modern classic. :guffaw:

Well the deal is done, Sabathia is now a Brewer, and from the pictures of when they intro'd him to the crowd there yesterday he seemed okay with it, even though he said that he loved cleveland and wanted to stay in cleveland. But he didn't want to deal with contracts therefore the trade is somewhat his own fault.

Anyway for him we got the following Minor leaguers: OF MATT LaPORTA, RHP ROB BRYSON, LHP ZACH JACKSON and a player to be named. They are thinking that Class A third baseman Taylor Green is believed to be one of the two players to be named later.

I was sad at first, but then after all was said and done and from what I heard via the GM, the quick interview he did with fox 8 news and what I read, not so much now.

 

[Destiny]

Well that road trip that was a make it or break it, fractured and crumbled into tiny pieces.

Road Trip:
Game 1: Tribe 7 - CWS 9
Game 2: Tribe 2 - CWS 3
Game 3: Tribe 5 - CWS 6

Game 1: Tribe 3 - Twins 12
Game 2: Tribe 6 - Twins 9
Game 3: Tribe 3 - Twins 4

Game 1: Tribe 2 - Tigers 9
Game 2: Tribe 6 - Tigers 8

Yes you read correct that was 8 games all Swept with very large vaccumes. Then add in the two we lost before going on the trip makes it a 10 game losing streak, which the indians hadn't done since I believe 1971.

Currently we have a four game series against who... The Tampa Bay Rays.

Game 1: Andy Sonnanstine vs Aaron Laffey - Tribe 13 - Rays 2
(STREAK BROKEN!!)

Probable pitchers for the next three
James Shields vs Cliff Lee
Matt Garza vs Matt Ginter
Scott Kazmir vs Jeremy Sowers

*Ginter was recently called up from AAA Buffalo to take Sabathia's place in the rotation, he will be there only as long as needed.
*Fausto Carmona threw a three-inning, 50-pitch simulated game today and felt fine. The Indians will evaluate how he feels Friday to determine if he's ready to go out on a rehab assignment. All signs to point to yes at the moment.
*Travis Hafner is doing better according to reports the weakness in his arm got so bad he could barely pick up his arm, but since then slow and steady he has been building strength, he will know in about two if he can pick up a bat and do a rehab assignment. Even if he can get back to the game in time, he will continue the exercises, here is a quote from Hafner about his arm. "It was pretty close to zero [percent strength]," he said. "I wasn't able to do much with my arm. Anything that involved moving my arm at all was impossible to do."

Thats it for now we broke the losing streak and we might be 15.0 games back but right now its not about contention its about figuring out where that chemistry they had went, its about finding out how their confidence got flushed and how they get it back and finding that spark that makes hitting contagious, I do believe tonight was a step forward. (Hope I didn't jinx it).

Go T & J :thumbsup:

 

[Jacquie]

I'll start with the good news for the Jays first

They swept a three game series from Baltimore

Toronto 7 Baltimore 6
Toronto 9 Baltimore 8
Toronto 6 Baltimore 5

Game three was a come from behind win in the 9th

The Jays now have 3 at home with the Yankees. Hopefully the Jays will do as well against the Yankees as they did against Baltimore

Pitching Match ups

Chamberlain vs Halladay
Rasner vs Litsch
Pettitte vs Tallet

Now the bad news. More players have been added to the DL. Wells goes back on the DL with a hamstring problem. He will be gone 4-6 weeks. McGowan has gone on the DL with a rotator cuff problem. How long will he be gone??? The Jays have had 13 players on the DL so far this season. Wells is the only player to be on twice.

 

[Destiny]

Sweet games tonight for the tribe and Jays.

Game 1: Tribe 13 - Rays 2
Game 2: Tribe 5 - Rays 0 (Jays Had the same Score against NYY)

Dang thats alot of players on the DL, They are saying that Fausto should definitly be back after the AS games, he is doing great, and Victor (elbow proceedure) will start playing catch, he should be back they are saying sometime in August.

GO

T & J !!!

 

[Lucy]

^ Does that mean the Indians won? You seem happy D, so I'm guessing so. If that's the case, then Yay!

*doesn't really understand baseball*

 

[Destiny]

^ Does that mean the Indians won? You seem happy D, so I'm guessing so. If that's the case, then Yay!

*doesn't really understand baseball*

Yep the Indians (aka Tribe) won their second game against Tampa bay, we are playing four game series against them, if we win only 2 we split the series with TB, if we win 3 we win the series and if we win all 4 we sweep them. Lets put it this way who ever has the bigger number wins the game.
If we get the sweep its awesome, if we get the series its very cool, if we get a split not bad. But if they keep the confidence and that spark keeps coming they might get into a groove. It won't be enough to be a contender, because last season we were close to going to the world series but didn't make it, we were in first place most of the time, this season when it was expected that we would again, we kind of fell to last place due to injuries, and a sudden "how the heck do you swing this bat" syndrome. :lol: But I think they are fineally figureing it out, since they have relaxed and remembered tiny ball (singles, doubles, triples) are just as good as homeruns.

If you need help understanding don't hesitate to ask.

 

[Jacquie]

Well Destiny you beat me to the good news today Toronto 5 New York 0 Oh I love this. Doc had a complete game two hitter Jeter and Rodriguez got the only hits. The Jays always seem to do well against the better teams and poorly against the poor teams. You go figure because I'm not.

A list of the walking wounded

Wells, Hill, Stewart, Marcum, McGowan, Accardo, and Janssen. Janssen is the only player I know of on the 60 DL. He went down in spring training with arms problems and is out for the season.

Pitching change for Sundays game. Burnett will be pitching for the Jays instead of Tallet.

 

[Destiny]

Well Josh has almost all range of motion "I should be able to start playing catch and fielding right after the All-Star break," said Barfield, adding he's sure he'll be back playing before the season ends."

Fausto came out of Thursday's simulated game in good order, his strained left hip not a problem. Plans call for him to go on a rehabiliation assignment Monday at Class A Lake County.

Victor will begin playing catch and should be back sometime in august.

This will leave Travis Hafner on the DL probably until September (though I don't know but he says he will be back before the end of the season), and Jake Westbrook won't be back until around the time of the All Star break 2009. Scott Elarton went from the restricted list to the 15 day disable list to the 60 day disable list for a non baseball medical condition, which they are not saying boo about.

Okay so AAA pitcher Matt Ginter pitched tonight, and DUDE the guy was lights out for 6 innings, and when they took him out he had only made something like 67 pitches, 45 strikes & 22 balls. This guy played like he has been here all year. So then how did we do?
Game 1: Tribe 13 - Rays 2
Game 2: Tribe 05 - Rays 0
Game 3: Tribe 08 - Rays 4

We have the series (where it was a freaking hit parade), but tomorrow/today can we get the sweep? I don't know the pitching matchup hmmm Scott Kazmir vs Jeremy Sowers.

Also did anyone see this story, Boy fractures skull after hit by ball at Cubs game - Doctors and family members say a 7-year-old boy who fractured his skull when he was struck by a foul ball at Wrigley Field was recovering and expected to live.

My goodness broken bat injuries, foul ball injuries, I get you take your life into your own hands but this was the childs first game and this was just sad, and honestly they really have to figure both these things out.

 

[Jacquie]

Destiny, no I had seen that. I'm just glad to hear that the boy will be ok Hopefully the Cubs can do something for him so he can still enjoy baseball

Oh yeah I forgot to say Yankees 9 Toronto 4.

 

[Destiny]

Aww I am sorry to hear that about the game, you will get them for the series right? remember positive, and not a positive-negative.

I agree I hope so to, but if its anything like that woman that was hit with the broken bat, I doubt they will, the lawyers will say we can't because then we would be expected to help everyone, hears nothing but noise and that signs are posted (blah blah blah more noise).

 

[Lucy]

a sudden "how the heck do you swing this bat" syndrome. :lol:

Hee! I can see how that could be a problem!

If you need help understanding don't hesitate to ask.

Thank you! We do get some baseball coverage from the US here in the UK, and I understand some of what is going on, but not nearly as much as I would like.