While I Was Sminking

Justin Masterson in May: 0-3, 3.79 ERA.  Not too bad, simply a grand departure from his 5-0, 2.18 April.  The statistical concern is the opponents batting average, .279 vs. .217.  That is quiet a few more hits.  I suppose that it was unrealistic to expect Masterson, who had been the definition of inconsistent coming into 2011, to cruise through the campaign unmolested.  Justin's frame is prone to a variety of erratic movements, any one of which can rob him of his ability to repeat his delivery.  Over the season's first month, he was remarkable in his avoidance of such complications and, while May has brought some regression, he still has continued to produce at the highest level of his big league career.  Long and short, he is no longer on my fantasy team, but I would not worry about him as a key piece of a division leading starting rotation.

Yeah, that's right the Tribe is still in first, comfortably so.  While the Indians have lost four of five, the second place Tigers (a robust 26-26) have dropped 7 of 10.  Thus, even mired in their least successful stretch of the season, the good guys have maintained a six game cushion on the Central.  The key is for Manny Acta's boys to bounce back.  They took care of business on Saturday to avoid a prolonged losing streak and the series that begins tonight in Toronto is just as important.  In my eyes, we need two of three and a sweep would be wicked awesome.

A minute on Saturday's game.  It was great to see the power from Matt LaPorta, but the eye popping numbers came from the bullpen.  While we are all aware of how effective it has been as a whole, to see the ERAs between Carlos Carrasco and Chris Perez run 1.42-1.19-1.02 is nearly mind boggling.  I am sure you can guess what comes next, perhaps the most reliable exhibition of the year, Vinnie Pestano is nasty.

There are a couple of causes for concern.  Grady Sizemore is 0-for-12 with seven K's since his return from the disabled list to drop his season average to .244.  Maybe Acta was batting him #1 because he knew something we did not about Grady's psychology.  Sizemore has hit sixth in each of the last three games after clipping .286 from the leadoff spot.  Jack Hannahan's average has continued to plummet as well.  We were likely spoiled by Jack's .273/.349/.481 slash line in April and his numbers in May (.174/.260/.203) have balanced his season to career norms.  He is one for his last 14 and is now hitting .226.  Don't get me wrong, I did the guy the most and would like nothing better than to have a lineup around him that allowed the man to bat .230 and play stellar defense.  Unfortunately, the Tribe has scored more than 3 runs exactly three times over their last 11 games (5-6) and making use of an gold-glove, no-hit player at third is a luxury that the team cannot afford.

One possible solution to the offensive woes, one that is overdue, would be the promotion of Cord Phelps.  Phelps put together another three-hit, 3-RBI game in the Clippers 6-5 win yesterday.  Cord is batting .368 over a 13-game hitting streak and has a .940 OPS and 38 RBI on the season.  I would not suggest calling him and instantly plugging him in as the everyday third baseman, but having the option of an offensive minded player in the mix adds a dynamic that the big club is sorely lacking.  Jared Goedert may also eventually be a possibility, but, still technically rehabbing, he is off to an awful 0-for-9 start with the Clippers, featuring four strikeouts. 

Nick Hagadone, on the other hand, has throw magnificently since he was moved up from AA Akron.  Nick had stellar numbers for the Aeros (2-1, 1.59, .175 OBA, 9.53 K/9, 0.93 WHIP) has been just as impressive at AAA.  Hagadone threw two shutout innings on Saturday in his 4th appearance for the Clips.  He is 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA and a save.  His meta stats are even better with 11.37 K/9, a 0.63 WHIP and a .130 OBA.  Many speculate that he will be a viable option by August.  I say he will be the next bullpen arm to make the lake.

Other Minor Points of Interest --

Adam Miller picked up his first pro win since 2007 by pitching a scoreless 9th inning in Akron's 2-1 victory yesterday.  Miller, making his first AA appearance on his epic rehab trail, picked up for Joe Gardner, who hurled a gem.  Gardner (3.46) put up his best start of the season, allowing a run on six hits over 8 frames.  He walked one and struck out six, rebounding from a start in which he failed to get out of the 5th and surrendered nine runs.

Steven Wright took the loss for Lake County on Saturday, despite not allowing an earned run.  All five West Mchigan's runs came across in a mistake plagued second inning that featured two errors and two hit batsmen.  Wright (1.51) made in through only four innings in suffering his first loss of 2011.  He allowed six hits and two walks while fanning three and tossing his 4th wild pitch of the season.  The error that opened the door for the aforementioned rally was by second baseman Nick Bartolone, his 16th of the year.  The 2010 6th round selection had made each of his previous 15 errors at short, where his fielding percentage sits at .901.  Unfortunately the 20-year old is not contributing with the stick either, batting .192 with a .499 OPS.

FotB Tyler Tufts earned his second AA victory on Saturday.  Tyler (2.30) pitched and inning and two thirds of clean ball, allowing two hits and striking out one.  Although his OBA is rather high (.288) he had been getting the key outs and had walked just 2 in 15.2 innings.

Cheers.