SB Nation - Tomo Ohka

Game 162: Red Sox 12, Indians 7

Ryan — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:59:39 -0000

More photos » by Michael Dwyer - AP

Travis Hafner hit .321/.424/.500 over the last two weeks of the season.

It's over. Finally.

Tomo Ohka got burned for for seven earned runs in five innings, but I guess that's besides the point, for if he starts another game for the Indians, the team is heading for another season like this one. Rafael Perez, in what may have been his last appearance as member of the Indians, gave up 4 runs in just 2/3 of an inning. But, for the most part, the major player moves have happened, and whoever you've seen this month is likely who you'll see next April. I think Andy Marte bought himself another spring training, and the same with Jeremy Sowers. Kelly Shoppach will eventually be traded, but I don't think this winter is the right time to do it.

Of course, there will be a new coaching staff, and their selection should play out by the end of this month. And after that, there's free agency, which the Indians probably won't participate in, and the trade market, which they probably will take a part in. All the while we'll think back on this season as little as possible, and wish the 2010 season to get here with all haste. Thanks for sticking around until the bitter end, and may your reward be watching next year's playoff contender with the satisfaction of remembering when the groundwork was laid for it.

Next Up: A season review.

via www.fangraphs.com

Highest WPA		Lowest WPA
Andy Marte	.148	Tomo Ohka	-.520
Jhonny Peralta	.110	Chris Perez	-.125
Matt LaPorta	.061	Rafael Perez	-.115

Game 131: Tigers 8, Indians 5

Ryan — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:19:06 -0000

More photos » by Paul Sancya - AP

A cold welcome to The Show.

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Tonight saw the debuts of two prospects, each a part of a major trade. Carlos Carrasco, sent over just a month ago from Philadelphia for Cliff Lee, made his first major-league start. And Michael Brantley, a major part of the CC Sabathia deal, started in left field. If everything works out just right, both Carrasco and Brantley will be fixtures in the rotation and lineup henceforth.

But that's the future. In the present - tonight's game - Carrasco lasted just three innings, giving up six runs on nine hits and three walks. And it could have been much worse; two of the outs he managed came on a line shot double play. His pitches seemed to putter along at the top of the strike zone, comfortable pitches to any lineup, even an offense that's underachieved in 2009. By the time the fourth ended, the Tigers had an 8-1 lead.

Even with that deficit, the Indians had enough opportunity to get back into the game. Tigers starter Edwin Jackson didn't have much command, though to his credit he got out of several jams without completely self-destructing. In the top of the fifth, Matt LaPorta came to the plate with two outs, representing the tying run. But he swung at Jackson's first pitch and popped it up, quickly ending what was beginning to look like a furious comeback. Jim Leyland had seen enough; he pulled Jackson, and buoyed by raft of reinforcements from the minors, was able to use his best relievers to finish the game.

Michael Brantley's debut went much better, though a hitter's performance is just one of many in a given game, and therefore less visible. He flicked his first major-league hit to center field, and then scored from first base on a Grady Sizemore double. Brantley had to hold up between first and second to make sure Magglio Ordonez wouldn't catch the ball, but still scampered home without a throw. His second hit came in the ninth on a dribbler up the middle. He didn't get out of the box quickly, but still eluded the first baseman's tag when Adam Everett's throw sailed high and into the runner. In baseball, speed is rather useless without some accompanying baseball skill, for it takes a baseball skill to get on base to begin with. Brantley, even at this early stage of his career, can be a useful player, since he has that combination of baseball ability and physical gifts.

Next Up: Laffey vs. Porcello, 7:05 PM

via www.fangraphs.com

Highest WPA		Lowest WPA
Asdrubal Cabrera	.072	Carlos Carrasco	-.379
Grady Sizemore	.041	Jhonny Peralta	-.131
Tomo Ohka	.014	Michael Brantley	-.054

Pitcher Purgatory

afh4 — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:38:10 -0000

As always, click on the panels for larger images.

Game 121: Mariners 9, Indians 4

Ryan — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 03:01:08 -0000

More photos » by Tony Dejak - AP

Writhing in agony, ~~Adrian Monk~~ Jamey Carroll braved the dirt in order to slide in ahead of the tag.

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After a 1-2-3 first inning, David Huff got into and remained in trouble for the rest of his short outing. Two walks to lead off the second lead to a run, and would have been worse if not for a line drive double play. In the third, he allowed four straight Mariners to reach base after he retired the first batter of the inning. This time Seattle scored twice. Finally, he gave up a home run and double in the fourth, and that was it for him. Huff probably should have been pitching in AAA all season, so it's too early to write off Huff from the rotation of the future. But his struggles in 2009 will probably mean he'll have to work his way back of the depth chart next spring.

The Indians scored four runs, but three of them came after the game had been largely put out of reach. Andy Marte drove in two of the runs, including a game-tying tally in the second.

Next Up: Laffey vs. Fister, 7:05 PM

via www.fangraphs.com

HIghest WPA		Lowest WPA
Andy Marte	.095	David Huff	-.270
Shin-Soo Choo	.046	Tomo Ohka	-.112
Wyatt Toregas	.030	Grady Sizemore	-.106

Torres Learns A Lesson; Indians Bullpen Gifts Another Game

larry — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 04:12:00 -0000

More photos » by Charles Rex Arbogast - AP

The youngest member and oldest member of the White Sox shake hands after combining to drag the team back into the game.

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Carlos Torres learned that major leaguers aren't going to help him out. He did not have his good stuff, throwing only 33 of his 72 pitches for strikes, but avoiding the strike zone is something with which Torres is not unfamiliar. He often relies on hitters chasing balls and, tonight, the Indians weren't playing along.

The consequence is that Torres may have blown his chance to seize the interim 5th starter spot, with D.J. Carrasco apparently close to being named to that role after an effective 2.1 IP. Carrasco's effort was part of a 5.2 IP bullpen cleanup job that yielded only one run to the Indians and allowed the White Sox offense to take advantage of the poor Indians bullpen. Tomo Ohka, who spent last season at the White Sox' AAA affiliate, repaid his former employers by giving up 4 runs in 0.1 IP of work. Two of those runs came on a towering Jim Thome blast to center.

Bobby Jenks made his first appearance in a week. He faced the final two batters and struck out one.

Friday the 13 Innings: Indians 6, Tigers 5

Ian Casselberry — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 13:45:08 -0000

More photos » by Mark Duncan - AP

As hard as Clete Thomas and the Tigers tried, they just couldn't get that extra lift needed for a victory Friday night in Cleveland.

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Chalk this one up to Trade Deadline Hangover?

If watching a baseball game felt almost anti-climactic to Tigers fans after 24 hours of closely following the latest rumors - experiencing the high of getting Jarrod Washburn to help out the starting rotation, along with the slight disappointment of not finding a corner outfielder to boost the lineup - how must it have felt to the players and coaches who had to participate in it?

The Tigers didn't look lethargic to begin the game, however, as five of the first six Detroit batters reached base, resulting in two runs on a Clete Thomas single. But with two runners on, and only one out, the Tigers could've put even more runs on the board. Instead, both Marcus Thames and Brandon Inge flied out.

Missing out on that early opportunity may have cost them. The squandering was especially notable when Edwin Jackson let the Indians tie the score two batters into their lineup, on a Grady Sizemore single and Asdrubal Cabrera home run.

That first inning took 45 minutes, which hinted at what a long slog this game turned out to be. Jackson lasted only four innings, his shortest outing of the season, as Cleveland batters continually fouled off pitches, running his count up to 115. Jackson's stuff didn't seem particularly sharp, so he just couldn't put any hitters away. But credit a Tribe game plan that seemed intent on wearing him down.

Cleveland eventually took the lead in the fourth, and added some cushion in the sixth for a two-run lead. It looked like it was going to be another one of those nights in which the Tigers just couldn't score enough, a particularly demoralizing development after the front office's failure to acquire another hitter earlier in the day.

Virtually every Tigers fan has rolled their eyes over the past week when the front office and coaching staff said that a recovered Carlos Guillen could end up being the extra bat the team needs. And with one swing in the ninth inning against Kerry Wood, Guillen showed there might be some truth behind that contention. Having to throw a strike, as he'd fallen behind 3-1, Wood grooved a fastball down the middle. And Guillen didn't miss it, launching a game-tying, two-run homer to right field.

Unfortunately, those heroics only served to prolong the agony. On a night when nine innings took four hours, the Tigers and Indians played another four frames. Fernando Rodney and Brandon Lyon did a great job keeping Detroit in the game, with five scoreless innings. Admit it, you thought one of those guys was going to blow it. (But how did Tomo Ohka pitched four of his own? Didn't the Tigers mash this guy three weeks ago at Comerica Park?)

Casey Fien couldn't hold the baton once it was passed to him in the 13th, however, allowing a leadoff double to Jhonny Peralta and a follow-up single to Jamey Carroll that drove in the winning run. It seemed like a merciful end to a miserable (though briefly exciting) night.

Whimper:

The Tigers' pitching staff could be in trouble for tonight's game. Detroit had to use seven relievers, in light of Jackson's short outing. And with Rick Porcello probably not able to pitch more than six innings, someone else will have to help out. But only Rodney and Lyon should be unavailable tonight, as they pitched extended innings.

Comment of the Night:

we are quite literally watching paint dry here

by VivaTigres

And your runner-up. I'll take NCDee's word for it.

Game 93: Mariners 5, Indians 3

Ryan — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:42:56 -0000

More photos » by Mark Duncan - AP

Aaron Laffey got the game into the seventh tied, but the bullpen gave up two runs in the last three innings.

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Watching the Mariners beat the Indians in three games out of four was rather instructive. Seattle doesn't have much of an offense, but because their pitching staff is the best in the league, and despite a lot of errors, has been one of the better teams in turning balls in play into outs, has managed to stick around in the race. The Indians, meanwhile, are pretty good offensively and horrible in everything else, and on track to lose 100 games.

Aaron Laffey was probably a couple hits from being taken out of the game in the first inning. But he got out of the inning giving up just the three runs, and settled down, giving the Indians five shutout innings. I can see a bit of light at the end of the starting pitching tunnel, with Laffey back in the rotation and Jake Westbrook and a supposedly fixed Fauso Carmona on the cusp of joining the Indians. Hopefully there's only a couple Tomo Ohka and/or Jeremy Sowers starts left to endure.

After Laffey left, Joe Smith worked out of a small jam in the seventh. In the eighth, though, Franklin Gutierrez singled off Rafael Betancourt, should have been thrown out at second but wasn't, and eventually scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly. Kerry Wood worked the ninth, and although he got himself into a jam, should have have got out unscathed had Asdrubal Cabrera turned a double play. A couple plays, neither of which were errors, cost the Indians two runs in the last two innings of the game.

Ryan Garko was in the outfield again today. The only explanation I can think of for putting him out there is to showcase him for a trade. Otherwise, why not send down Chris Gimenez and recall Matt LaPorta or even Jordan Brown if you need another outfielder?

Next Up: A trip to Toronto. Lee vs. Cecil, 7:07 PM Tuesday.

via www.fangraphs.com

Highest WPA		Lowest WPA
Joe Smith	.123	Asdrubal Cabrera	-.200
Ben Francisco	.102	Rafael Betancourt	-.186
Grady Sizemore	.043	Kelly Shoppach	-.125

Game 89: Tigers 10, Indians 1

Ryan — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:41:47 -0000

More photos » by Duane Burleson - AP

Tomo Ohka suddenly realizes he left his wallet on the bus.

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Were you shocked at this score? No? Me neither.

Tomo Ohka lasted into the fourth, but then gave up a quick four runs on back-to-back home runs. The scary thing is that he's probably going to make at least another start. Ohka's a symptom of the Indians' starting pitching troubles, because if he's is in your rotation, you have personnel problems.

On the other side of the scoreboard, Justin Verlander shut the Indians out for seven innings before giving way to the bullpen. The Indians got five hits and three walks off him, which was a better effort than their other appearances against him this season, but they still couldn't push a run across when they had the opportunity. Not that it would have mattered.

Next Up: The All-Star Break, and then the second half. Yes, there's more where that came from.

via www.fangraphs.com

Highest WPA		Lowest WPA
Ben Francisco	.043	Tomo Ohka	-.217
Rafael Betancourt	.000	Victor Martinez	-.079
Chris Perez	.000	Asdrubal Cabrera	-.065

Game 76: Reds 7, Indians 3

Ryan — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 05:48:46 -0000

More photos » by Tony Dejak - AP

Grady came through against Homer Bailey, but nobody else did.

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Tomo Ohka was on the mound, so this one was going to be a tough to pull off.

But the Indians had many opportunities against Homer Bailey that they failed to capitalize on. The right-hander may be young and talented, but tonight he was an awful pitcher. He consistently missed his target by feet, not inches, walking seven in five innings of work.

Second Inning, bases loaded, nobody out.

Valbuena ground into double play

Francisco flied out

Third inning, runners on first and second, two out.

Garko struck out

Fourth inning, runners on first and third, two out.

Martinez flew out (on a pitch up out of the strike zone)

Those were the opportunities that, had they been taken advantage of, could have brought the Indians back into the game.

Jose Veras, recently purchased from the Yankees, made his Indians debut, striking out the side in the ninth inning. This season has made me very skeptical about troubled relievers being turned around by the Indians' coaching staff, but I was pretty impressed. Now he needs to do what he did in a meaningful situation.

via www.fangraphs.com

Highest WPA		Lowest WPA
Jhonny Peralta	.115	Tomo Ohka	-.356
Grady Sizemore	.071	Luis Valbuena	-.173
Travis Hafner	.049	Victor Martinez	-.117

Game 70: Cubs 6, Indians 5 (13 Innings)

Ryan — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 22:01:55 -0000

More photos » by Nam Y Huh - AP

Luis Valbuena homered twice, including in the thirteenth inning, but Kerry Wood couldn't hold the lead for the second straight game.

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I was all set to concentrate some good things after today's game. Tomo Ohka did his job, going six innings, the bullpen was relatively decent, and Luis Valbuena has had a breakout series. And maybe there will be a time and place for that later on.

But for now, you can't talk about the good things on this team, for the endings are always the same nowadays: brutal, come-from-ahead losses. This team, to use a time-worn cliché, is finding ways to lose. Most of them having something to do with the bullpen. Today it wasn't the eighth inning crew, or any of the setup cronies for that matter. Setup pitched six innings of scoreless baseball, a good outing by any relief group. It was Kerry Wood, who blew a one-run save opportunity yesterday, who this time blew not only the save, but the game. Kerry couldn't spot his breaking pitches again, and became a one-pitch pitcher. Kelly Shoppach could have defused the inning just by making a decent throw to nab Kosuke Fukodome running to second, but his throw tailed into the runner, and instead of there being two outs and nobody on, there was one out and a runner on third. This brought the infield in, and turned an Andres Blanco game-ending grounder to short into a run-tying single. Aaron Miles hit a bloop single to move Blanco to third, and Wood finished things off in style by uncorking a wild pitch to end the game.

The frustrating thing about this loss is that the Indians had the tactical advantage. They still had relievers in their bullpen to use, and the Cubs were on their last one, and he had thrown two innings the day before. Now you may say that sending any Indians reliever to the mound in a tie game would be an advantage for the other team, but still, the Cubs were probably going to have to go with one of the starters should the game go any longer.

Then there was the inexplicable pinch-hit appearance for Trevor Crowe in the ninth. No, he wasn't pinch-hitting for the pitcher, but for Ryan Garko, who had spent the previous inning in the outfield presumably so he could bat the next time up. Maybe Garko hurt himself running in from the outfield, but besides that, i got nothin'.

Next Up: Sowers vs. Wells, 2:20 PM.

via www.fangraphs.com

Highest WPA		Lowest WPA
Luis Valbuena	.582	Kerry Wood	-.791
Jhonny Peralta	.290	Victor Martinez	-.293
Joe Smith	.286	Tomo Ohka	-.261