While looking at some Indians stats earlier today, I came across a few tidbits of information.  So I thought I would share.

• With Shin-Soo Choo's 7 RBI outburst on July 3rd, Tribe hitters have posted 6 RBI or more in a game six times over the past season and a half.  That is the most such games in a two-season span since at least 1954. In 2008, Grady Sizemore had 7 on August 21st, Ryan Garko had 6 on June 4 and Casey Blake did it twice (7 on June 2 and 6 on April 22).  2008 marked the first year Tribe hitters had 6 or more RBI in a game 4 times.  All proving how stupid RBI is as a stat.
• Fausto Carmona and Anthony Reyes have each pitched a game this year with 6 or more walks.  That's a lot of walks, but not historically bad.  In 1970, Tribe pitchers walked 6 or more batters 19 times.  The next year, they did it 18 times.  In 1971, Tribe pitchers walked nine or more batters 6 times.  
• This marks the third year in a row Fausto has walked 6 or more in a game.
• On May 7, Masa Kobayashi allowed 5 runs while not recording an out.  That hadn't been done since Danys Baez equalled the feat in the 9th inning of an 8-5 loss on April 22, 2003.  But Masa was historically efficient, giving up his 5 runs on only 12 pitches.  At 2.4 pitches per run, he was the most efficient bad pitcher.  However, Tribe pitchers have allowed 6 runs without recording an out four times (Steve Olin, Vern Ruhle, Dave Freisleben and Mudcat Grant).  If Masa makes a repeat appearance, he needs to work on quantity of badness, not just efficiency.
• On June 29, Chris Perez gave up 4 ER in two-thirdds of an inning in his Tribe debut.  On July 7, Winston Abreu bettered the feat by giving up his 4 ER in one-third of an inning. Since 1954, Tribe relievers have given up 4 or more ER in a game 191 times.  But never before have two relievers managed to do it in their first appearance for the team.

A discussion arose during the rain delay today - are there more Indians fans who are fans of the Browns or fans of some team other than the Browns?  It started as many things do as an insult the Steelers moment.  One would think that most, but certainly not all, Tribe fans have some connection, physical or emotional, to NE Ohio, but who knows?  So vote.  Better than listening to WTAM's stupid rain delay coverage.

Hey, look over there! Is that the light at the end of the tunnel?  The Tribe and the Cubs face off in the final game at HoHoKam Park in 2009.  Lineups:

INDIANS: CF Grady Sizemore, 3B Jamey Carroll, LF Shin-Soo Choo, SS Jhonny Peralta, 1B Ryan Garko, C Kelly Shoppach, 2B Asdrubal Cabrera, RF Trevor Crowe and RHP Anthony Reyes.

CUBS: LF Alfonso Soriano, RF Joey Gathright, CF Kosuke Fukudome, 1B Micah Hoffpauir, 2B Mike Fontenot, 3B Bobby Scales, SS Andres Blanco, C Koyie Hill, P Ryan Dempster.

Audio: WMMS or Gameday Audio

Video: Only in your imagination

Gameday Link

The Tribe heads to Peoria for Cliff Lee's final start of the spring.  Lineups:

INDIANS: LF Ben Francisco, 3B Mark DeRosa, 1B Victor Martinez, DH Travis Hafner, SS Jhonny Peralta, RF Ryan Garko, C Kelly Shoppach, CF Trevor Crowe, 2B Josh Barfield. LHP Cliff Lee.

Also available to pitch: RHPs Kerry Wood, Masa Kobayashi, Matt Herges, LHP Rafael Perez.

Mariners: CF Gutierrez, SS Betancourt, LF Griffey, 3B Beltre, 1B Sweeney, 2b Lopez, DH Balentien, RF Wilson, C Johnson. F Hernandez pitching.

Audio on WTAM and Gameday Audio

Gameday Link.

The last home game of the spring finally arrives.  Lineups per Castrovince:

INDIANS: DH Grady Sizemore, 1B Mark DeRosa, C Victor Martinez, LF Shin-Soo Choo, RF Ryan Garko, CF Ben Francisco, 2B Asdrubal Cabrera, 3B Jamey Carroll, SS Wilson Valdez. LHP Scott Lewis.

Also available to pitch: RHPs Joe Smith, Masa Kobayashi, Jensen Lewis.

MARINERS: LF Endy Chavez, SS Ronny Cedeno, 1B Russell Branyan, 3B Adrian Beltre, DH Mike Sweeney, RF Wladimir Balentien, C Kenji Johjima, CF Franklin Gutierrez, 2B Chris Woodward. RHP Chris Jakaubaskas.

The Tribe plays a road game against some guys who may or may not play in San Francisco this year.  Lineups per Castrovince:

INDIANS: CF Grady Sizemore, 3B Mark DeRosa, 1B Victor Martinez, SS Jhonny Peralta, C Kelly Shoppach, RF Ben Francisco, 2B Asdrubal Cabrera, LF Josh Barfield. LHP Cliff Lee.

Also available to pitch: RHPs Rafael Betancourt, Joe Smith, Jensen Lewis.

GIANTS: CF Andres Torres, LF Eugenio Velez, RF Nate Schierholtz, 3B Pablo Sandoval, 1B Rich Aurilia, SS Juan Uribe, C Buster Posey, 2B Kevin Frandsen. RHP Jonathan Sanchez.

With the exception of Barfield in the outfield, that's pretty much a regular lineup, with actual real-life major league pitchers.  No DH, so no Hafner bloop doubles. Discuss.

It's Spring in Arizona, and I hear they're playing more baseball.  Lineups per the PD, as Castro is off gallivanting somewhere:

Indians (8-14-2): CF Grady Sizemore, 2B Asdrubal Cabrera, DH Travis Hafner, SS Jhonny Peralta, RF Ryan Garko, C Kelly Shoppach, 1B Tony Graffanino, 3B Andy Marte, LF Trevor Crowe and RHP Carl Pavano.

Padres (5-16-3): CF Jody Gerut, 2B David Eckstein, RF Brian Giles, 1B Adrian Gonzalez, DH Cliff Floyd, LF Chase Headley, 3B Edgar Gonzalez, C Henry Blanco, SS Luis Rodriguez and RHP Kevin Correia.

Basketball or March baseball, you make the call.  Lineups per Castro:

INDIANS: 3B Jamey Carroll, 2B Asdrubal Cabrera, DH Travis Hafner, C Victor Martinez, LF Ryan Garko, CF Josh Barfield, RF Trevor Crowe, 1B Andy Marte, SS Wilson Valdez. RHP Carl Pavano.

Also available to pitch: LHP Scott Lewis, RHPs Matt Herges, Ed Mujica and Greg Aquino. RHPs Joe Smith, Jensen Lewis, Rafael Betancourt and Masa Kobayashi will pitch in a Minor League game.

ATHLETICS: CF Rajai Davis, RF Jack Cust, 3B Nomar Garciaparra, DH Jason Giambi, C Landon Powell, 1B Daric Barton, SS Bobby Crosby, LF Aaron Cunningham, 2B Cliff Pennington. LHP Brett Anderson.

Barfield and Garko in the outfield.  Oh, goody.

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