Wednesday, May 18, 2005 |
A Nice Rhodes Trip: Angels 2, Indians 1
Dorothy: But I did leave you, Uncle Henry -- that's just the trouble. And I tried to get back for days and days. ... But it wasn't a dream -- it was a place. And you -- and you -- and you -- and you were there. ... But you couldn't have been, could you?I came into this one in the fifth -- as if, duh, hello, day game in Cleveland -- only to find Bartolo Colon had somehow managed to pitch a gem in front of a still weak-hitting Indians team. How weak? Well, so weak that on May 13, Jason Stark called them an "offensive jugger-not". After today's game, the Indians come to within a thousandth of a point of Oakland's league-trailing futility, though the Angels should talk; they're still fourth-worst in the league. Those slumps add up, and if not for a late "collapse" (if allowing one run can be called such) by Cleveland starter Jake Westerbrook, followed by the game winner from Arthur Rhodes, we're probably still here playing this game into the 23rd inning.Aunt Em: Oh, we dream lots of silly things when we --
Dorothy: No, Aunt Em -- this was a real, truly live place. And I remember that some of it wasn't very nice... but most of it was beautiful. But just the same, all I kept saying to everybody was, I want to go home. And they sent me home.
Doesn't anybody believe me?
Uncle Henry: Of course we believe you, Dorothy.
Dorothy: Oh, but anyway, Toto, we're home! Home! And this is my room -- and you're all here! And I'm not going to leave here ever, ever again, because I love you all! And -- Oh, Auntie Em -- there's no place like home!
Figgins managed to get a hit, but his crawl back to respectability has been arduous to watch, like any Liz Taylor film made in the 70's. The same thing could be said for un-hero Steve Finley, who grounded out to end the ninth. The team could do with a lot more production from the Angels' elder statesman; time to step up and do something about it. The Dodgers series may see a little more spark from him, as their pitching has really stunk it up lately. Vlad, who's hitting .250 on the month, likewise needs to step it up; is there some kind of flaw in his approach that's causing him trouble? He's only had five extra base hits all months, two of them homers, the rest doubles. Worrying.
Finally, I need to say something nice about Bartolo Colon, who -- and here I'm crossing every last lovin' digit I have on me -- now pitches like he's paid to. Hardly any strikeouts, but held down the Indians through the 8th and managed a win anyhow, and all this on three days' rest. Sweet! Nice words to Scot Shields for his K-riffic performance today, too.
Update: apparently, Indians OF Coco Crisp jammed his thumb and will be on the DL for at least three weeks, according to the Times. Ouch.
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