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Thursday, April 12, 2007

Big Dollars, Big Loss: Indians 4, Angels 3

Scot Shields offered up a fat one to Travis Hafner after walking two in the eighth, and that was just what the Indians needed to beat the Angels today at Milwaukee. Shields hasn't looked too sharp so far this year, making me wonder if his tall dollar contract was worth it. He'll have plenty of other chances to earn that money, but still.

The good news was Dustin Moseley, who surprised the hell out of me (and probably a lot of other people) by pitching well through six, despite getting into a no-outs, two-on jam in the seventh. He'll likely scamper back to AAA, but not without some plaudits for his exceptional two performances that have made me reevaluate him somewhat. I still think his likely destination is another team in exchange for an outfield bat, and speaking of which, why isn't Nick Gorneault up? Reggie Willits and Tommy Murphy are identical players; on days like today, you'd like to have a guy with a little more pop in his bat manning right field in Vlad's stead.

I'll let Howie Kendrick's continued production slide go until after we've had a month or so into the season to judge him fairly; I don't mind it too much, as both he and Kotchman had some long, loud outs caught at the warning track that could easily have gone for doubles at least with a slower outfield. Something to remember the next time the Angels play, oh, say the Giants, or maybe the Yankees.

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Comments:
I'm not sure its fair to say that about Sbields. So far this year hes looked like his normal self, and he has always had the occasional off day where he can't locate. I'd still take him over any set up guy in the league, except maybe that guy in Detroit.
 
I'm pretty certain that if you take a look at Shields' April game logs for the last few seasons, you'll note that he tends to give up a few early in the year (maybe not so much in 2006, but he got positively rocked early in 2004 and 2005).

Prior to today, Shields had tossed 6 1/3 innings, with 2 hits, 8Ks and only one walk (10 ground balls to only 2 fly balls). How does that amount to not looking too sharp?

As for Kendrick's "slide," seems a bit unfair to say about a guy who went 4-4 on Tuesday.
 
I knew I was going to have to say something about that. Like I said, Howie's hitting the ball hard, but he's getting not a lot to show for it. They're playing him well (IIRC in the first game of the series he hit a bullet down the third base line that, but for positioning, should have been a double, and today he hit one to the warning track that would have been a double save for good outfield defense). He'll come around.
 
Geez, even after today's 0-4 Kendrick is still hitting .290.
 
Speaking of outfielders, does anyone know why Murphy has not played any so far and Willits has been in two or three games? Just curious
 
Willits has been in four games so far. It's an interesting question.
 
Never met a man that made more snap judgements, or changed them as frequently.

Scot Shields had a 0 ERA coming into today's game, his seventh (!) in 10 total.

Kendrick was hitting .333 coming into today's game, and is 48 hrs removed from a 4-for-4.

For all your commentary, you lack a bit in sustained observation. I put it down to hysterics more than concentration lapse. But do mind what's happening a bit. "Shields hasn't looked too sharp"? I just can't see how anyone who watched any of the other six appearance besides today's could possibly say that. The man had only given up two hits prior to today!
 
Mm. I'm channeling his spring training numbers into that, which I probably shouldn't; his 0-2 record with a 10.57 ERA in Tempe had a lingering effect on my perceptions.
 
Rob: again, I'd just like to direct your attention to Shields' game logs for April 2004 and April 2005. Both seasons, he got roughed up a bit early in the year, yet on the whole he was pretty much brilliant both seasons.
 
We all know what spring training numbers mean: not a lot. Pitchers experiment, they repeat pitches they would not otherwise, they get in shape. Scot looked random in spring, but he looked brilliant his first six games.

If the finger should be pointed anywhere, it's at a manager who overused his pitcher. 7 of 10 games? There are limits, and crossing some are dangerous. Moreover, Mike had Darren Oliver warmed up in the pen and a string of lefties coming up to bat. Bringing in Scot was unnecessary. Leaving him in to face six batters when his delivery was clearly off was irresponsible. We don't need to risk injury to our set-up man b/c Mike likes his daily routine.
 
yeah, Kendrick's will come around.

in only one game of a series this WEEK, he was 4-4 with 3 runs scored.

yeah, only going 1-8 the next two days sucks, but he'll come around.

He'll start going 3-4 most nights.
 

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