Despite the lead, all we should really be talking about is how Justin Masterson (7.2 IP, 4 H, 6 K) utterly dominated the Twins. Newly marked as the ace of the staff, Bat showed exactly why. Whether it was retiring 13 in a row in the middle of the game, coming back from a 3-0 count to strike out Danny Valencia on three more pitches, or escaping a two-on none-out jam in the 7th by fanning a future Hall of Famer and inducing a double play; Bat was fantastic. Remember that, even as he went two months without a win, Justin (8-6, 2.64) never slumped and has been both the most consistent and, on any given night, the most devastating horse in the Tribe's barn. Following another effort bereft of free passes (72 strikes over 104 pitches), Masterson, who averaged 5.5 BB/9 for the Tribe in '09 and 3.7 last season, has delivered a 2.6 BB/9 in 2011. All of these are excellent signs, as starting pitching will doubtlessly be the most important consideration as the we dig in for the dog days of August.
In case you are wondering, the Indians starting rotation now looks as follows - Justin Masterson, Josh Tomlin, Carlos Carrasco, David Huff, and, lastly, Fausto Carmona. That means that Carmona has gone from engine to caboose in about three months, inspiring less confidence than the retread who had been at AAA until yesterday.
Noticeably absent from the above list is Mitch Talbot. Mitch, who conveniently found his way onto the disabled list with a back strain just before the All-Star break, began a 30-day rehab stint with Columbus yesterday. The interesting part? He will work out of the bullpen. Given Talbot's struggles over the past month (1-4, 9.49), it seems as if the organization has decided on a new role for him. Does this mean the end of CHUD Durbin? We can only hope.
The loss was a heart breaker to be sure and it raises again the question of using a closer in a non-save situation. Chris Perez (2-5, 3.03) was inserted yesterday for exactly no reason, went ahead and looked completely out of sorts, then did the same tonight. Unfortunately, tonight, Manny Acta's poor decision making equals a loss. On a day when the lineup was already short three starters (Sizemore, Choo, Brantley), Manny refused to play Travis Hafner when Brantley came down with a tummy ache. Maybe he should have pulled Jeanmar on Sunday? Perhaps you pinch hit Shelley Duncan (or any right-handed batter) for Grady on Saturday? Why was Valbuena positioned on the warning track when Cuddyer hit his "double?" Hindsight is 20/20, but when managerial missteps result in three losses in four days, something sure is rotten in Mudville.
Fun Fact: According to STO, this is the first time that the Indians and Pirates have both been in first place as late as July 19th since 1921. Wow.
Cheers.
P.s. Word on the street is that Travis Buck is showing no signs of concussion. At least there is some good news.
