Pretty interesting All-Star game, don’t you think? I thought the two Indians in the game did quite well. Cliff Lee pitched like he has all season (very much deserving of the starting nod). Grady went 1-5 and didn’t capitalize on his two chances to win the game in extra innings, but his eight inning performance was a very good showcase of his talent. Get on base, move into scoring position with a stolen base, score on a ground rule double; nicely done.
The extra inning pitching situations for both teams were quite maddening. If Kazmir and Webb both pitched on Sunday (as well as Lincecum if he wasn’t sick), and both of their teams were against them pitching during the game; why exactly were they even on the roster? Hurdle and Francona had no choice but to use them and the Rays and Diamond Backs look like babies for being upset. If you do not want them to pitch, inform the leagues (coaches) so replacements can be found. I’m sure there were plenty of pitchers who could have suited up or the game (though not many in Webb or Kazmir’s skill level).
Most of the time this won’t be a problem, but this is now two times this decade it has happened. Maybe the managers should bring their bullpens with them as alternatives, or the manager and each coach on the team brings an extra arm along (bullpen or starter) should this problem arise. As long as the starters are only allowed to pitch a couple innings, extra inning games are going to be a problem.
Back to Cliff Lee for a minute. If before the season started I were to tell you that midway through the season the Indians had the possible frontrunner for the Cy Young award; how many guesses would it take before you got to Lee? He would have been no higher than my fifth guess; behind Sabathia, Carmona, Betancourt (as a dominant reliever) and probably Westbrook (he has put damn good halves together before). Funny how those four have turned out: on the Brewers (was pitching very good), hurt, awful, hurt. Is it any surprise we are not the team we were last season?
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To Kick off the second half, we have the battle of the American League bottom feeders. Indians vs. Mariners!
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