The Good: Tony Sipp pitched a clean 8th. Seriously, that's as good as it got for the Tribe hurlers today.
The Bad: Fausto Carmona (7.88 ERA) got shelled to the tune of 6 earned including 2 dingers in 3 innings. Despite throwing mostly strikes, Fausto left the ball consistently up in the zone, a problem that plagued Indians pitching all day.
The Ugly: Corey Kluber's ERA is 108.00.
Utility OF Battle: Travis Buck (.474) remains my front-runner. Buck doubled in a run in the 9th and came around to score. Shelley Duncan (.333) played some at first then switched to left, adding an RBI single. Poor showing by Ezequiel Carrera (.333) who whiffed and popped up, but Grover is in his corner.
Who's Got Third?: Lonnie Chisenhall (.550!) continues make the brain trust's early declaration that he will begin at AAA look foolish. The Chiz Kid played all 9 innings collecting 4 hits (including a standing triple) and scoring a run. Diametrically opposed was Jayson Nix (.077) who chalked up another 0-for-3 (1 K).
It was enlightening, if not wholly enjoyable, to listen to Mike Hargrove attempt to interject commentary. Hargrove has a tendency to mumble, so I didn't catch several of his anecdotes. I did come to the realization that Grover is, like many of us, worn and beaten down by the heartbreak of '95 and '97.
Michael Brantley's injury? Lower half soreness. I bet there's chaffing, too. And hairy palms.
Pitchers for 03.08 (Why do they hide this information from me?): Carlos Carrasco (starter), David Huff, Zach McAllister and Joe Smith. STO will again carry the game live at 3p.
