A Quest Called Tribe

So much for the Bullpen Mafia.  Over the past 6 games (11.1 IP), in which the Tribe is 2-4, the relief corps is 0-2 with an 11.12 ERA, a 2.03 WHIP and a .340 OBA.  This is not the Bad Durbin effect either.  A day after Chris Perez retired just one hitter en route to blowing the save, Tony Sipp and Vinnie Pestano combined on an epic FAIL of their own.  If, perhaps, they had surrendered just one run, Lonnie Chisenhall's second career home run might have taken them off of the hook.  No such luck.

The Tribe now heads home following a 4-4 road trip which, under normal conditions, would be a-ok.  Unfortunately, the eight games came in series against two last place clubs.  As mentioned yesterday, Manny Acta has made some decisions over the past few days that have been questionable at best.  Although I would love to lay the blame for running two men short (due to a tummy ache and a head ache no less), I shall not assume to know how much of a say Acta has in the decision to put someone on the disabled list.  What I can hold him fully accountable for is how he utilizes the talent that is available to him.  After last night's debacle in left field, maybe putting Matt LaPorta out there is a better choice than Luis Valbuena.  Even if we allow Manny the first error, the failure to pinch hit Lou Marson (.362 vs LHP, .300 overall since June 7th) for Valbuena against a tough left-hander with two runners in scoring position and one out in the 7th is inexcusable.  If Lou comes through with even a sac fly in that situation, the dynamic of the game completely changes and Tony Sipp is likely not afforded the opportunity to load the bases in the 8th.

Maybe all of the losing is getting to me.  Or maybe Acta-ball truly is dead.  Maybe the philosophy of "keeping everyone involved" must now demure to playing the hot hand.  Maybe putting Buck on the new 7-day DL (specifically designed for concussions and the like) and bringing Shelley Duncan back would have been advisable.  Maybe everything has to go right for the Tribe to make the playoffs.  Maybe it will.

Here's to the cards falling our way.

Cheers.