So we want to make the postseason eh?

The Indians lost 2 of 3 games (could very well have been a sweep) to the last place Washington Nationals… and we’re trying to compete for first in our division and make the postseason.

We played awful in this series and give credit to Washington… there starters and bullpen were very effective and were able to get a lot of strike outs.  Not only that but they were able to limit the Indians to a combined total of 19 hits in the series.

We just cannot allow these type of games to get away from us.  I mean come on, if we think we’re as good as we think we are, then we don’t lose to last place teams.  These kinds of loses frustrate me the most.  If I know anything about baseball then when the season winds down in September and we are scraping for wins and help, we will look back on these games and say ‘man, we really messed this up.’  Ha, well something like that at least.

The Indians have to wake up because we are 10-12 in June right now and could become 2 games behind Detroit tonight if they win.

In better news, Jake Westbrook (L, 1-3) returned to the mound today after a lengthy stint on the DL.  Westbrook had a very strong outing today.  He managed to pitch 7.0 innings of work allowing allowing 3 earned runs on 7 hits while striking out 2 batters and not walking anyone.

I’m glad to see Jake back in action for us and hopefully he will be able to shore up starting rotation and maybe even bring a spark.  Going off today’s performance I am very pleased with him.

Hmm…  I really couldn’t believe that the Indians could lose to the Nationals last night.  These should be easy games for the Tribe to win.  We have to do better tonight.

Fausto Carmona (L, 8-3) had a very strong outing.  He allowed 3 earned runs on 10 hits while striking out 3 and walking 2 batters.  His ERA is at 3.21 right now.

Carmona did his part last night but the Indian batters couldn’t make it happen.  Grady Sizemore did not have a good game as he continues to struggle to find consistent hits while his strike outs climb.

Travis Hafner came in and pinch hitted for Ryan Garko but went 0-2.  Hafner is not having a good first half of the season.  He hasn’t been able to find hits and to me he doesn’t look as confident.

The Indians continue this series tonight against Washington at 7:05 PM.  The Indians must win this game because you don’t want to lose this series to a last place team, when you’re battling for first.  Paul Byrd (6-3, 4.81) takes the mound tonight.

Give C.C. Sabathia props again as tonight he pitched very well.  However, the Indians could not hold off a late Atlanta come back.  We were in good position to win tonight but were unable to finish.

Sabathia (L, 9-2) pitched very well.  He managed to work 8.1 innings while allowing 5 runs (4 earned) on 12 hits.  He struck out 7 batters and walked just 1.  His ERA currently sits at 3.19.

He was just a few outs away from pitching another complete game tonight but a couple key hits for the Braves changed that.  Atlanta scored 2 runs in the top of the 9th that gave them the ultimate deciding runs.

We lost the game but I am very pleased with the way he pitched the game.  With C.C. pitching that far into the game it not only takes the pressure off the bullpen but it also reinforces his dominance as our ace.  Twelve hits is not what you want to allow to any team but he kept us in the game.

Sabathia was a couple key catches away by David Dellucci from earning his 10th win on the season.  And I give mad props to Dellucci for selling out his body on those 2 dive attempts.  That is what any fan loves to see — players who will do anything in order to make a catch.

Sorry about the lack of posts lately!  We’ll get back at it right now.  Thank you Cleveland Cavaliers for a great and enjoyable season!

Tribe facts for Friday:

• The Indians are 98-86 (.533) in interleague play since 1997.
• The Indians are 35-9 when they score 4 or more runs.  And 4-17 when they score 3 or less runs. — That has to improve.
• 171 walks — fewest number of walks our starts have allowed this season in the Majors.
• The Indians are 27-18 vs. RH starters and are 12-8 vs. LH starters.
• Cleveland is 3rd in the AL in runs scored with 354.  Detroit (385) and NY Yankees (360).
• Cleveland holds a 2-1 overall season record against the Braves.  All of the games being played at Turner Field (2004).
• Atlanta will be making their first trip back to Jacobs Field since the 1995 World Series.

More often than not, you’re sitting down, relaxing, and watching a Cleveland Indians baseball game and an umpire makes this brand new ‘call’ that you have never heard of before.

Or, you keep hearing over and over again as the announcers speak into a different baseball language and you have no idea what it means.

Hal Lebovitz reigned as a leading expert on baseball rules for more than four decades. From 1957 until his death in 2005, Hal answered readers’ questions about sports in his popular “Ask Hal” newspaper column. Baseball provided the most frequent questions—and often the most curious and confounding ones. But Hal was never stumped.

This book collects the best and most entertaining questions and answers about baseball rules from four decades of “Ask Hal.” Flip to any page and you’ll find a question that might spark a lively debate at any dinner table or settle a bet at the local tavern.

About Hal Lebovitz : Read More

• Hall-of-Fame Sportswriter
• Sportswriter for more than six decades.
• Former beat writer for the Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Indians.
• Started working for the Plain Dealer in 1960.

Ask Hal:  Answers to Fans’ Most Interesting Questions about Baseball Rules is a book you will enjoy reading.  You will find a lot of interesting baseball info, facts, and rules that you never knew existed.

If your looking to learn more about the game of baseball or just trying to better understand the rules this is the book you want.

• About The Book
• Read a sample chapter
• Purchase!