That Was A Heartbreaker

Now is the time when we at the Positive Tribe turn the lights off and sit around the glow of the computer with a little alcohol, a fully-charged e-cig and some Beatles blues. Because we're blue, and we're white and that's the kind of blues white people listen to. So here's your song for this post:

(Yes, technically this song features "the black Beatle" so, blues points for all!)

The fellas were full of letdowns tonight. Not everyone, but unlike the other day when most of the dudes were playing hard and some of the dudes stunk, it seemed like today there was just more stank than crank.

Scott Kazmir: Not a letdown. He almost threw 6 innings but it was smart to pull him out at the first sign of trouble (and 97 pitches). You can face 3 guys on that lineup and find yourself 5 runs down, lickety-split. He left after 5 2/3, after striking out 5 (not bad) and only giving up 2 runs. He was pretty much neck-and-neck with Scherzer, who gave up 2 as well didn't reach 5 strikeouts until 5 3/3 innings (I hope you understand my math).

The bullpen: 4/5 guys actually not a let down! Of course, there was no Oh No Not Rich Hill or Vinnie "Cringe" Pestano. They made it through 3 1/3 innings only giving up 2 hits and a walk. The standout? Chris Perez! He had his 3rd 1-2-3 inning since coming back, and his first in a few appearances. Great to have him doing what we rely on him for!

Then there was Matt Albers, who came in for the 10th. Two quick outs, then walked the big guys then pitched to Our Victor who, duh, got a double. So that was that. The team couldn't come back.

The lineup actually got 10 hits today and 3 walks. They were not afraid of Scherzer. Biggest hit of the game went to Lonnie F'n Chisenhall who came up to bat after the rain delay (after not letting Scherzer get him out before the rain delay) and got himself a gottang RBI single to take the lead in the 2nd!!! Very cool!

Michael Bourn...1 for 5. Disappointing play at the end of the game where he was playing way too shallow for Victor Martinez, and the winning hit went over his head. Also - caught stealing in a game where we needed as many baserunners as possible.

Asdrubal...Totally on fire for a short while after his return, and now a major slump. Let the team down big time today.

Kipnis wasn't hot stuff today, although he did get a hit so he's going for another hitting streak (2!)

His hit was followed by a hit from Swisher, who is totally back on my shit list. Dick Swisher. Not sure what he's going to have to do to make up for this nonsense today, but it's going to have to be massive.

If you haven't already, please contact the Indians (say, on Twitter or on their Web site) that you would like to see Nick Swisher's stupid face taken off of the Indians.com site background, and replaced with a player who is a useful Indian. Better yet, the TEAM. Or the Hot Dogs.

Michael Brantley didn't get any home runs or extra base hits today, but he did get 2 more hits, giving him 5 over the last two games. He also walked twice, going 2 for 3, and stole third!

Mike Aviles. Oh. My. Gawd. I've been rooting for this dude all season, and he is a hard player but he has been awful at the plate lately and seems to be getting worse. It's not that he is not hitting, like Reynolds. He is losing it in the clutch. You know how many he LOB today? All by himself? 7. He left the bases loaded once, then left 2 on, and another time left 1 on. Holy canoli, dude...

Speaking of Mark Reynolds, he got out of his funk today and went 2 for 4! AND - not only were both of his hits singles, but one was an infield single! Not sure if that means he was hitting to hit, or trying to hit for power and accidentally dribbled it through the infield. He hasn't hit since June 29. Let's hope this is the beginning of something great!

Yan Gomes - total letdown. We rely on Gomes to provide some clutch hitting, some unexpected power in interesting places, a little pop with men on base. Nope - 0 for 4, 3 LOB. Sigh.

Glad there's another game tomorrow, and I don't have to stew for too long. Just until 7:05 tomorrow when the Blue Jays show up. This is a completely different Blue Jays team than we faced in the first week, when they were still The Disappointment Of Toronto. They went on a 10-game tear but have been pretty even in the W/L since the last week of June. And they can't get out of the basement in the East. The Tigers totally spanked them...let's hope we can do the same!

It'll be Ubaldo versus RHP 4.89. Pretty even matchup on paper. Will be interesting to see what our lineup looks like after tonight's disappointments, and who "caught a cold" from the rain.

It'll be a new day, though - see you there!

Radio Chatter:
"At third base, Miguel Cabrera is like the Statue of Liberty. He doesn't move at all."
- Tom Hamilton

"Your basic 2-6-3-4-2-3 caught stealing."
- Tom Hamilton

"Worthy of a save in the Stanley Cup!"
- Tom Hamilton on a block by Pena

"We've had enough rain to last us until September."
- Tom Hamilton

"The next promotion for the Indians should be a helicopter pad."
- Tom Hamilton on downtown construction traffic