Pronk Needs You!

Well, at least they are here in EDT-land. 

The Indians played their last 10 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time start of the season.  (Unless they would make the playoffs as a wild-card and get matched up against the Angels of Somewhere Vaguely Between Los Angeles and San Diego and Near Disney.   I kid.  Of course they’ve played their last 10 p.m. start of the season.)  And, let’s face it – the Indians’ bullpen isn’t good enough for them to go more than 10 or 11 innings anyway, so hurray for sleep!

Matt Ginter looked like something approximating a major league pitcher again, but despite being spotted to a 2-0 lead, he couldn’t hold on and the Tribe lost 3-2 to the Angels of Somewhere Vaguely Between Los Angeles and San Diego and Near Disney, setting up this afternoon’s get-away day afternoon game at 3:30 EDT for the Tribe to claim the series.

In Seattle, the Indians managed to win their first road games since what seems like the Carter Administration against the sorry Seattle Mariners, winning the last two games there to take the series and start a modest three-game win streak as they took the first from the Angels of Somewhere Vaguely Between Los Angeles and San Diego and Near Disney.

Trade Bait:

• Casey Blake continues to increase his trade value and VORB (Value Over Replacement Beard) on a daily basis.  Likely, a contender will increase their grittiness quotient by trading for Blake over the 8 days.  Early money seems to be on Tampa Bay or the New York Metropolitans.
• David Dellucci appears happy in Cleveland, because right now he sucks so badly the Tribe probably can’t even give him away, even if we threw in season passes to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and a few cases of Great Lakes Brewing Company’s finest brews.
• Age and Treachery appears to have changed his windup slightly and found something, as he has pitched well enough in his last two starts to potentially have some trade value.   If Randy Wolf can bring something in return, Paul Byrd ought to have some value to someone.  Matt Ginter’s performance over his last two starts makes me believe that he might actually be good enough to be a fifth starter for this team this year.
• Jamey Carroll – who knows what value he might have?  I would think he would have some, but he’s just the kind of ‘gritty’ and versatile player that Wedge might want to keep around to spell the kids during the reload.  Barfield’s progress may have something to do whether he stays or goes in July or even at the August deadline.  He’s the kind of inexpensive spare part that might clear waivers for an August deadline deal.

Sick Call Report:

• Fausto Carmona will likely be back in the rotation on Saturday. 
• Hafner’s bad shoulder is apparently now up to 65% strength – he may be cleared to swing a bat soon.
• Victor Martinez is close to being able to resume baseball activities – he may be three weeks from being able to rejoin the club.
• Josh Barfield is traveling with the team, playing catch and taking ground balls and expected to begin hitting off a tee soon.  He’s still likely two or three weeks away.  His progress may determine whether the club is willing to trade Jamey Carroll at the July deadline or maybe even at the August deadline.

We haven’t checked in on our young Jedi padawan from the Dominican Republic in a while, so it’s time for an update.

Since Independence Day, Andy Marte has had to play dominoes in the clubhouse before games, as he has played in 11 of the Tribe’s last 14 games.  During those 11 games, the following statements are true:

• The Indians are 5-6
• Marte’s line is .256 / .293 / .462
• His OPS+ is 98 in July
• He has hit his first 2 homers of the year and had his first 3 RBI
• The Indians’ record when Marte plays has dipped to 18-18 and 13-13 when he starts. 
• His overall line on the season has increased to .181 / .222 / .277 with a 32  OPS+

Nobody is mistaking Andy Marte yet for the second coming of Mike Schmidt, but it is worth noting that Marte has looked better with increased playing time and his defense is a no-doubter upgrade from Casey Blake, who appears to be holding down the fort at 1b these days now that Garko has hit his way into Wedge’s doghouse.