Youth was served. Last night Hughes, tonight Joba.
Hopefully it’s a vision of the future, and a long series of successes for Hughes and Joba.
Last night, Hughes, 6 shutout innings, 0 R, 2 hits.
Tonight, Joba 7 IP, 1 R, 3 hits, 3 walks and 6 K. Ace-like, just like Hughes job. Very encouraging.
Superb.
Swisher hit 2 HR, a 3-run shot and a solo one. He also made a nice catch.
Matsui had a bases-clearing double.
In the first, Miggy Cabrera made a couple of plays to save some runs. Nice D for the Tiger 1B.
Coke pitched the 8th. 1-2-3.
Terrible job by Albaladejo in the 9th. He gets two outs, gives up two runs, and leaves two men on base.
…which forces Rivera to come in…and Mo gives up a three-run bomb to make it 8-6.
Sutcliffe on ESPN makes good points: 1) poor job by Albaladejo, and 2) Rivera, it seems, wasn’t ready to come in. Hey, when it’s 8-1 at the start of the inning…
…but Mo does get the next batter to close the 8-6 win.
Mo does hit snags in April. Here is a list of the April HR he’s given up. He has given up 55 in his career, but let’s just concentrate on 43—since he became the full-time closer in 1997.
4-11 and 4-30 1997
4-19 2000
4-28 2001
4-13 2002
4-5 2005
4-15 2007
4-24, 4-29 2009
9 HR out of 43.
He also usually hits a snag in mid-August.
8-23 1997
8-14 1998
8-18 2000
8-4 2001
8-15 and 8-16 2003 (back to back, I was there for 8-16)
8-16 2005
8-8 and 8-18 2006
8-15 2007
8-12 2008
that is 11 of the 43.
So 20 of the 43 are in a specific time frame of the year. Almost half come either early (as tonight) or in mid-August. Strange, but you can see it for yourselves.
ESPN noticed something on Mo. Push off from his back leg. They say that they noticed it on the Bay HR and they think it happened on the HR tonight. Did Mo strain a groin?
1 response so far ↓
1 Jason // Apr 30, 2009 at 10:29 am
Joba’s third inning was perilous, but he cruised after that. His K of Cabrera was really nasty, using his excellent curve. Pete Abraham had a nice bit on that worth reading, if you have not already. I’m still waiting for the Joba-to-the-bullpen crowd to resurface. Yeeeeesh.
Swish’s HR cut on the high change-up to left, batting lefty, reminded me of Yogi’s numerous bad-ball homers. I love that Cano can get one hit and his average drops to .371.
On an unrelated note, the Celtics are getting inspired play from Pierce, Rondo, and Allen, the first two more consistently. Hopefully they can close out Chicago in Game 6 and get a brief blow. I’ll say this about the kid–were it not for Rondo’s incredible play, Derrick Rose would be getting a lot more attention for his very good play. The kid is 20 and is literally maturing every game. Thank goodness Rondo is himself playing as brilliantly as he is. It’s been a classic.
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