Written by Nino Colla

---

May 19th, 2011

Cleveland Indians - 2

Chicago White Sox - 8

W: Gavin Floyd (5-3) L: Fausto Carmona (3-4)

[BOXSCORE]

Last month after Dan Haren destroyed the will to live, the Indians went out and had a game that made you ask yourself if the Cleveland Indians 2011 season up to that point was just a dream.

Last night, after Jake Peavy destroyed the will to live, the Indians went out and had a game that made you ask yourself... Well I don't know what that game made you ask yourself.

Personally... I asked myself why Fausto Carmona can't pitch well against Chicago?

At least Carmona went five innings this time, right? Here's Carmona's season against the White Sox: 0-2, 8 IP, 18 H, 18 ER, 3 HR, 2 BB, 8 K, 20.25 ERA

Here's Fausto Carmona's season against everyone else: 3-2, 56.1 IP, 42 H, 26 ER, 4 HR, 17 BB, 32 K, 4.17 ERA

Ouch?

If that's now owning, then I'm not sure what is.

"They're killing me this year," he said.

Okay Fausto, if that's how you want to put it. Killing, owning, destroying, possessing, annihilating, whatever. Carmona also had not idea what happened. So... There's your quotes. Maybe, if you want to believe Manny Acta, Carmona simply didn't have his best stuff two times out against Chicago. Coincidence. Maybe, he just can't beat Chicago. I refuse to believe that as he was 7-4 with a 5.48 ERA in 12 starts against the South Siders coming into last night's game.

So I think while he's never had ultimate success, I think it is more of a middle ground. Maybe he has just had his two worst games against the same team. It happens. As Acta pointed out, he threw his breaking stuff too hard.

Carmona entered the fifth inning, having given up six runs and actually in a position to pick things up, go six innings and not look as bad as... Well, five innings, eight runs. After a super quick fourth, Carmona could have salvaged things and given the club two more frames and keep his team somewhat in the game.

Carlos Quentin was not receptive to that idea.

At least Matt LaPorta was 2-3 with a solo home run, right? And Asdrubal Cabrera is, well, let's just say Asdrubal Cabrera is the man. Fair enough? Eat your heart out Mark Buehrle.

Ugh... This was not a pretty two game stretch, after coming off two fantastic wins against the Royals, these two games against Chicago make you test your faith. With upcoming battle against Cincinnati, one of the best team's in the National League, and a sudden rash of injuries, this is definitely a stretch that is going to test the fan base's faith and this team's mental capacity.

But the silver lining... You lost one game because of excellent pitching and an other with your number one starter having a bad game and your lineup being turned upside down. Far be it for Acta to make an excuse though.

"I'm not going to sit here and tell you that our lineup is better without Grady Sizemore and Cabrera," Acta said. "But also I'm not going to sit here and make excuses, because they did make good pitches. Injuries are a part of the game. Every team in Major League Baseball has to deal with it. We're not going to make excuses. They pitched well and that's it."

This was a bit of a sticky situation for the Indians from the get-go. Not only was Travis Hafner yet again out, but both Orlando Cabrera and Travis Buck became unavailable. Buck came down with some turf toe and Cabrera was in South Carolina becoming a United States citizen.

That pushed both Adam Everett and Shelley Duncan into the lineup. Which meant it was the first time that Acta played his "B-Lineup" against a right-handed pitcher. The B-Lineup is the lineup that has at least three backups in it. And of course, it resulted in it's second loss. But again, first time used against a right-handed pitcher. So there's that.

[RANDOM RUNDOWN]

So a rash of injuries at once. Sizemore is still in limbo, Travis Hafner goes down a few days later and it is uncertain still as to what is wrong and how long he'll continue to be out. He's scheduled for a MRI on Friday in Cleveland, which likely means he'll miss Friday's game as well. Hafner said that it could possibly be an oblique, which to me sounds better than it being a rib. Guy already run with the foot injury.

I'm no doctor, but turf toe has historically been an injury that can sideline someone. So I think we may be seeing Travis Buck hit the disabled list soon. That would mean three things.. First, we need Grady Sizemore back a week from now when he's eligible to come off the disabled list.

Second, Austin Kearns will continue to bring the pain (a 2-4 night is not enough to erase a month and a half of suck). And third, Zeke Carrera could be next in-line. All of a sudden, that log jam in the Columbus outfield isn't so much of a log jam.

It certainly lacks an infield log jam with Luis Valbuena called up to Cleveland. Josh Rodriguez, Cord Phelps, Lonnie Chisenhall, and Jason Kipnis can all better co-exist with regular playing time at semi-normal positions now. All except for Cord Phelps, who, is hitting well enough to get a promotion himself. Valbuena has the 40-man spot though and given that they designated Justin Germano for assignment, that must mean they've got other plans for the 40-man spot his exit creates.

I've never been a big Baby Louie fan, but in a pinch, and with the idea that they have a use for the 40-man spot they opened up with Germano's DFA, I guess Valbuena was the right choice. You certainly can't argue as he's been hitting well at the Triple-A level and he has MLB experience. In 31 games he's hit .270 with 4 HR, 21 RBI, and a .323 OBP. But it isn't 6 HR, 25 RBI, .300 AVG, and a .422 OBP. Hey Cord!

Anyone else concerned about the monster the Indians may have created by putting Baby in at left field?

"We have a lot of people there," Valbuena said. "They wanted to keep me in the lineup. That's why I played left field. ... Now, I have it in my mind that I can play everywhere. Nothing is a surprise."

If only we could get him thinking he can play third base....

I'm in a way, saddened to see Justin Germano DFAed at this point. We were just starting to have some fun with The Bullpen Mafia. On a serious note, Acta believes they can cover being a man down, or at least he did. Carmona's five innings was a little disheartening, but the bullpen has been sparingly used this week, with rain outs and brilliance from Masterson and Tomlin. So this can go on for a little bit, provided no one implodes again like Carmona.

But the sad part is Germano, a day after joining twitter with his Italian teammate Vinnie Pestano, had really embraced the "Bullpen Mafia." I guess I don't have an issue with the entire bullpen being referred to with the nickname. But the whole basis depended on Germano and Pestano. Together, they were the hit men.

Perhaps it was peer pressure, or just the fact that he got razzed about being the only member of the bullpen not on Twitter, Rafael Perez has now joined Twitter. Perez however is known for being unaccommodating to the media, so does anyone expect him to tweet? I certainly don't. And if he does, it will likely be in Spanish.

Mitch Talbot's rehab start got cut short. The game was suspended due to weather, but the good news is, Talbot got some work in. He went four innings, gave up a run off four hits, a walk, and five strikeouts. I'm not sure if this will effect him returning as the goal may have been to get him through a few more innings to make sure he's ready, but I'm sure that will get addressed in more detail after White and Carrasco make their next starts.

-

You can follow Nino on Twitter @TheTribeDaily where he tweets about the Bullpen Mafia. You should also like his blog on Facebook because Luis Valbuena isn't playing defense there.