First off, congrats to Victor on his $15.5 deal for 5 years. Martinez gets a $1 million signing bonus, $500,000 this year, $800,000 in 2006, $3 million in 2007, $4.25 million in 2008 and $5.7 million in 2009. The Indians have a $7 million option for 2010 with a $250,000 buyout.
Now for todays loss against Chicago. Fortunately, I was working at The Rock (my job) and had to catch a highlight or 2 on a computer. WTAM on the drive home replayed the last inning for those of us who missed it.
Unreal. Totally. Wicky got hammered. I was going to say Wicky got his ass handed to him, eh, why not, I said it. Actually, he got it slapped off, kicked around the field alittle, and then made to go get it.
Our favorite announcer, Tom Hamilton, said it nicely. "Gee, Wicky's getting tattoed".
Wicky's not your lights-out type of closer. He's going to get hit. 'Nuff said about that.
"He just didn't have it today,'' Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. ``The ball was up a little bit and a couple of good hitters got on them.''
A couple 4 hitters. Then, if that wasn't bad enough, a routine bunt to the mound gets picked up and then dropped by.....yep....Wicky.
``I throw strikes and today, obviously, it hurt me,'' Wickman said.
Yes it did. Those belt high-right across the middle of the plate strikes hurt him. Who'd a thunk that.
Millwood, on the other hand, looked good. Millwood allowed four hits, struck out one and walked two as his fastball reached 94 mph. He was trying for his 99th career win, his first in the American League.
Do we begin to think Jason Davis in the closer role, on the 2nd game of the season, or do we walk it off.