Indians news and notes, Saturday, June 1

1

Last night's game was delayed three times for a total of almost five hours and didn't end until 2:53, local time. It would have been far better if it'd been postponed, because in the first ten minutes after the last of the delays, Scott Barnes allowed 5 runs and the Indians went on to collect just one hit in a 9-2 loss.

Yuck.

At least Tribe fans got a tip of the cap from Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria:

A sincere thanks to each and every fan that stuck around to watch that game! You all made it fun. #ClevelandRocks

— Evan Longoria (@Evan3Longoria) June 1, 2013

The ugly box score

Ryan's recap

Dennis Manoloff's recap from the Plain Dealer

2

Other Tribe links:

Manoloff also reports on Terry Francona's lack of concern over Trevor Bauer's recent struggles in Columbus.

At Fangraphs, Matt Klaassen digs into Carlos Santana's season so far and concludes that the Tribe's catcher really has become a better hitter.

It's Albert Belle bobblehead day!

3

Washington's Stephen Strasburg left last night's game after just two innings due to a right oblique strain that has apparently been bothering him for a couple weeks now. It's unclear if he'll be missing time, but Bryce Harper has also had to sit out some games and is likely headed to the DL. Strasburg may very well join him.

In other injury news: The Yankees have activated Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis, the Athletics have activated Josh Reddick, the Blue Jays will activate Josh Johnson Tuesday, and the Diamondbacks have placed Eric Chavez on the DL with a strained oblique (I guess those are going around).

4

Baseball Nation's Grant Brisbee takes a look at an idea Tom Tango had a few months ago: MLB going from a standard draft to a player auction. The idea is that since teams' have a set budget now, why not let really them determine how to allocate their funds? Each team's budget would still be determined by which picks they'd have in a standard draft, so the Astros would have more a lot more money available to them than the Giants, etc. But if a good team is willing to spend 95% of its funds one one of the very best prospects, maybe they should be able to.

5

During last night's game thread, a few masochistic Tribe fans mentioned that they were using the rain delay to watch Game 7 of the 1997 World Series on YouTube. The game is available as part of a new partnership between the online video hub and MLB, one of dozens and dozens of games from through baseball history that can be found at the new MLB Classics page. Grantland's Jonah Keri lists some of his personal favorites for anyone looking to lose a few hours this weekend.

6

Today marks the 76th birthday of Morgan Freeman, an Academy Award winner and one of America's most beloved actors. Here are my personal favorites from his filmography:

6) Nurse Betty - You've never heard of it?! Freeman plays a hitman who falls for what is supposed to be his final target in a very strange movie that also stars Renee Zellweger, Chris Rock, and Crispin Glover.

5) Glory - Part of Freeman star-turning 1989 (when Driving Miss Daisy and Lean on Me were also released), he plays a soldier in one of the first black companies during the Civil War.

4) The Dark Knight - Freeman's part in the trilogy is small, but he's great in his role as one of the few in Gotham who knows Bruce Wayne's secret.

3) Unforgiven - Freeman plays Clint Eastwood's old friend and partner in crime in one of the greatest Westerns ever made.

2) The Shawshank Redemption - Almost certainly Freeman's most famous role, playing Red, the "only guilty man in Shawshank."

1) Seven - Freeman is perfect as the world weary lead detective to Brad Pitt's enthusiastic rookie in this masterpiece by David Fincher.