/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69665711/usa_today_16418069.0.jpg)
Here’s to more good than bad this week!
Chicago 2, Cleveland 1
Tough-ending to a fun series. With the loss, the Guardians are now back to .500 (51-51) on the season.
Cleveland Guardians news
Quantrill’s start a positive in walk-off loss | indians.com
The young right-hander allowed just three hits and one unearned run over six innings on Sunday. Definitely encouraging.
On shaky James Karinchak | cleveland.com
I hope it’s just not the spin rate drop. I’m not overly confident. From Paul Hoynes:
Indians acting manager DeMarlo Hale gave Karinchak a bounce-back chance Saturday night when he handed him the eighth inning with a 12-8 lead. On Friday night, not only did Karinchak hit Jose Abreu in the batting helmet in the eighth, causing the benches to clear, he turned a 4-4 tie into a 6-4 loss.
Hale’s attempt to give Karinchak a chance to redeem himself didn’t work. He lasted four batters, recording one out on a liner to center field, while allowing three runs, two coming on Adam Engel’s homer. Emmanuel Clase relieved for a five-out save in the 12-11 win.
It was evident Karinchak was shaken after hitting Abreu with a 96 mph fastball on Friday. Could there have been any carryover from Friday to Saturday’s appearance?
“I don’t think there was that carryover,” said Chris Antonetti, Indians president of baseball operations. “James was concerned about Jose as we all were. James felt terrible about it. The ball got away from him. It was scary, but I don’t think there was a carryover.
“He’s working through some things mechanically to try and get back to the point where his pitches work the way they want them to. It’s a work in progress.”
Karinchak has allowed five runs on five hits in his last two appearances. He’s recorded one out in those two appearances. His strikeout rate and spin rate have fallen.
Straw fan of Cleveland club, leadoff spot | indians.com
Our new centerfielder homered yesterday.
Around the league
- Padres star Fernando Tatis sent to injured list after latest shoulder injury.
- Three former Cubs, three HRs make history.
- Mets don’t sign first-round pick Kumar Rocker before deadline.
Random stat of the day ...
Albert Pujols:
— High Heat Stats (@HighHeatStats) August 1, 2021
2009: 115 walks in 160 games
2021: 8 walks in 75 games
That’s kind of astonishing, even understanding how far past his prime he now is.