Found May 07, 2009 on
Tribe Fan in Yankeeland:
Woa!!
Vinny Chulk DFA'd just 5 weeks into the season? Who saw that coming out of spring training.Ah, but for every Vinny Chulk, there's a Matt Herges.The Indians, as you probably know by now, shook up their moribund pen a little last night, designating Chulk for assignment and farming out Raffie Perez.To fill their spots in the pen, the Tribe recalled righty Matt Herges from Columbus, moved lefty Aaron Laffey from the starting rotation to the pen and brought up Jeremy Sowers to replace Laffey from the rotation.That last move paid off last night, as Laffey tossed three scoreless innings of relief against the Red Sox to pick up a save. He got the save for holding a lead for three innings, not by protecting a slim lead as the game ended 9-2.So what to make of this?The general plan I like. They needed to move someone who was getting people out into the bullpen. That turned out to be Laffey. It's not a choice you like to make, but - in this instance - it's one you had to make. There was no real bullpen help down below and the bleeding has to be stopped.But Matt Herges? I guess they went for experience on that one. Or they just figured he is one more die to roll. Herges' ERA is nearly 6 and teams - International League teams - are hitting .316 against him. Hey, I guess we can't knock it 'til we try it. But if I'm forming an opinion now, I think Herges goes the way of Chulk sooner rather than later. Herges' life-time MLB ERA is just about 4 and his last good year was 2007 (5-1, ERA 2.96; WHIP 1.01). That's sounds good, but the only season prior to that where he comes close to those numbers is in 2003, with San Francisco and and San Diego.No one else was lighting it up in Columbus, so let's say we give the nod to experience and see what happens - while telling ourselves not to expect much.The other move, filling Laffey's spot with Jeremy Sowers, also probably has to do with experience - as in at least he's been up here before. Sowers was off to a good start in Columbus, 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA. But we've seen his act before and we know what we are likely to get. Adequate at best.While I don't really knock the move, I would have liked to see what David Huff could do instead. Huff (4-0 with a 3.21 ERA and 23 Ks in 28 innings) was touted by the front office late last year as someone who could have an impact on the parent club this year, This might have been a good time to find out exactly what kind of impact.As for Perez, it was obvious he had to go and get his head straightened out outside of the limelight.Still, with all the moves made since Friday, lets give the brain trust an A for effort. At least they are not sitting on their hands like last year while the season melted away.Do I expect these changes to turn things around? If been around this team too long to get my hopes up. But let's just say I'm still watching the games every night, so there must be some hope there. 
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Via Indians Confidential.com
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May 07, 2009
The line of the night went something like this - 12 pitches, five hits, five runs. Yes, the names may change, but the results by all means stay the same. That line was that of Indians relief pitcher Masa Kobayshi, who came in to try and stop the bleeding after starter Jeremy Sowers [...]
Via The Tribe Daily
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May 06, 2009
Well three people involved in the bullpen move today, one that I said wasn't, but I didn't take into account the fact that they would just outright release him. I meant in terms of getting called up. Rafae Perez is going down, Matt Herges is coming up, and Juan Salas is gone.Matt Herges is getting the call to Cleveland. He's a 39 year old veteran that's pitched for...
Via *D Cowboys Corner
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May 06, 2009
Perez out, Herges in!OUT!Today on my way home, I heard that Rafael Perez was sent to AAA Columbus. No surprise here! In his place was called up Matt Herges, formerly of Colorado and Florida San Fran, Montreal and LA Dodgers. Hint to Matt Herges: Note to Matt Herges. I liked your signing with the team. I want to love your signing with the team. Hint: Get hitters OUT!IN!
Via Central Maine Sports Blog
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May 07, 2009
CMSB Photo Courtesy Pierre's of Exchange StYour Thursday links are brought to you by, "Are you doing the links, Matty?"The Bruins fell in overtime to Carolina 3-2. They are now trailing the series 2-1, and Black and Gold nation is worried about whether or notthey may have to shave their playoff beards.The Celtics layed the hammer down on Orlando last night, and Paul...
Via Indians Confidential.com
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May 06, 2009
For at least one night, the moves the Indians trying to fix the pitching woes actually worked. Carl Pavano pitched six pretty good innings, and Aaron Laffey coming out of the pen threw three solid innings without allowing the Red Sox back in the game at the Indians beat the Red Sox in Fenway [...]
Via Indians Confidential.com
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May 06, 2009
The moves continue for the Tribe, who have the worst bullpen in the Majors, but are looking to do what it takes to get it straight.
They already made maybe the best move possible today, as they sent Rafael Perez packing down to AAA Columbus. They called up Matt Herges. At this point, it [...]
Via The Tribe Daily
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May 07, 2009
Early news says that we've made another move.. This time going outside the organization.RP Luis Vizcaino, who was released by the Cubs earlier this year, has been signed.Vizcaino has pitched 11 years in the big leagues, most recently for Colorado, New York, Chicago, and Arizona, all on one year stints. He's well traveled but he had some relative success in Milwaukee, especially...
Via Waiting For Next Year
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May 07, 2009
Talk about a strange day in Wahoo-land. The day starts with tales of the horrific bullpen, followed by a mid-day demotion of Rafael Perez in favor of journeyman Matt Herges, and a bullpen that now contains Herges, Masa Kobayashi, and a completely unreliable Jensen Lewis heading into Boston. In a word - YIKES. Next, the [...]
Via Sox and Dawgs Inactive
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May 06, 2009
Wednesday, May 6th @ 7:10 PM
Carl Pavano (R) (1-3, 7.46) vs Justin Masterson (R) (2-1, 4.37)
TV: NESN Plus, MLB.tv
Radio: Red Sox Radio Network, MLB Game Day Audio
Thursday, May 7th @ 7:10 PM
Aaron Laffey (L) (2-0, 4.09) vs Tim Wakefield (R) (3-1, 2.91)
TV: NESN, MLB.tv
Radio: Red Sox Radio Network, MLB Game Day Audio
©2009 SOX & Dawgs. [...]
Via *D Cowboys Corner
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May 07, 2009
Masterson v Pavano; (game 1)
Carl Pavano was on last night and the Sox not so much so as he hurled six innings of 6 hit, 2 run ball boosting his W/L record to 2-3 on the season. Boston hitters were kept just a bit off balance by the concoction of pitches from his repertoire. By contrast, Justin Masterson worked 6 and a third innings yielding 8 hits and 6 runs taking the loss, his...
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