Jack Attack

Now that's the Hammerin' Jack Hannahan that I know & love.  Honestly, every time that the man does something to help the team win, a huge grin breaks across my face.  Sure, I know the number isn't sustainable, but Cap'n Jack is 5-for-6 (.833) with runners in scoring position and 2 outs.  That's not one of those cute circumstances (like say balls hit to the outfield or a 3-0 count) that all hitters have ridiculous batting average during, it is quite possibly the best measure of clutch hitting that we have at our disposal.  He also now has 4 walks in that setting, which means that his OPS with runners in scoring position and 2 outs is, wait for it, 2.400.  Yeah, 2.400.  Jack's also batting .324 overall with a team high 11 RBI and a .885 OPS.

I feel little need to discuss Ubaldo Jimenez.  After a dog start against the Royals, U came out and kept Oakland's anemic offense in the game by walking 5 in 6 innings.  Yeah, 107 pitches, just 61 for strikes, in 6 innings.  Visually, Jimenez could not have looked any worse.  If he was not supposed to be a dominant front end starter, I would take this performance and say something trite like "he pitched well enough to win," but we traded the goddamn farm for him.  How much better would this rotation look right now with Drew Pomeranz in it rather than Ubaldo?  Chris Antonetti should be castrated, eviscerated and left out for the crows and I don't want to hear any cries for mercy.  Screw him.

It's late and I'm tired, so props to Jason Donald on the leaping grab, to Chris Perez on the quick save (although, for the record, I am still not sold on him as the best closer) and to the bullpen (less Tony Sipp) on 3.2 scoreless to finish the game.  Since posting a 6.48 ERA through the first game in KC, the Mafia has posted a flat 2.00 in their last 18 innings.  Sipp, on the other hand, has been just awful.  His ERA is 14.73 if you're counting.  Couple that with an unused minor league option and I would bet my left foot that he takes the I-71 shuttle when AzCab comes back from bereavement.

A bit concerned about Jason Kipnis with the bat, but you have to love his hustle and his fire.  He'll get a long leash.

The Indians are a game and a half back of the dream team Tigers.

Roll Tribe.

Cheers.

P.s. Yoenis Cespedes is huge.

P.p.s.  There were about twenty seconds after Manny Acta didn't give the bunt sign to Casey Kotchman during which Rick Manning and I said exactly the same thing.  In fact, we uttered the word "unbelievable" simultaneously.  Acta is worthless.  He has to go.  I'll say it to his face.