Brothers front. They say the Tribe can’t flow. But we’ve been known to do the impossible like Broadway Joe, so… -Tribe Called Quest
Public Service Announcement: Ok, here we go! You know what the man says. The man says pitching wins championships. The man says you’re only as good as good as your next day’s starter. The man says good pitching will beat good hitting any time. The man says we need a pitcher not a belly itcher. The man says stuff like that there. If the man is right, these Indians have a helleva ballclub. One helleva ballclub.
Cleveland starting pitchers have not allowed a run in 43.1 innings. How about that? How about this? It’s the longest scoreless streak by Cleveland starters since 1948. Since Bob Lemon. Since Gene Bearden. Since Sam Zoldak. Since Satchel Paige. Since all those guys threw complete-game shutouts during a 47-inning scoreless streak. Not for nothing, I miss the complete game. Not for nothing else, in 1980, Oakland Athletics pitcher Rick Langford threw 22 consecutive complete games. We’ll never see that again. Never!
The Indians streak is the longest scoreless streak by anyone since the 1974 Orioles. Since Jim Palmer. Since Mike Cuellar. Since Dave McNally. Since Ross Grimsley. Since those guy threw 54 scoreless innings.
CC Sabathia won last year’s Cy. CC Sabathia got off to a rough start this year. A tough start this year. A billy goat gruff start this year. But like Jack Torrence, he’s baaaack! Like Jack Torrence, he’s again a masterpiece of modern horror. Last night, Sabathia threw a shutout for the Tribe. Last night Sabathia was living on the corners. Last night Sabathia was virtually unhittable. He’s not the only one that’s been unhittable.
So has Clifton Phifor Lee. That’s Cliff to you. Lee has logged 53 2/3 innings so far. Lee has only allowed runs in three of them. Holy Cow! That’s not all. He is 6-0. 6-0 with a best-in-baseball, microscopic, miniscule, Lilliputian 0.67 ERA. He’s struck out forty-four. Forty-four big Ks compared to a paltry four walks. Lee is just in a groove. Groove is in the heart. Ah-ah-ah-ah. Groove is in the heart.
Aaron Laffey goes today. Last seen, Laffey scattered six hits and walked just one in seven scoreless frames to pick up the victory in the Indians’ win over Toronto. Throw in Fausto Carmona. Throw in Paul Byrd. Throw in those guys and you have an impressive starting five. Maybe the most impressive. Maybe the most impressive five since those Jim Palmer Orioles.
Like my main man Satchel Paige always says, “My pitching philosophy is simple – keep the ball way from the bat.” That’s what the Indians are doing. And if they keep it up, nobody’s touching them.
Public Acknowledgements: Casey Stengel, The Shining and Dee-Lite
Public Spectacle:
Peace out homies. Six Two and Even!
Need More? CC Sabathia, Cleveland Indians, Cliff Lee, MLB
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