Rock the (2015 MLB All-Star Game) Vote, fools

What’s the Damage?

Well at least we’re consistent.

Since 2013, the Indians have a record of 14-33 against the Detroit Tigers. They also have the third worst home record in baseball in 2015.

In the two games they lost in Detroit this past weekend, the Tribe were outscored 12-1. That followed a six-game home stand where, one game away from .500 at the outset, they went 2-4.

But none of that matters now. Throw records out the window. Statistics are flushed. Slumps cease to exist. The 2015 Cleveland Indians season officially began on Saturday, June 13th.

So, when you’re at your lowest of lows as Tribe fans, take solace in the fact that you finally get to watch what will be your left side of the infield for years to come.

Kansas City has been all the buzz in the national media, but not for anything happening on an actual baseball field. In the latest update for the American League All-Star voting, these idiot Missourians have eight Royals leading their respective positions in votes. A legitimate argument could be made that exactly zero of of them realistically deserve to be there. I’m all for supporting your team, and you’re damn right I voted Kip and Brantley on my ballot, but there’s a fine line between homerism and douchebaggery. You’re not only depriving deserving players of a serious honor, but you’re fucking over every team (including yourselves) in the American League in terms of home field advantage come World Series time. The league should step in, and they won’t, but I pray to god I’m not allowed to vote for the All-Star game next year.

In a week that saw MLB.com’s top 3 prospects all called up to their big league squads, Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton was probably the biggest surprise of the three. He went 0-4 with two Ks in his debut on Sunday, but notched his first career hit in the major leagues yesterday in the form of a stand up triple. Like the Tribe and Lindor, the call up was probably in hope of a spark for a team that’s lost 8 of their last 10.

After their eight game losing streak at the end of May/beginning of June, it’s starting to look like the Tigers of old out there in Michigan. Including the Wahoo drubbing this past weekend, they’ve won 6 of 8 and have given up 1 run or less in 5 of those games. DH Victor Martinez went 1-4 in his first rehab game for Triple-A Toledo on Sunday and is expected back in the bigs sometime relatively soon. The other Martinez is slugging .587 in the month of June and Justin Verlander surrendered only 2 runs in 5 innings in his first start of the year on Saturday.

Chris Sale is doing Chris Sale things for the White Sox…

…but rookie Carlos Rodon surrendered five runs before recording an out on Monday and the team was just swept in Tampa.

In Other News

• I wrote a blurb last week about Apple fulfilling the bullpen’s ransom note for Brandon Moss’ 100th home run ball. The Tribe then tweeted this out today:

I’m gonna take a shot in the dark and guess they’ll be presenting the products given to them by Apple to the Boys & Girls Clubs, and probably some additional goodies as well. Smooth move by the club. Hopefully something just as positive will come from Trevor Bauer & the starting pitchers…

• Frankie’s first MLB hit. Absolutely smoked. Terrific reaction too. Couldn’t wipe the smile off his face. And I hate Miggy for the emotional abuse his lumber has caused me over the years but god damnit he’s cool sometimes.

• The “other guy”, rookie 3B Giovanny Urshela, notched his first hit and blasted his first career bomb last Thursday. His family was in town for his big league debut, but had to leave after the second inning of the game and missed his tank piece. Since the call up, Gio is 4-16 with 2 BB, 2 K, 3 runs and 3 RBI. Yesterday’s lineup had Lindor in the 2 hole against the Cubs before the game got rained out. All of a sudden, a Kipnis-Lindor-Brantley top of the order and an Urshela-Bourn-Aviles bottom isn’t looking all that bad. .

GO CAVS

KEEP THE CHIEF