Those Intangibles Strike Again! Indians vs Angels

[Alex]

Some Great Hustle/Defense by Coco saves the Indians, but then Coco gets mad at the home plate ump for not asking the first base ump if he actually went around.

Coco, YOU WENT AROUND ON THE SWING! The ump was right, even if he annoyed you for being so quick and loud with his strike three call.

Bottom of the ninth, Wickman just fools Vladamir Guerrero, excellent play calling by Vic. Then, Garret Anderson golfs a pitch, a pitch he barely got his bat on, and it looped into shallow left center for a hit and the Angels tied the game.

However, I wonder if Coco had been out there, if he could have gotten to that ball. I'm also not sure it was wise to play so deep with two outs. Wickman pitched fine, it was just some slick hitting by Anderson on a pitch that was heading for the ground. Anderson really looked like he knew what he was doing even though the ball dropped out of the strike zone and was a real good pitch.

Matter of fact, Anderson's foot left the batters box and frankly, he probably should have been called out for leaving the batters box before he hit the ball.

[Alex]

Did Cleveland's season change for the better during Travis Hafner's at bat against Pedro Astacio?

Travis was down in the count yet came back to hit a two out, two run homer in the first inning. What followed was FIVE MORE RUNS, all seven scoring with two outs!

Astacio had looked pretty good against the top of the order. Astacio seemed completely in control.
Travis patiently waited and found a pitch he liked and hit a two run homer.

What really impressed me was how the following hitters took pitches and waited for a pitch they liked rather than figure they had already scored two runs and just rip at the first pitch.

If Travis had struck out, the game might have had a whole different complexion and perhaps we don't end up scoring 7 runs in the first inning and then holding on for an 8-6 victory.

The at bat by Travis and the following hitters may turnaround our season.