After an ugly start in the rain-delayed 10-4 loss to the White Sox on Sunday in the opener, I was hoping the Indians could salvage one win in the 3-game series in Chicago this week. But the Tribe bounced back in a big way to take the series, winning the rubber match today 4-3, in 11 innings. A couple of observations:
- The one-run win today is one more than the Indians won all last season against the White Sox. They were 0-9 in one-run games against the White Sox in 2005, and 5-14 overall against Chicago.
- Beating the Chisox two out of three was due in no small part to the fact that leadoff man Scott Podsednik and cleanup hitter Paul Konerko went a combined 1 for 26 in the series. Hope the other Indians pitchers were taking notes.
- Bob Wickman, who got the save for the Tribe today, looks amazingly fit this Spring (it's all relative, people). I'd guess he's at least 10-15 pounds lighter than last year. We'll find out soon.
- The bare-handed pickup and throw by Ronnie Belliard on a slow roller to second, preventing what would have been the winning run for the Sox in the ninth inning, was as good a play as we'll see out of any second baseman all year, I'd bet. Vizquelesque.
Posted by dan at April 6, 2006 12:24 AM