CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It is a new age, and professional athletes can bare their souls in so many different ways. After turning an 8-5 lead into a 10-8 loss to the Tigers on Sunday with two out in the 10th inning, Indians closer Chris Perez used his Twitter account to Tweet: "Definitely the low point of my professional career....
Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerTribe closer Chris Perez tweeted that Sunday's blown save was the low point of his career. Clubhouse confidential: Veteran umpire John Hirschbeck was at Progressive Field on Monday for the Indians-Twins game. Hirschbeck, with 30 years of experience as an umpire, is not working this year as he recovers from testicular cancer.
Hirschbeck was crew chief of the umpires who worked Monday's game -- Jim Joyce, Mike DiMuro, Jim Reynolds and James Hoye. The Poland, Ohio, native chatted with manager Manny Acta before the game.
He told friends he's cancer-free and plans to return to work in 2013.
Pressure cooker: In the ninth inning Sunday at Comerica Park, all Josh Tomlin had to do was load the bases in the ninth inning of a tie game by intentionally walking Detroit's Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder. Then all he had to do was get Quintin Berry to hit into a inning-ending double play to send the game into extra innings.
Berry cooperated with grounder to first that turned into a 3-2-3 double play.
"That's the most intense situation I've ever been in, in the big leagues," said Tomlin. "I told [pitching coach] Scott Radinsky that I liked it."
Stat of the day: The Indians have posted a 5.85 ERA since the All-Star break. It's the highest in the American League. The only teams in the big leagues with fatter ERAs are Houston at 6.11 and Colorado at 6.51.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It is a new age, and professional athletes can bare their souls in so many different ways.
After turning an 8-5 lead into a 10-8 loss to the Tigers on Sunday with two out in the 10th inning, Indians closer Chris Perez used his Twitter account to Tweet: "Definitely the low point of my professional career. Only thing I can do is work harder tomorrow and get better. #NeverGiveIn."
In an earlier Tweet, he invited Indians fans to rip him for extending the Indians' losing streak to nine games.
"Obviously, I meant to do it," said Perez before Monday night's game. "I don't make stuff up."
Some of the responses:
"Chin up sir" @nfltalentstaff.
"Everybody has a bad day" @snbarber63.
"One would think the low point would be throwing up on TV after a save" @connorfabits3.
After retiring the first two batters, Perez walked Alex Avila and Andy Dirks. A double by Austin Jackson and a single by Omar Infante tied the score. Miguel Cabrera's two-run homer won it.
Perez is 0-3 with 29 saves in 32 chances.
"Chris is one of the best closers in the game," said manager Manny Acta. "If there's anybody who can bounce back from this, it's him."
State of the Tribe: General Manager Chris Antonetti touched on a several subjects concerning the struggling Indians on Monday.
Starting rotation: "I'm concerned. The inconsistency of our starting pitching has been a challenge for us most of the year. If we can't ride our starting pitching, it's going to be difficult to sustain any kind of momentum or success."
Was there a lack of effort from the Indians on the 0-9 trip? "I have not had that concern at all. It's never been about our approach or how we prepared or how we played. For the most part, it's been a lack of execution.
"Maybe in some cases it's a question of caring too much and caring too hard."
Is fan criticism bothering the organization? "We are very cognizant of our fans. I think they want the same thing that we want, and that's winning baseball. The more games we win, the happier they'll be, and the happier we'll be.
"We haven't done enough of that this year."
On the shelf: After his second three-RBI game of the season Sunday, the first since April 11, Travis Hafner was on the bench Monday with a stiff back. Hafner has been dealing with back problems since July 31.
Hafner is being treated by a chiropractor and could miss a couple more games.
Another start: The Indians want Roberto Hernandez to make one more start before he joins the rotation. He will pitch for Class AAA Columbus on Friday, the last day of his MLB-imposed three-week suspension.
On Sunday, Hernandez allowed four runs, all on homers, in 71/3 innings for Class A Lake County.
"He went into the eighth inning and threw 96 pitches," said Acta. "He told me he's ready to go, but we're going to have him back one more start."
We have movement: Grady Sizemore (knees, back) hit and ran on the field before Monday's game. Antonetti said he could go out on a rehab assignment in the next two weeks.
"I don't think anyone has an estimation on how long it will take Grady to get back to the major-league level of play," said Antonetti. "At this point, it's been a year since he's been in competition."
In other injury news, lefty Rafael Perez (left lat) will throw a bullpen session today. In Goodyear, Ariz., Carlos Carrasco (right elbow) continues to throw bullpen sessions and could be in game situations in September.
Finally: The Indians claimed right-hander Fabio Martinez on waivers from the Angels. Martinez, 18-13 with a 3.90 in his minor-league career, will be optioned to Class A Carolina. . . . Indians minor-leaguer Juan Nivar, a right-hander in the Dominican Summer League, was suspended for 50 games for using a banned substance. Nivar tested positive for metabolites of Boldenone.
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2012/08/after_blown_save_chris_perez_t.html
Winter sports Eric Pickles Joey Barton Royal Bank of Scotland The Ashes European banks
