Series Preview: Cleveland Indians @ Seattle Mariners

Seattle: 52-81
Cleveland: 53-80

The Triple-A playoffs are going to be more exciting than this series and far more meaningful. Would it be embarrassing if they drew bigger crowds at Safeco than the Mariner games?

Thu Sep 02, 19:10: Doug Fister vs. Josh Tomlin

Fri Sep 03, 19:10: Luke French* vs. Fausto Carmona

Sat Sep 04, 19:10: David Pauley vs. Mitch Talbot

Sun Sep 05, 13:10: Felix Hernandez vs. Justin Masterson

Sure is a good thing that the only truly exciting starter we have goes on the Sunday during which we'll be playing softball. 

I had no idea who Josh Tomlin was. Turns out he's the one Indians starting pitcher who is a fly ball pitcher. I think Tomlin was an affirmative action hire for Cleveland's rotation.

I wonder if the success of ground ball pitchers who rely almost exclusively on their sinking fastball (see Carmona, Masterson) or the unending success of Mariano Rivera is evidence that hitters are really bad at adjusting. Mike Salk wrote a piece about how hitter's do not adjust their approach much, if any, based on the park they are hitting in. If true and widespread, then I guess it makes some sense that they wouldn't differ their mindset based on the pitcher either.

I understand that hitting a baseball is immeasurably difficult, but I always wondered why hitters facing Rivera didn't think, "okay, here's where the pitch is heading. Now swing at a place four inches more inside!" That way you'd adjust for the coming cutter. I used to assume that was just really hard to do. But what if they just don't try? In the past, I would have rejected that possible explanation but now --after hearing stuff like Luke French intentionally abandoning his slider because it missed too many bats-- I wonder.