Two weeks ago this would have been a much tougher decision. Back then Brandon Belt, heralded 23-year-old rookie, top prospect, was busy exciting the Giants’ fan base. At that point it was tough to even think of Cody Ross, whose spring training injury opened up the spot for Belt in the first place. But now, two weeks later, the decision appears a bit more obvious. Ross figures to return tonight, meaning someone has to go. Belt, who hasn’t recorded an extra base hit since the 8th and who is currently sporting a .281 wOBA, will likely make the trip back to Fresno. That decision is fairly easy. Belt’s eventual return, though, might ride on a bigger decision down the road.

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The misplay that cost the Royals the go-ahead run.

Indians 7, Royals 3

Moving the Needle: Shelley Duncan laces a double to bring around the go-ahead run, +.299 WPA. Who would have thought that not only would a Royals-Indians matchup in April be a highly anticipated game, but that it would also end up being the best of the night? (Or at least close, since that’s pretty subjective.) The teams traded barbs for the first seven innings, but found themselves tied at three at the end of nine. The Indians wasted no time in extra innings, though, scoring an early run and then tacking on three more to put the game out of reach. Tim Collins started the inning by walking Carlos Santana, and then gave up the double to Duncan. The assist goes to Alex Gordon, who played the ball in the corner poorly, which gave Santana enough time to round third and score easily.

Notables

Aaron Crow: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K. He was a bit wild, as is his wont, but he did a great job cleaning up for Jeremy Jeffress.

Grady Sizemore: 3 for 5, 1 2B, 1 BB. From his first two games, you’d think he didn’t miss a beat. I recommend Paul’s article on him.

Also in this issue: Twins 5, Orioles 3 | Cubs 1, Padres 0 | Red Sox 9, Blue Jays 1 | Pirates 9, Reds 3 | Giants 8, Rockies 1 | Tigesr 8, Mariners 3 | Dodgers 4, Braves 2 | Rays 5, White Sox 0 | Brewers 6, Phillies 3 | Rangers 7, Angels 1

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Things could be worse for the Dodgers. They’re 7-9, which is hardly terrible for this time of year. That puts them just two games off the NL Wild Card pace. While meaningless in terms of the actual postseason, it puts into perspective how little they need to turn things around. Yet, in terms of run differential, they rank among the league’s worst. Only two teams have scored fewer runs, and only six have allowed more. In fact, if it weren’t for the superhuman performances by Matt Kemp, the Dodgers might be at medium-well, approaching well-done right now.

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Cardinals over Dodgers, 2 games to 1

Moving the Needle: Matt Kemp ends the game with one swing, +.574 WPA. A pitchers’ duel this was, with the score remaining tied at zero through eight. The Cardinals then broke through with a two-out run in the ninth, which left if up to the Dodgers’ offense, which had scored four runs in the previous 26 innings, to rally back. And rally they did, without even recording an out. Andre Ethier doubled to lead off the inning, and then Kemp upper-cutted one into the black, giving his team its lone victory of the series.

Notable Pitching

Kyle Lohse: 7.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 0 HR. Dare I say that the Cardinals need Lohse to pitch like this all season if they’re going to win the Central?

Kyle McClellan: 7 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 HR. I thought they’d go out and sign a vet like Kevin Millwood with Wainwright out. But McClellan has done everything they could have asked so far.

Chris Carpenter: 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K. Adam who?

Chad Billingsley: 8 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 11 K. Brilliant games by both Carpenter and Billingsley. Neither was in line for the win. Which again shows the uselessness of…ah, you get the point by now.

Cardinals 11, Dodgers 2
Cardinals 9, Dodgers 2
Dodgers 2, Cardinals 1

Also in this issue: Red Sox over Blue Jays | Angels over White Sox | Indians over Orioles | Royals over Mariners | Yankees over Rangers | A’s over Tiers | Rays over Twins | Giants over Diamondbacks | Braves over Mets | Pirates over Reds | Rockies over Cubs | Padres over Astros | Nationals over Brewers | Phillies and Marlins split two

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Gotta get up to get down, Johnny.

Rays 4, Twins 3

Moving the Needle: Johnny Damon spoils one for the Twins with a homer,+.807 WPA. If your first closer doesn’t work out, you can always go to your second closer, right? The Twins tried that last night, but neither Joe Nathan nor Matt Capps did their jobs. Nathan allowed a walk and a pair of doubles in the ninth that turned a 2-0 lead into a 2-2 tie. Then, in the 10th, after the Twins cobbled together a run, Capps let the game get away. Folk Hero Sam Fuld got on with a single, and Damon slapped a Capps fastball a long way, alllll the way out to right field. (And the HR Park Factor for lefties at Tropicana is 89, so that wasn’t like jacking one at Yankee Stadium.) 

Notables

Matt Joyce: 3 for 4, 1 2B. That double tied the game in the ninth. That’s a nice beginning to his recovery from a 4 for 29 start.

Carl Pavano: 8 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K. That’s 9 ground balls and 7 strikeouts to the 29 batters Pavano faced. After a rough first start he’s bounced right back.

Also in this issue: Royals 5, Mariners 1 | Marlins 6, Braves 5 | Yankees 6, Orioles 5 | Astros 1, Padres 0 | Tigers 3, A’s 0 | Cardinals 9, Dodgers 5 | Phillies 4, Nationals 0 | Rockies 6, Mets 5 (1) | Rockies 9, Mets 4 (2) | Brewers 4, Pirates 1

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By the time he completed his third start in 2010, Francisco Liriano was already getting national headlines. He had thrown 21 innings, striking out 17, and allowing just three runs. After a disappointing return to the mound in 2009, it appeared that the Liriano we had seen in 2007, or at least some facsimile thereof, was on his way back. This year Liriano is making national headlines, and again he has people comparing him to a previous incarnation. Only this time it has been negative headlines, and the connection has been to his 2009 self. Plenty has gone wrong in the early going for the 2010 FIP and xFIP leader, and no, it probably doesn’t have much to do with pitching to contact.

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Adieu ball. Adieu.

Bue Jays 8, Mariners 3

Moving the Needle: Jose Bautista brings the Jays back with his third homer of the season, +.455 WPA. This game unfolded oddly. For starters, Chris Ray was in for the eighth inning of a one-run game. I dunno, maybe he has something left in the tank. But it doesn’t seem that way. Second, with a runner on first and none out, Corey Patterson laid down a sac bunt. I had this one on the radio, and the Mariners guys seemed to think that Justin Smoak could have made a play on it. Instead he just watched it, and it stayed on the infield grass, which meant two on and none out for Bautista, who laid into one and hit it way out to left. Milton Bradley gave it the courtesy chase, but it was immediately apparent that it was goodbye baseball.

Notables

Jason Vargas: 6.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K. Six strikeouts in his first start, and now seven in this one for Vargas. Quite impressive for a guy with a 5.66 career K/9.

Yunel Escobar: 3 for 5, 1 2B. His single to lead off the eighth started the comeback.

Also in this issue: Angels 4, Indians 3 | Also in this issue: Cardinals 15, Diamondbacks 5 | Also in this issue: A’s 7, White Sox 4 | Also in this issue: Marlins 5, Braves 1 | Also in this issue: Tigers 3, Rangers 2 | Also in this issue: Cubs 9, Astros 5 | Also in this issue: Royals 10, Twins 5 | Also in this issue: Phillies 3, Nationals 2 | Also in this issue: Yankees 7, Orioles 4 | Also in this issue: Rockies 5, Mets 4 | Also in this issue: Brewers 6, Pirates 0 | Also in this issue: Padres 3, Reds 2 |

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It’s not a play you see very often. When it happens twice in a day, then, it certainly garners a bit more attention. That is, if a star player didn’t get hurt on the first instance, and the second instance doesn’t occur in a West Coast game that is of little interest to the non-diehard observer. Yesterday we saw two players tag up and try to score on pop-ups to infielders. Josh Hamilton infamously gave it a go in an afternoon game, while Corey Patterson made his attempt many hours later out in Seattle. Both failed. Still, the process is the thing to consider. Did Hamilton or Patterson make the right call in dashing for home?

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Tigers 5, Rangers 4

Moving the Needle: Of course Miguel Cabrera was going to bring home the winning run with the bases loaded, +.340 WPA. Neftali Feliz pitched in both Sunday’s and Monday’s games and was probably not available in this one. Or, at least, not available in a tie game on the road. Feliz’s absence left the 4-4 tie in the hands of Darren O’Day, and, somehow, kept it in his hands as he loaded the bases and had to face Miguel Cabrera, who, if you haven’t noticed, has been hitting covers off baseballs. We were two balls from shrimp, but Cabrera mooted that point when he socked a single and ended the affair.

Yes, Josh Hamilton got hurt in this one. Yes, he shamelessly blamed his third base coach. He’ll have a couple months to think about that.

Notables

Michael Young: 3 for 3, 1 SB. That was nearly 4 for 4 with a homer, but…

Ryan Raburn: 2 for 4, 1 2B, 1 BB. He also made a tremendous catch to rob Young of a home run. A sac fly was all he’d get.

Also in this issue: Angels 2, Indians 0 | Diamondbacks 13, Cardinals 8 | Rays 3, Red Sox 2 | Braves 5, Marlins 0 | White Sox 6, A’s 5 | Astros 11, Cubs 2 | Nationals 7, Phillies 4 | Twins 4, Royals 3 | Reds 8, Padres 2 | Mariners 3, Blue Jays 2 | Giants 5, Dodgers 4

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The Cleveland Indians have scored the third-most runs per game in the American League. That’s one line I never expected to type, no matter how early in the season. What’s more, they’ve already swept the Boston Red Sox, and have won their last eight games after dropping their first two. While the pitching staff has certainly done its job, the offense has stepped up big time. A number of guys are contributing in big ways, but perhaps none has advanced his team more than Asdrubal Cabrera.

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