Indians vs. Mariners
Game Five Pitchers
31, Chuck Finley, LHP, 38 years old, Indians
2001 stats: 8-7, 5.54 ERA, 113 2/3 IP, 96 Ks
Repertoire: Finley is an aging "tweener" - neither power nor finesse. Fastball settles at 89-91 mph with minimal movement. He mixes in a forkball, which lacks the bite it once had, an occasional curve and a change-up.
Background: Pitched poorly and suffered the loss in Game 2 at Seattle. Allowed five runs on five hits in 4+innings. Walked two and struck out three. Threw 66 pitches, 39 for strikes. By the 14th pitch of the first inning, the Mariners already had two homers, one single and scored four times. They went on to win, 5-1.
The skinny: Finley's instantaneous flop effectively negated momentum gained by the Indians from Bartolo Colon's dominant performance in Game 1. That it gave Jamie Moyer a four-run cushion was all the worse. Twelve of Finley's first 14 pitches were fastballs; Mike Cameron and Edgar Martinez homered off fat ones. Cameron's was difficult to fathom because it came on an 0-2 pitch to a right-handed batter.
What to expect for Game 5: Even though Finley needs his fastball to win, he was too bent on establishing it in Game 2. He might consider the Moyer plan of changing speeds and planes early with off-speed stuff.
50, Jamie Moyer, LHP, 38 years old, Mariners
2001 stats: 20-6, 3.43 ERA, 209 2/3 IP, 119 Ks
Repertoire: The classic "crafty left-hander," Moyer relies on an assortment of junk. He throws a four-seam fastball (85-87 mph) and two-seam cutter and sinker. The out pitch is a slippery change-up (72-78 mph). Drops in sliders, slurves and curves.
Background: Gave up one run on five hits in six-plus innings to earn the Game 2 victory. Walked one and struck out four. Threw 86 pitches, 55 for strikes. He is 3-0 in three starts against the Indians this year, allowing two runs on 10 hits in 20 innings. He has walked three and struck out 15.
The skinny: Moyer has the Indians spooked, along the line of Pedro Martinez. In last Thursday's start, Moyer topped out at 86 mph and threw his curves as slowly as 71-72 mph. No matter. Indians batters flailed, particu' larly against the change-ups. Moyer kept dropping them off the outside corner and inducing weak grounders or pop-ups. When the Indians started cheating outside, Moyer slipped the fastball in and under the hands. Most importantly, he rarely missed the target provided by catcher Dan Wilson. "You can throw any pitch at any time if you set it up properly and locate the ball," Moyer said.
What to expect for Game 5: Moyer won't suddenly begin to throw 95 mph; why would he want to? The slop is working just fine against a Tribe lineup that prefers hard stuff from right- handers. Moyer again will live on the outside corner and beyond, bust a few fastballs inside to keep batters honest and keep changing speeds. If the Indians are going to win, they need Finley to hold Seattle to one or two runs, because Moyer and his bullpen won't allow more.
[This message has been edited by Investment Executive (edited 10-15-2001).]
Game Five Pitchers
31, Chuck Finley, LHP, 38 years old, Indians
2001 stats: 8-7, 5.54 ERA, 113 2/3 IP, 96 Ks
Repertoire: Finley is an aging "tweener" - neither power nor finesse. Fastball settles at 89-91 mph with minimal movement. He mixes in a forkball, which lacks the bite it once had, an occasional curve and a change-up.
Background: Pitched poorly and suffered the loss in Game 2 at Seattle. Allowed five runs on five hits in 4+innings. Walked two and struck out three. Threw 66 pitches, 39 for strikes. By the 14th pitch of the first inning, the Mariners already had two homers, one single and scored four times. They went on to win, 5-1.
The skinny: Finley's instantaneous flop effectively negated momentum gained by the Indians from Bartolo Colon's dominant performance in Game 1. That it gave Jamie Moyer a four-run cushion was all the worse. Twelve of Finley's first 14 pitches were fastballs; Mike Cameron and Edgar Martinez homered off fat ones. Cameron's was difficult to fathom because it came on an 0-2 pitch to a right-handed batter.
What to expect for Game 5: Even though Finley needs his fastball to win, he was too bent on establishing it in Game 2. He might consider the Moyer plan of changing speeds and planes early with off-speed stuff.
50, Jamie Moyer, LHP, 38 years old, Mariners
2001 stats: 20-6, 3.43 ERA, 209 2/3 IP, 119 Ks
Repertoire: The classic "crafty left-hander," Moyer relies on an assortment of junk. He throws a four-seam fastball (85-87 mph) and two-seam cutter and sinker. The out pitch is a slippery change-up (72-78 mph). Drops in sliders, slurves and curves.
Background: Gave up one run on five hits in six-plus innings to earn the Game 2 victory. Walked one and struck out four. Threw 86 pitches, 55 for strikes. He is 3-0 in three starts against the Indians this year, allowing two runs on 10 hits in 20 innings. He has walked three and struck out 15.
The skinny: Moyer has the Indians spooked, along the line of Pedro Martinez. In last Thursday's start, Moyer topped out at 86 mph and threw his curves as slowly as 71-72 mph. No matter. Indians batters flailed, particu' larly against the change-ups. Moyer kept dropping them off the outside corner and inducing weak grounders or pop-ups. When the Indians started cheating outside, Moyer slipped the fastball in and under the hands. Most importantly, he rarely missed the target provided by catcher Dan Wilson. "You can throw any pitch at any time if you set it up properly and locate the ball," Moyer said.
What to expect for Game 5: Moyer won't suddenly begin to throw 95 mph; why would he want to? The slop is working just fine against a Tribe lineup that prefers hard stuff from right- handers. Moyer again will live on the outside corner and beyond, bust a few fastballs inside to keep batters honest and keep changing speeds. If the Indians are going to win, they need Finley to hold Seattle to one or two runs, because Moyer and his bullpen won't allow more.
[This message has been edited by Investment Executive (edited 10-15-2001).]
