Tribe Week in Review: Murphy makes most of opportunities over the weekend
Since Tribefest, David Murphy had been answering questions on how he would adjust to not being in the lineup everyday. His response has been consistent -- be prepared when he gets inserted into the lineup.
If the past weekend is any indication, Murphy certainly lived up to that.
In Saturday's loss to Minnesota, Murphy had his second pinch-hit, home run of the season. The following day he went 4-for-4 as the Indians were able to avert a series sweep. For the week, Murphy was 5-for-8 with a home run and four RBI. Of the five games he played in, he was the pinch-hitter in four.
"A lot of guys think that if you don't get consistent at-bats over a period of time it can hurt you but I feel like as I've gotten older I've tried to phase that out of my thinking," Murphy said. "If we hit a string of lefties it is going to happen regardless. There are some righties I am not playing against, but you have to look at the positives. I'm always going to be fresh and be ready."
Of Murphy's 16 starts, Sunday marked only the sixth time it has been in the outfield. He has been the designated hitter 10 times and appeared in right and left three times apiece. Murphy started 109 games in right last season, but Sunday's was his first since April 18. He has appeared in seven other games as a pinch-hitter.
Murphy has been in a part-time situation before with other teams, plus Francona and Chris Antonetti have been up front throughout about their expectations. He understands the challenges in putting together a lineup, especially one that has been struggling for much of the season.
"Murph has taken the brunt of losing playing time. We told him that he has to be a little patient which he will," Terry Francona said. "I don't want guys to lose their production. Rosters don't stay the same. If anyone can handle for the time being it is Murph but also cognizant of keeping guys sharp."
TWO (Salazar's Start): Last year through his first five starts, Danny Salazar was 0-3 with a 6.04 ERA. After Sunday's 8-2 win over Minnesota, he is 4-1 with a 3.27 ERA.
The win-loss record and ERA are great in their own right, but there are two other stats that are even more impressive. Of the 275 swings from opposing batters, they have missed 91 times. The 33.1 percentage rate leads the Majors. He is also fourth in the Majors with a 9.60 strikeouts to walks ratio.
Is the high swing and miss rate a matter of opposing hitters being more aggressive against the right-hander, or has Salazar had a better mix of pitches this season?
"I think it's a little bit of both," he said. "I think what I'm doing right now in-between the days I pitch is helping me a lot. I'm able now to make adjustments quicker than before."
THREE (Swisher's Return): After getting activated from the disabled list on Tuesday, Nick Swisher went 6-for-23 in the Kansas City and Minnesota series. In all six games that Swisher has played he has been the designated hitter, but Francona said before Sunday's game that he thought of putting Swisher in right before keeping him at DH and starting Murphy.
"We're trying to manage things and whose our bench. He's eventually at some point going to play in the outfield. He has taken balls there," Francona said.
The highlight of Swisher's week was going 4-for-4 in Saturday's loss to the Twins. It was his second four-hit game since coming to the Indians in 2013.
CLEANUP (Rough Debut): Bruce Chen knows that it's not common to call up a 37-year old, left-hander from the minors to try to nail down the fifth starter spot. Add to it the fact that Chen was going to be pitching for his 11th team.
Chen allowed six runs on 11 hits in four-plus innings on Saturday, but he accomplished something just by getting back to the majors. After being released by Kansas City last August, Chen thought about retiring but got the urge back during the offseason and signed with the Indians two days before spring training.
What made Chen decide to come back for a 17th season was a talk with his 11-year-old daughter Gabriela during the offseason.
Said Chen: "One of the most important things was my daughters. I always tell them, 'Never give up. Always follow your dreams. Work very hard to get it.' She's doing ballet. She got the lead part. She was hurt. I said to her, 'A lot of people are depending on you, but what do you want to do?' She said, 'I don't want to let them down. I want to work hard.' I said, 'Are you sure?' She said, 'When you had surgery, did you quit?' I said, 'No.' She said 'I don't want to quit.'
"At that point, I realized that they do listen to me, and they do pay attention. I don't want this to be the end. I want to go out there and give everything I can. My kids are going to learn from this."
FIFTH (Starter, Part II): Whether Chen gets a second chance at the fifth starter spot should be known the next couple days. Francona noted on Sunday that Shaun Marcum would line up if they decided to give him a shot this Saturday at Texas. Chen would likely be designated for assignment if that happened.
T.J. House is eligible to come off the disabled list this week, but hints are that he will get a couple of rehab starts in Columbus.
Said Francona of House's season: "It has been a real disjointed time for a number of reasons."
SIXTH (Another Smooth Streak): For the second straight season, Michael Brantley has a hitting streak of 10 games or more. Brantley has hit in 10 straight, going 15-for-39 (.385) with three home runs and 10 RBI. Brantley had a pair of 15-game hitting streaks last season.
After going 7-for-23 with two homers last week, Brantley is batting .340 on the season which is fifth in the American League. The longest hitting streaks in the AL so far are 12 games, which were done by Oakland's Josh Reddick and Billy Butler.
SEVENTH (Ramirez and Lindor): Jose Ramirez got the day off Sunday as he is hitless in his last nine at-bats and is 6-for-38 at home. Francona might have had one of the understatements of the season when he said "Jose has had a tough time."
After going through a 2-for-25 stretch that saw his batting average dip to .239, Francisco Lindor had a solid week last week, going 6-for-19 with three RBI. Lindor came into the week batting .252 for Columbus.
EIGHTH (Worth Noting): Michael Brantley had one of his best weeks of the season, going 5-for-14 with two RBI. ... Besides Brantley, Lonnie Chisenhall also had two home runs last week and had six RBI. ... Marc Rzepczynski, Zach McAllister and Bryan Shaw each made three appearances this week and didn't allow a run. McAllister had six strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings.
NINTH (Cycle Philosophy): Jason Kipnis went into the seventh inning of Sunday's game needing a home run to complete the cycle. Kipnis, who has been close a couple times before, said for him being a homer shy going into the last at-bat is the most difficult. Kipnis ended up grounding out to first.
"It works a lot easier when the home run is one of the ones already done. Then it's just a (lousy) at-bat," he said. "You're thinking pull. You're thinking lift. That's not what worked for me. I grounded it right to the first baseman. I've done that enough times to last me a lifetime. I don't need to go back to that."
