Big Ben to the Rescue

For those who have been wondering why the Indians would bring Ben Francisco up to the big leagues and then not play him - maybe you were on to something.

Francisco got his first start, his first major league hit, and his first major league home run - a walk-off shot to left field that propelled the Indians to a 2-1 victory over Tampa Bay.

In addition to showing some pop at the plate, Francisco showed some pretty good moves after the game, as he successfully dodged the first "leadership pie" from Designated Morale Officer Trot Nixon, only to get hit by the second a few minutes later.

Pronkwatch: 1 for 4, with 2 Ks.

Today's Hero - Jason Michaels

The Indians snatched a 4-3 victory yesterday out of a game that started out looking like more of the previous day's blowout. Paul Byrd started off looking like he didn't have it, spotting the A's to 3-0 lead after two. Then he found it, stifling the A's over the next 5 innings, just long enough for the Tribe to come back with 1 run in the 5th and 3 runs in the 7th on a 3-run homer from Jason Michaels.

Rafael Betancourt slammed the door on the A's in the 8th and Joe Borowski closed the door ever so gently with much drama. In the 9th, the A's got runners to second and third with only one out in the 9th before JoeBo got Shannon Stewart to pop out to second base and Mark Kotsay to fly out to center field.

Pronk? Well, he walked once and got hit by a pitch (the Pronk Plunk?). Otherwise, he grounded out and hit a screaming line drive that, by the description I heard on the radio from Tom Hamilton, nearly decapitated Joe Blanton, who made a life-saving catch based on sheer self-preservatory reaction. However, I'm basing this entirely on Hammy, and I didn't see the actual line drive, so you can take it for what it's worth, since Hammy has a wee tendency to exaggerate at times. The end result - 0 for 2. It does seem that Pronk is continuing to smoke the ball, though not all of them are finding the grass or the seats.

The Hazards of Being a Sinkerballer

When you can't keep the sinker down in the zone, you're pretty much throwing batting practice, as Fausto Carmona found out last night, giving up 8 runs to the Athletics in 1 inning+. His ERA on the night - 72.00, with a WHIP of 9.00.

The Tribe never recovered from their early pummeling, as last week's staff of the Buffalo Bisons (Jason Stanford and Eddie Mujica) gave up 5 more, for a total of 13 runs for the Athletics. The Indians got 7 of them back, but it was all too little too late.

Pronk hit a solo shot, his only hit in a 1 for 4 evening. Gutierrez, Peralta and Blake also went yard for the Tribe.

Next up - get up early and do it again today - Noon start time today on getaway day, Blanton vs. Byrd.

How Do You Solve a Problem Like the Trotster?

I'm sitting here watching the Indians get pummeled (I have Fausto Carmona in all three of my fantasy leagues - 72.00 ERA and 9.00 WHIP in 1.0 inning, but I don't want to talk about that). Instead, I've been thinking about creative ways to solve the Trot Nixon problem.

You know, the Trot Nixon problem, the one the Indians don't want to admit they have. Mr. Shapiro, you know that the first step to recovery is admitting that you have a problem. When you had a Jason Davis problem, you finally admitted it. When you had a Roberto Hernandez problem, you acted on it. Mr. Shapiro, you have a Trot Nixon problem. He's 33, but his body is 52. He can't hit for power any more. He's a defensive liability in right field. He's slower than Bengie Molina after Thanksgiving dinner.

So, what can be done? Trot apparently is the toast of the clubhouse, keeping the team loose with his pie antics. Some suggestions:

• Designated Morale Officer - Trot's job is to focus entirely on keeping the team loose, without necessarily having to actually play. Keep doing the pie thing, maybe moderate a kangaroo court, karaoke night, maybe invite celebrity bowler and Bowling Hall of Famer Tom Candiotti to come to a team bowling outing. The occasional practical joke. Keep team spirits high, but as a full-time position.
• Speaking of Tom Candiotti, how about bringing the Candyman in to teach him the Trotster how to throw the knuckleball? He's a rightfielder, so you know he's got a decent arm. Bonus - he's a lefty! He could stay in the bigs for another 10 years with a knuckleball. He could be this year's Tim Laker, pitch in blowouts until he's ready.
• Replacement for Matt Underwood. Really. Underwood is terrible. Trot can't possibly be any worse.
• Emergency back-up catcher. Trot's an intelligent guy, a student of the game. He's got all the grit necessary to catch in a pinch. Whoops - forgot about those knees. You'd need to station a winch behind home plate for use between innings. Nevermind.
• Backup First Base Coach. You know how in rec-league softball, the guys take turn coaching first and third? The next time Wedge goes ballistic on an umpire and gets tossed...Well, in the event that Wedge should go ballistic on an umpire and get tossed, then everybody moves up a notch in the ladder and Trot gets to player/coach first base.
• Fungoes. You can never have too many people who can hit fungoes.
• In rec-league softball, there's that one guy who doesn't play very well but has a great attitude, runs out every ground ball hard even when he knows that it's a topper to second and he's going to get thrown out by 5 steps just because you never know what's going to happen. The guy who's really excellent at keeping the scorebook. Right now, Trot is that guy. Give him a scorebook and a mechanical pencil.
• Official Team Blogger. I'll bet the Trotster is a stitch. He could regale us with inside stories about team practical jokes and drive-by pie incidents.
• Kelly Shoppach is Paul Byrd's personal catcher. Maybe Trot can be Jason Stanford's personal right fielder.
• Designated Intelligence Officer - Trot's sole purpose during the game would be stealing the other team's signs.

Okay, that's all I have. I like Trot. I want him to do well. I just don't want to see him in right field very often because right now he's just a big black hole in the batting order and in the defense from which no light can possibly escape.

Got My Mojo Workin'

At least for one evening, the Pronk Mojo was workin', as the Indians staged a mighty displya of Pronkitude with a dramatic come from behind rally for 5 runs in the 9th to beat the A's last night 8-5.

With the two outs, Pronk smashed a two-run linedrive double in the right centerfield gap to score pinch-runner Ben Francisco with the tying run from first base. After the A's intentionally walked Jhonny Peralta, Pronk scored the winning run on Kelly Shoppach's 3-run home run which followed.

Coupled with a Detroit loss (Todd Jones blew another save), the Indians are now back in a first place tie with the Motor City Kitties.

Overall on the evening, Pronk was 1 for 3 with a walk, 3 RBI (he drove in a run earlier on a groundout) and a run scored. Pronk had a chance to be the hero earlier in the game, having made an appearance in the 7th with the bases loaded only to hit the ball on the nose, but right at the centerfielder. Pronk also hit the ball hard in the fifth, but this time right at the left fielder. It's good to see Pronk driving the ball now. Maybe, just maybe, Pronk's Mojo is back.

Pronk Has Left the Building!

Pronk with a major show of Pronkitude. He smacked his first home run since May 31, a solo shot in the second, and the Indians won 5-2 behind a complete game by CC Sabathia. Pronk also singled and scored on a Garko double in the fourth inning. Overall, Pronk went 2 for 4, with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI.

Another notable feature of this game - Wedge pinch-hits Jason Michaels for Mosey Nixon (he's now so slow that Trot is an overstatement of his capabilities) against a lefty in the 8th. Michaels slams a double in the alley for a key insurance run. Hmm. There might be something to this platooning thing after all.

We're No. 2, We're Tryin' Harder, But It Ain't Workin'

Bad weekend for the Tribe, as they lose 2 of 3 to the lowly Washington Nationals, a team that Detroit beat like a dirty rug 3 of 3. In the process, they slip out of first place, either 1 or 2 games out pending the Sunday night Atlanta-Detroit game.

The good news of the weekend was an improbable comeback against the Washington closer on Saturday, coming back from 3-1 down in the ninth to win 4-3 on Martinez' 3-run bomb to centerfield. Also good news - a generally solid start by Westbrook in his first stint back from the DL - He went 7 innings, giving up 3 runs on 7 hits. The bad news is that, without Saturday's heroics they would have been swept by the Nats like a barbershop floor at closing time.

Pronkwatch: In a pinch-hitting appearance on Saturday, Pronk popped out in the 9th. In a start at 1B on Sunday, Pronk was 1 for 3 (1 of only 4 total Indians' hits against Jason Simontacchi - ouch!) with a walk.

Pronk's Mojo Watch: Perhaps Pronk, feeling patriotic, lent his Mojo to the US Men's Soccer Team so that they could win the Gold Cup.

Beta Unit Pronk?

Pronkwatch: Pronk did not start, but pinch hit for Garko with the bases loaded in the fifth. He grounded into a double play to end the inning. In his subsequent at bat, he flied out with a runner on second base.

New theory: The real Pronk has been kidnapped by Centauri because his skills are needed to defend Rylos against Xur and the Ko-Dan armada. He has been replaced by a Beta Unit, who is not quite playing the role well enough.

Oh - and the Indians are now in second place, 1 game behind the Tigers. Sigh.

Other Theories on Pronk

Insight on Pronk from the Diatriber:

http://clevelandtribeblog.blogspot.com/2007/06/paging-pronk.html

More speculation on the lack of Pronkitude from Jim Ingraham, theorizing that it's his contract situation that is causing him not to drive balls like he used to:

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18506700&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=46370&rfi=6

It's also worth noting that Atlantis has returned to Earth. I'd like to think that Pronk's missing Mojo had something to do with it.

Indians10, Phillies 6

Pronkwatch: 1/4, 1 run, 1 BB, 1K

Mojo Watch: Places where Pronk's Mojo is not:

• Chile
• Marietta, Georgia
• India's drunk rats
• In a garden gnome

Perhaps Pronk might find his Mojo here.

Rookie Troubles

The Tribe faced a rookie pitcher in his second big league start. Of course they lost.

Pronkwatch: 0/4, 1 BB, 1 run.

Sometimes a couple days off are just a couple days off.

Does Your Llama Pronk at Dusk?

From Llamapaedia:

"Llamas have five distinctive natural gaits. They are the walk, pace, trot, gallop and pronk.

...

The pronk is a single-beat stiff legged gait in which the llama propels itself through the air. All four feet leave the ground and land at the same time. There is exaggerated flexion and extension in the limbs to create the springing action. Llamas are not observed to pronk very often. It is usually around dusk when pronking is seen in llamas. They will pronk in a group and may pronk back and forth across an area or in a circle. Pronking is used by llamas to play or to ward off predators. Crias can also be seen pronking as they play."

No Pronk? No Problem!

Indians 10, Phillies 1.

Pronk sits against lefty ace Cole Hamels, who gets sliced, diced and made into julienne fries like a potato in a Vegematic by a suddenly potent Tribe offense. Josh Barfield drives in 3 from the #2 hole and Grady Sizemore steals 2 bases.

The only other important note - the hit streak ends for Casey Blake (aka, The Bearded One). OK, Casey. You can give Pronk his Mojo back.

From around the league - Sam Perlozzo fired as O's manager. Will uber-pitching coach Leo Mazzone follow? Tune in tomorrow on "As the Orioles Burn."

Pronk's Day Off

Pronk received a day off yesterday as the Indians swatted the Braves 5-2 behind sinkerballer Fausto Carmona.

How bad is it going for you when you have to receive a day off from DH-ing?

Anyway, here at Pronk Needs You, we hope that the day off gave Pronk an opportunity to actively search for his AWOL mojo.

Also, based on yesterday's performance, we know for certain that Tiger Woods does not currently have Pronk's Mojo, although Angel Cabrera might.

Tribe Gets Smoltzed

Pronkwatch - 0 for 4, with 1K.

Too much Smoltz, too much Edgar Renteria for the Tribe to overcome. Score: Atlanta 6, Cleveland 2. Renteria had 5 hits, including a homer. Smoltz went 6 strong innings, holding the Tribe to 2 runs long enough for Paul Byrd (aka, The Cobra) to give the game away.

Pronk started at 1b while Shoppach (aka, Mongoose, the Cobra's Catcher) caught and Victor DHed.

Pronk's Mojo - Nowhere in sight.

Indians 4, Braves 5

Pronkwatch: 1 for 4, 1 run scored, 1 GIDP. No BB, No Ks.

Pronk has been moved to fifth to accommodate an en fuego Casey Blake in the 3 hole. While Blake did hit the go-ahead homer in the eighth, he also struck out with the game on the line in the ninth.

Pronk's Mojo - Still AWOL

Pronk's Day Off, My Week Off

Sorry about the time away, folks. I was at a conference all week and only had limited Internet access.

The big news is that Pronk got last night off, maybe exactly what he needs to get going. The bad news is, of course, that the Pronk Mojo still seems off somewhere where nobody can find it.

It is clear from the Cavaliers performance in the NBA Finals that Pronk's Mojo was nowhere near the team. So, we must come to grips with the fact that it is still out there. Has anyone looked in San Antonio?

Among the Pronk events since the last post.

• Pronk stole a base. Lord in heaven, Pronk stole a base! Mass hysteria! Cats and dogs sleeping together! I was away from my TV and radio and did not hear or see this amazing event.
• Vs. Cincinnati, Pronk was 1 for 11, with 1BB, 2Ks and 2 RBI. Ouch.
• Vs Seattle: 2 for 4, with a double, a walk, and 2 RBI
• Vs. Florida: a night off last night, but 2 for 8 in the games he did play, with a BB and a run score.

Overall, a very unPronklike trip through the National League and one of the Mike Hargrove Human Snow Delay Emergency Makeup Games. The travesty known as interleague play continues this weekend with a series against the team that denied us in 1995, the Atlanta Braves. At least we'll be home.

Places or People Who Do Not Have Pronk's Mojo:

• Kelly Clarkson
• The Cleveland Cavaliers
• The International Space Station
• Anyone who would buy this game

For the Mighty Pronk Struck Out

"Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;
But there is no joy in Cleveland—for mighty Pronk struck out."

(with apologies to Ernest Thayer)

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, the Indians down 4-3 after Ryan Garko led off the inning with a smash that left the park, and Pronk representing the tying run, the Mighty Pronk watched strike three sail over the outside corner without waving the bat in the ball's general direction.

Totally, on the evening, Pronk went 1/4 with a walk, and scored a run in the first after singling and then being doubled home by Victor Martinez. Uber-prospect Homer Bailey received the victory in his first major league start, primarily because he was lucky enough to be starting against Cliff "Here, Gopher, Gopher" Lee, who gave up three long balls and four runs. Note to Cliff: Chicks don't dig the guys who give up the longballs.

Pronk still needs us, folks. After last night's disappointing ending, he needs us more than ever.

Cleveland 8, Kansas City 3

Pronkwatch: 1/3, a single, with 2 BB.

Another theory on Pronk's Mojo - Perhaps he has loaned it to Casey Blake, who has been en fuego lately.

Among the people who do not have Pronk's Mojo:

• Chauncey Billups
• Scooter Libby
• The country of Oman
• The Ottawa Senators
• Andrew Speaker
• Stray-Rod
• Daunte Culpepper
• Bjarne Riis

Pronkless at the Denouement

Pronkwatch: 2/4, with 1 RBI. 0K, 0BB. Indians lose to KC 4-3.

The good news: Mark Teahen got to feel the power of Pronk's Mojo, as a mighty shot of Pronkitude caused Teahen to misplay a fly ball to right field into an RBI double for Pronk as Kelly Shoppach scored the Indians first run in the 6th.

The bad news: After singling in the 8th to load the bases, Pronk, representing the tying run, was lifted for pinch-runner Franklin Gutierrez. Alas, Gutierrez did not score that inning, and the move had dire consequences, as Gutierrez came up in the ninth with the game on the line and the tying run at third base and the winning run at second base. Gutierrez grounded out weakly to short, ending the game. What would Pronk have done? We'll never know.

This Could Be Affecting Pronk's Mojo

Who knew that Pronk was also a line of women's clothing? Not me:

http://pronkstyle.com/

What can we do about it? I just don't know.

However, I know now that, according to their philosophy statement: "Pronk is a Dutch word describing the display of one's best."

Gutierrez Grabs Slice of Pronk Mojo

Pronkwatch: 0 for 4, 3Ks

The good news: CC Sabathia outdueled Jorge de la Rosa for a 1-0 Tribe victory. Gutierrez grabbed a small slice of the Freefloating Pronk Mojo to club one over the left field wall for the only run of the game.

The bad news: a very unPronklike performance from our man Travis, who went 0 for 4 with 3 strikeouts.

Even if LeBron and the Cavs still have some of Pronk's shared Mojo, there should be enough left for him to pound Jorge de la Rosa. Clearly, something else, something diabolical is at work. It is up to TribeNation to keep up the vigilance to help Pronk regain his Pronkitude.

Keep looking. It could be under a rock. It could be at the Applebee's in Westlake. It could be at a rest area on I-77. Some of it might be in San Antonio. Regardless, Pronk needs to recover his full Mojo very soon.

Weekend Pronkitude

Pronkwatch:

Friday, June 1: 0/3, 2 runs, 2 BB
Saturday, June 2: 2/4, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1BB, 2K
Sunday, June 3: 0/3, 1BB, 2K

The spirit of Pronk was very evident all weekend of Cleveland, even if Pronk himself was only using a limited portion of his mojo. The comeback win on Friday night was helped by a 9th inning Pronk free pass, and while the Indians lost the next two games, Pronk went 2 for 4 on Saturday with another walk. Sunday, well, the team, clearly fatigued, ran into the buzzsaw named Jeremy Bonderman, who is either very good or very bad against the Tribe. This time, he was very good. The Tribe gets a free day today knowing they are 2.5 games up on the Motor City Kitties.

And speaking of the Motor City, the free ranging Pronk Mojo was fully in evidence Saturday night. The Cavaliers made good use of the Pronk Mojo that was lent to them to Beat Detroit at the Q. This time, it was Daniel Gibson who made full use of the Pronk Mojo to clog up the Pistons.

With the Cavaliers putting the Pronk Mojo to good use, it is entirely possible that it may take another couple weeks to see the Full Pronk back at the ballpark. Most of Cleveland will accept that tradeoff, as long as the rest of the team keeps hitting.

Note: my wife and I were in Cleveland this last weekend at the Saturday game, and without Internet access - hence the full weeked Pronkwatch summary. Downtown Cleveland was crazy after the Cavs game.

One Theory on the Whereabouts of Pronk's Mojo

From Dr. Erik Brady, of the Let's Go Tribe blog:

"I realized this morning that I know where Pronk's MoJo, or Pronkness if you will, currently resides. He has clearly loaned it to LeBron for the Cavs playoff run. Pronk's slump seems to coincide with the Cavs beginning their second round series with the Nets and has continued pretty much through May.

With May closing however, an unexpected thing has happened. Because of the Pronk's great sacrifice, his MoJo and LeBron's have been combined now and each has MoJo equal to the sum of the whole. Hence in the last two games Pronk has been, mostly Pronk again, but he's still learning to handle the doubled MoJo. LeBron has had an easier adjustment to the doubling of his MoJo, since he's been carrying around Pronk's Pronkness, in addition to his inherent MoJo, for the last month.

Problem solved."

Is the problem solved? What do you think? Remember, as always, even if this is true, Pronk still Needs You.

Pronk Knows How to Beat Michigan

Like Jim Tressel, Pronk knows how to Beat Michigan, or at least he did last night, going 2 for 3 with a monster two-run homer and a two-run single. In addition, he padded his league-leading walk totals, being allowed to trot leisurely to first base twice by the umpiring staff.

Pronk appears to be regaining Pronkitude, and it's thanks to you. You cannot slack off now.

If Woody were still here he would ask "What are you doing today to help Pronk Beat Michigan?"

And, by the way, LeBron knows a little bit about what it takes to Beat Michigan, too.