Another strong outing by Bauer tonight.
But really, Terry? 120 pitches? In a game that you were leading 7-1? I know Bauer is a smart guy but I don't think physical limitations can be outsmarted. I would have taken him out after 5 innings (97 pitches). I would have taken him out after 6 innings (110 pitches). Leaving him in for the 7th was just not excusable.
And why was Bauer charged with the second run? He left Markakis on base but he was erased on a force out, meaning the running on base SHOULD have belonged to Otero. Is there a baseball rule I don't know about that still would have made Camargo the responsibility of Bauer?
Braves just put the first runner on off of Neil Ramirez. I'll say this now. The Indians better not sleep through the end of this game because the Braves are more than capable of coming back.
I don't like Tito's managing in this game, at all. He should have had Lindor bunting last inning with runners on first and second and no outs. Instead, he hits into a double play.
Saturday, April 20, 2019
Saturday, April 13, 2019
Winter trades - thoughts on April 13th
For those of you who thought we got screwed taking two sub-.200 hitters in return for Erik Gonzalez and two legitimate prospects, Tahnaj Thomas and Dante Mendoza....
You are correct.
For those of you who thought we got fleeced in trading Yandy Diaz for Jake Bauers…
You are correct.
These trades were stupid at the time and they are stupid now. Whoever did the analytics to say these sub-Mendoza line career minor leaguers were worth trading for AT ALL, let alone giving up reasonable talent for them, was an idiot.
I mean, everyone knew that we were losing hitting this winter but yet we traded for not one, not two but 3 sub-.200 hitters and expected it to turn out well. That is JUST...….FREAKIN...…..STUPID.
Now this team that was going to be challenged offensively is beyond challenged.
They are screwed.
You are correct.
For those of you who thought we got fleeced in trading Yandy Diaz for Jake Bauers…
You are correct.
These trades were stupid at the time and they are stupid now. Whoever did the analytics to say these sub-Mendoza line career minor leaguers were worth trading for AT ALL, let alone giving up reasonable talent for them, was an idiot.
I mean, everyone knew that we were losing hitting this winter but yet we traded for not one, not two but 3 sub-.200 hitters and expected it to turn out well. That is JUST...….FREAKIN...…..STUPID.
Now this team that was going to be challenged offensively is beyond challenged.
They are screwed.
Sunday, April 7, 2019
This is NOT little league
I remember a number of years ago when the Indians drafted JD Martin and he started his career in the Appy League. One game he had like 14 of his 15 outs by strikeout or something like that, prompting John Hart to say something like 'Those are little league numbers'.
Flash forward 18 years to the Cleveland Indians of 2019.
Their starting pitching is putting up some little league numbers.
Trevor Bauer, 14 innings, 1 hit, 7 walks, 17 strikeouts, 1 earned run
Mike Clevinger 12 innings, 2 hits, 4 walks, 22 strikeouts, no earing runs
Shane Bieber: (only start) 6 innings 2 H 2 ER 2 BB 9 K
Carlos Carrasco (last start) 5 IP 6 H 2 ER 1 BB 12 K
Some of these stats are highly reminiscent of Martin's 2001 dominance (with his changeup, mostly) of newbies to pro ball.
Bauer, 2 hits in 14 IP; Clevinger 2 hits in 12 innings with 22 Ks.
These are major league hitters.
I have not seen this kind of dominance in the majors for many, many years.
It's early in the year and a lot can happen but it is fun to watch now.
Flash forward 18 years to the Cleveland Indians of 2019.
Their starting pitching is putting up some little league numbers.
Trevor Bauer, 14 innings, 1 hit, 7 walks, 17 strikeouts, 1 earned run
Mike Clevinger 12 innings, 2 hits, 4 walks, 22 strikeouts, no earing runs
Shane Bieber: (only start) 6 innings 2 H 2 ER 2 BB 9 K
Carlos Carrasco (last start) 5 IP 6 H 2 ER 1 BB 12 K
Some of these stats are highly reminiscent of Martin's 2001 dominance (with his changeup, mostly) of newbies to pro ball.
Bauer, 2 hits in 14 IP; Clevinger 2 hits in 12 innings with 22 Ks.
These are major league hitters.
I have not seen this kind of dominance in the majors for many, many years.
It's early in the year and a lot can happen but it is fun to watch now.
Monday, April 1, 2019
Pitching prospects non-rostered
First I read where the following pitchers did not appear on the preliminary rosters for the Indians' minor league teams:
RHP Adam Plutko
RHP Nick Sandlin
RHP Aaron Civale
LHP Francisco Perez
RHP Gregori Vasquez
Then we find out that Plutko isn't on Columbus' roster because he has what could be a serious (read: TJ surgery) arm injury. Certainly, minimally, it will put him on the shelf for awhile.
If the other 4 pitchers have significant injuries of their own this really hurts us, both from a ML depth standpoint AND from a prospect development standpoint.
Plutko is our 6th starter and one with significant major league experience. Not having him available, with our lineup, really means that if we have to dip into the minors and don't go with an 'opener'....Well, with our lineup we are almost guaranteed to lose once every 5 games. Not that Plutko was a worldbeater but at least he was experienced and solid. Tito knew how to use him and the team was comfortable with what the signs were that he was about to implode. And what people forget is that we could probably have signed a veteran as the 6th starter/minor league depth who was the first guy up if we had an injury, but I don't think we could have gotten anyone good to sign on as a 7th starting pitcher. So Plutko taking that 6th starter spot and then getting hurt really, really hurts us if we need to bring a starter up from the minors.
If that isn't enough, it appears Civale must be hurt, too. This is very concerning to me as he was one of the Indians' prospects who I said NEEDS to break out this year to provide rotation depth. In my mind, he starts the season well and he passes Plutko on the depth chart. If he misses significant time he won't be able to be a factor this year, unless it is out of the bullpen late in the year.
Plus, although we don't really need him at this point, if Sandlin is hurt it is a blow to our bullpen. Look, young guys coming up late in the year AND having an impact on the stretch run and playoffs is probably as much about the league not having a book on them as it is about their stuff. Baseball is so analytics heavy that, in my opinion, new guys have with good stuff have MUCH more of an advantage than they used to have. Teams depend on analytics and so their hitters come to depend on that information, as well. If you take that analytic data away from them the advantage goes to the young pitcher...in my opinion.
Francisco Perez and Gregori Vasquez being injured IS significant. These are two of the better pitching prospects we have and their loss for any significant time really does make our overall prospect depth significantly weaker for now and the next few years until/if these guys catch up. You really can't have a breakout year if you spend a good deal of time at the beginning of the year on the IL.
RHP Adam Plutko
RHP Nick Sandlin
RHP Aaron Civale
LHP Francisco Perez
RHP Gregori Vasquez
Then we find out that Plutko isn't on Columbus' roster because he has what could be a serious (read: TJ surgery) arm injury. Certainly, minimally, it will put him on the shelf for awhile.
If the other 4 pitchers have significant injuries of their own this really hurts us, both from a ML depth standpoint AND from a prospect development standpoint.
Plutko is our 6th starter and one with significant major league experience. Not having him available, with our lineup, really means that if we have to dip into the minors and don't go with an 'opener'....Well, with our lineup we are almost guaranteed to lose once every 5 games. Not that Plutko was a worldbeater but at least he was experienced and solid. Tito knew how to use him and the team was comfortable with what the signs were that he was about to implode. And what people forget is that we could probably have signed a veteran as the 6th starter/minor league depth who was the first guy up if we had an injury, but I don't think we could have gotten anyone good to sign on as a 7th starting pitcher. So Plutko taking that 6th starter spot and then getting hurt really, really hurts us if we need to bring a starter up from the minors.
If that isn't enough, it appears Civale must be hurt, too. This is very concerning to me as he was one of the Indians' prospects who I said NEEDS to break out this year to provide rotation depth. In my mind, he starts the season well and he passes Plutko on the depth chart. If he misses significant time he won't be able to be a factor this year, unless it is out of the bullpen late in the year.
Plus, although we don't really need him at this point, if Sandlin is hurt it is a blow to our bullpen. Look, young guys coming up late in the year AND having an impact on the stretch run and playoffs is probably as much about the league not having a book on them as it is about their stuff. Baseball is so analytics heavy that, in my opinion, new guys have with good stuff have MUCH more of an advantage than they used to have. Teams depend on analytics and so their hitters come to depend on that information, as well. If you take that analytic data away from them the advantage goes to the young pitcher...in my opinion.
Francisco Perez and Gregori Vasquez being injured IS significant. These are two of the better pitching prospects we have and their loss for any significant time really does make our overall prospect depth significantly weaker for now and the next few years until/if these guys catch up. You really can't have a breakout year if you spend a good deal of time at the beginning of the year on the IL.
Pulling victory from the jaws of embarassment!
Max Moroff with a big hit. Jake Bauers keeping the line moving. The White Sox defense looking almost as bad as ours and, of course, their bullpen walking in the final two runs.
Yeah, 5-3 looks good on the scoreboard.
Plus Clevinger looks great. My wife, who is a big baseball/Cardinals fan, was amazed at the numbers Clevinger, as our 4th starter, put up today. Especially with the Cardinals starting pitching being what it is.
Now, our starters will, for sure, have hiccups this year, but anyone who says there is a better starting roatation in baseball must be smoking some wacky tobaccy. When your #4 starter looks that good today and last year had a sub 3.00 ERA IN THE AL until his last inning of the season, you have a/the top rotation.
I still contend that the Indians should be able, even in the current configuration, be able to score 3.5 runs a game. With this rotation and any bullpen help at all, the Indians should be able to win most of their games if the starting pitching holds up.
Right now, the starting pitching is looking really good.
But when they do hiccup, the game is, essentially, over, as we saw yesterday with Carrasco. We just can't must a comeback in that situation.
Heck, I was surprised as heck we could come back from two down in the 8th today!
One side point: The best line I read today said that, yes, the Indians will sell out opening day and then the fans will disappear until warmer weather...but that Dolan should 'just sit back and enjoy today'.
Priceless!
Yeah, 5-3 looks good on the scoreboard.
Plus Clevinger looks great. My wife, who is a big baseball/Cardinals fan, was amazed at the numbers Clevinger, as our 4th starter, put up today. Especially with the Cardinals starting pitching being what it is.
Now, our starters will, for sure, have hiccups this year, but anyone who says there is a better starting roatation in baseball must be smoking some wacky tobaccy. When your #4 starter looks that good today and last year had a sub 3.00 ERA IN THE AL until his last inning of the season, you have a/the top rotation.
I still contend that the Indians should be able, even in the current configuration, be able to score 3.5 runs a game. With this rotation and any bullpen help at all, the Indians should be able to win most of their games if the starting pitching holds up.
Right now, the starting pitching is looking really good.
But when they do hiccup, the game is, essentially, over, as we saw yesterday with Carrasco. We just can't must a comeback in that situation.
Heck, I was surprised as heck we could come back from two down in the 8th today!
One side point: The best line I read today said that, yes, the Indians will sell out opening day and then the fans will disappear until warmer weather...but that Dolan should 'just sit back and enjoy today'.
Priceless!
Clevinger
For those of you that are old like me you probably remember the Bo Jackson campaign "Bo knows...." which starts off with "Bo knows baseball".
Well, along those lines, Clevinger does NOT know pitching to contact, at least in this game. The guy is at 17 pitches an inning, striking out 6 and walking 2 through 3 innings. He'll be lucky to make it 6 innings, assuming guys don't start hitting him or drawing more walks!
Meanwhile, the immortal Ivan Novoa is cruising along at 39 pitches in 3. He has struck out 2 and walked none. If they don't start hitting him he could go 8 innings.
And while we are at it, how about iron head Jose Ramirez. My sense is that he doesn't make adjustments well. If you can bunt for a base hit every time why, on this team, are you not bunting?
Not amused so far by the home opener. Not much in the way of good signs for the future.
The Indians need to put up a 10 spot on the board next inning!
Well, along those lines, Clevinger does NOT know pitching to contact, at least in this game. The guy is at 17 pitches an inning, striking out 6 and walking 2 through 3 innings. He'll be lucky to make it 6 innings, assuming guys don't start hitting him or drawing more walks!
Meanwhile, the immortal Ivan Novoa is cruising along at 39 pitches in 3. He has struck out 2 and walked none. If they don't start hitting him he could go 8 innings.
And while we are at it, how about iron head Jose Ramirez. My sense is that he doesn't make adjustments well. If you can bunt for a base hit every time why, on this team, are you not bunting?
Not amused so far by the home opener. Not much in the way of good signs for the future.
The Indians need to put up a 10 spot on the board next inning!
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