I had forgotten that we went 7-11 in our first 18 games last year. I had forgotten that, last year, we were swept in a 4 game series, including a doubleheader, in Deroit in July as we fans probably reached our emotional bottom at any time last year. I know I did. Still, this road trip to Washington and Detroit was very unsatisfying. Maybe we can, this Friday, start a long stretch of victories where we get all of our cylinders clicking at the same time..
I can't help but feel that this is one of those stretches. When the starting pitching is good the bullpen collapses. When the starting pitching puts us behind the 8-ball early in the game, the offense can't respond to save us. To make matters worse, Plesac is getting bucking this trend, getting some significant run support this year, which makes me think this is just one long opposites day.
So, I gotta ask: Is what we saw the first two games in Detroit just the afterglow of Bell having a good series in Washington? He loved to hit in Washington last year with his home average there about .300 with his road average about .240. I hope we see him hammering the ball this weekend in Cleveland. THAT would be a good sign.
Do we really think that we will see Tanner Bibee on Monday? If so, that would be a major surprise as we would be bringing up Bibee and starting his arbitration clock when I don't think he even has to be rostered this winter. For a team with serious 40-man roster problems every winter, are we really in such dire straits that we will clog an already clogged young roster with Bibee?
If Bibee is added to the roster we will have to DFA or trade someone. Looking at our roster that probably means Lavastida or Viloria being DFA'd. Let's hope it is not Palacios. He clearly has upped his value, including his trade value, with his start in Columbus.
I am starting to think that it is possible that we will trade Rosario sooner rather than later rather than keeping him all year. With Freeman, Arias and Rocchio ready, each to a different level, if Rosario is out any amount of time we might see that we DON'T need him as much as we thought we did. Ditto for us needing him to hit 2nd in the order. Him beng out, albeit if for only a short time, might put it in front of the FO's and Francona's collective noses that we might be able to compete this year better WITHOUT Rosario. Not saying it will happen but the longer this 'dry run' for life after Rosario goes on, the brain trust might start kicking the tires on our exit strategy for Amed.
Speaking of life after Rosario, Francona is experimenting with all the lineups the fans have been talking about, at least at the top.
On that note, it just seems like our top 2 hitters are walking on egg shells. Jose Ramirez is such a rare talent but it really looks like people are not trying to steal ahead of him getting up in fear of the other team walking Jose when they first base suddenly open. I think our 1-9, aggressive approach has to be just that. We can't just stop pushing the envelope before Jose is up or when he is up. Better that we let them intentionally walk Jose and then let Bell or whoever is hitting cleanup go all Earl Weaver on the opposing pitcher.
Sending Gaddis down and having De Los Santos come back Friday brings up an interesting few days of roster moves (see Bibee comment above).
Finally, does it seem to anyone beside me that part of the problem our relievers are having, (starters, too) is that they are afraid to bury breaking balls or sinkers in the dirt out of fear that Zunino won't be able to block them. In today's game Manning was essentially screaming at Clase to go out of the zone but I think Clase was reluctant. I really think the pitchers are starting to absolutely not trust that Zunno can bloack a ball. When you take that bottom 18 inches above the ground out of the equation, I am pretty sure it makes pitchers much, much more hittable. In my opinion that is what we are seeing here. I think we saw it today with Stephan, Karinchak and Clase. I don't remember one of them burying the ball in the dirt when they had the opposing hitter down two strikes. I mean, Beiber would sometimes do that 4 pitches in a row if he had the batter 0-2.
More tomorrow about the minor leagues but I am liking a lot of what I am seeing with our minor league pitchers.
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