Odds and Ends 2-6-2019

First, about Antonnetti's comments that seemed to be directed at Francisco Lindor:

WTF?!?!?!!??

I have to say that someone in his position has to pick his words carefully, especially when he is in the old game of telephone where what you say has to be interpreted by multiple people, sequentially, before it gets to us.   If any of these comments were truly addressed at Lindor than Antonnetti is an idiot.  Minimally it lessens Lindor's trade value.   Maximally it impacts his ability to put out full effort for a team that doesn't value his services.

So I am at a loss to see what is going on here.

Second, this time of year has historically sucked for Tribe fans.   At least in recent history.   By that I mean that this is the time of year where we sign veteran minor league free agents who have no chance to help the ML team this year.   In fact, these guys very rarely have a positive impact on the record of Columbus!   This is not an opinion this is a fact based on the performance of these guys after the Indians have signed them.

Now, I am not talking about the Oliver Perez type guys who have a history of major league success and just couldn't find a major league deal so had to settle for a minor league deal and a wink and a nod that they would most likely make the opening day roster.   We are talking about the Robert Zarate, David Lough, Jarret Grube, Travis Barnwart kinda guys.  

Look, this team has holes in the bullpen, at utility infielder and in the outfield.   Yet we are not even signing guys to MiLB deal at those positions.   Not that I miss wasting time on the types of guys mentioned above but it is a bit frustrating when I see other teams signing guys to minor league deals when are signing no one who could actually help our team like Perez did last year.

Looking at it from a player and agent standpoint, there are plenty of holes on this team and the agents should see that and pitch their clients to the Indians and the players should want the shot to make a playoff-contending team.  

The fit should be perfect.  However, we are seeing none of this with the Indians.   Could it be that the Indians are really stupid enough not to have any backup plans on the middle infield except for Yu Chang and Eric Stamets?  No additional veterans to be AAA depth for the bullpen?  Could they really be telling these agents 'no thanks, we have enough' when they come peddling their clients on a minor league deal?   I don't even see us having enough depth at Columbus to even field a team without signing some minor league free agents.

Hey, I love the youth movement and not wasting money on guys when you have in-house options, especially when those minor league veterans really don't add value to your organization, at least not on the field.   Play the kids first has been my mantra for 30 years.   So if that is what is going on I am all for it except that we don't seem to have the minor league depth at any position except for starting pitching to be that bold.  Given that, I see this as a very weird time for the Indians to take a hard line when they had more depth in the past and STILL signed these AAAA players.