1. Two out of three in Chicago against a White Sox team that is playing well is a big deal. Tito manages the bullpen in this 3-game series about as well as you can imagine and ALL the bullpen guys do their job.
2. Plesac gutted it out again. Not sure he has all of his weapons back yet but he is doing the job with what he has. That is what you have to do to be a long-term success in this league. Good job, Plesac.
3. Daniel Johnson...You know, everyone says that baseball is hard enough without putting pressure on yourself but, damn! 1-12 last year and 0-9 this year with 5 Ks today. WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE RUN WITH IT!!! All it takes is some spark, some glimmer and you get a long look in Cleveland. But when an opportunity presents itself and you flat out SUCK...over a two year period...that is when you get the Gio Urshela/Jesus Aguilar/Yandy Diaz mistakes being made by the FO. I know Johnson is trying hard but, damn, man, we need someone to step up and you just screwed your chances. So, pack your bag, get on the plane to Columbus and fix the crap that is going wrong because you are not the answer we are looking for. And the next time, DON'T SCREW UP!!!!
4. Oh, one more time, the Indians hitting coaching in the majors and minors suck if this is what you can do to f-up a guy like Johnson this bad. Get some new hitting coaches. Ours suck and they are killing any chance we have of getting hitting from our prospects to replace some of the non-hitters on our ML roster.
5. I am starting to think that I am watching a different MLB Network than people in Cleveland. On my version the only three Indians' 'highlights' I have seen between innings on the broadcasts are (a) Rodon's no-hitter this year, (b) Abreu's HR in the snow from this year and (c) the final out of the 2016 series. Tell me I am wrong about it and in the Cleveland area they actually show Cleveland HIGHLIGHTS on these between innings videos. It must be true or someone else would have complained about it by now!
6. Browns draft - Seems people like it. I can understand why: (1) Solid CB drafted about where he should be (2) linebacker who is great and fell to the Browns (3) fastest guy in the draft, (4) strongest guy in the draft. That about sums it up. I don't know if I like the picks after Round 2 that much based on the players still available at that time but I will give the FO credit for knowing more about these guys than I do and knowing their needs on special teams and such. Still, I would have traded my 6th round pick this year for a 6th rounder next year to get myself down to 7 draft choices this year. I would have also spent more time paying for and getting some of the better NDFAs out there. Not a lot of them but just the 3 best, especially at the positions which I still think are a little light and play into special teams: lnebacker, wide receiver, offensive line and defensive tackle (we got one guy). I know a lot of teams are building relationships with guys who might fall through the cracks of the draft but for a few hundred thousand dollars this is a great way to fill the end of your roster with guys who have a future in the organization. We got one good one, but we should have spent the time and money to get 3.
7. A couple of thoughts about the relievers: Karinchak...man, there are no words. He has just been lights out. Clase...doing it WITHOUT striking out everyone. Don't know if I am encouraged or scared by that as it means his 100 mph is hittable. But looking at the results I guess I feel better about that than I am worried about it. Now if he can just K more guys. Shaw looks impressive. Wittgren had a little trouble in a couple of games but if he can right himself after the birth of his child this looks good for our bullpen. Sandlin and Nelson...who knows longterm but it is sure fun to watch those guys now and dream on their abilities. Stephan is not over his head so far and Tito is using him right so, maybe he survives the year and we have something in him. Plus we do have a few guys left at AAA like Cam Hill who might help later on.
8. Speaking of the Rule 5, Oviedo and Tom are still hanging in there. Tom had a tough weekend and he may still returned to the Indians. Oviedo was shaky before but pitched two scoreless today. albeit giving up 4 baserunners in two innings with 2 BB/2K, lowering his ERA to 7.71. Jury is still out on whether we get him back but at least we only have to watch one team every night to see how our Rule 5 guys are doing.
9. What do we do about the last two spots in the rotation? I say we keep going with McKenzie. We are obviously giving Hentges a chance but really need to make this a bullpen day when he pitches, planning to use Quantrill to piggy-back him if Hentges makes it through 4 innings. If we can keep McKenzie and Hentges separated in the rotation this just might work.
10. Jake Bauers....what can you say? He is hitting just enough to not get DFA'd but not enough to help the team...and his defense doesn't help much if he can't hit HRs. For the millionth time...what would it hurt to give Bradley a try? You might catch lightning in a bottle but, with our hitting instructors, you might end up with another Daniel Johnson-like performance. Still, though, Bradley may just get hot and go all Franmil on the opposition.
11. Speaking of Bauers and Daniel Johnson, Yu Chang and these other two guys cannot suck this bad. They really can't. But Chang looks EXACTLY like the guy he has for the last couple of years. C'mon, we need so production from the end of the lineup...and productin that is more than just a timely (or meaningless) bloop hit.
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