Cleveland Indians (2011 Season)

[NFBuck]

Hope I don't jinx anything, but Masterson is pitching another beauty tonight. I'm actually really surprised with how well he's pitched. I thought there was a chance he'd come around this season after a strong September, but he's pitching much better than I ever thought.

Tribe up 4-1 batting bottom of the 6th...

 

[NFBuck]

Pronk goes yard! 5-1...

 

[NFBuck]

8-1, nice bounce back game so far

 

[buckeyemania11]

3 straight quality starts for Masterson? Bizzaro

 

[NFBuck]

Also sounding like Grady could be back as soon as Monday (per Tom Hamilton). If he can be 80% of his former self, that could be a huge boost over the Kearns/Buck blackhole...

 

[NFBuck]

3 straight quality starts for Masterson? Bizzaro

You go back to about mid-August last year, and he's actually been really good. Maybe he's finally realizing that potential that he flashed in Boston. Only one bad start in his last nine...not to mention a few solid relief outings at the end of the season as well.

 

[NFBuck]

Well, lets hope this is a different Joe Smith than the one we've grown to loathe...

 

[NFBuck]

Well, lets hope this is a different Joe Smith than the one we've grown to loathe...

Heh, nope. Same piece of garbage we've been subjected to the past two seasons.

 

[NFBuck]

9-4 on the season. **must resist urge to compare this team to 2010 Padres**

 

[NFBuck]

Bats, they are sick. I cannot hit curveball. Straightball I hit it very much. Curveball, bats are afraid. I ask Jobu to come, take fear from bats. I offer him cigar, rum. He will come.

 

[A Pac]

Bats, they are sick. I cannot hit curveball. Straightball I hit it very much. Curveball, bats are afraid. I ask Jobu to come, take fear from bats. I offer him cigar, rum. He will come.

Are tryin to tell me Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?

 

[NFBuck]

Justin Masterson since last August 1:

16/11 G/GS, 6-3 W-L, 77 IP, 21 ER, 2.45 ERA, 64 H, .204 BAA, 55-24 K-BB, 1.143 WHIP

People have always said he has a live arm, he just needed better command/location. Well, maybe (hopefully), the light has gone on. That's a pretty good sample size to go off of...

 

[Tonyank]

The Indians and Royals are tied for the AL Central lead.

 

[LitlBuck]

8-1, nice bounce back game so far

I wonder if Hafner is the Hafner of two years ago or will he go into the tank pretty soon. If either Santana or Choo can wake up and start hitting, this team with Sizemore might not be too bad.
Too bad we don't play the Royals while our pitching is going well because that might help us stay out of last-place and how about your man LaBusta last night except for that little baserunning gafoo

 

[NFBuck]

I wonder if Hafner is the Hafner of two years ago or will he go into the tank pretty soon.

Hafner, when he has been healthy, has been solid the past two seasons, just not near his old self. Staying healthy has been the big problem. So far this season, he's looked a lot like the '04-'06 Pronk. I'm just hoping he can approach even his 2007 numbers and stay healthy.

If either Santana or Choo can wake up and start hitting, this team with Sizemore might not be too bad.

Choo and Santana will wake up...I'm sure of that. What Grady we're getting will be interesting. If he can be even 75-80% of his old self, an outfield of Brantley-Sizemore-Choo is pretty damn solid.

Too bad we don't play the Royals while our pitching is going well because that might help us stay out of last-place

That would be nice, I do expect the SP to regress eventually. I also expect the Royals to regree back to the mean as well. I think we're better positioned to have a good year than them in the short term. KC's farm is stocked though, and in a couple years I think they'll be pretty decent.

and how about your man LaBusta last night except for that little baserunning gafoo

Eh, one or two good games isn't gonna sway my opinion on him.

I'm just trying to enjoy this season. I never expected them to start this quickly, that's for sure. But if they can continue to play near this level, this division might be there for the taking. Chicago's BP is a mess, Detroit has pitching issues and aside from Cabrera and Victor (if he comes around) isn't all that great offensively. Minnesota has issues and Mauer's banged up. I'm trying not to get too optimistic here, but San Diego was expected to be awful last year and hung around in their division race until the end. If a few things go right, could be a fun summer.

If they do regress back to the mean, at least we see that we have some good young players and a lot of our prospects are doing pretty well so far. So things are definitely looking up as soon as next season. Pomeranz looks like the real deal...can't wait to see how quickly he progresses.