Cleveland Indians (2011 Season)

[Bucklion]

Phew, pull it out...21-9

But, this leaves an unsettled feeling in my stomach. Perez hasn't been right for a couple of weeks now...actually, seems like his velocity has been down a few mph all year. I'm serious about the Borowski comparison. He'll get it done most of the time, but he'll probably scare the piss out of us regularly and occasionally implode in spectacular fashion. I'm starting to wonder if Hagadone isn't the long term answer at the back of the BP, not Perez.

I agree with AKAK, I mean the dude got a save chance like once a month last year for a while. It picked up in the second half, but there was no pressure involved, because they sucked. This is his first real action as a closer on a contender here, and even though he's occasionally an adventure, he showed me somethnig tonight battling back and getting Godzilla. There are very few real shut-down closers like Rivera anymore (ask Reds or Cardinals fans about the back end of their bullpens) so really we're still a leg up with a guy like Perez. Hell, the Twins have already benched Nathan and the White Sux have, well, no one.

 

[NFBuck]

I agree with AKAK, I mean the dude got a save chance like once a month last year for a while. It picked up in the second half, but there was no pressure involved, because they sucked. This is his first real action as a closer on a contender here, and even though he's occasionally an adventure, he showed me something tonight battling back and getting Godzilla. There are very few real shut-down closers like Rivera anymore (ask Reds or Cardinals fans about the back end of their bullpens) so really we're still a leg up with a guy like Perez. Hell, the Twins have already benched Nathan and the White Sux have, well, no one.

Oh, I think you guys are misunderstanding me. Like I said, he'll get the job done most of the time, but will likely make us pretty nervous fairly regularly, and occasionally melt down. Look at JoeBlo's numbers in '07...he converted 85% of his saves. I feel pretty confident RAGE can equal, even eclipse that. But, like Borowski, he'll let guys get on base and allow the occasional run to cross the plate...just enough to make us nervous. That said, his velocity has been down a couple mph since the start of the season...not sure what's going on there.

Obviously, not all closers are lights out every night out, but I think Hagadone has the stuff to be one of those monster closers. He is eating people alive this year and getting rave reviews. How that translates to the bigs remains to be seen, but there's a reason Shapiro wanted him in that Victor trade despite the Tommy John surgery. Dude has filthy stuff.

 

[y0yoyoin]

Oh, I think you guys are misunderstanding me. Like I said, he'll get the job done most of the time, but will likely make us pretty nervous fairly regularly, and occasionally melt down. Look at JoeBlo's numbers in '07...he converted 85% of his saves. I feel pretty confident RAGE can equal, even eclipse that. But, like Borowski, he'll let guys get on base and allow the occasional run to cross the plate...just enough to make us nervous. That said, his velocity has been down a couple mph since the start of the season...not sure what's going on there.

Obviously, not all closers are lights out every night out, but I think Hagadone has the stuff to be one of those monster closers. He is eating people alive this year and getting rave reviews. How that translates to the bigs remains to be seen, but there's a reason Shapiro wanted him in that Victor trade despite the Tommy John surgery. Dude has filthy stuff.

hahaha no i think bucklion understood and was actually dead on with his reply...every closer is going to put men on and make things interesting, it just depends on what the score is and how much of a cushion he has to make mistakes...mariano was the closest thing to a lights out closer MLB has had for many years and this year he has blown 2 save chances already....the closest thing to lights out this year is heath bell...Perez is similar to Wickman, Borowski, Kerry Wood and Danny Baez because he is a CLOSER...wickman and borowski especially would put me on each save appearance and somehow manage to find their way out of it...perez puts men on base yes, but he is a better pitcher then wickman and borowski...he has better pitches and throws harder...borowski especially was pretty much almost retired by the time he came to the indians...this is only perez's second year as a closer and he has done a pretty good job so far....remember the most important stat of all is Blown Saves and Losses and Perez has only 1...thats one less then Mariano this year...also if you look at his stats:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8251/gamelog;_ylt=Aj5juhn6FZdJQqB.XBmZK.mFCLcF
his main problem is that when he is putting runners on via walk or hit, he is also not striking out anyone for that inning...an interesting stat that when he can fix that i think he will be alright and alot more effective...perez is going to be shaky sometimes but i can say that i am glad to have him and glad we are in the situation we are in

 

[Piney]

And per those stats he has pitched 5 of the last 7 days. And of those 5, two were dicey. And even then those two rough outings happened when you can call him 'tired'. One of them being on the 3rd day he pitched in a row and yesterday, pitching his 5th time in 7 days.

So it is a bit premature to compare him to JoeBo/Wickman. As mainly he has been lights out this season.

Like I said earlier... it is key that Acta finds a way to give him a night off and let someone else close for a night/or the Indians just have to win by a larger margin

 

[Romanowski]

I'm liking the direction of the team. I agree with most sentiments on here too.

I was listening to "Afternoon R&R" and they were interviewing LaPorta. When it was all said and done, they looked at his stats through 28 games. If he can keep up what he's been doing in the 8 hole, he'll be looking at over 20 HR's and 90 RBI's, while batting .270.

In comparison, look at what Paul Sorrento did batting 8th in '95. He batted .235 with 25 HR's and 79 RBI's. There's no doubt LaPorta is a much better player than Sorrento too.

I'm not going to compare the two lineups because the make up is completely different, but with respect to these two players, we can compare the production levels. Even if LaPorta doesn't quite get to 25 HR's or 90 RBI's, we'll still be in good shape, and that has to get any Tribe fan excited.

 

[Bucklion]

Not much happening tonight so far...at least the drunken hobbit can throw out baserunners from right, because he can't hit for shit this year.

 

[OHSportsFan]

Bats apparently didn't make the trip out to the Left Coast. Yeesh.

And another extra inning game. On to the 11th.

Even if they survive this West Coast trip record-wise, I hope there's no residual effects on the team after they return (bullpen, close games, drained).

 

[OHSportsFan]

Not much happening tonight so far...at least the drunken hobbit can throw out baserunners from right, because he can't hit for shit this year.

0 for his last 16 (4 games) since the DUI incident.

Time for him to get a day off and get his head on straight. He was trending up the previous 7 games (.207>.250).

Santana still can't seem to hit consistently, but man does he still draw walks (19 BB, top 20). People know he's a dangerous hitter and he's still providing something, but it's time to get going kid...

 

[OHSportsFan]

OK, the bullpen has been pretty damn good so far this season, but when it gets to the point that Justin Germano has to pitch in a tied game, there's not much you can do.

Time for the stinkin' offense to not be a bunch of bums.

 

[OHSportsFan]

3 hits.

Smooth 2, LaPorta 1.

3 hits.

This one's on the offense tonight. Bullpen needs a break. Oh well, time to take the next 2. Off to bed.

 

[NFBuck]

That's a really bad loss because with Weaver and Haren coming up and a depleted bullpen, I'd say it's about 90% certainty this is a sweep. You have to get to the mediocre rookie when two aces are on deck. I think the bats are finally coming back to earth...better hope the pitching continues to shine or there will be problems. I still can't believe we're a week into May and neither Choo or Santana have shown any signs of contributing on a consistent basis. :!

 

[scarletngrey11]

Offense has been very aggravating to watch as of late.

Hopefully its just a prolonged fluke, and not opposing pitchers figuring them out.

 

[NFBuck]

Offense has been very aggravating to watch as of late.

Hopefully its just a prolonged fluke, and not opposing pitchers figuring them out.

I tend to think it's just a regression to the mean...which makes it critical for Choo and Santana to wake the fuck up and become #3/4 hitters on a consistent basis. The longer they hibernate, though, the longer I think that the pressure is too much for Choo, and Santana just isn't ready to be a middle-of-the-order-guy.

 

[AKAK]

I tend to think it's just a regression to the mean...which makes it critical for Choo and Santana to wake the fuck up and become #3/4 hitters on a consistent basis. The longer they hibernate, though, the longer I think that the pressure is too much for Choo, and Santana just isn't ready to be a middle-of-the-order-guy.

Yeah... I was thinking before the ankle... and it doesn't look too bad, that maybe it's time to move Pronk into the 3 slot and drop the others down, even mabye drop Santana lower than that... or even Choo, Hafner, _____ then whoever.

At least get one going and seeing some better pitches with the .340 guy behind them.

The other thought, and I don't think this is THAT good of an idea is to let Brantley/Cabrera hit 1-2 in some order then go Sizemore in the 3 spot... and sort something out after that. Regardless the 3-4 black hole has to stop and between Sizemore (who hasn't stolen a base) and Hafner, there's 20 million in salary... they're big boys, they can handle it.

 

[y0yoyoin]

Yeah... I was thinking before the ankle... and it doesn't look too bad, that maybe it's time to move Pronk into the 3 slot and drop the others down, even mabye drop Santana lower than that... or even Choo, Hafner, _____ then whoever.

At least get one going and seeing some better pitches with the .340 guy behind them.

The other thought, and I don't think this is THAT good of an idea is to let Brantley/Cabrera hit 1-2 in some order then go Sizemore in the 3 spot... and sort something out after that. Regardless the 3-4 black hole has to stop and between Sizemore (who hasn't stolen a base) and Hafner, there's 20 million in salary... they're big boys, they can handle it.

i wouldnt panic yet...we still have the best record in baseball