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- Thread starter NFBuck
- Start date
Zippercat
Legend
Just three weeks from tomorrow we start to find out for certain whether this Tribe team is actually any good. Game 1 of the ALDS is on October 5 and strong odds are the Indians will be playing In Houston. Most likely the afternoon game since the TV world will demand to have the Red Sux in Prime Time.
The Indians have coasted through the regular season, easily winning the worst division in MLB. They’ve also rarely won a series against any team that has close to or better than a .500 record. Unlike the past 2 years they didn’t have an extended winning streak.
The injury bug really hit the OF hard this season. 2 OF are now on the 60 day DL and a third would be had he not suffered his last injury while in AAA. 3 of the current OF (Kip, Guyer and Davis... and perhaps also Allen) have been unable to hit much at all with any consistency. Tito and the front office dumpster diving squad have really carried the OF through the regular season with a lot of smoke and mirrors. And one of Dr. Smooth’s best seasons at the plate. Will there be enough smoke left for October?
The Pen has also had its share of injuries and the need for lots of roster moves. The season started with virtually no outside replacements for some major off season Pen losses and the (in my opinion questionable) plan to cover the obvious gaps by asking the starting staff to pitch deeper into games. A bunch of dumpster dives, a long list of relief pitcher DFA moves and the trade of the organization’s best prospect for pen help later: there are still serious questions about the physical and mental health of key relief pitchers.
So, what’s it gonna be: a fast exit or a long playoff run?
The Indians have coasted through the regular season, easily winning the worst division in MLB. They’ve also rarely won a series against any team that has close to or better than a .500 record. Unlike the past 2 years they didn’t have an extended winning streak.
The injury bug really hit the OF hard this season. 2 OF are now on the 60 day DL and a third would be had he not suffered his last injury while in AAA. 3 of the current OF (Kip, Guyer and Davis... and perhaps also Allen) have been unable to hit much at all with any consistency. Tito and the front office dumpster diving squad have really carried the OF through the regular season with a lot of smoke and mirrors. And one of Dr. Smooth’s best seasons at the plate. Will there be enough smoke left for October?
The Pen has also had its share of injuries and the need for lots of roster moves. The season started with virtually no outside replacements for some major off season Pen losses and the (in my opinion questionable) plan to cover the obvious gaps by asking the starting staff to pitch deeper into games. A bunch of dumpster dives, a long list of relief pitcher DFA moves and the trade of the organization’s best prospect for pen help later: there are still serious questions about the physical and mental health of key relief pitchers.
So, what’s it gonna be: a fast exit or a long playoff run?
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Oh what the fuck? It's usually Thursday, why in the fuck is the first game Friday? Dammit. How am I supposed to watch it at cleats port Clinton and go fishing hung over on Friday.
Now you've ruined my morning. Thanks.
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NorthCoastKid
Legend
It's baseball. Anything can happen. Happy this group gets another crack at it.
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Zippercat
Legend
Blame E$PiN? NLDS starts on Thursday this year. But what's the problem anyway? I thought the purpose of fishing was to become hung over. You'll just be getting a head start. Besides, starting hung over you won't notice if the fish are biting or not....or would that be typical anyway?
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Oddly when I fish, I actually fish. I know I know. I've invited people along that are surprised to find this out as they were prepared to drink. I don't invite new people to fish in rivers with me anymore, they're pussies and complain about the cold, hot, sun, rain, walking, hiking, current, floating debris, almost drowning, etc.Blame E$PiN? NLDS starts on Thursday this year. But what's the problem anyway? I thought the purpose of fishing was to become hung over. You'll just be getting a head start. Besides, starting hung over you won't notice if the fish are biting or not....or would that be typical anyway?
I like that boat.
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LitlBuck
Kevin Warren is an ass
Well, Francona is already starting to plan his pitching rotation for the playoffs by giving Kluber some extra days off. I have seen him do this before with Kuber and it has not worked out very well in the past.
I sure as hell hope Trevor can make it back to 100%, or close to it, for the playoffs. If he cannot start, he sure would be nice to have in the bullpen. Maybe Francona could do something like that Tampa Bay manager does with Bauer. Pitch him for 5 Jennings and turn it over to the bullpen or Bieber.
Sometimes I question Francona's judgment. Like yesterday against Blake Snell, he rests the majority of his lineup when I think it would be nice to have the starters batting against one of the premier pitchers in baseball. Plus, they are off today so that really does that make much sense to me. I know Francona knows much more baseball then I ever will but I still question his judgment at times. Hope I am wrong.
I sure as hell hope Trevor can make it back to 100%, or close to it, for the playoffs. If he cannot start, he sure would be nice to have in the bullpen. Maybe Francona could do something like that Tampa Bay manager does with Bauer. Pitch him for 5 Jennings and turn it over to the bullpen or Bieber.
Sometimes I question Francona's judgment. Like yesterday against Blake Snell, he rests the majority of his lineup when I think it would be nice to have the starters batting against one of the premier pitchers in baseball. Plus, they are off today so that really does that make much sense to me. I know Francona knows much more baseball then I ever will but I still question his judgment at times. Hope I am wrong.
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I think it's fine to question him, I do it often. That said, I don't know if there's another manager out there that could have managed the success he's had here. The good far outweighs the bad.
As to any kind of championship aspirations, weelllllllllllll...
Call me a doom-and-gloomer, or a typical pessimistic Cleveland fan, but I don't see it happening. I think their window was the past two seasons (2016/17) and they choked it away both times. Boston, New York and Houston is quite a wall to overcome.
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I wouldn't be shocked to see them pull it together for a series, but it seems highly unlikely. One thing's for certain, the season will end with an "L."
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All negativity aside, for a small-market team, we have it pretty good as Tribe fans. I can't think of any other "small market" teams, going back to the mid-nineties, that have been as successful overall as the Indians.
Yeah, the Royals have a ring, but they've mostly been dogshit for the last quarter-century. Outside of a couple of swoons (2002-04, 2008-12), the Indians have been pretty competitve. I suspect another swoon is on the horizon in the next couple of years.
Yeah, the Royals have a ring, but they've mostly been dogshit for the last quarter-century. Outside of a couple of swoons (2002-04, 2008-12), the Indians have been pretty competitve. I suspect another swoon is on the horizon in the next couple of years.
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I will say that the regular season means next to nothing when it comes to the playoffs. Its all bout getting there
Think we were winless against the Yankees in the regular season when we beat them in the ALDS in 07.
Hell the Cardinals won the world series in a year where they won 83 games.
This bullpen is just too big of a disaster to see them going very far.
Think we were winless against the Yankees in the regular season when we beat them in the ALDS in 07.
Hell the Cardinals won the world series in a year where they won 83 games.
This bullpen is just too big of a disaster to see them going very far.
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Yeah, as stupid as it sounds... I'd rather it laid out with Boston as the ALDS matchup. I'd personally rather have a shot at them with the rotation lined up and a 5 game series. Price doesn't scare me that much in the post season and the Sale is 5-8 with a 4.78 ERA lifetime against the Tribe.
Houston is really good obviously but sorta having some similar inconsistency problems... Personally, I think the Yankees have a lot of flaws, as much as they have some really scary firepower to make up for it, they have some glaring weaknesses as well, so I'd prefer to play them or Houston in 7. Having said all that the Yankees are facing a play in, and I'm not sure the A's aren't better than them right now, nevermind for one game. Getting Drone Boy back in any capacity would help a lot. I have no worries about Mitch at the 3, but Bauer's stuff is useable in a lot of ways.
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LitlBuck
Kevin Warren is an ass
As much as I enjoy watching the Indians play baseball during the season, winning the Central Division really means nothing to me. That Division is crap especially this season. I guess I go back to the old saying if you do not win the ring it does not mean a thing. I mean my two brothers and I barely remember watching the Indians on TV in 1954 and that was disappointing enough.
I guess if Lindor, Ramirez, EE, and Donaldson come through and Kluber and Cookie throw no-nos and Bauer comes back to form they might have a shot… Maybe.
I guess if Lindor, Ramirez, EE, and Donaldson come through and Kluber and Cookie throw no-nos and Bauer comes back to form they might have a shot… Maybe.
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