Well that was weird. :)

O-Cab to the rescue!

Big night for the Chisel.

Tigers already losing.  Tribe could be back in first place tonight!

O-cab w/4 hits today. Lets send him down for an unproven minor leaguer! Thank god no one on UO is running this team...

Oh brother.  You have noticed, right, that O-Cab's now platooning/UIF?  Wasn't just UOers who didn't want him as our everyday 2B.  Don't get me wrong though, I'm just as happy as the next guy when he gets his hits.

 

 

O-cab w/4 hits today. Lets send him down for an unproven minor leaguer! Thank god no one on UO is running this team...

 

He's having a pretty abysmal year.  Today's line, while nice, is an anomaly.  Now by no means am I advocating that he should be released or sent down, but let's be serious here for a moment, he does not need to be playing every day. 

That was a pretty ugly slump, let's hope the worst of it is over. I'll take 2 out of 3 over the D backs in interleague play in AZ. Especially considering how close it was to being a sweep. Besides Fausto, the pitching never wavered much during this rough stretch and it looks like they are finally swinging the bats again. Hope springs eternal!

 

"Only one thing left to do. Win the whole fucking thing!"

"Only one thing left to do. Win the whole f$&king thing!"

 

From the Associated Press yesterday.....

 

Charlie Sheen admits steroid use during Major League

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=6716984

 

CarCar has been awesome -- 3-1 in his last four starts with a 0.66 ERA. Of course, if this team had been hitting (and if Carlos Santana had changed his evil ways in CarCar's last start in Frisco), that 0.66 ERA should guarantee an 4-0 record for any pitcher over the same span.

 

From the Associated Press yesterday.....

 

Charlie Sheen admits steroid use during Major League

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=6716984

 

 

Classic-

"let’s just say that I was enhancing my performance a little bit. It was the only time I ever did steroids. I did them for like six or eight weeks. You can print this, I don’t give a f—. My fastball went from 79 to like 85"

 

O-cab w/4 hits today. Lets send him down for an unproven minor leaguer! Thank god no one on UO is running this team...

 

He's having a pretty abysmal year.  Today's line, while nice, is an anomaly.  Now by no means am I advocating that he should be released or sent down, but let's be serious here for a moment, he does not need to be playing every day. 

 

O-cab is 3rd on the team in RBI's while sitting some games so Cord could make 5 errors and prove to EVERYONE he's not ready.  Orlando's clutch hitting and club house leadership may not show up in the box score but are very important to this teams success.  Some of you guys are out of touch w/reality.  If you think he's having an abysmal year than I question your baseball IQ. 

Please read (and comprehend) this article so I don't have to hear anymore bashing of our 3rd best RBI hitter.  Focus your bashing on Kearns, Buck, Sizemore, and Carmona.   

 

P.M. Cleveland Indians links: O-Cab's value is in more than his glove and his bat

Published: Thursday, June 30, 2011, 12:28 PM    Updated: Thursday, June 30, 2011, 12:32 PM

By Chuck Yarborough, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

 

http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/index.ssf/2011/06/pm_cleveland_indians_links_27.html

So, did O-Cab's club house leadership go on a long Caribbean cruise in late May or something?

 

Seriously though, Orlando has had some really dramatic and awesome hits this year, no doubt.  But I still don't buy the idea that he's valuable because he's clutch.  First off, being clutch isn't a repeatable skill, so there's no reason to think he'd continue timing his relatively infrequent hits so well going forward.  But more importantly, how clutch has he really been?  They guy's BA with RISP has been .261, lower than Hafner and Droobs (duh), but also lower than Brantley, LaPorta and even Buck and Hannahan.  Granted, he's done much better in a much smaller number of "high leverage" plate appearances (however FanGraphs defines that), but he's contributed to a lot of those PAs having been "high leverage" in the first place by otherwise under-performing earlier in those games.

 

So how does he get all those RBIs?  A big part has been where Act put him in the batting order.  Only Santana, Droobs and Choo have more plate appearances with RISP.  In other words, if Hannahan were in O-Cab's slot those games, he might be the one with those RBIs.  Or Laporta would.  Or Brantley.  That's one reason why the uber baseball nerds (of which I'm not really one) more or less ignore RBIs, or at least ignore them as a skill indicator as opposed to just an accomplishment.

 

Bottom line is that the most important plate appearance outcome is whether you make an out or get on base.  O-Cab makes an out at a higher rate (about 71% of the time) than any regular starter on our team.  So far this season he's been more likely to make an out even than "over-matched" Phelps.  O-Cab's barely (and I mean barely) gotten on base at a higher clip than Kearns.

 

Don't get me wrong, I look forward to other roster moves that are coming too.  And I don't have it in for O-Cab to be mean or anything (really I don't blame him for his performance at all), but was delighted to see the FO make a move there, however half-hearted, because that's the position where the Indians have the most depth and ready replacements.  The idea that contenders don't make those types of moves as a blanket rule is bunk.  Asdrubal's entry on the scene in 2007 was a big lift for the team, for example.  If those moves don't seem frequent, it's probably because most contenders don't have 36-year infielders with absurdly low OBPs.

 

Final O-Cab note.  This idea that everywhere he plays wins strikes me as a really stilted spin.  If he's such a proven winner, why is it that no team ever wants him for the next year?

 

So because most of the rest of the team is struggling through less than half of the season, that's supposed to prove Cabrera's value?  Generally-speaking, "abysmal" is a perfectly accurate way of describing his hitting.

 

Clutch hitting doesn't exist, and RBIs (as an individual stat) and clubhouse presence are overrated.  I understand why you believe the things you do because these myths about the game are pounded into us from day one, but they're just not true.

RBI's are overrated? really?  hahaha....So Strap and Cle17 who the hell else would you play at 2nd everyday?  O-cab just won us two games against AZ.  The last time Cord played he had two errors (in 1 inn)which lead to a balk which lead to loss.  In a perfect world O-cab would not be my starter.  Guess what? He's the best we have. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out.  Why are you guys so obsessed with the need to replace him? There's 5 other guys in the tribe's lineup  that are less productive than him.  Hannahan, Sizemore, Santana, Kearns, and Buck.  Might as well replace our whole 1st place team then, right? 

 

If I agreed with you about clubhouse presence (esp on a young team) being overrated we would both be wrong. 

What's Sizemore salary to strike out ratio?

Sizemore's still hurt I think.

 

RBIs are overrated, research it a bit.

 

Beyond that, I guess I would platoon Cabrera at this point.  If the season goes down the drain, trade him (if you can) and bring up Kipnis.

Easy to say "i'd platoon him" yea ok with who??  I would too if we had someone better on our bench.  Acta is playing our best players.  GOT.IT.

 

The Colorado Rockies, who are contending, inquired about trade for O-cab.  Hmmm hope their GM doesn't read this forum!!

I'd prefer to see Phelps playing full-time, but to make everyone happy, he is the obvious choice for a platoon, as a switch-hitter.

Easy to say "i'd platoon him" yea ok with who??  I would too if we had someone better on our bench.  Acta is playing our best players.  GOT.IT.

 

The Colorado Rockies, who are contending, inquired about trade for O-cab.  Hmmm hope their GM doesn't read this forum!!

 

I hate to be bearer of bad news but O-Cab has started at 2B in only 10 of the last 20 games, with a few other starts at 3B.  He's already been moved to a platoon/UIF role; that ship has sailed.  There's a pretty decent shot Kipnis will be called up within the next few weeks, which would probably end even O-Cab's platoon role and make him purely UIF/bench player.  But, hey, maybe the FO's baseball IQ is as low as mine ;)

We're .5 games out of 1st place heading into July.  Let's put a hold on bringing everyone from clippers up just yet.  Our problems aren't in the infield (well first base maybe).  Our problem is Sizemore and someone stepping in for Choo.  If Kipnis played Right I'd say bring him up now.  He won't make a difference at 2nd just like Cord didn't w/his terrible defense.

^In case it makes you feel better, if Kip gets the call, Phelps would probably be sent back down to get everyday playing time in Columbus.  It's also possible Chis gets sent back down if he's really scuffling when LaPorta comes back.  Then again, Jason Donald's still in the mix, which could also mean less playing time for O-Cab.  In any case, I think we're going to have to agree to disagree what constitutes a problem position if you don't think the production has been really bad at 2b this year.  The tent of Tribe fandom is big.  Not very full, but big.

 

EDIT, in case anyone is interested, here's a great description of the Kipnis call-up possibility: http://www.indiansprospectinsider.com/2011/06/kipnis-may-be-on-verge-of-callup.html

What's Sizemore salary to strike out ratio?

 

I know baseball is a stat sport, but c'mon.... I don't think Elias even keeps that stat!

As much as I dislike the Dolans, I have to admit that they did at least 2 things right: hiring an astute, really smart baseball man in Mark Shapiro, and then overriding Shapiro and ordering to fire that stiff Eric Wedge a couple years ago.  Shapiro clearly does his homework, and his quality drafting for the farms as well as picking up quality prospects in heartbreaking trades, like CC and Lee, is the reason why this team is promising today.  Philadelphia, though riding high with their Big 4 rotation, still is smarting over losing a promsing pitching prospect like Carlos Carresco, wo we got in the Lee trade a few years ago...

 

This year, for once, the Dolans should do their usual at trading deadline -- NO DEALS mortgaging the future for an established bat. Yes, our excellent young pitchers (sans Fausto Carmona and Chad Durbin) the weak AL Central gives us a shot to make a pennant chase.  But I'm not willing to trade away our promising youngsters at this point, even if we take it on the chin this year.  Plus, I think once we end this torturous NL/interleague road trip and am able to get Pronk's (DH Rule) bat back into the regular lineup, our hitting and scoring will pick up... and we'll still have a shot for the post season THIS year.

 

^I wouldn't worry about any trades involving prime Tribe prospects, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple of the mid-level prospects go in positions of strength (SP, middle infield) as part of a deal for a so-so depth bat that is none the less an upgrade.

 

You are way off on Shapiro re. good drafting, by the way.  Drafting for most of the Shapiro era (2001-2010) has been really bad.  On the current active roster, I believe Chisenhall, Phelps, Tomlin, Sipp and Josh Judy (just called up while Chris Perez is on bereavement leave) are the only tribe draftees, and most of them are very recent.  A depressing factoid: Trevor Crowe has more at-bats than any other Indians first round draft pick since...Manny Ramirez.

 

Overall, I think Shapiro's been fine, but the occasional success of the team in his era has been built almost entirely on pre-Shapiro drafts, Shapiro's great trades, the Latin American development program and some free-agent signings, which is not the normal route to small market success.

Another solid game for Orlando. Where's Cord been?

 

 

 

 

Another solid game for Orlando. Where's Cord been?

 

:roll:

 

Our bullpen may win us the WS this year...Go Tribe and O-Cab!

With Fausto being put on the DL, who should the Tribe call up from AAA: Jeanmar Gomez or Zack McAllister?

 

My vote is for McAllister. His numbers this at AAA are comparable to Gomez's. But Gomez can't seem to stay in the majors after stints last year and this year. I'd like to see what McAllister can do in the majors.

^I wouldn't worry about any trades involving prime Tribe prospects, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple of the mid-level prospects go in positions of strength (SP, middle infield) as part of a deal for a so-so depth bat that is none the less an upgrade.

 

You are way off on Shapiro re. good drafting, by the way.  Drafting for most of the Shapiro era (2001-2010) has been really bad.  On the current active roster, I believe Chisenhall, Phelps, Tomlin, Sipp and Josh Judy (just called up while Chris Perez is on bereavement leave) are the only tribe draftees, and most of them are very recent.  A depressing factoid: Trevor Crowe has more at-bats than any other Indians first round draft pick since...Manny Ramirez.

 

Overall, I think Shapiro's been fine, but the occasional success of the team in his era has been built almost entirely on pre-Shapiro drafts, Shapiro's great trades, the Latin American development program and some free-agent signings, which is not the normal route to small market success.

 

Your right, drafting hasn't been a Shapiro strong suit, but locating young talent generally has been.  Shapiro's been here a decade now, so you got to give the man credit for locating talent, mainly via trades, and keeping the farms pretty well stocked.  No question John Hart started the tradition under the Jacobes in the early 90s of signing promisin talent to long-term deals... but there as been a complete turnover since the go-go 90s, and Shapiro's been at the helm durin that time... Has he had some misses (Andy Marte) and some big-time flops (Ryan Garko; Ben Broussard) and some trades that have backfired (Brandon Phillips -- yeah, he was a bit of a knucklehead here, but we should have seen his sheer talent and tried to work it out)... Overall, though, you've gotta tip your cap to Shappy.  For a team to on the cusp of a World Series (2007) trade back-to-back Cy Young winners and yet, 2 years later, be in the hunt (1st place in the Central having played 1/2, 81 games)  is amazing.  Baltimore, Pittsburgh, KC and Toronto (to name a few) should be so lucky.

The Tribe was at wit's end with Brandon Phillips.  I'm not sure that there was ever any indication of the player he would become, especially considering the headaches he caused.  Further, he was absolutely convinced that he was an SS and wanted nothing to do with playing 2B.  I wouldn't mind having his talent on this team, but he'll always be a jerk in my opinion.

The Tribe was at wit's end with Brandon Phillips.  I'm not sure that there was ever any indication of the player he would become, especially considering the headaches he caused.  Further, he was absolutely convinced that he was an SS and wanted nothing to do with playing 2B.  I wouldn't mind having his talent on this team, but he'll always be a jerk in my opinion.

 

You're absolutely right, Phillips was a jerk, but some organizations/managers can handle them better than others, and it seemed Wedge was more stand-offish than others.  I don't think there was no-indication he would be a star, even a super-star.  Don't forget, like Cliff Lee and Grady Sizemore, Phillips was one of the prized, up-'n-comers we received in the Colon trade -- I'm surprised Shapiro didn't have a ski-mask and a gun when he pulled that one off.  Many scouts had touted Phillips' natural ability... impossible to see his potential vs. his headaches? ... that would be the subject of prolonged historical sports debate.

^BUT Phillips was adamant about being a shortstop.  He pouted about playing 2nd base.  His attitude was bad for the team.  There was no indication he would be better than Peralta, who may have made the all star team this year if not for Cabrera.

 

Reminds me of the Larkin/Stillwell competition for Reds shortstop.  Larkin almost lost that deal and who knows what might have happened.

Phillips' numbers in his first few MLB seasons were worse than mediocre.  He wasn't progressing nearly at the rate at which he was expected to progress.  His minor league numbers had also dipped in the season immediately before he was traded.  That, combined with his uncompromising and negative attitude, made him not worth the trouble.  Even if the Tribe wanted to give him more time to develop, they couldn't send him back to the minors as he was out of options.  That means that, in a year they planned on being competitive, they had to find a place on the major league roster for a 2B that was convinced he was a SS, who had a career MLB OPS of around .600, and didn't get along with the manager. 

 

Trading him was the right move, in fact, it was the only move.  One probably can't even argue that the Tribe should have gotten more in return, because Phillips' numbers were trending in the direction of him being a bust.  Regardless, all of that is in the past now, it's been over five years, so it's time to move on.  Pretty soon Jason Kipnis will take over at 2B and make all Indians fans forget about Phillips.

Phillips is a Choad. Sometimes the talents aren't worth the headaches...That's why we're lucky to have a true professional like O-cab playing 2nd. 

That's how it's done. Go Tribe!

That game, the return of my sister from Italy and enjoying the region's many fireworks from the roof of my building made for a great Fourth of July!

Yeah, that was an awesome game.  Hopefully Carasco keeps up his hot streak tonight. Could be another great pitching match-up. 

Headed down there tonight...

 

Should be fun...

 

Yeah, that was an awesome game.  Hopefully Carasco keeps up his hot streak tonight. Could be another great pitching match-up. 

 

And I know I've said this before, but CarCar's ERA in June was even better than Verlander's.

Remember when Sabathia did that to teams that weren't us?

 

Yeah.

 

Also, the Chad Durbin experiment should be canned. I think I've said that before.

Rode our bikes down to the game from LW, got a flat on the way back.boo.

 

CC is a house but he was a house that owned us tonight. That is the second game that I have been to this  year that was over before I sat in my seat...guess I am bad luck.

^I've already informed the front office and they've added you to their "do not sell" list. Of course that assumes "CBC" is in fact your real name.  Seriously though, going to games over that fast is a real bummer.  Fingers crossed the Tribe can rough up Hughes in his first game back tonight.  I certainly worry about Masterson with all those Yankee lefties.  Granderson is a beast.  The fact that he's naturally so darn likable just makes it worse.

^ Ha. Good luck they are in my dad's name....

 

 

^ So they're under Mr. CBC, then.

doin it in the 5th - hang in there tribeski!

tribe rules, everyone else drools. No nerds. Boom!

I was watching ESPN these last few days and heard that the Yankees played somebody and that Derek Jeter got a little closer to the 3,000 hit mark. The commentators seemed surprised he didn't eclipse the 4,000-hit mark, let alone 3,000, by the end of the series. Not sure who the Yankees played or what the outcome of the series was, though.

Zach McAllister has officially arrived for tonight's start, Cord Phelps optioned to Columbus

Published: Thursday, July 07, 2011, 3:44 PM    Updated: Thursday, July 07, 2011, 3:53 PM

Paul Hoynes,

 

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2011/07/zach_mcallister_has_officially.html

Right move for Phelps who was rotting on the bench a obviously a little overwhelmed by the big stage.  And O-Cab's been playing pretty darn well, no doubt in an effort to make Clefan98 look as good as possible ;)

 

Last night's game was awesome.  Let's hope the Zach Attack brings his A-game tonight.