i wasn't considering pittsburgh and doubt they are even exploring such a deal.

I think it's best generally to not consider Pittsburgh.

Ugh, terrible way to enter the break.

 

Things I look forward to in the second half:

 

Alex White returning (fingers crossed)

Choo returning

Talbot getting DFAed

O-Cab and his .609 OPS playing less

 

With the need for outfielders your last wish isn't going to come true. OCab! Go Tribe!

What do we do with Chris Perez? I

Nothing. Send him out again. He's not mariano rivera, but he's also only blown three saves since last may. occasionally closers blow games. I think hes the least of our worries right now.

With the need for outfielders your last wish isn't going to come true. OCab! Go Tribe!

 

And too bad too.  In his 8.5 games since Phelps was sent down, O-Cab's been hitting a whopping .135 with an OBP of .179 (including his single just now).  He's somehow getting even worse.  If the FO isn't going to being Kipnis up, might be time to give 2b back to Jason Donald.

 

In case anyone thinks I'm an outlier on this issue, here's an entertaining thread on a popular Indians forum about how bad O-Cab is, that grew to 11 pages in three days: http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=264&f=2046&t=7678231

Also, from what I heard from a friend that works with the tribe... and this is probably why ocab has been on like 6 teams in 5 years. Most of his locker room leadership appears to be teaching people how late you can stay out and what the best lady clubs are.

I think at the least the Indians should consider having two full time closers, especially with our bullpen being so deep. Put Pestano in when we're up by a run or two; Perez in when we're up by 3 or more. I just don't have much confidence in the guy, and in a playoff game, I can't see him closing the close ones up.

 

 

geez. he's 11 of 12 in one run saves.

I actually think the bullpen works pretty well as is, but for kind of a backwards reason.  Chris Perez almost always comes into a game with the bases empty to start an inning (usually the 9th), so there's a little bit of room for his control issues and his lack of strike outs.  This means the other guys are available for high-leverage situations, like when a starter or another reliever gets in trouble late in the game, when there's less room for mistakes.  Sure, we get a few blown slaves by C. Perez (I agree with MCleveland, it's an acceptably low number), but the alternative might be watching him blow an even larger number of holds.

do you really have confidence in the guy though? I mean, it seems he's always getting in jams, plus a 2-5 record with a 3.03 ERA, blew those games when we were tied in the ninth, 45 walks/hits in 35.2 innings, 23 strikeouts are a tad low, and doesn't seem to have much confidence in himself. Nice hissy fit in the dugout too after the blown. I definitely get the Wickham/Borowski feeling when he pitches in close ones.

 

Maybe teams in general should have two closers

Chris Perez's stats are arguably better than Wickman's (which are surprisingly good), and not even in the same awful category as Borowski's. 

good thing we brought pestano in instead of perez in the 8th today :)

 

Bullpens have some hiccups from time to time. Ours as a whole has been incredibly successful. I wouldn't mess with it. And I don't think teams have two closers because closers are about mentality as much as stuff. There's one role for that. I think chris perez has been remarkably good over the past two years (actually all star good), even if sometimes he completely melts down and has no idea where the ball is going. Id expect him to get better as he matures. In the meantime I'm just trying to figure out how to never have to watch luis valbuena play baseball ever again.

Guess our bullpen overall isn't as good as we thought.... Another Twins comeback today. Boo!

Somehow Detroit just keeps on losing and this club is still in first place for another day.  That said, I almost can't take it anymore.  I love the Tribe, but these close/late losses are too frustrating to watch on a daily basis.  Especially as the front office stands by and watches as outfielder after outfielder goes down.

yeah... though I have come to a sad conclusion that buying may not make a lot of sense for us unless we get some retread off the scrap heap at a low cost or can find someone who is under contract for a few more years. I just don't think we can mortgage any of our future for a team that really is pretty flawed.

 

I mean with only 2 maybe 3 reliable starters, a bullpen that is starting to show some wear, and a pop-gun lineup. I just don't think one rh outfield bat is going to make us real contenders.

Wow, Tony Lastoria (the guy behind Indians Prospects Insider) just tweeted "Looks like Jason Kipnis is Cleveland bound. Will be interesting to see what they do with him and where he plays."

 

He's not on the 40-man roster, so if true, means someone is going to get traded or released.  Tony also tweeted earlier today that Valbuena was being sent back to Columbus.

 

UPDATE: here's a fuller description by Tony of all the moves: http://www.indiansprospectinsider.com/2011/07/kipnis-is-likely-cleveland-bound.html

 

And Tony also just tweeted that he's hearing Indians may be close on a deal for Ryan Ludwick.  If true, I hope we're not giving up much of value.

Ryan Ludwick?  Yawn.

 

They better add an arm, too.

I don't see them winning the division. They're fortunate to be where they are at this point.

Ryan Ludwick?  Yawn.

 

They better add an arm, too.

 

I didn't remember him playing here in 2003-05. Guess he didn't make too big of an impression. Too bad he did his best work in St. Louis right after he left CLE, and his stats show he's on the downside of his career. Sad that his .244 BA would be an improvement for this outfield, though I do like that he has 11 HR and 61 RBIs so far.

If he comes here, he won't be joining Sizemore in the outfield. Grady is out 4-6 weeks after surgery on a "sports hernia" whatever that is.

Ryan Ludwick?  Yawn.

 

They better add an arm, too.

 

I didn't remember him playing here in 2003-05. Guess he didn't make too big of an impression. Too bad he did his best work in St. Louis right after he left CLE, and his stats show he's on the downside of his career. Sad that his .244 BA would be an improvement for this outfield, though I do like that he has 11 HR and 61 RBIs so far.

 

I vaguely remember him from that time period, but you're right, he's done nothing while in a Tribe uniform, and it's likely to remain that way if he comes back.

Congrats to Kipnis on a very well timed first career hit tonight.  The first of thousands I hope.

Great start to his career!!

 

Too bad it came on the last day of baseball season in Cleveland! ;-)

Might as well be the end of the season the way the blew it tonight.  Oh well, at least not a lot of people have been coming to see them lose like that.

Yikes, the Tribe offense may be hitting rock bottom today.  Team on the verge of getting no-hit.

Pitcher Ervin Santana? I see he has a 5-8 record and a 3.69 ERA. And he is pitching a no-hitter against our line-up.... Yeah, I'd call that rock bottom too.

Well, at least I got to see a no-hitter.

Wow.  No hits and 5 errors.  Has to be the ugliest line in a few years.

Fire the hitting coach!!!!

 

Oh yeah....we tried that already.

 

Pitcher Ervin Santana? I see he has a 5-8 record and a 3.69 ERA. And he is pitching a no-hitter against our line-up.... Yeah, I'd call that rock bottom too.

Pitcher Ervin Santana? I see he has a 5-8 record and a 3.69 ERA. And he is pitching a no-hitter against our line-up.... Yeah, I'd call that rock bottom too.

 

Come on, he's not at all terrible.  That's a pretty good ERA and his win-loss record is really reflective of what we saw all series from the Angels--their inability to score runs.

^You're right, he was actually a very good pitcher but was slowed down by injuries over the past couple years.  No matter though, getting no-hit by anyone is pretty embarrassing.

 

This whole series was a kind of a sad battle between lousy offenses.

 

It's too early worry about long term (meaning 2012 and beyond), because Chis and Kipnis really could emerge, Choo could bounce back, etc., but it's interesting to note that most of the next wave of good prospects that will come to Cleveland will be pitchers.  Their farm system is pretty darn light on promising bats at the upper levels.  I really don't know what they're going to do about CF in particular if they don't pick up Grady's options.

I'm still pissed at Matt LaPorta for hitting into a double play and helping us blow a bases loaded, no-out run deficit last night.  Not only are pundit saying (I followed the game on computer;didn't see it) that LaPorta had a terrible at bat, swinging weakly at pitches in the dirt, he was slow getting out of the batter's box allowing him to get beat at 1st for the double play.  If he even gets the normal 4-6-3 double play, at least a run scores and, at worst, we go to extra innings... LaPorta's a bust.  Pundits, even Tom Hamilton say and hint he has a low baseball IQ.  And he was the centerpiece in the CC trade.  Even his defense sucks... a shame.

Indians' Shapiro tweeting that the Indians aren't done trading yet....

 

Jul 28, 2011

Indians land Kosuke Fukudome from Cubs

 

The Indians have agreed on a deal with the Cubs to acquire outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, according to several news media reports.

 

CAPTIONBy Charles Rex Arbogast, AP

 

The move makes sense with Indians outfielders Grady Sizemore and Shin-Soo Choo expected to be out with injuries until September. Fukudome can play right and center field, the primary positions of Sizemore and Choo, respectively.

 

Fukudome, 34, is a .262 career hitter who's batting .273 this season, primarily as a leadoff hitter. His .374 on-base percentage ranks 14th in the NL.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/dailypitch/post/2011/07/kosuke-fukudome-trade-cleveland-indians-chicago-cubs/1

What we needed: Right handed bat with some POP

What we got: Left handed bat with 3 homeruns.

and sadly even with 3 hr and 13 rbi... he's a substantial upgrade over kearns/buck.

 

this is actually probably a pretty smart move for the tribe. he costs us next to nothing and is an improvement, however slight. The way this team is playing there is just no way you can mortgage the future for a rent a player.

^Agree completely.

 

^^I hear ya, but this deal is independent from anything else they might be able to do.  Fukudome at least gets on base at a decent clip so should improve the top of the order a bit and they didn't have to give up much to get him.

 

Who is dome and why do I keep getting hate texts about him?

It may not be a good sign that Cubs fans are loving this deal. They think Fukudome is maxed out on his production, and that Abreu is a rising star. I don't see Abreu as a rising star -- his production in the minors is sub-mediocre.

I'm still pissed at Matt LaPorta for hitting into a double play and helping us blow a bases loaded, no-out run deficit last night.  Not only are pundit saying (I followed the game on computer;didn't see it) that LaPorta had a terrible at bat, swinging weakly at pitches in the dirt, he was slow getting out of the batter's box allowing him to get beat at 1st for the double play.  If he even gets the normal 4-6-3 double play, at least a run scores and, at worst, we go to extra innings... LaPorta's a bust.  Pundits, even Tom Hamilton say and hint he has a low baseball IQ.  And he was the centerpiece in the CC trade.  Even his defense sucks... a shame.

 

I was watching the game.  I was hoping that someone would come off the bench because LaPorta was about the last person I wanted to see up in that situation.  He either hits it a mile or hardly at all.  He strikes out too much and is real slow, so a big chance for him to get doubled up.

 

As far as you mentioning the 4-6-3 (or 6-4-3) double play...the infield was way in, so they were going home first no matter what.  Also, the ball was hit right at the second baseman, so I'm not sure even Grady would have beat the throw back to first.  He did get a slow start out of the batters box, but that was because it was a check swing on an inside pitch (which may have been ball 4).  A strikeout would have been better at that point, so I would have liked to have seen him take that pitch and take his chances on it being called a ball and tying the game up.  He did have an awful swing on an outside slider when the count was 0-1, but that's par for the course for him.  I can't believe that guy can't learn to put a decent swing on that pitch, he looks like a fool every time someone throws him a slider just off the plate.

It may not be a good sign that Cubs fans are loving this deal. They think Fukudome is maxed out on his production, and that Abreu is a rising star. I don't see Abreu as a rising star -- his production in the minors is sub-mediocre.

 

I think that's just Cubs fans trying to make themselves feel better for having to eat almost all of Fukodome's absurd 2011 salary.  Word on Abreu is that he was all tools, but hadn't learned to put it together, even at the low minor league level.  Was unlikely to make it to Cleveland ever.  All to say, it's a reasonable price and I won't beat up on the FO even if in 5 years Abreu turns out to have a ML career.

 

ADDENDUM: doesn't seem fair that Anaheim heads to Detroit now and the Tigers get to face the Angels' 4 and 5 starters.  In the 5th inning right now it's 7-6 Angels- a slug fest compared to our series.  I think its a four game set, though, so hopefully the Tigers don't put a lot of runs up when the rotation turns over.

JJ, don't make me slap you with a libel suit.  I never said any of that

At least he thinks Cleveland looks like Chicago...

 

The 34-year-old Fukudome received the news shortly before the Cubs' game in Milwaukee against the Brewers. He left a closed-door meeting with Cubs manager Mike Quade, then shook hands or exchanged hugs with what were suddenly former teammates.

 

Through interpreter Hiro Aoyama, Fukudome said he knew little about Cleveland.

 

"Lake Erie is right next to it," he said. "I know it looks like Chicago."

 

 

BTW, last night's 12-0 loss to the Royals was the low point of the season. Let's hope that statement is still true at the end of September. Carasco getting thrown out was actually a positive after he kept throwing gasoline on the fire. He was dominant in May and is now throwing batting practice. I'd suggest sending him down, but a large portion of this team doesn't deserve to be playing in the majors. They're 22-36 since starting 30-15.

This team is just aweful to watch. They lack fundamentals and heart idk how you keep getting shutout after shutout from subparb pitchers. I really do think Jamie Moyer could shut this lineup down. The Dolans are cheep and always will be, Mark Shapiro on the other hand just flat out sucks. We have high picks each year from below .500 seasons nd yet what does he have to show for it? zippo, you cannot win in the AL without scoring the way they do. I really do think this team is done for but I hope I eat my words. PLEASE SELL THE TEAM MR.DOLAN if not I'm hoping the MLB pulls through for us as fans. They cry and cry after low attendences then they get a great crowd and this is waht happens smh. GO TRIBE -__-

JJ, don't make me slap you with a libel suit.  I never said any of that

 

Huh?

^

 

I'm still pissed at Matt LaPorta for hitting into a double play and helping us blow a bases loaded, no-out run deficit last night.  Not only are pundit saying (I followed the game on computer;didn't see it) that LaPorta had a terrible at bat, swinging weakly at pitches in the dirt, he was slow getting out of the batter's box allowing him to get beat at 1st for the double play.  If he even gets the normal 4-6-3 double play, at least a run scores and, at worst, we go to extra innings... LaPorta's a bust.  Pundits, even Tom Hamilton say and hint he has a low baseball IQ.  And he was the centerpiece in the CC trade.  Even his defense sucks... a shame.

 

I was watching the game.  I was hoping that someone would come off the bench because LaPorta was about the last person I wanted to see up in that situation.  He either hits it a mile or hardly at all.  He strikes out too much and is real slow, so a big chance for him to get doubled up.

 

As far as you mentioning the 4-6-3 (or 6-4-3) double play...the infield was way in, so they were going home first no matter what.  Also, the ball was hit right at the second baseman, so I'm not sure even Grady would have beat the throw back to first.  He did get a slow start out of the batters box, but that was because it was a check swing on an inside pitch (which may have been ball 4).  A strikeout would have been better at that point, so I would have liked to have seen him take that pitch and take his chances on it being called a ball and tying the game up.  He did have an awful swing on an outside slider when the count was 0-1, but that's par for the course for him.  I can't believe that guy can't learn to put a decent swing on that pitch, he looks like a fool every time someone throws him a slider just off the plate.

 

Huh?  :)  Seriously dude, I don't even see how that is possible.

Ubaldo Jiminez is coming to Cleveland.

 

Alex White, Drew Pomeranz, and two other lower prospects are packing their bags for Denver.

PORTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Absolutely crazy day for Indians.  Can't wait to read more about the Ubaldo deal tomorrow.  After spending so much effort getting myself psyched for Pom and White it's a lot to lose, but there's a lot to like with our rotation over the next couple years with Ubaldo (assuming he's healthy...)

 

And Clefan98, I'm very sorry for your loss ;)