It's already extra busy downtown at 5 p.m., beyond normal rush hour traffic. From my perch at 9th and Euclid, I see lots of people wearing red.

 

EDIT: a little music to set the tone for tonight.......

 

If this were the NBA or NFL and our team were just sneaking in to the postseason, I'd be less optimistic.  However baseball is different, especially considering MLB's asinine playoff format.  Teams like the Tribe have almost as good a shot at winning it all as teams that played better during the regular season...it's the old crapshoot theory, and it's worth getting excited over. 

^And in fairness, "just sneaking in" means something pretty different in baseball than in the NFL and NBA.  The small number of NFL games means one or two fluky games can put a meh team in the playoffs, and in the NBA, more than half the teams make the playoffs (I think).

its not even about that. its just one game. anything can happen. definately worth getting excited about.

 

if they win -- winning a real series against the red sox and advancing further, well, thats another story. i dk if i could get all wrapped up in that.

 

but lets not get ahead of ourselves, tonight's tonight.

 

 

 

Freaking Cabrerra, man. Strands Raeburn on second in the 2nd inning. Then leaves the based loaded in the 4th with a double play. You just can't count on this guy. Has no heart. Then Kipnis leaves two on in the 5th. :x

Boo.

9 hits and 0 runs?  Glad I shut it off and started watching The Wire after the 5th.

Bad time to start playing tight....

 

Ah well, good season. Browns on deck.

 

The view from my seats in section 111. Most amazing crowd I've ever been a part of. It was a good season. Too bad it wasn't a great season. Maybe someday I'll see a great season that ends with a championship.

Starting Salazar was a bad gamble, and it came back to hurt us.  Of course, 3 runs shouldn't be insurmountable, but a 1 or 2-0 game is psychologically easier than 3-0... But of course, we lapsed back into our terrible situational hitting.  I pounded the table when Asdrubal Cabrera swung weakly with the bases loaded into a inning-killing double play.  Michael Bourn strikes out in key situations and, well, ... wait til next year...

 

... we'd better go out and get a scary bat in the off season, or it'll be more of the same.... But it was nice to make the playoffs, and we've got a strong manager and a team to build on.

 

The pitching wasn't the problem. It was the lack of clutch hitting. When Asdrubal came to bat in the 4th or 5th, I said to my buddy "well, here comes the double play." That's what happened. Later, when he came up again and hit a soft grounder to second, I said "if there was a runner at first, he would have hit into another double play." Too bad, because Asdrubal was once a .300 hitter. Even if we get rid of As-gerbil, I still think we need to replace our hitting coach.

clutch hitting is a phantom stat. 

Can't say that I am that upset this morning. They simply got outplayed last night. We were hitting but TB made the stops when they needed to. This team still needs a few more consistent offensive pieces to be a contender. It was a nice run and a nice change to hit 90 wins. I will say most of the top of the order looked like they were trying to hard last night. Cobb reminds me of a kid that I wrestled with in high school, he looked like a schlubb but beat everybody on technique (and luck).

I was lucky enough to get a last minute call from a friend with an extra ticket, so I was at the game last night. Downtown was packed (there was a huge line to get into a lot of places, people were milling around watching the different TV / radio broadcasts do their shows). I literally got chills as they announced the team, hearing the crowd blow up. It was worth going to the game just for that moment before the game started.

 

Then the game started. Oh well. I had a great time, ate way too many hot dogs, and hi-fived way to many people in the first couple of innings.

 

I'm bummed, but I'm optimistic about next year. I think we're a couple key players from coming back and having a deeper playoff run next year.

 

My one complaint...can they please do something about the crappy cell coverage? Do they throttle the bandwidth? I wanted to text a couple pics to my wife to show the kids, and nothing would go through, even though I was showing full coverage on the phone.

 

Edit: also, kudos to whoever was in charge of the lighting of Terminal Tower. They did a nice job coordinating the lights to what was going on in the field.

Can't say that I am that upset this morning. They simply got outplayed last night. We were hitting but TB made the stops when they needed to. This team still needs a few more consistent offensive pieces to be a contender. It was a nice run and a nice change to hit 90 wins. I will say most of the top of the order looked like they were trying to hard last night. Cobb reminds me of a kid that I wrestled with in high school, he looked like a schlubb but beat everybody on technique (and luck).

Cobb returned from an injury back in August that would not allow most pitchers to be successful, but he has pitched amazing since his return.  He is on an adrenaline high since then.  I think that is something that will propel him through the playoffs. 

clutch hitting is a phantom stat. 

 

In last night's game it was, as both teams were 2-9 wit runners in scoring position. But I would bet that, more often than not, teams that have extremely low batting averages with runners in scoring position end up losing those games.

^You are definitely right. "Clutch" isn't a skill, like power or speed, or getting on base, but that doesn't mean situational hits aren't important for winning games.

 

Baseball is a game of weighted dice and we were unlucky with our roll last night.  Very disappointing.  I hate the offseason.

The pitching wasn't the problem. It was the lack of clutch hitting. When Asdrubal came to bat in the 4th or 5th, I said to my buddy "well, here comes the double play." That's what happened. Later, when he came up again and hit a soft grounder to second, I said "if there was a runner at first, he would have hit into another double play." Too bad, because Asdrubal was once a .300 hitter. Even if we get rid of As-gerbil, I still think we need to replace our hitting coach.

 

I disagree.  In a playoff game, esp. a 1-and-done playoff game, it's a chess match where you want to keep the opponent off balance.  But for the entire game, the Indians were playing from behind after the HR Salazar allowed in the 1st.  With our fragile hitting line up, especially, we needed to strike 1st.  We were obviously pressing, and the Cabrera double play ball deflated any comeback hope we had...  Like I said above, had Salazar kept it to one run, maybe just 2, psychologically we would have had a better shot... But I also did not let the hitting off the hook either.  However, by playoff time, you've got to dance with the date you brung, and so we know our hitting was shaky -- no sense complaining about it now.  Because Francona knew very well of our hitting struggles, putting an inexperienced kid (who'd overcome Tommy John surgery) in that pressure situation, is not putting the Indians in the best position to win.  Hold scratch Ubaldo Sunday to make him available, or start Kazmir (World Series start, like Jimenez) or even Masterson... Those would have been wiser moves.

But for the entire game, the Indians were playing from behind after the HR Salazar allowed in the 1st. 

 

Just a minor correction: TB didn't get their first score (the HR) until the third inning. TB had been pretty adept at scoring in the first inning down the stretch toward to the postseason.

it came down to the big hit, we didnt have one.  We got to Cobb ExACTLY how i envisioned it when iw as pulling for a Rangers/Rays Monday night game.  Im like we can hit this guy.  We did hit him, just not at the right times.  As far as ASdrubal, he had some memories here, but probably time to go. He is a six year veteran...bases loaded, one out-you have to at minimum get under the ball and put it in the outfield.  He has gotten worse over the last few years.

If i am Francona, I am throwing alot of off season time into correcting Trevor Bauer.  He was a huge piece in that Choo trade.  If he doesnt pan out, that Choo trade was not worth anything even if he was going to leave after this year...he could have provided some punch in RF all year.  Bauer on twitter didnt even seem to know there was playoff baseball going on with his teammates, we was tweeting about music and stuff...im pretty concerned about him

Terry Francona's a great manager irrespective of my disagreement about starting Salazar.  With TF in place, we should be able to attract that big bat we need.  Our pitching, overall, was amazing this season, despite the doubts by pundits early on.  Without our pitching staff, starters and relievers, we wouldn't have sniffed the Wild Card this year.

^I understand that both Kazmir and Jimenez are free agents this off season.  We need to do what we can to hold them, esp. Ubaldo.  We'll see what the market dictates and how open the Dolan's wallet is this off season.

There are definitely no big bats coming in the off season.  It's not like this team is going to sign Cano or even Choo given the huge pay days they have coming.  At most I could imagine a Mike Morse or Kendrys Morales, or maybe Carlos Moncrief from the minors will get some platoon time in the OF partway through the year.  Our lineup next year is going to look a lot like this year, except no Giambi and maybe less Asdrubal and more Aviles/Lindor.  I can't wait for Lindor.  Our infield defense this year was awful.

How ready is Lindor, do you think? I ask earnestly, as what I read is all over the map. I agree that Astrubal's time here is up (as likely is Perez), as much because I don't feel like either of them fit in with where the club dynamic is going, as much as because of their spotty performance. But I hate to rush a guy's progress just because of a need. Better you sign a guy short term to fill the gap.

I think Kazmir stays.  Ubaldo goes.  I think giambi stays.  Asdrubal goes. 

^I agree re. Kazmir and Ubaldo. I don't really know what's going to happen with Asdrubal, though.  I'm sure he'll be available, but I could easily imagine the team not liking any of the offers and sticking with him next year.

 

Tough to know how ready Lindor is, but he's an elite prospect, and the last two elite SS prospects (Machado and Boegarts) both made the journey from AA at the beginning of the year to MLB by the end.  I think it's safe to say Lindor's glove is already better than Adrubal's, and Lindor has shown incredible on base ability so far in the minors.  If all goes well, I could easily imagine a promotion in the second half of next season if it makes sense for the team.

 

Chris Perez is extremely overpaid for his value, so the only way he's coming back is if they non-tender him and he signs as a FA for a much-reduced rate.

I can't wait for Lindor.  Our infield defense this year was awful.

 

Actually, Cabrera improved and was rated one of the most efficient infielders in the AL this year -- 2 years ago, he was terrible.  So Lindor probably won't improve on SS defensively, markedly, and they're still working on his bat down in the minors (still I look forward to him with the Indians).  The infield D beyond SS was awful, esp at 3rd (Chisenhall) and 1st (Swisher). 

 

Where I fault Cabrera is re his offense.  Hitting the 4th inning-ending, bases loaded double play was inexcusable, esp with us down 3-0 at the time.  You've got to protect the plate and put the ball in play or at the very least, get it into the outfield.  Cobb was wild at that point, and clearly struggling, and Astrubal swung at the 2nd pitch, which would have been a ball... It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that you put pressure on a struggling pitcher who has the bases loaded, just walked the last batter and had our very enthusiastic fans going berserk -- make him throw strikes.  Its stuff like last night, we've seen again and again from Asdrubal that makes me want the Tribe to cut the cord with him and move on.

 

ASdrubal i think needs to work a little harder.  I dont know how accurate this is, but some say he has not worked as hard. the season he had two years ago when he was great was his potential...

^He had apparently gained weight after the previous 2 All Star games... He was said to be in shape this year... but often, we don't know where his is... I guess my prayers that another Omar Visquel would drop down from the heavens’ into the Indians lineup won't be answered anytime soon… Terry Pluto notes that Asdrubal, at age 27, seems like a burned out player.  Sad.

AC is only 27???

 

What is the coaching worth to Ubaldo? If I was another team I would be leary of signing him, 2 great half seasons 3 years apart wouldn't really  give me a warm and fuzzy that good Ubaldo is going to show up for me next March. Now if he resigns with the Indians for a short term contract and has another good season, that's worth $$$$ because it means he is "fixed".

 

Edit: I guess I am starting the "Please Stay Ubaldo!" campaign...

How sad is this picture??

 

 

Brantley consoles Kipnis after last night's Wildcard game loss.

^Ha, I know, I was actually holding up pretty well till the camera focused on that last night. Totally made me really sad for the team. Made me like them even more, though.

 

He had a down year, as a passable short stop with a league-average bat, Asdrubal is a still a very valuable asset.  I don't know how much stock to put in his weight fluctuations or supposedly being burned out.  Most of the time, I think sportswriters just want to find a simple narrative to explain performance variation, even if there really isn't a simple explanation.

 

Actually, Cabrera improved and was rated one of the most efficient infielders in the AL this year -- 2 years ago, he was terrible.  So Lindor probably won't improve on SS defensively, markedly, and they're still working on his bat down in the minors (still I look forward to him with the Indians).  The infield D beyond SS was awful, esp at 3rd (Chisenhall) and 1st (Swisher). 

 

Depends which evaluation metrics you trust.  By both leading advanced defensive metrics (defensive runs saved and UZR) Droobs was terrible this year- like maybe even league worst. His fielding % wasn't too bad, but that only tells part of the story. http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=ss&stats=fld&lg=all&qual=y&type=1&season=2013&month=0&season1=2013&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0

^^ That's a pretty sad picture. Chin up Kip!

We wanted so bad to bring a winner to Cleveland.  Warms my heart that was frozen in carbonite at the time of The Decision

 

There's always next year.

 

And in this case, I hope the 42,000 in attendance last night have seen what Francona is capable of making these guys accomplish.

 

I only wish this game had been a couple nights earlier.  They had such great momentum--then too many days off!

There's always next year.

 

 

Sorry, but that's a sad joke around these parts. I've seen 46 "next years." My older brothers have seen ALL of the "next years." One of my brothers stopped being a Cleveland fan a long time ago, though he still goes to a Cleveland game or two to see a future hall of fame player like Michael Jordan, Derek Jeter or Peyton Manning. My other brother still watches the Browns but became a Cowboys fan when he moved to Oklahoma and Texas in the 70s. He has been rewarded with four Super Bowl wins (he wasn't a Dallas fan yet in '71).

 

So I don't wait for next year anymore. It's going to have to come to me. I don't have any control over whether a Cleveland team wins a championship anyway.

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/76925/a-field-trip-to-believeland

 

Did anyone see this cool article? At first I was like, thx for the gut punch about no reason to come to Cleveland. But he ended up dapping our ppl, city and fan base.  This is good. Instead of just being recognized as losers, we r being a fun, loyal fan base who can laugh at ourselves

I'm not incredibly optimistic about "next season," particularly considering the uncertainty surrounding the roster and tightwad Dolan who still can't/won't spend like Illitch does in Detroit.

 

Then of course there's Bill James (father of Sabermetrics) and one of his oldest rules: "When a team improves sharply one season they will almost always decline in the next."

 

That describes the Indians almost perfectly right now (and in fact it's precisely what happened with this franchise in 2006 and 2008).

True but they were managed by Wedge. Players hated Wedge. The dolans actually spent those years and they were talented but they had so many late inning late collapses. And wedge couldn't keep them together.  I think francona will take the pressure off Dolans and get the best out of his guys. Dolan had no choice during the wedge era but to trade guys like CC or Lee because they weren't gonna win with them and they were either gonna pay them a ton and lose with them Under Wedge or they walk and we get nothing back.  I think we add to the team this winter, prob lose Jimenez but I hope not

Apparently each team gets 20 million next year and we loose Droobs.  So thats 30 million more to spend. 

 

 

If we can keep Jiminez and add a consistent 100+ RBI guy in the middle of the lineup who hits at least .280 (ie, not Mark Reynolds-type strikeout kings), this team would be so much better in 2014. I know that sounds like a tall order, but I think we're in a better position this off-season to do that then we were last off-season. This team is now a winner and not a risk for a player to come to and hope to be a winner.

There were exactly 10 major league players who met those criteria this year.

I think it's pretty clear there's no new impact bat coming. The most likely ways the offense will improve next year are Michael Bourn not getting hurt and hitting/walking/running closer to expected levels, fewer plate appearances by Mike Aviles, Drew Stubbs, and Jason Giambi [and Mark Reynolds], and more plate appearances by Santana, a hopefully improved Chisenhall, and maybe Raburn and Gomes (both of whom will likely hit a lot worse next year than they did this year, but hopefully still be better than Aviles/Stubbs/Giambi/Reynolds).  If Asdrubal is still around, hopefully he looks more like his 2011/2012 self too.

Astrubal is a goner.  It's Lindor's time next year.

^Depends on what other teams offer, which, in turn, depends on who signs Stephen Drew this off season. Wouldn't surprise me to see Adrubal back here. In any case, Lindor won't open the season in Cleveland. If Asdrubal gets traded, we'll probably see Aviles at SS pretty much full time for much of the year and, if he's lighting up AA, Lindor may come up in the second half. That more or less what happened with Machado and Boegarts, and it's hard to imagine Lindor moving faster than they did.  I'm really excited for his arrival, though.

Lindor wont be here until after the all star break because of service time.

 

No way Dolans pick up Asdrubals tab.  They may end up picking up some cash in a trade though.

 

Each team gets 20million this year from revenue sharing deal plus Asdrubals money coming off the books.

^I'm not sure I follow.  Do you think ownership is going to cut down on payroll significantly in 2014?  It's possible, but I expect it to stay more or less the same.  A number of contracts will be coming off (Brett Myers, Mark Reynolds and, likely, Chris Perez, and Ubaldo), while many other players will be getting raises through contractual step ups or arb year buy-outs. I don't expect them to sell off Adrubal's contract just to save on payroll.  The $20M was anticipated so won't really change their strategy from this year to next year (it's merely a cash flow management issue).

they need a starting pitcher, to fix their bullpen, and grab a thirdbaseman.  This is the offseason where the tribe can maintain the goodwill that they earned through the year