Alright, semi-Cleveland Indians related but more of a fashion commentary.

 

Put simply, I have a hard time wearing baseball hats - most are difficult to fit. Don't ask.

 

I had a hat from Banana Republic, simple, black, pre-bent brim. Fit like a glove... err, hat. Loved it. Loved it enough I'd leave the house wearing it if I was in a rush to go get groceries (I never leave the house disheveled or unshowered, but if I was in a pinch, I could do it with that hat). Lost it. Can't find it. Tried to find replacement. Not happening. Banana Republic hates people who can't just throw on any old hat.

 

Thought "hey, I watch the Indians games every now and then, I know who some of the players are - well, except I call that Astrud guy "pearls" because of his necklace". Ahem, I digress... anyway, I thought "why not just buy a Cleveland Indians baseball hat?".

 

Then it occurred to me - straight guys have some weird cultural issues about such things. I mean, I wanted a black cap, without a Wahoo logo (I'm not burning anything in effigy, buuut I think it's not the most appropriate mascot). I know, digressing. But I thought "surely they make caps in all colors" - au contraire, they usually stick with the team colors. I know, more digression. So I asked a straight guy (the pope) for some recommendations - gotta say he did a really good job until he got sick of my questions and suggested I buy a pink hat *scowl*. When I suggested a certain cap, he said "ehhh, kinda reeks of douchebaggery". In the gay world, one would say "sad and tragic" but I'm hip to some hetero jive and I'm well aware that douchebaggery is to be avoided at all costs. So I looked around a little more and found something that was tasteful for my standards and free of douchebaggery, and purchased it at the Team Shop at Progressive Field (bite me, get over it, Jacobs did.)

 

Imagine this hat:

 

But with this logo instead of Wahoo:

 

 

Tasteful, shows team spirit, etc. Right? Well that's not what this post is about. What happened the first time I wore it is what I'm getting at. So my partner and I decide to stop at Constantino's on the way home from the gym. They're out of Burning River so I try the Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA (not bad, btw - sorry, digressing). What happened next made me realize I didn't just buy a hat, I bought some sort of Rosetta Stone-like conversation piece. Picture it:

 

Me: (walk up to register)

Cute salesgal: (Looking directly at the logo on my hat) "Hey, is there a game tonight?"

Me: (thinking feverishly and remembering yes, there were people wearing Indians gear walking by my gym) "Yes!"

Cute salesgal: "Oh are you going, or you gonna watch it at home?"

Me: "Ahh, just going home."

Cute salesgal: "What time does it start?"

Me: (again thinking feverishly, remembering all those Indians-garbed people were there around 6:45) "I think 7ish?"

Cute salesgal: "Well I love the Yankees, but I gotta root for the Tribe"

Me: "Uhh, yeah! That was great when the Tribe beat the Yankees last year." (thank GOD I knew that)

Cute salesgal: "Oh yeah, that was awesome! Go to any games yet this year?"

Me: (desperately scrambling for words that'll be believable) "Not yet, but when it gets warmer I think".

Cute salesgal: "That'll be $18.94 (I also bought my partner's Dortmunder). Have a good night".

Me: "You too!"

 

I should clarify - this gal has seen me and my partner before; I'm pretty sure she "gets it" that I'm not on the free agent roster (wink wink), but the FIRST time I put the thing on my head, I get BOMBARDED as though I'm some ESPN commentator or president of the fan club!?! WTF kinda cult are you people in?!?

 

I'm seriously afraid to ever wear the hat out in public - what if someone wants to talk "stats"?!? Ack!!! Is there a support group for this?!? Did I do something wrong?!? Am I... (gasp) believable as a hetero sports fan?!?!?!? :-o

 

we'll damn, you asked the Pope for fashion advice?  :roll: :roll:

 

MayDay, you know some "cute girls" don't "get it".  It can't be explained.

I asked the pope for advice about buying a Cleveland Indians hat. Big d@mn difference.

 

And trust me - aside from the hat incident, she gets it.

 

That's why I'm so traumatized.

I asked the pope for advice about buying a Cleveland Indians hat. Big d@mn difference.

 

And trust me - aside from the hat incident, she gets it.

 

That's why I'm so traumatized.

 

Oh Honey, go to a spa & have brunch.  That should recharge you homo battery.

 

Take the sports talk as a compliment.  People love their teams, and since (it appears) you've never worn a "team" hat, people are using that as an ice breaker.

After tonight's game, my tribe hat is getting a 3 day detention.  The Indians lineup tonight would embarrass a triple-A manager.  Michaels, Dellucci, Carroll, Blake, Gutt?  Thats 5 minor leaguers.  Simply pathetic.  The team is lucky to have won any of these games they way they hit.  Those poor starting pitchers deserve so much more.  I want to send Laffey a six pack myself.

 

Time to put Marte at 3rd every day; move Blake to the outfield and get rid of Dellucci or Michaels.  For god's sake do something!

Mayday, forget the ballcap.  Buy an ivy or a gatsby.  Or a fez.  You'd look great in a fez!

Mayday, forget the ballcap.  Buy an ivy or a gatsby.  Or a fez.  You'd look great in a fez!

 

LMAO  X!  LMAO!  X, you're gonna get it!

Today's depressing stats: The Indians batters have been hit by as many pitches (20) as they have hit home runs.

Today's depressing stats: The Indians batters have been hit by as many pitches (20) as they have hit home runs.

 

Ouch,

 

Literally

I found this on the Boston website leftover from the ALCS last year:

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/gallery/10_09_07_know_cleveland/

Unassisted triple play.  The most exciting play in baseball.  third in Indians history.

Unassisted triple play.  The most exciting play in baseball.  third in Indians history.

 

I disagree, inside the park homerun.

Unassisted triple play is the rarest play in all of baseball. It happens less frequently than a perfect game, less frequently than four homeruns in one game, and far less frequently than an inside-the-parker.

 

And I was there  :-D

Unassisted triple play is the rarest play in all of baseball. It happens less frequently than a perfect game, less frequently than four homeruns in one game, and far less frequently than an inside-the-parker.

 

And I was there  :-D

 

I'm saying exciting, you are saying rare. And for a single play. 4HR isn't a single play, neither is a perfect game. Anywho, this is all a matter of preference.

 

Fernando Tatis is the most exciting player EVER, and that's a fact.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOYKQe6qQSU

Unassisted triple play is the rarest play in all of baseball. It happens less frequently than a perfect game, less frequently than four homeruns in one game, and far less frequently than an inside-the-parker.

 

And I was there  :-D

 

I'm saying exciting, you are saying rare. And for a single play. 4HR isn't a single play, neither is a perfect game. Anywho, this is all a matter of preference.

 

Fernando Tatis is the most exciting player EVER, and that's a fact.

 

My apologies: Rarest feats in baseball.

 

I'm sort of with you, though. There are more exciting things in baseball. Winning the game would have been more exciting.

 

I think watching a perfect game would be way more exciting. The pressure keeps mounting. There's usually some ridiculous plays to keep it perfect. I've seen a few perfect through the sevenths, and I can't pry myself away for any reason.

 

After see AsCab's play, I said, "Holy crap. That was a triple play. Wait. He did that all by himself. That was a frigging unassisted triple play. That doesn't happen. That was an unassisted triple play, right? Like, there wasn't an out already, right?" He was half way off the field before what happened fully sunk in.

 

 

After that freak ground ball disaster inning Laffey suffered though against the Yankees, I think that triple play was merely a recentering of the luck arrow for Indians starting pitching. I just can't get over how incredibly good the rotation has been- a 3.16 ERA, easily the best in the majors.

 

Depressing offensive state du jour: Indians are last in MLB in total bases.

Indians starters now have a combined ERA less than 3.00 this season.  Team still can't hit though.

Just about a 360 of the teams of the resent past (high batting average + high ERA).

Indians starters now have a combined ERA less than 3.00 this season.  Team still can't hit though.

 

I believe the starters have a 2.88 ERA.

 

Imagine if:  We had this year's starters, last year's relievers and 1995's batting line up. 

Did anyone watch last nights game on STO?

 

During a set of closeups of the crowd, the camera was on two girls wearing sunglasses. I can't remember if it was Manning or Underwood said, "I can't tell if those are sunglasses or drinking goggles".

 

 

Sickening.  I'm actually looking forward to Borowski's return.  Though the bats are as much to blame as the bullpen.

Will be interesting to see if Cliff Lee will bounce back or if it's back to 2007 form now...

Indians team batting average in May: .207

 

That is incredible.  And such a waste of a 2.26 team ERA during this time.

tough to watch this team....a sweep in Cinci...ouch...well I guess it can't get any worse.

^I think it did get worse.

 

Team batting average in May now down to .202.  Simply astounding.  Can we dip below .200 for the month?

This year just such a waste of incredible starting pitching.  Laffey is amazing- if he were a Yankee, ESPN would be hailing him as the team's future ace blah blah blah...

  I'm actually looking forward to Borowski's return. 

 

1.  I never thought I would see anyone say that.

2.  I never thought I would ever agree with that.

 

I have to admit, I felt pretty smug drafting Betancourt in my fatasy baseball draft expecting Borowski to lose the closer's job at some point, handing it over to Bet.  Then it happened, Betancourt sucked, and now he's lingering on the free agent wire b/c I dropped him and picked up Chad Gaudin (who?  Exactly...)

^I had the exact experience in my fantasy league.  Sad.  I then picked up Masa and, well, that didn't turn out so well either.

Could the Indians really win two in a row?

^nope

Cleveland decides to steal three

2008-05-27 19:04by Bob Timmermann

 

In tonight's White Sox-Indians game in Chicago, Cleveland pulled off the first triple steal since, I believe, 1987.

 

With the bases loaded in the sixth inning with David Dellucci on third, Grady Sizemore on second, and Jamey Carroll on first, Chicago reliever Ehren Wassermann faked a pickoff to third and threw to first. Carroll had broken away from the bag, but before the White Sox could put a tag on him, Dellucci broke for the plate and Paul Konerko's throw was not in time. Sizemore and Carroll moved up a base and all were credited with steals.

 

The last triple steal I've turned up before this was back on October 1, 1987 by the Atlanta Braves in Houston. It came with Gerald Perry on third, Ken Oberkfell on second, and Jeff Blauser on first. Danny Darwin was on the mound for Houston. After a pitch, Perry broke for home as catcher Ronn Reynolds threw the ball back to Darwin. Darwin fired the ball back to Reynolds, but the catcher couldn't hang on and Perry scored with Oberkfell and Blauser moving up.

 

http://griddle.baseballtoaster.com/archives/998800.html

 

Wow, this team is bad.  Like, really, really bad.

Yep, 2nd and 3rd with one out down 6-5 bot 9 and we couldn't get the job done...two infield popouts.  Worst offense the Indians have seen in a long time (possibly worse than late 80s and early 90s).

on a lighter note...

 

i saw this 1963 cover over on the si "unusual covers" thread:

 

 

They just need to trade CC already.. and I don't wanna hear the BS Cleveland.com forum opinions that the Dolans are cheap, etc.. that's how this team has become what it is.. look what we got for Colon.. you're telling me you wouldn't trade Colon for Grady, Cliff Lee, and Brandon Phillips (if we kept him) all over again?  Three all-stars for someone who only had a couple of good years following the trade?

Trade CC this year for whatever he can get, hopefully some top-tier prospects, but another Bartolo Colon haul should not be expected in this market. After the Hafner disaster, Dolan won't pay CC. Ideally, someone with a high OBP, speed, that can hit leadoff. I am thinking New York will be a good suitor come July, as they will be looking to try and stay with Boston/TB? down the stretch and might want to "preview" CC before signing him in the offseason. If we could land Jose Tabata (OF) and Damon Sublett (2B) out of this, that would be fantastic.

 

Trade some of our OFers/SP for a 3B with power. Jordan Brown/Trevor Crowe/Gutierrez/Jeremy Sowers/Lofgren or some combination....Blake is not an everyday player, and Marte is a bust. I would look to Colorado and Ian Stewart. Overpay if you must.

 

Groom Adam Miller to be your closer the rest of this year (when he comes back) and in spring training. It is clear by now to everyone that he is far too fragile to survive as a starter.

 

Permanently DH Peralta.

 

Drop Grady into the #3 hole to make better use of his power.

 

Make AsCab your SS; play Barfield everyday @ 2B.

 

Next Year's Team:

 

1. Jose Tabata - LF

 

2. Ben Francisco - RF

 

3. Grady Sizemore - CF

 

4. Jhonny Peralta - DH

 

5. Victor Martinez - CA

 

6. Ian Stewart - 3B

 

7. Michael Aubrey / Ryan Garko - 1B

 

8. Josh Barfield - 2B

 

9. AsCab - SS

 

Bench:Delucci/ShopVac/utility IFer/Hafner

 

Rotation:1. Carmona2. Lee3. Westbrook4. Laffey5. mid-tier free agent signing

 

BullpenLewis/Perez/Betancourt/Kobayashi

 

Closer Adam Miller

Yeah I'll be interested to see how long before Barfield gets called up, he's not killing the ball in Buffalo, but he's at least hitting and plays solid defense.  I'm sure, I'm not buying this "Cabrera stays because he plays defense" argument.. you can't just have an automatic out in your lineup right now.. they can't afford it.

true...but i think AsCab will rebound...his track record suggests that he will hit, right now he is going through the sophomore slump...plus, I place a lot more emphasis on up-the-middle defense than most do...we have a lot of ground ball pitchers, Carmona, Westbrook, Laffey, meaning a strong IF with a ton of range will do wonders...Ascab/Barfield could be a poor mans Vizquel/Alomar

I think you need to include Carroll in your lineup as a bench player for next year.  Other than that, it looks fairly good.  Also, instead of Garko at first with Aubrey, I would put Aubrey/Martinez 1B, Perallta/Martinez DH, Shoppach CA

what really stinks is that our farm system is almost completely barren of high-level hitting prospects....there is really only a couple players that project to even average major leaguers ... 

 

Jordan Brown, 4th OFer; .280, but 0 HR's this year??  where'd the power go?

Trevor Crowe, Indians messed him up by trying to move him to 2B, plus injuries, hasn't hit since, had great potential at one time, htting around .150...

Wes Hodges, 3B, but heard he will eventually have to transition to 1B due to injuries...maybe will see the bigs late 2009 season, still very raw

Chris Gimenez, CA, great OBP, good eye, 40 walks, v. 29 Ks, may eventually replace Victor, when VMart transitions to DH/1B full time, Indians ahve struggled throughout his career to find him a position, plus he's 25, so stats should be pretty good for AA.

 

Josh Rodriguez, SS, I am a big fan, but not sure where he fits in the team's long-term plans, AsCab/Barf insurance policy by 2010...? gotta love his power potential

I think you need to include Carroll in your lineup as a bench player for next year.  Other than that, it looks fairly good.  Also, instead of Garko at first with Aubrey, I would put Aubrey/Martinez 1B, Perallta/Martinez DH, Shoppach CA

 

i agree...i like Carroll...they should play him more regularly in the #2 hole...he does a lot of the little things you need, bunt, draws walks, sacrifice, plays solid defense, heady baserunner

true...but i think AsCab will rebound...his track record suggests that he will hit, right now he is going through the sophomore slump...

 

Track record?? What track record?? He doesn't even have a full year of MLB service!!

in 4+ seasons in the minors he is a lifetime .285 hitter...you should not discount this body of work, esp. considering that he has been the youngest player at every level he has played...

Minor league is great if you're worried about the international league title.. there are plenty of guys who tear it up down there and do nothing in the majors for a career.. talk to me when he hits .285 for 3-4 years in the bigs.

however very few accomplish it at his age level..it is ok to agree to disagree...you don't think he'll bounce back, i do.  end of discussion

what really stinks is that our farm system is almost completely barren of high-level hitting prospects....there is really only a couple players that project to even average major leaguers ... 

 

I made the mistake of looking at the Buf and CA stats for solace a few days ago.  You ain't kidding about the lack of bats down there. Wes Hodges was the only one doing anything.

 

As for future rotation: Sowers should still be in the picture.  Maybe even more than Lee depending on how the rest of the season pans out.  And, I don't know anything about him, but sp David Huff is putting up awesome numbers at Canton Akron this year.

Oh, and Barfield has actually been hitting a lot better of late in Buf- over .300 for the last 10 games.  Average is up to .265.

^If he can do that for another 15-20 games, then you've got to figure that he'll be up here before the All-Star break.

I hope Barfield can do something, I really do because I can play better defense than Jhonny.  At this point, Trevor Crowe should not be considered part of the Indians plans, he's a bust.