I don't know about you guys, but with the recent winning situation the Tribe has been in, that proverbial lump on our necks that we all thought was cancer has completely gone away!
Now, before I forget, who is was our that closer we had at the beginning of the season?
The offense is slowly starting to show signs of life. Ben Francisco has been a significant upgrade from JM. I still think it was a good idea to start him in the minors and bring him up early. Seems like that is a better way to go with young guys for whatever reason.
We really do have 7 quality starters right now. Byrd is gone next year and we know about CC. If Miller can stay healthy this year giving us 6 options next year (Fausto, Lee, Jake, Laffey, Sowers, and Miller) it may not be the worst thing in the world if they can't resign CC if they use that money on a significant bat. DOn't get me wrong, I'd love to keep CC, but not if we have to add too many years. They can't afford to have 20+mil wasted on a player which may happen in year 4-7 of CC's next contract.
I agree. The CC thing sucks, but what can you do? We are a small market team, and if it goes to the end of the year without a contract, he's gone. History shows that. Pitching is at a premium, and he will be the best on the market, and with a CY Young on the mantel, someone will overpay.
The offense is, offensive. I know it will get better, but the pitching won't. Its already the best in both leagues.
No, I do not feel good about the team. Two many players having slow starts, and still no answer at third.
I don't feel good about this at all! The Tribe lost 2 in a row to the Reds that they should have won if they had a good offense or good relief pitching. The Tribe is near the worst in majors with 7 blown saves! The starting pitching is tops in the majors but if they only had their bullpen pitching like they did last year! The Tribe has lost about 10 games this year so far due to bad pullpen appearances. The rest of the loses except for maybe 2 were because the Tribe forgot to bring their bats to the ballpark.
I was starting to feel better about our year until I realized that we may never find a good closer to get the job done this year. Anyone remember when we tried Carmona as a closer? Eventually these games that we lose but should have won are going to bite the Tribe in the a$$. You would think that the bats will come around, but I'm not sure they will hit like they have the last couple of years. Hopefully, someone steps up to close and the team DOES remember to bring their bats to the ballpark every night. Where would this team be without its starting pitching? Go Tribe!
Yes and No. Yes because the rest of the division hasn't gotten going either. With Cleveland's slow start, its lucky that the Tigers, or White Sox didn't start hotter. Watching the game today. Good move Shapiro, Brandon Phillips is killing us. Hafner needs to starting hitting. If Smoltz is on the market, the Indians should think about acquiring him and put him in the closer role. I cannot stand this interleague play, how about anyone else?
This team looks nothing like they did last year offensively. They lack heart, emotion, and make too many baserunning mistakes. I say time to get a new hitting instructor. If that doesn't work, then start making trades. These guys have gotten complacent to a fault. Cabrera can't hit a lick this year. Maybe he should get sent down because Barfield has been showing signs of life in the minors. Hafner needs to be called to task and start producing to earn his salary. Why is Dellucci batting third?
I cannot stand this interleague play, how about anyone else?
It's got to be scaled back. I'm ok with one series at home and one on the road vs the NL, specifically the Reds, but why in the world are we playing the Padres? Add to that the Rockies, the Giants, and the Dodgers? Too much. The only thing that will stop it is if it stops drawing fans and starts losing money of course. That could happen.
It's a travesty that the Yankees only play here twice this year. Those games probably didn't even sellout, due to the weather. That is costing the Indians some revenue too.
And the lack of power from left fielders has been a concern for way too long without being properly addressed. At least the Dellucci-Michaels plotoon is history, but let's face it, we're limping along at best on offense. Everyone knows it, and this wait and see attitiude might cost us a post season this year. They can't wait til mid June or the all star break - they should have fixed this in the off season!
Still, the Indians are contenders and I'll be a Tribe fan even if we get Ken Griffey!
I say time to get a new hitting instructor. If that doesn't work, then start making trades.
C'mon Shapiro, Wedge and company - it's been said you have a loyalty thing going with certain coaches and players, like David Dellucci, but sometimes guys have to go. Derek Shelton's gotta go. So does Looch - trade him while he's healthy and is average is over .230. It's not fair to the fans or the rest of the team to keep them.
And yes the interleague play has been a good experiment, and needs to be reigned in now. We just may have a bit more rivalry with the Yankees and the AL East than the NL West.
