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2008 Cleveland Indians
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| the number of onion articles involving cleveland teams is staggering... |
| posted by: simplicissimus |
14:42 8.9.10 |
| i am convinced that there's a clevelander on the staff - they are just always so fucking dead on. |
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| The Onion does the Tribe |
| posted by: spacehippie |
17:08 8.2.10 |
Yes, posting Onion articles here is usually redundant, since most of us are probably regular readers anyway. But this one just nails it. I haven't even paid that much attention to the Tribe lately, but this still hits home:
http://www.theonion.com/articles/indians-apologize-for-not-having-ace-pitcher-to-tr,17819/ |
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| cliff lee to the yankees now |
| posted by: horsebeater |
11:53 7.9.10 |
unbelievable
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/news/story?id=5366254 |
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| On Robbie Alomar, where have you been? |
| posted by: horsebeater |
10:38 2.13.09 |
Herb Perry only told us that about 15 times. Once Herb got to beer #11 of any particular night, out came the "dude... everyone in the clubhouse thinks robbie is a fudgepacker" stories. It was like clockwork. You don't remember wincing at the word "fudgepacker" and how it was always "the gays" (and "a gay" as in "he is a gay" instead of "he is gay") with herb? I remember wondering why Izzi would go upstairs after Herb's beer nine until I finally realized it was just so he wouldn't have to listen to the homophobia that was certain to commence.
I guess every great man like Herb has some kind of flaw. |
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| roberto alomar has aids? |
| posted by: simplicissimus |
12:05 2.11.09 |
http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/02/10/2009-02-10_15m_lawsuit_claims_exmet_roberto_alomar_.html
has this been public before now and i just missed it?
wow.
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| i'd laugh... |
| posted by: simplicissimus |
16:32 8.27.08 |
| if i hadn't computed this in my head after checking the box score last night. |
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| if the tribe wins ALL of their remaining games, they'll be 95-67 |
| posted by: horsebeater |
15:39 8.27.08 |
it looks like maybe 92 wins will get you the wildcard this year, so after this 9 game streak we really only have to go 28-3 the rest of the way (finishing up 37-3 over the last 40)
GO TRIBE!! |
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| marte is going 1-3 on the days you check and 0-2 on the days you don't check... |
| posted by: horsebeater |
14:04 8.25.08 |
... and wedge is pulling him out of every close game in the 7th inning on and pinch hitting for him (sometimes even carroll...ack). Marte is gone after this year a la brandon phillips, and while he won't be the star that phillips is turning into, he'll have a .280 ave and 15-20 HR for 5-6 years for someone.
The latest pluto column is a good one for tribe insider info:
http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1219566795126530.xml&coll=2
*****
hafner is going to be the indians' GM someday? SWEET!
*****
hafner will be back. mark my words. he had to participate in the tribe's in house fantasy football league draft via email since he was in buffalo. he was reportedly "chapped" about it.
he's got a chip on his shoulder and he looks to me to be the kind of guy that won't mind a cortizone shot each morning if that's what it takes. |
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| you forgot... |
| posted by: simplicissimus |
13:24 8.25.08 |
10 of 13, too.
I'm starting to check the boxscores each day (though in April-June it was every night, so...) and it's really starting to bum me out.
What's the word on Marte? He seems to be going 1-3 every day I check, but he's still below the mendoza line.
Cliff Lee (2008), CC Sabathia (2007), Fausto Carmona (2007), Jake Westbrook (2007) ... can you fucking imagine?
Then again, here's one thing all the good play isn't going to change: Travis Hafner is well on his way to becoming the Tribe's very own Danny Ferry. |
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| seven in a row... |
| posted by: horsebeater |
13:04 8.25.08 |
| .... sigh |
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| uggghh.... |
| posted by: simplicissimus |
01:23 7.6.08 |
at least i'll never have to see borowski pitch in an indians uniform ever again.
that's good news, right?
on the happier subjects: when it comes to tribe batting-stances, this guy is some sort of idiot savant.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU3eV_FTS7w
i was on the fence until i saw vizquel and then that crazy thing lofton did with his hands right after he made contact on a ground ball. |
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| well... |
| posted by: horsebeater |
11:34 7.3.08 |
... talk radio is calling the most recent white sox series "the indians 3-day funeral." it seems apt.
****
On a more positive note, I was able to attend 2 of the 3 games of the Giants series and got to see Omar's return and me and my buddies got an Omar chant going as he left the field in the bottom of the 8th in the final game. He's batting about .170, he didn't make any nice plays, but I gotta say it was good to see the guy. Peralta and Betancourt and Omar spoke for about 15 minutes before the first game. Omar signed autographs for at least 20 minutes as well. They did a nice quick 3 minute video tribute. I thought they should've done a little more, but it was nice. |
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| PD Article about the Bucket |
| posted by: horsebeater |
10:02 5.23.08 |
| http://www.cleveland.com/sports/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1211531630200291.xml&coll=2 |
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| Victor Martinez |
| posted by: horsebeater |
10:02 5.23.08 |
Indians players can't even get angry properly:
http://ballhype.com/video/victor_martinez_gets_foot_caught_in_a_bucket/ |
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| Manny Link |
| posted by: rahoohl_dewk |
17:14 5.15.08 |
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_YqhVgrhrT8
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| weird... |
| posted by: horsebeater |
10:47 5.15.08 |
.... indians now have the best pitching in baseball (based upon runs scored; 2nd based upon ERA).
... they also have the 28th best hitting (based upon OPS), 24th based upon runs scored.
anybody see Manny's catch, high-5 and double up last night? unreal:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=280514101
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| yes... he really looks good... |
| posted by: horsebeater |
00:15 5.8.08 |
... going deceptively quick to the plate; moving up/down and side/side. really impressive.
if you had told me that cliff lee would be 6-0 35 games into the season, I never would've have thought we could possibly be sub-.500.
hafner is really really worrying me. |
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| cliff lee |
| posted by: simplicissimus |
00:10 5.8.08 |
this is a guy who earned the derisive moniker "sleepy kitten" from tribe fans last year, due to his terrible attitude and general disinterest in the game.
and now we get this, from a guy with a 0.76 ERA after 6 starts:
"Lee (6-0) set it up with another impressive performance, allowing just six hits and striking out seven. He hasn't walked a batter in his last 28 innings."
HIS LAST 28 INNINGS.
HIS LAST 28 INNINGS.
HIS LAST 28 INNINGS.
that is just fucking stupefying.
i watched him tonight and he looked like greg fucking maddox. |
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| borowski? |
| posted by: simplicissimus |
22:59 4.14.08 |
please.
no more.
please no more. |
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| hershiser... |
| posted by: horsebeater |
22:11 4.14.08 |
... is doing the game for espn tonight.
in the 2nd inning he was recounting his days on the team with manny and the fate of the 1997 indians and he said "to this day, I still can't look at a marlins jersey without feeling hatred." so I guess orel isn't gonna be doing any marlins games.
and in the 6th, they threw up the "years since last world series title" graphic and orel started talking again about 1997. he sounded a little bitter.
the play-by-play guy said "do you ever get over it?"
orel answered immediately: "no. not when you're that close. you never get over it. the whole team. none of us. never."
steve phillips then said "are you ok, man?" |
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| sigh |
| posted by: simplicissimus |
16:09 4.2.08 |
2008 MLB Payroll:
(1) Yankees $209,081,579
(2) Tigers $138,685,197
(4) Red Sox $133,440,037
(5) Whi Sox $121,152,667
(6) Angels $119,216,333
(16) Tribe $78,970,067
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|
| To wit, on Westbrook |
| posted by: simplicissimus |
14:27 4.1.08 |
I just saw these two quotes from Buster Olney:
"Some Braves raved about the Indians' Jake Westbrook, who has become the rare bread-and-butter sinker baller who ascends to something much greater than that, by implementing an improved changeup. For years, Westbrook has been a pitcher who has pitched to contact and gotten a lot of ground balls, and this spring, he is missing bats. "The best we've ever seen him," Braves manager Bobby Cox said."
---
"Wrote here Monday that the Braves' hitters had very good things to say about the Indians' Jake Westbrook and the changeup that they say has transformed him, in spring training, from a ham-and-egg sinkerballer into a big-time swing-and-miss pitcher. Consider that for his career, Westbrook has averaged 4.9 strikeouts per nine innings in his eight-year career. His numbers from this spring: 18 innings, 20 strikeouts, a 0.00 ERA, with opponents' hitting .190."
---
Maybe 3.8 was too conservative? Sike! If what Olney writes is true, they're winning the world fucking series.
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| i'm game |
| posted by: simplicissimus |
21:11 3.31.08 |
and i'll use hb's metrics:
92 wins and the division.
loss in the divisional series to the red sox.
individual predictions:
ROTATION
CC: 3.3 ERA; 18 wins; 200+ innings
Carmona: 3.1 ERA; 16 wins; cy young candidate.
Westbrook will be an excellent with a 3.8 ERA.
Byrd will continue being Byrd, Adam Miller will be a September call up.
Lee will be a slightly pleasant surprise. 4.8 ERA. 12 wins.
BULLPEN
Borowski will implode on several occasions, but will remain the closer. (I agree).
Bullpen will be above-average, but neither Lewis, Raffy R, or Raffy L will be nearly as good.
POSITION PLAYERS
Victor will have a very, very good season. And he will get hurt in his 3rd AB when he comes up gimpy trying to advance to 2nd on a passed ball.
Hafner's 2008 will be a slight improvement on 2007, but he won't return to his awesome 2005/06 form. (I agree).
Grady's batting average will be .290, and all other aspects of his game will be excellent. Though he will be a bit exposed on defense.
The LF platoon will work out pretty poorly. After Dellucci or Michaels is injured, Francisco will get some work. By August 1 we'll have a trade-deadline hitter playing a lot of left.
Gutierrez in RF will be awesome. He'll pick up his game vs. righties and he'll start getting some national props for being a fantastic defensive RF.
Garko will be good, not great. Which is exactly what he is.
Peralta will hit 25 HR or more. Asdrubal's defense will amaze but he'll have a few long slumps and hit only .265 for the year with a dozen HR. Barfield will see almost no action. (I agree).
Blake will struggle at 3B and Marte will start taking playing time away from him. And....Marte will still suck (and break my heart). |
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| time to get a prediction out t |
| posted by: horsebeater |
12:23 3.31.08 |
I predicted 93 wins last year and a wildcard. my predictions ranged from astute (I was spot on about peralta being good, victor coming around on defense and sowers being crappy) to awful (i predicted good seasons from barfield and marte).
this year I'm saying 90 wins; in a dogfight for the division title until the final weekend; tigers take the division with 92 wins. red sox and yanks each around 95 wins put the wildcard out of reach with a week to go.
individual predictions:
ROTATION
CC will have a very good season, but no cy young: 3.5 ERA; 16 wins; 220+ innings
Carmona will be up and down and miss a month on the DL and will end up with a 4.3 ERA over 25 starts.
Westbrook will be surprisingly solid with a 4.00 ERA.
Byrd will collapse and be taken out of the rotation by July, replaced with Adam Miller
Lee will be a pleasant surprise. 4.50-4.75 ERA. 10 wins.
BULLPEN
Borowski will implode on several occasions, but will remain the closer. Bullpen will be OK, but not as dominant as last year.
POSITION PLAYERS
Victor will have another very good season
Hafner's 2008 will be a slight improvement on 2007, but he won't return to his awesome 2005/06 form.
Grady's batting average will be .249, but all other aspects of his game will be excellent.
The LF platoon will work out very well: 25 HR in total.
Gutierrez in RF will struggle with a .240 BA but with decent power.
Garko will be good, not great.
Peralta will hit 25 HR or more. Asdrubal's defense will amaze but he'll have a few long slumps and hit only .265 for the year with a dozen HR. Barfield will see almost no action.
Blake will struggle at 3B and Marte will start taking playing time away from him.
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| travis hafner |
| posted by: horsebeater |
13:33 3.13.08 |
A good feature on espn.com:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2008/news/story?id=3290243
This is fucking awesome:
**********
That may change, though, if you happen to see him at a screening of "No Country for Old Men." Hafner looks just like Javier Bardem, who won an Oscar for playing a cold, calculated killer. Hafner's monotone voice is nearly identical to Bardem's, minus the Spanish accent. His large, muscular physique is also akin to Bardem's, and their faces are eerily similar.
Dellucci went to see the movie with Hafner, and says Hafner was so excited he made Dellucci miss the first 10 minutes to get the popcorn. When Dellucci got into the theater, Hafner was on the edge of his seat, transfixed by watching himself.
"What'd I miss?" Dellucci asked.
"Oh, I just got out of some handcuffs and killed a guy," Hafner responded. |
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| ack |
| posted by: horsebeater |
09:54 12.31.07 |
I'm starting to get worried with the lack of an offensive move.
The one imperative is to do a 2-for-1 3-for-1 trade, even if you trade 2 guys that are 4 out of 10 on the 10 point scale for a single 5 out of 10 (or 3 guys that are 4 out of 10 for one 6 out of 10 guy). at this point, get ripped off; we have way too many bodies. There is nothing special about having a guy in triple AAA that COULD hit .275 with 15 HR in the majors. That doesn't help the big league record at all.
Just pick 2 of these: marte, blake, barfield, peralta, gutierrez, choo, michaels, delucci, b-fran. Add Cliff Lee or Jeremy Sowers. And make the fucking trade already. Get a RF or a LF. There you go.
This is probably the kind of trade you have to make after the free agent market has shaken out, but it is starting to shake out, and the longer we go without making it, the more I worry we aren't going to make it at all. |
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| You tell me. |
| posted by: simplicissimus |
10:00 10.22.07 |
Some interesting questions:
3rd Base:
Do you put Marte in and stick with him all year?
Do you move Peralta to third if Marte doesn't work?
Do you stick with Blake?
SS:
Do you move Cabrera there full-time, sending Peralta to 3rd no matter what? If so, what happens to Blake and Marte?
Do you accept that Peralta's bat in that spot is going to outdo any defensive lapses he's going to provide...which are likely only to get worse as he ages.
2nd Base: Can Josh Barfield be what we thought he would? Gret glove. Decent average. Some speed.
RF: Is Gutz full-time now?
LF: Can we all accept that we really need some offensive production from this spot? A masher here would absolutely change the complexion of this ball club. I've been obsessed with it all year and I'm not going to stop now.
DH: Hafner just had a down year...right?...right?
4th and 5th outfielders: Can we admit that Nixon, Dellucci and Michaels are no longer needed. Or at least two of the three of them should now be shipped for low-minor league prospects? I'd say we keep Nixon for his leadership, but the other two should go.
What about Lofton? Why not try to sign him to a 1-2 million a year 2-year contract. His defense has slipped and he's not as fast, but he provides a lot of things.
SP:
Is Carmona going to keep it together?
If you realize you can't sign CC, why not consider trading him in the off-season? There are 3 or 4 teams that would give up a bushel of talent to get him.
Is Westbrook back to his above-average no. 3 stuff? (This one I say is nearly guaranteed...I just have a good feeling after what he's done).
Do you retain Byrd? Even if it means he's getting 7 or 8 million a year?
Who is going to step up for the final spot? Cliff Lee? Sowers? Miller? Laffey? It is a luxury to have so many decent to great possibilities.
RP:
Are Betencourt, Perez, and Lewis going to replicate?
Is Mastny going to get better?
Who is our closer?
-----
I got to say, I'm feeling pretty good.
We've got a decent shot of upgrading our infield offense (if Marte comes through), our infield defense (if Cabrera moves to ss and Barfield to 2nd), or both.
Even our offense overall is likely to be better:
Hafner, Victor, and Sizemore all had varying degrees of bad years.
Our starting pitching is likely to be no worse, and possibly better:
Carmona has more experience. Westbrook won't be injured all year. CC has arrived (well, in the regulart season). We've got a wealth of 5th starter candidates.
Our Bullpen is a crap-shoot. I can see all three of Bettencourt, Perez, and Lewis pitching worse. Of course, I can also see them getting it done.
Our closer is troubling. As in we don't have one. |
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