Changes???
by Tribe Alive on May 21, 2008 12:27 PM EDT
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PrintI dont want to get too much into the problems with the current Indians team and I dont want to go on and on about all of my opinions about what is wrong, what they should have done, and what they will do.
What I do want to do is make an obvious statement...A CHANGE NEEDS TO OCCUR. I am not here to suggest what it is but one must occur and now!
Are we all in agreement on this? Do we all think a change needs to happen?
Here is my question...will it happen, when will it happen, and how big will it be?
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He already did.
"A good body with a dull brain is as cheap as life itself."
by Fiddlesticks on May 21, 2008 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d suggest he grows a bench out of his backside to go with it.
by tabler84 on May 21, 2008 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Good one! How sad is it that he leads us in RBIs…
by Tribe Alive on May 21, 2008 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions
I think the Indians (like many of the people on LGT) have been trying to be patient and have so far been able to because no one in their division has gotten hot and opened up a lead. The White Sox are now threatening to do that - they’ve run off a nice winning streak and play us 5 more times in the next week. One thing that may hold them back is games against the Angels and the Rays (in Tampa - never thought I’d say that!), but they can open some space if things go well.
If that happens, the pressure on Shapiro to do something will increase, but he’s limited by the market—you can’t just make other teams give up their players until they’re ready to do it. So, my guess is not much big will happen until well into June or July. Cabrera may get sent down, the bullpen guys may get shuffled some more, but I can’t see how they’ll make a significant trade in the next few weeks unless a potential trading partner like San Diego or Colorado gets equally desperate.
I could see them throwing Shelton under the bus to get the team’s attention (Ryan’s point about listlessness suggests something like that might be needed). But, as we all know, it’s highly doubtful that a move like that will do a whole lot.
Play Marte.
I cant understand why Cabrera hasnt been talked about more as a problem. His defense has been great but his offense is god awful! Barfield wasnt this bad last year.
by Tribe Alive on May 21, 2008 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions
well, he was as bad in April, but Barfield had a (relatively) good May. He also had a bad, but not Cabrera-horrible June. His line before the AS break looks HOF worthy compared to what Cabrera has done so far. Cabrera has been the worst regular at the plate and it isn’t particularly close.
funny, abacab is putting up the same obp % that barfield did – and abacab still has only 1/3 of the time barfield got last year, so who knows maybe he can figure it out.
also, barfield was one of the worst defenders at second base – abacab is probably the best. i think that factors in.
by Gradyforpresident on May 21, 2008 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Barfield also had a reasonable track record of success in the majors before coming here, and he’s older.
AbaCab should not be in the majors right now, just as Peralta didn’t belong here yet in 2004 despite a solid debut-of-necessity in 2003.
I can agree with that. The problem is we need a second baseman. What do you propose we do? Bring Barfield back? Give the job to Carroll? Barring a trade, we have three pretty feeble options.
I don’t know why, but I keep going back to the Diamondbacks lineup and the logjam they may have when Tracy is ready to come back from the DL. Does Reynolds go to the bench? Would Reynolds’ ability to play 2B put the O-Dog (a FA at the end of the season0 on the table?
I know the D-Backs would have no reason to screw up what is a pretty good thing right now, but it’s a thought.
by The DiaTriber on May 21, 2008 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Reynolds is a streaky hitter/K machine who doesn’t get on base a lot. So he would fit right into our current lineup.
I tried to make Paul Reuschel my Avatar, but he didn't fit into the box.
its not like he never walks. And the dude’s power potential is pretty sexy.
I mean a young 3rd basemen with big power potential at 24 years old with a very good minor league resume? Our team could use one of those right?
by Ryan Kelsey on May 21, 2008 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Sadly, it is particularly close.
.177 .270 .242
.232 .273 .336
AbaCab has 9 more walks, Gootz has an extra 2 SB, 1 HR, 2 doubles and 4 singles.
Considering the difference in position, that ain’t much difference.
They should replace post-game fireworks with a fan Q&A with GM Mark Shapiro following all Friday night home games.
Questions must be screened first by Greg Brinda.
And beers will be $1 during the last 3 innings.
You know Selig? Ombudsman.
I suggest something more along the lines of Question Time in the British House of Commons.
Free Andy Marte!
by woodsmeister on May 21, 2008 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions
FREE EVERYONE
... to good home
Disclaimer: this post doesn't mean what you think it means.
by AngG on May 21, 2008 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
fixed that for you
Send a message by benching everyone and replacing them with 9 Cabreras Blakes.
Disclaimer: this post doesn't mean what you think it means.
Here’s my solution: retool the whole lineup, keeping only Grady, Vic, Jhonny, and, what the heck, Aubrey:
3b- Russell Branyan
2b- Marshall McDougall
1b – Aubrey
SS- JP
OF- Jon Van Every
CF- GS
OF- Jody Gerut
C- Vic
DH- Trot Nixon
Util – Jolbert Cabrera
We may be only keeping Jhonny around until Toronto tires of Inglett (oh please please grow tired of Inglett). And I know this leaves us very left-handed. I working on it, but I will not be answering Josh Phelp’s calls, so Josh, if you’re out there, please stop calling.
Can we try to keep this kinda serious?
I want serious insight from fellow, educated Tribe fans. I am so upset about this team and it bothers me all throughout the day. What can we/will we do?
If this team continues to play like this we wont be making any trades come the deadline except maybe getting rid of CC.
The only reason we got hot or it seemed that we were hot is cause our starters didnt give up a run for a week…and guess what, we still didnt win more than 3 in a row!
We’re 2.5 games out of first place and 1 game under .500—if we magically win the next 2, we are 0.5 games out of first. So I think there’s a bit of overreaction here.
Granted, we’re not good, but no one else has been particularly good either, and as a result, we’re still clearly in the race.
I tried to make Paul Reuschel my Avatar, but he didn't fit into the box.
I never said we werent in it and I’m not suggesting a fire sale but I do think this team has a lot of problems!
We have the worst average in the majors as a team and we are 24th out of 30th in runs scored.
Amazingly we have the best ERA in the leauge and this is clearly the only reason we are even close to a .500 record right now.
Things we can/should do right now:
- Switch Barfield and Cabrera
- Actively shop Sowers and/or Byrd and be willing to part with A or AA prospects for LF, 2B, 3B, or 1B help.
- Consider offers that ask for Laffey or Miller.
- 3rd, 1st, LF, RF: Marte, Blake, BenFran, Gutz, Dellucci, Garko-- I don’t really have an answer here, but some of these guys have to take command of these positions. With Francisco as the exception, they have all looked very very very bad.
Give Perez or Masa the closer job and forget about it until JoeBo comes back and is throwing at least 88 MPH consistently.Even then, JoeBo only has a relatively short leash.
- Fire Derek Shelton. At the least, we can have a different voice telling these guys to stop sucking.
- Switch Barfield and Cabrera.
why are so many people clamoring for this – cuz it’s something to clamor for? barfield has shown no reason that he would be appreciably better hitting than asdrubal. he can’t play shortstop and is nowhere near the second baseman.
Cabrera has looked bad, while putting up, by far, the worst numbers on the team offensively. I love his defense and I think he’ll be a shortstop for years to come, but his offense is that bad. Barfield isn’t looking great at AAA, but at this point, he can do no worse and might be able to have a solid month or two of production. I think it will be good for Cabrera to work on his approach in Buffalo. Worst case, Barfield flops for a couple months and he gets sent down and we play Jamey Carroll every day if Cabrera hasn’t figured it out in Buffalo.
I’m also perplexed by this. Is there some sports radio guy that keeps pimping barfield because when I was back in Ohio last week, I had a couple people telling me we needed to bring him back up. What’s to like, his defense sucks, he doesn’t draw walks, he doesn’t hit for power, he doesn’t hit for a high average, etc. Very confused.
I realize Barfield’s minor league stats, I know he isn’t a very good hitter right now, but at the least he has a chance of putting up numbers somewhere between his very good rookie year in San Diego and his very bad year with Cleveland. Even if he just puts up his 2007 season numbers, it would be an upgrade over the current Cabrera.
All this, and besides, I think it would be better for Cabrera to get a season at AAA, probably the most natural level for him considering his history. The move makes sense on both long term and short term levels at this point. Just because you don’t agree with it, don’t assume that it must come from some idiot like Hoynes or WKNR.
You keep mentioning that even though he is playing terrible in AAA, if called up, he might play well in the big leauges. That’s fine, but there is just no evidence to support that claim with. A 25 year old bad defensive second baseman with a .261/.296/.404 line should be nowhere near a major league roster.
Asdrubal is not looking awesome right now, but I still like him better than Barfield, because as Jay mentioned, the defense is much better. Also, Asdrubal’s BABIP is really low, .221. He is sporting a pretty decent walk rate, 10.8%, so if the hits start falling in, he could end up with a decent OBP. Barfield, on the other hand doesn’t seem to be suffering from any poor luck.
Well, I do know this: I’m a glutton for punishment.
I go to bed each night and enjoy falling asleep to the sound of AM radio. However, when this timeframe coincides with Greg Brinda’s post-game show, I battle demons I wouldn’t wish upon my greatest enemy.
Brinda keeps on referring to the Laffey/Barfield for Atkins rumor, stating that there have been talks. The sheep call in propagating it even further.
At this point, the slightest bit of movement has me spinning around and shouting in someone’s face “MLBTRADERUMORSISNOTANEWSSITE!”
You know Selig? Ombudsman.
Why isn’t trading C.C. being discussed more? SP is a position of strength, he’s valuable and he’s probably gone at the end of the year.
I’d like to see what they could get for C.C.
I actually think this is interesting, but it simply won’t happen unless we are more than 7 games back of a playoff spot and we get a pretty sweet deal in return. I don’t think either will happen.
Well, obviously we’d look to trade CC is we’re out of the thing. Nothing interesting there.
Outside of that…my point all along has been that we shouldn’t trade CC, because we have a good shot this year, and he’s an important part of that shot. Meaning that we are much more competitive in 2008 with him compared to whatever package we’d get for him.
But Alex…maybe that’s starting to change. There’s a huge improvement to be had by upgrading the offense, and maybe, with our starting pitching as it is, the downside to trading him has lessened. Maybe the balance has shifted here. Obviously he’s going to bring back much more than Byrd. All the little cosmetic changes discussed above are interesting, but don’t compare to the magnitude of this potential move. (gulp) Trade C.C.? Sooner not later?
Also, just to bother TribeJay, I suggest we try to rehire the Alomar brothers!
I don’t think you do this. Quality starting pitching is always at a premium, and the offense has to improve—it’s difficult to believe that nearly every one of the position players are going to have horrible seasons at the plate, that there won’t be any upward trend.
I believe CC to be much more valuable than any bat we would get in return.
I tried to make Paul Reuschel my Avatar, but he didn't fit into the box.
I’m torn too. For this year, the proper question is: Is the difference between CC and Laffey (the guy who would get CC’s starts) greater than the difference between Roberts and Cabrera, or Carlos Lee and Dellucci, or whatever position player the trade involves.
I don’t think you get a player of the caliber of Carlos Lee (can’t believe I wrote that) for a half-season of C.C. We’re not going to see Bartolo-like returns.
if we can’t, there will not be a trade. Maybe Lee isn’t a good example because of his contract status. What about Dunn?
grrr… I’m sure we could my only point was that if you wanted to contend and trade CC, the relevant question is the difference between Laffey and CC versus the difference between the hitter we got back in the trade and the guy we wouldn’t have to watch hit .220 (Garko, Blake, Cabrera, Dellucci, etc.).
That’s what I’m saying. Trading C.C. isn’t necessarily saying the season is lost. Trading C.C. sooner rather than later for offense provides more of an offensive benefit over the course of the season. Realistically, is Byrd going to bring in anyone that will make a big offensive impact?
I think the starters are good enough to get to the post season without C.C., especially if Lee keeps it up. I don’t think trading C.C. now is a sign of giving up, just trading from a position of strength to improve a weakness.
especially if Lee keeps it up
CC’s performance last night was pretty damned impressive once he was better at locating his fastball. He made those mistakes to Thome and Quentin, but looked awesome after that.
Lee has been allowing more and more baserunners as the season has progressed and his BABIP is trending back to human levels. I’d rather ride out CC as a solid force at the front end than count on Lee and contributions from Laffey, Sowers, and injury-recovered Westbrook.
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