No problem, but four minutes? I spent no more than the time it took me to type it up if you can’t tell. My point is that it’s fairly obvious to me what caused this promising season to go south. I’m dismayed as well, hence the need I must have felt to post this morning, but I’m not confused as to why the Tribe are where they are in the standings. Sorry I don’t have a well researched pie chart to explain why.

How’s this: 33% Injuries, 40% ineffective bullpen, 25% weak offense and 2% Dellucci.

That work for ya?

You’re right, although the Red Sox came close this year (Schilling, Matsuzaka and Ortiz). But, they have the money to have depth.

Is there statistical evidence to support such a move?

Luck?

But hitting with RISP is not the only luck factor involved in scoring runs.

This is all so subjective… can you really provide me a reasonable sample of instances where teams look giddy in the dugout when they’re down in the late innings? And even if you could, how could we have any idea what they really are feeling?

So you’re saying this team is a teenage girl with self-esteem issues?

I purposely left out the Freudian interpretations of these stats, because it’s kind of pointless. I can’t fathom what a major league ball player thinks or how he reacts in late inning games where a tie game suddenly turns into a 3 run game. Or how being shutdown for 7 consecutive innings after jumping out to a 3-0 lead and suddenly be in danger of losing that game effects your hitting. No idea.

But, I do know as a FAN .. it’s absolutely dismal to sit through these games and realize that the game is over if we fall behind late in the game. It evaporates your spirit and your will to watch these guys.

What a dramatic turnaround for a team that had so many late-inning heroics in ‘07. Even in losses that year, we would somehow find a way to scratch and claw and bring the tying man up to the plate in that 9th inning. Easily one of the most enjoyable seasons to watch in the past 8 years.

I agree. I’ve been thinking recently about how Charlie Manuel marched into Shap’s office wanting to know if he was going to be the manager or not, and walking out basically with a pink slip. I understood it at the time, out with the old in with the new, but I really think someone like Manuel would set a better tone for the major league club, someone that stands slightly apart from the extreme analysis and top down zeitgeist (both in temperamant and philosophy), rather than someone like Wedge who is not only a full partner in it but intensifies it further still.

Nah gah happen, I know – but I really think Shap needs to assert himself somehow, and break with the happy family deal and make some statement that he’s the boss and production does matter. I mean really, how can you handicap yourself by publicly stating that no matter how badly things go, the coaching staff is safe? Is the world going to end if Shelton gets moved back to roving hitting instructor and somebody else sits on the bench?

Not sure I’m comfortable separating the fact that all these teams have been managed by Wedge, and the fact that all of them are ridiculously young. My intuition is that the composition of the roster would have a more measurable impact on early-season performance than the manager.

sometimes I get demoralized and think we overvalued ourselves, but we did have the best record in baseball last year with essentially the same squad. It was the FO’s great credit last year, and now they are to be blamed for the exact same approach?

I think we used to have scouts…..until that mf’er Antonetti ate them and served their bones to his computer. Maybe you should submit a resume, Mr. Old School McNeverWrongaboutTravisHafner.

If it’s true if it’s true if it’s true…

When did Bonds fire Scott Boras as his agent and hire this guy?