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Around SBN: Has Kentucky Improved Since the Non-Conference Season?

For fairly obvious reasons all around. Have I mentioned lately that the Crowe draft pick never made any sense to me at all? And I usually don't even bother to critique the draft, but that pick just stuck out like a sore thumb.

7 months ago Dosequisman_tiny Jay 77 comments 0 recs  | 

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Whether we like it or not, the calvary is coming.

by dgcambridge on Jun 23, 2009 2:54 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Calvary is not very mobile:

by FredOx on Jun 23, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oops, hilarious. Hopefully not more accurate.

Ok, the cavalry is coming. We’re going to win more.

by dgcambridge on Jun 23, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

speaking of cavalry…anyone notice that Travis Hafner is OPSing nearly 1.000? .910 before he went down, more than 1.100 since he came back. A resurgence of Hafner would be huge for Cleveland, in 2010 and beyond.

by APV on Jun 23, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Chuck was right there, but wrong about Garko. Though it is not certain whether 200 PAs for a season will qualify.

by odradek on Jun 23, 2009 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yes, there seemed to be quite a few folks here who thought that Hafner would be able to hit, even if he wasn’t healthy enough to play all season. Evidently, Sizemore has an opposite condition. I don’t understand the human body at all.

by dgcambridge on Jun 23, 2009 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Antonetti certainly expressed a lot of confidence that Hafner, if healthy, was still a very-good-to-great hitter. So, score one for him.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Jun 23, 2009 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Where is Chuck?

by NickFantana on Jun 23, 2009 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I was wondering that myself.

I become an expert simply by doing something.

by fwembt on Jun 23, 2009 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Though Garko has been performing better than a lot of people expected. He has a .350 OBP, 6 HR’s, and a .339 wOBA despite a BABIP of .266

By the way, Garko has a 11.1 UZR/150 (2.3 UZR)

by world dictator on Jun 23, 2009 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

More on the Garko theme…

Can someone tell me why Aubrey Huff has trade value but Garko doesn’t?

I’d seriously like to know, because I must be missing something.

by world dictator on Jun 23, 2009 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

More Proven Veteranness.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Jun 23, 2009 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oh that makes sense. That’s a major bargain at $9 mil

by world dictator on Jun 23, 2009 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

This is enough evidence to tell me that UZR after 2 months is not that useful

by Roger Dorn on Jun 23, 2009 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

because unless you believe Garko has improved dramatically from his prior performance, then these numbers are probably the beneficiary of not enough data

by Roger Dorn on Jun 24, 2009 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I haven’t watched enough games to make a judgement call on this. But even still there’s always been a tension between scouting fielding and measuring a fielding stat line. I’m not sure if I’m comfortable with dismissing these numbers just because we don’t believe them.

Has Garko turned into an amazing defender? Doubt it, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t improved.

shrug

I dunno

by world dictator on Jun 24, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

also…over the past month, Valbuena has actually been living up to his name. Average and OBP still low – but the unexpected amount of power would seem to make up for it.

by APV on Jun 24, 2009 9:17 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

He seems to swing for the fences sometimes, which isn’t good. When he does he has a long swing that’s exploitable. But I don’t know where pitchers are going to throw him: he likes low balls, like most lefties, but he seems to be able to adjust. I think the power was because pitchers don’t know who he is so they figure he’s Angel Berroa. The ball does jump off his bat, though.

by odradek on Jun 24, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I thought Vizcaino, based on age and track record, was the most likely of the AAAA triumvirate to suceed going forward… but I can’t quibble with DFA’ing a guy with 12 walks in 11 2/3 innings. Lawdy.

I imagine Chulk is next on the roulette wheel with Viz off the 40.

Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile

by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Jun 23, 2009 3:09 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I count just 38 now, so there’s some flexabiity. Lewis may be taking a spot soon.

by dgcambridge on Jun 23, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Laffey, too.

FE WEE

by westbrook on Jun 23, 2009 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Laffey wasn’t on the 60 day DL, but both Lewis and Westbrook would require a spot on the 40

by Roger Dorn on Jun 23, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

that’s right.

FE WEE

by westbrook on Jun 23, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ewf, I’d really rather see Sowers (who apparently has dynamite stuff 1.5 times through the order based on his last 5 starts) go to the bullpen, and let’s get Laffey back in the rotation. He, unlike the rest of the tards in the bunch, seems able to go 6 and usually 7 innings a start. I’d rather not waste him in the pen when Sowers is just as good out of the pen.

by MooneysRebellion on Jun 23, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sowers takes too long to warm up.

I'm not really into Song of Hiawatha.

by sarcasmdave on Jun 23, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

yeah, but he ain’t worth a damn starting. Every time he starts we have to pitch somebody else at least 3 innings….that’s like pitching to Gosh Darn starters each of his starts. I’d tell him he’s got two options…warm up faster, or hit the highway…cuz a 4-5 inning starter ain’t cutting crap in the majors.

by MooneysRebellion on Jun 23, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I agree with you. I was just making a bad joke on what somebody said a month ago about the same Sowers to pen, Laffey to rotation idea.

I'm not really into Song of Hiawatha.

by sarcasmdave on Jun 23, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

np…all I can say, to whoever doesn’t think he can pitch out of the pen, is he looked good enough coming out of the pen in that Rays game

by MooneysRebellion on Jun 23, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

In all seriousness, I would really like an explanation for why we can’t pitch Sowers as a long man. It makes too much sense to dismiss it with “he’s not athletic enough” or “he takes too long to warm up”

Maybe I’m wrong, I don’t enough about the physical requirements of relief pitching. Can someone more knowledgeable than tell me why this would be a bad idea? (Or a good idea?)

by world dictator on Jun 23, 2009 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Or! Have Sowers pitch the first three innings, then bring in a starter for the other 6…

by Logodaedalus on Jun 23, 2009 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

We could also do the rehab stint approach — have Wood start every other game. That way he’d pitch a lot, face the top of the order consistently, and never make his bonuses for finishing games. Tell Sowers he’s going to pitch the second or third, so he has lots of time to warm up. After that, we’re in trouble.

by peter m on Jun 23, 2009 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I can think of worse ideas than a Sowers/Ohka stacked rotation spot.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Jun 23, 2009 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

You could neutralize a righthanded lineup that way.

by odradek on Jun 23, 2009 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

The old “our starter is not really lefthanded” trick.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Jun 23, 2009 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

Yeah. I imagine that would work about twice.

by odradek on Jun 24, 2009 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Unfortunately, Sipp has 10 walks in 8 2/3 innings. But, I can’t complain about releasing Vizcaino either.

by peter m on Jun 23, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

6 of which came in a five day bout of wildness. He hasn’t walked anyone since he got sent down.

Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile

by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Jun 23, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

At Columbus in June he has issued no walks. Unfortunately that is in only 4 innings of work. Hopefully he can harness his stuff this time around.

by Chief Wahoo on Jun 23, 2009 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

6 BB in 17 IP overall in Columbus. I’m incline to think his two-appearance, 5 BB stretch was the exception and not the rule, but there’s an easy way to find out. Hopefully the rest of the team can make his appearance a meaningful one.

by FredOx on Jun 23, 2009 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I agree that Sipp’s control problems may have been momentary. I think the real point about him is that he’s a young pitcher with talent, not a journeyman with a history of mediocrity. I don’t argue with releasing Vizcaino, but I’d focus less on the walks and more on mediocrity. In fairness to Vizcaino, he’s never walked guys at this rate for any sustained period during his major league career. He’s not a strike machine, to be sure, but he’s never been this bad. And, you could argue that 9 of his 12 walks occurred in his last 5 1/3 innings; in the previous 10 (including innings with the Sox, he walked 3).

I guess my hope is that they DIDN’T dump Vizcaino because he had two weeks of control problems. I hope they dumped him because signing guys like him is not a particularly effective way of building an effective bullpen.

by peter m on Jun 23, 2009 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think they dumped him because that was the plan all along. Pick him up for cheap, use him to provide some modicum of bullpen stability for a while, DFA him when it stopped working. Presumably he’ll end up in Columbus eventually.

by FredOx on Jun 23, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Could be. I think they were in a bad situation and were looking for anyone might help; he was available so they tried him. It didn’t work out, so they dumped him. Trying to catch lightning in a bottle doesn’t work too often.

by peter m on Jun 23, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

it was worth a shot that didn’t pan out in the long run….not like there’s a ton of great relievers out there right now…cuz if they were great other teams that know how to judge talent better than we do have already snatched them up for their bullpens

by MooneysRebellion on Jun 23, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Pretty much every time I saw Vizcaino, he had command issues. I don’t think it’s just been about the past two weeks.

by TribeJay on Jun 23, 2009 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

No, but he’s never walked a guy an inning for an extended stretch. Command issues is right – he’s just not a very good pitcher.

Hoynes, this morning, reports that whenever Vizcaino wasn’t pitching, he was on his cell phone. I’m not sure why that is relevant or why Hoynes felt it was worth reporting. I just thought it was a peculiar remark.

by peter m on Jun 24, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Chulk really deserves a spot up here. He performed well enough his last time up in limited appearances. Yet another guy that has gotten on Wedgie’s bad side or something.

by MooneysRebellion on Jun 23, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

He allowed 10 hits and 10 walks in 12 IP. Worse, he allowed 6 of 8 inherited runners to score. He wasn’t horrible, but he didn’t get sent down because he got on Wedge’s bad side.

by FredOx on Jun 23, 2009 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Fair enough….I’m said it mostly in jest about being on Wedge’s bad side…but it seems like everybody in on Wedge’s bad side lately.

by MooneysRebellion on Jun 23, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

maybe if they stopped sucking

by Roger Dorn on Jun 23, 2009 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Exception: Casey Blake.

by odradek on Jun 23, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Poor Trevor. Maybe if he made that catch in Yankee stadium I would still care about him.

by Chief Wahoo on Jun 23, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

On November 17, 1983 were three major leaguers born
Braun went to the Brewers, Markakis to the O’s
The Tribe got stuck with Trevor Crowe
That’s two roses and one thorn.

by FredOx on Jun 23, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions   2 recs

this is interesting.

FE WEE

by westbrook on Jun 23, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

It’s almost a really ugly haiku.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Jun 23, 2009 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

every rose has it thorn, just like every dog has…

by APV on Jun 23, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I literally laughed out loud.

by world dictator on Jun 23, 2009 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

only a figurative one over here.

by Brick. on Jun 24, 2009 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Viz being gone makes me happy. I wish Benfran wsa going down instead of Crowe, but he’ll be down for LaP soon enough.

FE WEE

by westbrook on Jun 23, 2009 3:44 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Yep, it won’t last long with Benny here. He stinks and can’t hit anything that breaks. Time to cut the cord Wedgie, you’ve got Sizemore back. Let’s see LaPorta get promoted and Gimenez sent back down (LaPorta can play first on days Vic catches) and bring up Brantley to be the 4th outfielder (getting to play when Sizemore needs a rest—which he will need until he’s back to full strength) and also can play left on days that LaPorta is at first!!!!

by MooneysRebellion on Jun 23, 2009 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Brantley … not yet.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Jun 23, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

i actually want to keep francisco and garko up all year, then next year option them with this roster assuming no trades.

C – Victor
C – Shoppach – mostly just Lee
1B – LaPorta
2B – Valbuena
3B – Peralta
SS – Asdrubal
DH – Hafner
CF – Grady
LF – Brantley
RF – Choo
4OF – Crowe
U – Gimenez
U – Barfield, I guess

also, hows come no one talks about trading carroll?

by Brick. on Jun 24, 2009 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think we should trade Carroll

by Roger Dorn on Jun 24, 2009 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Carroll isn’t controversial, not much to talk about.

I can’t pencil Brantley in, and I think Shoppach needs more playing time, not less.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Jun 24, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yes, I say mostly Shoppach at C, mostly Vic at first, mostly LaPorta in the OF.

Unless LaPorta is just too poor in the OF.

by dgcambridge on Jun 24, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

yeah, this makes much more sense. it also can keep francisco and garko out of the picture which really is my main goal.

by Brick. on Jun 24, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

For you, Brick

by NickFantana on Jun 24, 2009 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

i do not get angry at all when looking at this image.

by Brick. on Jun 26, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Grady’s back! And Sipp’s back! I’m excited. No matter how they do I will be excited for about a week.

Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?

by ClemsonGirl on Jun 23, 2009 4:17 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

It is exciting, I just really wish this wasn’t the way we were getting our excitement from this team in the middle of June. Alas, I suppose this is the way of the Indians fan. :(

by MooneysRebellion on Jun 23, 2009 4:19 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Let us be forthright:

I now have the Backstreet Boys’ “Backstreet’s back…alright!” in my head, but it’s “Grady’s back…alright!”

by JRontherim on Jun 23, 2009 5:43 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Grady’s in the lineup!

FE WEE

by westbrook on Jun 23, 2009 6:10 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

There’s a party goin’ on right here …

--
Force quit and move to trash.

by vbc3 on Jun 23, 2009 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Can’t decide whether to rec or flag.

FLEC.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Jun 23, 2009 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Why the heck isn’t he batting fourth (ducks).

by peter m on Jun 23, 2009 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

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