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Recap: Brantley reaches on error, scores on Grudz’ double. Weglarz drives in 2nd run with a single, but caught at 2nd.
In the 2nd inning, Kearns walks, and scores on Marte bomb.
Huff with 3 Ks in his 2 scoreless innings, followed by Talbot.
Hey guys, tickets went on sale, and they’ll remain on sale until the end of the season. The home opener still isn’t sold out yet.
No, not you. Your helmet!
by PatBordersHelmet on Mar 6, 2010 4:18 PM EST reply actions
Hammy better stick him with a jab at least once.
No, not you. Your helmet!
by PatBordersHelmet on Mar 6, 2010 4:40 PM EST up reply actions
This love-fest is getting old.
No, not you. Your helmet!
by PatBordersHelmet on Mar 6, 2010 4:43 PM EST up reply actions
He’s right, the abuse Selig takes over the twitter is really unjustified.
No, not you. Your helmet!
by PatBordersHelmet on Mar 6, 2010 4:52 PM EST up reply actions
Baseball has never been so popular? Really Bud Selig? Apparently the amount of money pulled in by MLB shows how popular the sport is? I mean, it’s not like baseball used to be the most popular sport but is now well behind football or anything. Nope, not at all. Damn you, Bud Selig.
Welcome back, Sandy! ATALECG...
I don’t care if baseball is more popular than football or basketball, but that selective logic is annoying.
No, not you. Your helmet!
by PatBordersHelmet on Mar 6, 2010 4:55 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, it has to abundantly clear that baseball is nowhere near as popular percentage wise as it has been before.
Welcome back, Sandy! ATALECG...
Percentage-wise?
What exactly do you think you’re measuring when you say that? That’s the question.
by Jay on Mar 6, 2010 5:28 PM EST up reply actions
Popularity of the sport amongst the entire population as a percentage. So, for demonstration purposes, let’s say there are 300 million people in the US today, but only 30% of them list baseball as their favorite professional sport. Now, let’s say in 1940 there were 125 million people, and 60% listed baseball as their favorite professional sport. That would mean there were 75 million “baseball fans” in 1940 vs. 90 million today. Which, doesn’t really make it more popular today, in spite of a 15 million jump in fan base. Obviously these numbers are just pulled out of my rear, but that is the “percentages” point I’m trying to make, that when factored for population gains, I don’t think you could make an argument that there are more baseball fans today.
Welcome back, Sandy! ATALECG...
Also, Hammy is off his rocker if he thinks the real problem is the Red Sox and Yankees being able to afford “giving later round draft picks first round money instead of moving on to college.” Oh yeah, that’s the problem.
Welcome back, Sandy! ATALECG...
I’m a little too drunk to say I agree with any larger point you are making (4:18 here in Chicago on a Saturday night, just back from Rino.. yeah, please shoot me), but I will say this: Bud Selig is a complete ass. Always has been, always will be. I feel every time he opens his mouth, he embarrasses himself. I wish I could have heard him tonight. Goodnight everyone!
I will not be worried about Tony Sipp. I will not be worried about Tony Sipp.
I will not be worried about Tony Sipp. I will not be worried about Tony Sipp.
I will not be worried about Tony Sipp. I will not be worried about Tony Sipp.
I will not be worried about Tony Sipp. I will not be worried about Tony Sipp.
It’s too early to worry about anything except injuries.
No, not you. Your helmet!
by PatBordersHelmet on Mar 6, 2010 4:44 PM EST up reply actions
I’m a hardass. Not really, but Fedroff needs to elevate the ball just a little bit before I care about him. Last year he put 61% of his balls in play on the ground, just like that AB.
by APV on Mar 6, 2010 5:11 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah I’ve been making bad tweet jokes for a week or so.
by afh4 on Mar 6, 2010 6:31 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Two “n’s”? That’s more fun than I can handle.
No, not you. Your helmet!
by PatBordersHelmet on Mar 6, 2010 5:37 PM EST up reply actions
Brian Horwitz in the house! All single-ing up in your face!
No, not you. Your helmet!
by PatBordersHelmet on Mar 6, 2010 5:29 PM EST reply actions
Is it just me, or is that Valaika kid all over the place?
Tribe in 2010!! Maybe.
by indiansfan20062000 on Mar 6, 2010 5:30 PM EST reply actions
I looked at Mitch Talbot’s numbers today. I would be legitimately mad if he doesn’t win a rotation spot. No kidding.
by Gradyforpresident on Mar 6, 2010 7:49 PM EST reply actions
I can’t believe he hadn’t got a sustained shot yet, even with the Rays glut of pitching.
by Gradyforpresident on Mar 6, 2010 7:49 PM EST up reply actions
His quote from Castro’s latest article:
“With [David] Price and [Wade] Davis, their golden boys, I knew it wasn’t looking too good as far as being a starter, and that’s what I want to be,” Talbot said. “I was not really looking forward to being a long reliever and pitching once every two weeks or so. I’m really happy to be here where I can actually compete for a starting spot.”
Talbot had a not-so-great 2009, but a year ago he would have only been behind Huff in our system based on Progress Score (ahead of Rondon).
by APV on Mar 6, 2010 8:01 PM EST up reply actions
I know, I love this guy. Look at those numbers!
By FIP, which isn’t perfect but it’s OK:
2006, 22, AA: 156.2 IP, 2.81 FIP.
2007, 23, AAA: 161 IP, 4.00 FIP.
2008: 24, AAA: 161 IP, 3.03 FIP.
Even last year, his down year, he posted a 3.55 FIP while battling injuries.
!!!!!
by Gradyforpresident on Mar 6, 2010 10:18 PM EST up reply actions
Fifth starter, gotta be, love this guy. He’s gonna stick.
by Gradyforpresident on Mar 6, 2010 10:21 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t think he’s better than Aaron Laffey—he had a bad year at the MLB level as a 24-year-old last year, but his FIPs:
21, AA: 4.25
22, AA: 3.43, AAA: 3.13, MLB: 3.73
23, AAA: 3.07, MLB: 4.88
So he has to beat Huff, who would become a 25 year old turning 26 in August playing his third year in AAA.
I think whatever happens I’m going to be uncomfortable with the results.
Steel Nick
Huff is #4 with Laffey in pen because AL has shown he can do it in the pen & there is an acute need there.
I could really use an oscillation overthruster
by stuart dean on Mar 6, 2010 11:38 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I see an acute need or five in the rotation.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Mar 6, 2010 11:39 PM EST up reply actions
That was my thinking earlier tonight, too.
by Gradyforpresident on Mar 7, 2010 1:36 AM EST up reply actions
I’m convinced we trade Laffey at some point. I say, put him where his trade value will be highest.
by Jay on Mar 7, 2010 1:41 AM EST up reply actions
Middle infielder? Outfielder? Relief?
Low minors high upside? I’m legitimately curious what our aims are right now in the trade market.
by Gradyforpresident on Mar 7, 2010 2:01 AM EST up reply actions
Acquire Garko and trade him for a giant starter!
by afh4 on Mar 7, 2010 9:26 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
You guys had me convinced that trading Marson, even if he and Santana are doing well, isn’t something this club would do. Is trading Laffey? Do we really expect to be in position this year to shed a starter?
I actually don’t and I think all the hand wringing over the 5th starter is over the top. A starter or two is going to be hurt by May.
by afh4 on Mar 7, 2010 9:43 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I think this sounds awful. Put a guy in the pen even though we know he can contribute to the team in a much more valuable way because he’s “shown he can do it.” It’s relief. I’m pretty sure most starters can do it. The reason they don’t is because relief is for the people that can’t start, not the other way around.
Steel Nick
Sowers can’t do it. Not athleti enough.
Seriously, though, and this is coming from a guy who wrote something called ‘In Praise of Aaron Laffy’ once, he’s overrated here. Awful at the end of last year. Awful.
by afh4 on Mar 7, 2010 10:30 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I don’t think anyone here is trying to defend what happened at the end of 2009.
I like Talbot. I want him to succeed as an Indian. But I think the onus is on the Talbot camp to make the case that he’s better than Laffey. If he’s not, moving the superior pitcher to the bullpen doesn’t pass the smell test.
Steel Nick
Th math here is not that hard: Talbott is either in the majors or gone. Converting to relief is, and I realize this isn’t your viewpoint, is not snap of the fingers easy. Laffey has already shown that he has the ability to be a high leverage reliever and the Talbott camp asserts he can be a decent starter, a la Laffey.
So, from the MT camp’s prospective, the choice is either a very good reliever and a decent starter or a decent starter and a question mark of a mop up man. Seems pretty clear.
Again, my perspective is that this is much ado about nothing because the injuries will come. Just don’t lose any assets and revisit this on May 1.
by afh4 on Mar 7, 2010 11:16 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I agree with the inevitable rotation shake-up. But I think if someone has to lose their spot in the rotation, shouldn’t we at least be arguing that Talbot could be better than Huff this year, instead of Laffey moving to the bullpen? I’ve mentioned that I’m not comfortable with sending Huff down for another go at AAA, but I feel better keeping all three in “starter mode” than asking Laffey to transition back and forth.
Steel Nick
Additionally, I think there’s a reasonable chance that Laffey has some durability issues, i.e., that the bullpen might be a better fit for him irrespective of his competition.
That said, I’m more excited about Pino than I am about Talbot purely on a B-Ref basis.
by fleerdon on Mar 7, 2010 4:10 PM EST up reply actions
I still have much more confidence in Laffey than Huff, which isn’t to say I don’t like Huff. I don’t like Sowers, but I still like Huff. Maybe my faith is blind, but isn’t all faith?
Welcome back, Sandy! ATALECG...
Huff nodded at me yesterday when I yelled ‘Great job, Huff!’ So I’m ok with Huff.
by afh4 on Mar 7, 2010 11:18 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I’ll admit to the possibility that I could be persuaded by something similar.
Welcome back, Sandy! ATALECG...
Aaron Laffey was walking into a building before me and did that half-turn push-the-door-open move for me. So I’d like to see him in the rotation.
Steel Nick
I do think Laffey has been overrated here — here’s been solid and often injured, that’s my basic take on him. I think there is a natural reaction to see that he had a lot of good months last season, and he had ten very good starts in terms of ERA before those five disastrous ones.
Here’s the thing, though: His walks were almost as many as his strikeouts the whole way though. That’s not good, and it suggests a guy who’s “getting away with something,” and intuitively, it seems likelier he can keep on getting away with it in the bullpen.
Mostly, though, I just don’t see him as a core player as he heads into arbitration. There are guys you lock up, and then there are guys that you use for a few years and then flip. Laffey seems pretty clearly to be in the latter category if you ask me.
by Jay on Mar 7, 2010 5:17 PM EST up reply actions
I also question if our infield defense is really going to lift him up at all. Not overly familiar with how our guys rate with UZR and Pinto’s range thing, but Peralta, Valbuena, and Branyan have to be considered average at best out there right? And I think the systems seem to be a bit split on Asdrubal.
Certainly does seem from memory last year that Laffey got umpteen double-plays with at least 2 runners on base… but that’s just off my admittedly BS memory.
I’ll be at the game tomorrow with my sister… E-mail me if anyone is planning on going and would like to meet up.
Lifted without comment from Hoynes’ twitter feed:
Asked Russell Branyan where he was physically regarding his back. Branyan’s response: “I’m standing right in front of you.”
I think it’s likelier he enjoyed the joke.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Mar 7, 2010 5:46 PM EST up reply actions
Anybody listening today? Brantley’s getting it done.
No, not you. Your helmet!
by PatBordersHelmet on Mar 8, 2010 4:36 PM EST reply actions
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