5 Reasons to Think the Rest of the Season Will Be Enjoyable
by Joel D on Apr 30, 2010 11:20 AM EDT
Email
Print(No Russian poets were harmed in the production of this post.)
With our up-and-down run through the first 21 games of the year, the Tribe has alternately thrilled and disgusted us. There have already been a disturbing number of games that we have lost in manners ill befitting a major league baseball team. Less than a month into the year, we've had a four-game winning streak and a five-game losing streak. There are plenty of reasons to look ahead and see more monotonous mediocrity making us miserable, but I would like to offer five reasons for hope that we'll be enjoyable to follow as we attempt to put together a season that is meaningful in some regard.
(1) Our schedule has been rough.
So far this year, we've been at CHW, at DET, at MIN, at LAA, and at OAK. The White Sox are the only sub .500 team among our road opponents, and we won that series. OAK, LAA, and MIN are all currently in possession of at least a share of their respective division leads, and DET has the second-best record of that group. Now we're coming home (finally) to face MIN, TOR, and DET (I'm not sure why I'm using the ticker-style abbreviations for these teams) and then going on the road to KC and BAL. Things are starting to smooth out a little bit.
(2) We've held our own against lefties.
Anyone care to guess what our record in our seven games against LHP has been this year?
I hope you assumed it was abysmal, because I know I did and I hate being wrong alone. We're 4-3 against lefties. With the early clamor about LLL — and with Branyan back and Val hitting better than most of our team, we could go LLLLL — we've actually done okay against left-handed starting pitching. I know this doesn't dissuade the fear that a LOOGY could record three K's on nine pitches against us late in a game, but that has been addressed pretty rationally elsewhere on the site. I think we can calm down about our LH-heavy lineup.
(3) Three of our starters are giving us a chance.
The starting rotation was five-deep in question marks at the beginning of this year. Is Jake healthy? Is Fausto back? Is Huff his first 20 starts or his last 5? Can Masterson get any lefties out? And who the heck is Mitch Talbot? Well, "I guess so," "it looks good early," "somewhere in between," "not yet," and "a robot that shuts you down" would be my answers to those questions. Huff, Carmona, and Talbot have exceeded (my) expectations, though I'll admit that my expectations for Huff probably were needlessly negative. We lack anything resembling a true ace right now, and our best strikeout pitcher in the rotation has a WHIP just shy of two, but I'm pleasantly surprised that any of them are throwing well.
(4) Our bats have to warm up sometime.
Whatever you think of Grady and Pronk, surely it must be conceded that they can do better than they have. Our current team OPS reflects not only their struggles but also Jhonny's annual slow start and the mind-numbing "contributions" of LaPorta and Marson. With Branyan now healthy, Kearns hitting, and Santana's arbitration clock coming closer to being leveraged, it can't stay like this forever.
(5) Expectations weren't (or shouldn't have been) that high anyway.
In the thread where everyone here predicted the Tribe's record, the LGT average prediction was 79-83. We're currently on pace to win about 70 games, which, considering the factors listed above, puts us within shouting distance of ending up a mere four games below .500. In a year where we were not only not expected to contend but made no overtures at pretending we were going to, we seem to be about on track.
After a month, we're about where we expected to be as fans of this team. The only thing surprising has been how we've gotten here. We've probably got another five months of about the same results ahead of us. We'll have some times when the bats carry us, some times when the pitching does, and some times when nothing or everything is clicking, and we'll wonder why we don't win/lose every game. So sit back, watch our current team play, enjoy the reports coming in from the farm system, and daydream about a brighter tomorrow. I'm sure it will be here one of these days.
37 comments
|
3 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
After a month, we’re about where we expected to be as fans of this team. The only thing surprising has been how we’ve gotten here.
I think that sums it up, and I’m actually more optimistic now than if we had arrived at the current record via the “expected” route – above avg offense making up for horrible pitching.
I fully expect the offense to improve and look forward to more pleasant surprises from the starters. Which is a good thing, since our expected and vaunted minor league pitching depth has yet to show its anywhere close to being able to step in and contribute at the major league level.
Great work. I don’t mean to nitpick, but I think you have the last two answers to your questions switched around.
I would say that the key to having this season being “enjoyable” is whether we can play at a competitive level over the next 5-6 weeks. Once we’ve passed the pertinent service clock thresholds, we can substitute Santana for Marson, Donald for Valbuena, Brantley for Branyan, Ambriz for Wright, and maybe Carrasco for a non-performing starter, such as Masterson. The new guys won’t instantly adjust to the major leagues, of course, but we’ll have a reconstituted core in place. Then we can dump Peralta and use Marte for a year or so as a bridge to Chisenhall. At that point, we have a team worth watching.
by ken from alexandria on Apr 30, 2010 1:50 PM EDT reply actions
I would say that the least important compenent to how enjoyable this season will be is our level of competitiveness over the next 5-6 weeks. If we agree that this season is about getting “our reconstituted core in place” more than it is about winning and losing, I don’t think the level of play of a bunch of guys who aren’t part of the five-year plan should really be that big a component in how we feel about the year.
If, on the other hand, you’re considering the fact that we’re 4.5 games back and hosting the Twins with our three best starters going, then yeah, maybe how well we play in the next month and a half is going to factor in in a big way. I just don’t personally hold to that opinion.
Come on, four billion!
Careful, too much talk about our “five-year plan” and Wags will start writing Fan Posts in the style of Fyodor Gladkov… and no one wants to read that.
by Logodaedalus on Apr 30, 2010 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions
So, the slogan “The Five Year Plan in Four!” blanketed the country. Kindergartners marched around their schools waving little banners and chanting “Five in Four/Five in four/Five in Four/And Not in Five!” What it meant, one of them now living in America has said, they did not know.
From Robert Tucker’s Stalin in Power.
What it meant, one of them now living in America has said, they did not know.
Easily explained by Trofim Lysenko: Throw seeds on the snow to make hearty winter wheat; wolves are dogs raised in the woods.
As for Fyodor Gladkov, bring it on!
by ken from alexandria on Apr 30, 2010 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m just not ready to concede, given that the cavalry is on its way. Our reinforcements would profit immeasurably from playing meaningful games in August and September.
by ken from alexandria on Apr 30, 2010 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions
As opposed to not baseball.
Practicing my left-handed swing as I type. By next week I'll be able to hit Masterson and Smith.
Happier that I was at this point last year
I know there were some brutal last inning loses this year, but nothing like last April where it seemed every game was a last at bat Freddy Kreuger show. The fact that were in sniffing distance of .500 at the end of April is a definite improvement.
"I once spent a year in Philadelphia, I think it was on a Sunday." (W. C. Fields)
As with any young team, there are moments when it looks good and times when it looks bad, often in the same inning. I am surprised at the extent (and number) of the former. There are significant signs of progress. If these guys get their sea legs, the Tribe could be good. There are going to be setbacks and boneheaded plays, but there are going to be quite a few moments when these team will show tremendous promise. There are going to be a lot of games like the last one, where a great effort is spoiled almost instantly, but you have to focus on the process and not the results.
I am so, so tired of this “process” crap, but I hear what you’re sayin’ odradek. And since that’s where we’re at, what I wanna see is this: are those young pitchers really all that? is this LaPorta kid the real deal? can Santana play any kinda D and OPS >.900? can Kearns stay healthy and keep hittin’ like this? what the hell is wrong with Sizemore? is he still snappin’ back from his off-season surgeries or is this all there is? is Choo the monster he looked like last year? why did Hafner look Pronk in ST and Bob Uecker now? and what gives with Marte? is this the start of something or just another big tease? what can we get for Peralta? – and let’s not talk about Wood – he’s broken more hearts than Rupaul.
But you’re right junkballer, this season is gonna be a lot better than the Death March I invisioned in December. Lots to be excited about. I think I can see that light in tunnel off in the distance. I just hope its a brighter future and not the start of another train wreck.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
Re: Hafner, I’m reminded that Peralta played the same “disappearing slugger” trick a year ago. Just call them “Mr. March.”
I remember the Year of the Jhonny.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on May 1, 2010 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
.385/.485/.538 is Jhonny’s line in the past eight games. His OPS is now .708, good for third on the team amongst regulars. That is both encouraging for his sake and sad for the team’s/
Come on, four billion!
I would expect a results-oriented guy to be sick of process, but that’s what we got. I think what we learn this year is the profound uncertainty of prediction and projection. Some players expected to be good will not be and some expected to be bums will actually be sort of good. I see light, too, but like you I’m not yet sure if it’s positive or an illusion.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
Featured Stories
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recent FanShots
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
