Pitchers and Catchers Report...
TODAY.
No spring training battle will be decided today, no baseball game will be played today, but it's the first official happening of Spring Training. It's the beginning of the beginning of the 2012 baseball season. And anything that gets us closer to baseball is a very good thing.
89 comments
|
11 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Rec for everything today represents.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Feb 20, 2012 7:33 AM EST reply actions
Rec to Ryan for having this post hit right at midnight.
by JulioBernazard on Feb 20, 2012 11:29 AM EST up reply actions
My brother and I have had a back and forth via text with a countdown (in hours) since the beginning of February. This is a fun day every year, and particularly in a year with an Indians team to be excited about. LGT.
every hour?
I like ex-Phillies prospects.
by Gradyforpresident on Feb 20, 2012 10:32 AM EST up reply actions
I want to see 100% confidence on the left sidebar today. It’s the principle.
by Jay on Feb 20, 2012 11:57 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Sort of makes you miss Chuck.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Feb 20, 2012 1:43 PM EST up reply actions
Don’t worry. Chuck will be back. There will always be something about which he can say “I told you so.”
by woodsmeister on Feb 20, 2012 8:39 PM EST up reply actions
A few season predictions:
- Masterson and Jimenez become first teammates to each record 30+ victories in a single season
- Sizemore, Choo, Hafner, Santana and Kipnis all put up +1.000 OPS
- Team scores 1200 runs
- Chris Perez record 30 first half saves before being traded to Red Sox for entire minor league system. Hagadone takes over closer role in second half and does not allow a run in 40 consecutive appearances. Hagadone finishes with no saves, though, as the Indians never place him in a save situation…too many runs.
- Brantley moves to leadoff second week of season. Finishes year with a .475 OBP and 110 SB.
by APV on Feb 20, 2012 1:05 PM EST reply actions 9 recs
You forgot, “And Perez saves no more games after being traded.”
"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter
by Denver Tribe Fan on Feb 20, 2012 11:07 PM EST up reply actions
Perez takes over closer role in second half and does not allow a run in 40 consecutive appearances. Perez finishes with no saves, though, as the Sox never place him in a save situation…too far behind.
by YoDaddyWags on Feb 21, 2012 7:39 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
He could have a 0.00 WHIP and still have no saves. It’s the team I wish ill to.
"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter
by Denver Tribe Fan on Feb 21, 2012 3:38 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
Will anybody else be in Goodyear March 5th-9th?
FearTheSword, SBNation's Cleveland Cavaliers blog
by Conrad Kaczmarek on Feb 20, 2012 1:49 PM EST reply actions
From Bastian, live in Goodyear, yesterday:
I actually was impressed with the day’s turnout. The day before the reporting date, especially when it’s a Sunday, is historically a quiet day at any complex. Consider it the last day off for the players with at least seven months of work ahead. Among those on hand on Sunday morning were Josh Tomlin, Frank Herrmann, Ryan Spilborghs, Dan Wheeler, Robinson Tejeda, Chris Ray, Corey Kluber, Nick Hagadone, Jack Hannahan, Russ Canzler, Joe Smith and Grady Sizemore.
Oh, and Hannahan’s dog, Pete.
Bastian is also reporting the Indians are talking of sitting Hafner more against LHPs:
Could this mean that DH Travis Hafner (another lefty hitter) might see more days off against left-handed pitchers? It’d appear so, if the plan is to get Santana in the DH slot more often. Consider that Hafner hit .233 vs. LHP and .302 against RHP last year. Over the past three years combined, Hafner has a .240/.298/.382 slash line against LHP compared to a .290/.387/.483 slash line against righties. Hmmm.
Not too surprising. We no longer have a long-term interest in keeping Hafner serviceable vs. LHP, nor is there much need. Until and unless Kotchman’s offense craters, there’s just no reason for us to deal with Santana’s growing-pain shenanigans at first base this season.
The C-1B combo position worked okay for Victor but really is only done when you have a big DH under contract. That is not going to be our long-term situation with Santana. The future is now.
I like it for Santana’s knees as well. 1B isn’t catching, but it is still a lot of time on the field. DH would alleviate that even further.
Matt LaPorta is the bane of my existence.
Some managers don’t like to use a catcher as DH unless there is a third catcher on the 25 man roster. Has Acta ever stated how he feels about using Santana at DH?
Some managers are dumb. Losing the DH once in a while on a fluke is not the end of the world and certainly not worth losing a whole roster spot over.
Thank you. I’ve never understood why you would waste the flexibility in order to plan for that scenario. Chances are good that the injury would occur later in the game, so your pitcher has to hit what, once? Twice? Unless of course your pitcher is going deep in the game, in which case, who cares?
Matt LaPorta is the bane of my existence.
Maybe a the lack of a long term extension was a good idea?

Matt LaPorta is the bane of my existence.
Looks like he ate Miggy
by Aussie Wahoo on Feb 20, 2012 3:20 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 3 recs
Looks like we won’t be hearing any “best shape of his life” comments. Maybe “most Magglio Ordonez shape,” though.
In fairness to Asdrubal, I think the mullet probably adds like 5 pounds. So no worries.
by Toxic Toast on Feb 21, 2012 11:23 AM EST up reply actions
72-74 wins, imo.
I hate our backup position players and I don’t think the bullpen is going to repeat 2011’s performance.
It would be nice if we could gamble on-line legally. Stupid lawmakers.
Really? Relative to spring training a year ago, I like our backups better, like our bullpen better, and am pretty pleased with our depth. The biggest question marks surround return from injury players.
Left Field is really the only position I think we didn’t address over the winter, assuming (as i am) that Cunningham is 4A, and I can’t decide if the Tribe just had no other reasonably priced options present themselves or if its that they like Brantley. I suspect the former.
Other than that spot I too like our depth, our pen and even our starting depth (where we added experience after giving up raw talent in Pomeranz to get Ubaldo). Of course, starting depth is never enough and our offense will be suspect until it’s not.
I am positive on Brantley, though I kind of suspect he’ll spend at least half the season at CF. The contract I most wish the Indians had been able to snag in the off-season was Beltran’s 2-year deal. He would look nice in LF.
So we’re going to be 4 games better? Sounds about right as a preseason prediction, except I’d like to think that puts us at 84 wins.
Last year’s 71.5 win line resulted in 80 wins : This year’s 75.5 win line would then result in 84 wins
Apparently today is the day the 60-day DL becomes active. Assuming they put Carrasco there, it opens up the first spot on the 40-man roster.
A DAY LATE TOO GET MANNY — YOU SNOOZ YOU LOSE, DOULON!
by JulioBernazard on Feb 21, 2012 12:58 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
I either hate these or get a big kick out of them. This one I liked.
by Brick. on Feb 21, 2012 1:59 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
You’re a tough nut to crack, so I’m honored to have given you at least one big kick.
by JulioBernazard on Feb 21, 2012 4:20 PM EST up reply actions
Hoynes is on the beat:
#Indians are close to trading Kelvin De La Cruz, a left-hander they designated to make room for Casey Kotchman.
“Hoynes is on the beat” conjures up mental images of him visiting several submarine sandwich shops in hopes of landing a lead.
by emd2k3 on Feb 21, 2012 2:58 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Was once part of a young, 2008 Lake County pitching staff, that I thought would produce some stars. De La Cruz, Chris Archer and Joey Mahalic were all 19. Santo Frias, Ryan Morris, Rob Bryson and Mike Pontius were all 20. Four years later and only Archer is well-regarded, none of them has seen time in the majors. Best major leaguer from that staff at the present is…Vinnie Pestano.
I hope he’s opened up a Pilates studio.
by JulioBernazard on Feb 21, 2012 4:21 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

by 














