I just can't wait to see who's on the field for the Spring Opener in <3 hours.
Why wait?
DH Carlos Santana
3B Jose Ramirez
SS Francisco Lindor
1B Edwin Encarnacion
C Yan Gomes
RF Bradley Zimmer
LF Daniel Robertson
CF Greg Allen
2B Michael Martinez
Ryan Merritt will start on the mound, with Mike Clevinger, Shawn Armstrong, Joe Colon, Steve Delabar, Perci Garner, Andrew Miller, James Russell, Tyler Olson and Travis Banwart also available to pitch.
Awesome to get to see the Tribe get an opening day win in Spring training yesterday. IO'm watching the game today. I still love Roberto Perez. He took a lot of flack for not hitting well, but he's a patient hitter. He drew a walk in his first at bat.
i was all for zimmer coming up last year. I really think he could help. I thought he was a better option than Naquinn. Hope he has a great camp. I think alot is predicated on Sizemo...I mean Brantley's health
Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday. -John Wayne
“Will he be more or less valuable than Ryan Merritt?” (in reference to Brad Zimmer)
I’d go with Merritt.
Bradley Zimmer has put up tantalizing offensive numbers in the minors. But he strikes out way too much.
Last year, 171 SOs in 468 ABs. Too much. 171/468 = 36% (one out of every three at bats).
It’s gonna be hard for him to stick in the majors unless he has an epiphany. (“DO YOU SEE THE LIGHT?”)(more like “Do You See The Strike Zone?”)
Same as Naquinn...he too struck out one out of ever 3..difference is Zimmers glove is better I think..either way Zimmer is at the end of development era, time to you know what or get off the pot if you're the indians
Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday. -John Wayne
Indians are playing the Rangers at the Alamodome this weekend. Guess I'm going to a ball game!
The Constitution shall never be construe to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms. – Samuel Adams
The Constitution shall never be construe to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms. – Samuel Adams
I put the odds at 99% that Cody Anderson’s major league aspirations are over.
I’m sorry, not his aspirations - but his chances. I hope I'm wrong.
Last November, Anderson underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove tissue, sidelining him for eight weeks. He arrived to camp this spring recovered from his surgery, but his elbow discomfort has returned.
I have a feeling this is an example of what they mean by “God-Given Talent”.
He didn’t pitch well last year when he was called up - Anderson struggled, going 2-5 with a 6.68 ERA in 60 2/3 innings through 19 games at the big league level.
I suspect he thought “I’m gonna work a lot harder.” but his body (arm) said “Sorry, no can do Chachi”
GOODYEAR, Arizona -- Scribbles in my Cleveland Indians notebook after their 8-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday:
1. Corey Kluber looked ... well ... like Cory Kluber, the ace of the Tribe staff. He threw seven innings, allowing three runs (one earned). It was a Kluber-type performance: eight strikeouts, one walk while allowing five hits. His breaking ball was sharp and his fastball sliced the corners of home plate.
2. "I thought Kluber was tremendous," said manager Terry Francona. "He was so efficient. His last inning was his strongest. I think he hit 93 (mph on his fastball) and his ball had good late-life on it."
3. The Indians gave Kluber a special program to get his arm into game shape. Counting the playoffs, Kluber made 38 starts covering 249 innings in 2016. His overall record was 22-10. He started three times on three days of rest (instead of the usual four) in the postseason. They didn't want him to throw too hard, too soon.
4. Kluber said he felt very good. He talked about how he "like to compete" when pitching, even in spring games. He uses his bullpen sessions for experimentation.
5. Michael Brantley "cleared another hurdle" as Francona calls it. Brantley played in back-to-back games. He has played in three-of-four games this week. "It's all good for Brantley," said Francona. "He remains every bit as good as he was before the game. He won't play (Friday), but we will get him in the next day."
6. Last spring, Brantley played in one game, then took a day off. Then he played in a second game. That was it. His surgically repaired shoulder flared up. He opened the season on the disabled list. So Brantley is farther along than a year ago.
7. Francona is trying to keep the pressure off Brantley feeling the need to rush back: "Opening Day is not the finish line for him. I know it's something everyone shoots for, but as long as he maintains his health and feels good, we're going to be happy."
8. Francona said it's too early to talk about how often Brantley can play: "His goal is to play every day, but we're not there yet (in terms of talking about Brantley's schedule)."
9. Brantley played five innings. He was 0-for-3, but he did hit a shot to the third baseman. He is 3-for-9 (.333) this spring. His swing looked smooth and compact. As Francona said, "If we could teach everyone to swing like that, we would. He's taking good swings ... Michael was a good hitter before and if he's healthy, he'll be a good hitter again."
10. As the Indians look at various third base possibilities, Richie Shaffer is now included with Go Urshela and Yandy Diaz. Shaffer was 2-of-3 Thursday. He's batting .273, which is nothing special in the hitter's paradise of Arizona. But he has four HR and five doubles.
11. Francona on Shaffer: "He has some thunder in his bat. Left field or third base, we'll see where he fits ... maybe both. He can hit the ball out of the park."
12. Abraham Almonte is making a major move to make the team. He was 3-for-3 Thursday, raising his spring batting average to .385. He has two homers and 10 RBI. The Indians like Almonte because he is a switch-hitter who can play all three outfield positions. Francona likes Almonte's versatility.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
GOODYEAR, Arizona -- Scribbles in my Cleveland Indians notebook after their 8-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday:
1. Corey Kluber looked ... well ... like Cory Kluber, the ace of the Tribe staff. He threw seven innings, allowing three runs (one earned). It was a Kluber-type performance: eight strikeouts, one walk while allowing five hits. His breaking ball was sharp and his fastball sliced the corners of home plate.
2. "I thought Kluber was tremendous," said manager Terry Francona. "He was so efficient. His last inning was his strongest. I think he hit 93 (mph on his fastball) and his ball had good late-life on it."
3. The Indians gave Kluber a special program to get his arm into game shape. Counting the playoffs, Kluber made 38 starts covering 249 innings in 2016. His overall record was 22-10. He started three times on three days of rest (instead of the usual four) in the postseason. They didn't want him to throw too hard, too soon.
4. Kluber said he felt very good. He talked about how he "like to compete" when pitching, even in spring games. He uses his bullpen sessions for experimentation.
5. Michael Brantley "cleared another hurdle" as Francona calls it. Brantley played in back-to-back games. He has played in three-of-four games this week. "It's all good for Brantley," said Francona. "He remains every bit as good as he was before the game. He won't play (Friday), but we will get him in the next day."
6. Last spring, Brantley played in one game, then took a day off. Then he played in a second game. That was it. His surgically repaired shoulder flared up. He opened the season on the disabled list. So Brantley is farther along than a year ago.
7. Francona is trying to keep the pressure off Brantley feeling the need to rush back: "Opening Day is not the finish line for him. I know it's something everyone shoots for, but as long as he maintains his health and feels good, we're going to be happy."
8. Francona said it's too early to talk about how often Brantley can play: "His goal is to play every day, but we're not there yet (in terms of talking about Brantley's schedule)."
9. Brantley played five innings. He was 0-for-3, but he did hit a shot to the third baseman. He is 3-for-9 (.333) this spring. His swing looked smooth and compact. As Francona said, "If we could teach everyone to swing like that, we would. He's taking good swings ... Michael was a good hitter before and if he's healthy, he'll be a good hitter again."
10. As the Indians look at various third base possibilities, Richie Shaffer is now included with Go Urshela and Yandy Diaz. Shaffer was 2-of-3 Thursday. He's batting .273, which is nothing special in the hitter's paradise of Arizona. But he has four HR and five doubles.
11. Francona on Shaffer: "He has some thunder in his bat. Left field or third base, we'll see where he fits ... maybe both. He can hit the ball out of the park."
12. Abraham Almonte is making a major move to make the team. He was 3-for-3 Thursday, raising his spring batting average to .385. He has two homers and 10 RBI. The Indians like Almonte because he is a switch-hitter who can play all three outfield positions. Francona likes Almonte's versatility.
I think other than our SP injuries in playoffs, i think the next biggest detriment was not having Almonte available. He's a solid guy and it would have been nice to have to take some pressure of the guys out there by getting them rest
Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday. -John Wayne
Sources tell Yahoo’s Jeff Passan that the Indians and third baseman Jose Ramirez are closing in a four-year contract extension that would guarantee the 24-year-old $26 million. Here’s more:
Jeff Passan ✔@JeffPassan Jose Ramirez deal, once finished, will start in 2018. Includes two club options. If Indians exercise both, control Ramirez through 2023. 6:53 PM - 24 Mar 2017
Ramirez is coming off a breakout 2016 season in which he batted .312/.363/.462 (112 OPS+) with 46 doubles and 22 stolen bases. Additionally, Ramirez has established himself as a defensive asset at third base. It should be noted, however, that Ramirez owned a career OPS+ of just 76 (635 plate appearances) coming into 2016. So the Indians are betting that last season was more sign of things to come than fluke spike year. As for the contract, if those options are exercised, Ramirez will be selling the Indians all three of his arbitration years and three free-agent years. That means Ramirez will potentially be under team control until he’s 31. In other words, he’s selling a lot of his high-dollar years in exchange for a potential payday of $50 million. As with most of these early extensions, this one looks like a big potential bargain from the club standpoint.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
Gotta be concerned when a guy who had TJ surgery misses starts with an elbow issue, but Carrasco came back last night with 3 shutout innings vs the Cubs, so fingers crossed that it was just a blip. The injuries are making me nervous, like Kipnis being shut down for a month. You don't lose much with Ramirez at 2B, but you create a hole at 3B. Urshela is a good 3B, but there's doubt whether he can hit at this level. Yandy Diaz, the kid who had the 50 game hitting streak last year in A ball, is batting .453 this spring and making a case for himself to play 3B. The Indians know he can hit, but fear his lack of experience (ability) in the field. I heard a quote from Tito that indicated Diaz is a bit of a Dr Strangeglove in the field. Can't have that at 3B in the majors.
It was Francisco Mejia that had the 50 game hitting streak. Yandy Diaz was in AA and AAA all of last year.
I think Yandy Diaz making the Opening Day roster will have a lot to do with where Brantley is at in his return. His bat is making it a hard decision for Tito to be sure. I won't be surprised to see Michael Martinez or Erik Gonzalez fill in in the absence of Kipnis. It'll be interesting to see which route Francona goes.
Also of note, Chisenhall left the game yesterday with a shoulder strain after running hard into the wall going after a fly ball.
Don't knock Juan. His walk up music got everyone hyped.
Genuine nice guy, too. We had a short conversation (along with Lindor) during the time I got to attend batting practice.
------------------------------------ I decided against season tickets this summer. Something new came up in my personal life, and part of this summer will get spent on the east side of Pennsylvania. I'll bring my partner in crime to a few games in Cleveland during July, and then it'll be time to jump back up north for my fifth year in Alaska.
Man, listening to that tells me just how far I have to go to be anywhere near even partial Spanish fluency.
I can read a Mexican newspaper, and muddle through it, but hearing the language and getting it fast enough before the speaker moves on is still a struggle for me. (except for phrases I know really well)
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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