DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Indians Off-season News

I had my first of two fantasy drafts today. I took Ryan Merritt first overall.

quote by cfrs:

"I took Ryan Merritt first overall."

Stop it. You're just making fun of me.

You should have taken Cy Tomlin first.

I took him with my second pick.

Gettin' ready for his new pitch this year. The screwyball.

By the way, in all seriousness, I think Tomlin lead all AL starting pitchers in walks/9 innings in 2016. (1.03) Good for WHIP.

If he qualifies.

Yeah, it's difficult.

I have been using a free site called Duolingo, and it's pretty good for the beginning aspect. I have completed their Spanish and French programs, and at on level 21 of 25 in Italian.

I can read a lot, as I can usually figure out a word by its context, but as most of our football people have told us ..... it's a process. I have been trying to read an article per day from a Mexican newspaper.

Portada — La Jornada
http://www.jornada.unam.mx/ultimas

They also usually have a video or 2, but the people speak so quickly that my poor old brain often can't keep up.

Maybe I'l look for some children's sites. Maybe they speak more slowly.

quote by Y:

"as most of our football people have told us ..... it's a process"

Right. Only thing about the "Browns' Process" is that there's been no outcome. At least not the desired outcome.

So hey!

Cy Tomlin pitched yesterday.

5 innings, 0 Walks!

Of course he needs to work on that 7.2 Home runs/9 innings average.

He gave up four yesterday. They used to call that "batting practice".

Per Francona:

Outfielder Austin Jackson is in (on the opening day roster).



Mike Clevinger, Bradley Zimmer, Joe Colon, catcher Adam Moore, utilityman Richie Shaffer, first baseman Chris Colabello, left-hander Tyler Olson, catcher Erik Kratz and outfielder Daniel Robertson did not make the opening day roster.

I’m surprised about Colabello. He’s tearing the cover off the ball this spring. I guess just no place to put him.

Yeah, I have no idea where would Colabello have played. Santana and Encarnacion are going to trade off, 1st base for DH. That really leaves no room for another 1B. (only)

j/c....

This was funny to hear Tom Hamilton's reaction when interviewing Chernoff's son. Fast forward to the 3:40min mark to hear the audio. I'd be ecstatic to get a long-term deal worked out for Lindor.

Did Indians GM's adorable son leak news of a possible Lindor extension on the radio?
Young Brody Chernoff, son of Mike Chernoff, was a guest in the Indians' radio booth recently, and he may have spilled the beans

Excelsior! In case you don’t believe your own ears, the exchange of note goes as follows ...

Tom Hamilton: Let me ask you, just between us and all the people listening. Dad had any phone calls lately? Who’s he trying to get. Because he won’t tell us. Can you?

Brody Chernoff: He’s trying to, um, get Lindor to play for seven more years.

[Slightly horrified guffawing]

Hamilton: OK. We better not talk anymore Brody. There you have it folks, we’ve finally had a scoop on the Indians’ radio network.

Link with audio

Talk about the forgotten man.

Did you know Yan Gomes won a 2014 AL Silver Slugger Award?

The top offensive catcher in the AL.

135 hits in 135 games, 21 homers, 25 doubles

He’s been injured the last two years.

Geez, I think he looks good right now.



“A .342 batting average this spring, Gomes has collected 13 hits in 38 at-bats with two home runs, six runs and three RBI for the Indians, and gets the regular season started against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park next Monday.”

“Holy bat spunk, Batman”

It's been five months since the final game of the 2016 World Series.

Less than a week to first pitch 2017. (Next Monday 7:05 pm EST)

Six days, 23 hours, 45 minutes, and....21 seconds.

Another “Boy are they stacked” player.

Remember Carlos Santana?

Last year, he played in 158 games, hit 34 homers, 31 doubles, lead the team in walks (99) - (lead the AL in walks in 2014 with 113),and he can play catcher, first base and left field. And he’s a switch hitter.

"Play" catcher.

In other Tribe news....

Lonnie Chisenhall is starting the season on the 10 day DL. Creates an opening/opportunity for Almonte

Brantley hit another HR and had a single today. Looking good so far, but cautiously optimistic.

Yandy Diaz doing his best to force the Tribe to put him on the Opening Day roster after clubbing a 3 run HR today.

Lindor hit a solo shot as well.

What do you guys think of Santana?

I was not impressed by him in the playoffs, but I am new to watching the Indians, so I would appreciate your opinions.

I did not like how he over swung at so many pitches in the lead off spot. I see him more as a guy who should hit 5th. There was one at bat where he laid a bunt down the 3rd base line and got on easily. He never did it again.

I know I am old school......but man, shouldn't your lead off hitter do all he can to get on base?

But again..........you guys who have followed the Tribe a lot know way more about him than I do and I welcome your opinions/analysis.

I once had similar thoughts, but the 20 games I went to in-person last season, and watching practically every game possible made me realize his value.

Tito puts him there due to his plate discipline. He lead the majors in walks at the lead-off spot. Sounds ridiculous at first, but it's amazing strategy when you've got guys like Kipnis, Lindor, and now Encarnacion baring cleanup. He works well as a power hand if one of the 7,8, or 9 guys gets on.

There's a method to Terry's madness. We're still the team to beat. The Cubs got us at a decimated starting rotation. Our starters still exist as murderers row.

Santana was an effective, though unconventional choice to lead off. He led the team in both OBP (.366) and SLG,(.498) and I believe that he was tied for the team lead in HR. (34) One area where he was lacking was in stealing a base, as he really wasn't at all effective in that regard. (5SB) However, he did a nice job getting on base. He scored 89 runs, and had 87 RBI. (and that was with him hiting all over the lineup) He hit better than he has in quite a long time, both power and average. (and that was with him going back and forth between leadoff and other spots in the lineup)

Kind of felt like I was listening to Leadtheway's post history.

Oopppssss… Wrong Carlos Santana.

I guess he does look a little unsure behind the plate.

Santana is strictly a first basemen and DH at this point. He hasn't caught in a game since 2014 and hasn't played in the outfield since 2012. That doesn't mean he isn't valuable.

Santana played LF in the World Series last year.

Sorry. I was looking at Baseball Reference and it only showed the regular season. Either way, it is not a good thing to have him anywhere other than first base or designated hitter (as evidenced by him not playing any other positions).

When we played them at their place, right? Without DH eligibility?

Yep, and he made no mistakes out there.

I don't recall him making mistakes either, but my point is that I think him playing in the outfield was out of necessity. I mean, Tito wanted both his and Napoli's bat in the lineup two of the three away games. So who would you put out there of the two? Santana or Napoli?

Santana.. I don't think he improves your defense but he has not proven to be a liability either if needed in a pinch...

And during the WS (the whole playoffs), Napoli's bat was ice cold. What did he hit, like .160?

Napoli was ice cold in the entire playoffs. He still played though. I think he didn't start one of the away Series' games (against a righty) but he was in there every other game.

Yandy Diaz Makes Opening Day Roster; Urshela and Gonzalez Optioned

In an unexpected Spring Training storyline, the answer to the hot issue at the hot corner has finally come to light.

The Indians announced Thursday afternoon that Yandy Diaz will join Michael Martinez on the Opening Day roster, barring injury, answering the question of who would fill in for Jose Ramirez at third base.

Ramirez will take over for Jason Kipnis at second base while he recovers from a nagging shoulder injury that should sideline the All-Star for another 3-4 weeks.

In corresponding moves, 3B Giovanny Urshela and UT Erik Gonzalez were optioned to Triple-A. To fit both Diaz and Gonzalez on the 40-man roster, another move will need to be made.

Upon Kipnis’ diagnosis, Diaz and Urshela found themselves in a competition for the first few weeks at third, with Diaz providing plenty of argument off the bat and Urshela seeming the safe bet in the field.

Diaz responded by posting the highest batting average of any Indian who saw 10 at-bats in Cactus League play, posting a split of .429/.529/.667 as of March 29. Urshela split .268/.311/.463.

http://cleveland.cbslocal.com/2017/03/30...nNjhYWk.twitter

https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/847570246487625730

1. I love Francona (and I'm not an Indians fan)
2. Santana, if given a larger sample, would be one the worst defensive outfielders in the league. That would then negate his value at the plate.

So it looks like our active roster will look like this:

S1: Corey Klubber
S2: Danny Salazar
S3: Carlos Carrasco
S4: Josh Tomlin
S5: Trevor Bauer

CL: Cody Allen
SU: Andrew Miller
SU: Brian Shaw
RP: Dan Otero
RP: Shawn Armstrong
RP: Boone Logan
RP: Zach McAllistar


C: Yan Gomez
C: Robert Perez
1B: Carlos Santana
2B: Jason Kipnis (DL)
SS: Francisco Lindor
3B: Jose Ramirez
UI: Yandy Diaz (will play 3B while Ramirez relaces Kipnis)
UI: Michael Martinez

DH: Juan Encarnacion

LF: Michael Brantley
CF: Tyler Naquin
RF: Lonnie Chisenhall
OF: Brandon Guyer
OF: Abraham Almonte
OF: Austin Jackson

Pretty stacked outfield, judging by the good spring that Almonte and Jackson had. Just need to get Kipnis healthy again and keep Brantley healthy.

That is one heck of a lineup, from starting pitchers all the way down to utility infielders.

I worry about Diaz's defense at 3rd, but I suspect that he'll hit up here. He has a beautiful, powerful, and compact swing, with excellent bat control, and he hits the ball to all fields. He doesn't seem like the kind of guy who is going to get himself out by just swinging wildly at pitches.

I hope that he plays so well that he makes decisions really difficult when Kip returns.

He's back!

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/encarju01.shtml

How does Michael Martinez make a major league roster?

He will turn 34 during the season and has never been good at any point in his career.

Not a big fan of that move either ! Would have kept one of the Kids .

Someone's gotta be the worst one on the team. It sure looks like it's Michael Martinez.

Why was he kept?

I'd guess because he is very versatile. He can play OF, 2B, 3B and he's a switch hitter.

Albeit, not a good switch hitter.

Maybe he's a good fielder.

Maybe his offensive value is hidden in his splits. (he did tear up lefthanded pitchers at a .250 clip.)