DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum 2017 Indians Thread #2

way to come out of the ASB and get swept by the last place A's . I'm not even sure what the answer is anymore. They just don't have "It" this year

I'm disappointed too, but I still think they'll win the division going away. What happens after that? No clue, but there were two positive developments today ... Lindor went 4-4 with 3 doubles and Salazar pitched 6 shutout innings in a rehab start at Columbus, striking out 9.

It'd be nice if Salazar could regain somewhat and we can just wash our hands of bauer and/or tomlin

Well, that wasn’t a fun trip to Oakland this week-end.

But since when is a trip to Oakland ever fun?

At least the MLB schedulers set-up the road-trips to Oakland and San Francisco back-to-back for the Indians.

But make no mistake, the Indians are in control. Before Tito we were so used to being 10 games behind about now. Cleveland currently leads the Central by 1 1/2 games over an over-achieving Minnesota team. (over-achieving so far)

For the last three years I’ve noticed that “Francona plays for September”. What I meant is his teams always peak in September. Always.

It doesn’t always mean the team will make the play-offs, it means the team will be hitting on all cylinders in September. The team will be playing it’s best possible baseball in September.

This is the genius of Francona.

So here’s why I feel this way today.

First off, I was initially alarmed by Francona’s sudden Health Concerns and his fuzzy hospital stay and “Hospital Procedure” (anybody know what his “hospital procedure” was?)

But in retrospect, Francona’s “hospital stay” and “procedure” couldn’t have come at a better time. The only significant time-off during the season.

I think it was very possibly planned. Maybe by Tito himself. Just to relax and recharge his 58 year-old body and mind. He probably wasn’t allowed to watch or talk about the team. The point being for him to just "shut-down" if only for a few days and be a bit refreshed to better weather the stretch run. (note: September)

Next, the players.

The losses to Oakland looked terrible. Really sucky games to watch.

But upon closer examination, they were like experimental games. All sorts of young, unproven, secondary or still developing players. Zimmer, Naquin, Urshela, Almonte, Gonzalez.

Francona is obviously inventorying what he has for the remainder of the season. As well as trying to nurture the youngster’s development. The cost of this being a three game sweep by Oakland this weekend.

And the pitchers. It sure looks to me like Francona is doing his best to have a rotation firing on all cylinders coming down the stretch.

Francona’s a genius.



Oopppsssss…(sorry Tito)

Hope Tito finds his answers soon. That was an ugly series. Broomed by the A's.

Hats off to Lindor. Sit Bauer.

C'mon, Tribe!

I'm very happy with Francona.

Unfortunately the Indians are not a lock for anything this year (like we all thought in March).

But it is possible to be realistically optimist here in July 2017.

Is there a word for that?

"Realistically Optimistic".

(not "hopeful" - that's too "wishy")

Hey, the Indians won.

I think I'll wet myself.

Seems like we may trade our hotshot catching prospect for a starter from Oakland.

I'm not sure how I feel about that. We obviously need another starter, but I wonder how can we ever find a catcher to give us an offensive pop?

As for the average play as of late, we just need everyone to get healthy. We'll be fine.

Can't wait to see how the Tribe comes out after the all-star break, when do they start to play again?

At least we didn’t have to face Bumgardner



“What do you do for a living?”

“I’m a Bumgardner.”

I need to go to more games. I'm at tonight's game and 13 runs so far. The other game I went to? They scored 11.

good thing our offense came to play today, bauer still garbage

He gave up 3 runs. Chill the hyperbole. We need more complaining about Kyrie in the Cavs thread, anyway.

Why is that guy a starter? They only scored 3 runs but still.

You can't leave Cleveland till after the World Series.

Pay my salary until October, buy me tickets for every game, and do the same for my girl.

Thanks, Ted!

Sorry, but Bauer is garbage...that's not hyperbole, which seems to be your fav word...you should invest in a dictionary to expand.

Both Tomlin and Bauer are damn near dead last in rankings, only ahead of Moore and Gausman. Sorry that's not exaggeration...its fact..

If you could scientifically prove that yours and your girls presence at these games netted double digit scores and wins every time, you could start a go fund me page and probably retire on it!

So, tonight could be the most pivotal night of the year for The Tribe.

If Salazar, regains his 2016 form and lasts the year, the Tribe rotation will again be indomitable.

A 100% Salazar would be the ace on most teams.

He did win the June 2016 AL Pitcher of the Month award.

Hey Salazar looked OK the first inning.

But it did take him 12 pitches to strike out the side.

Salazar looking on point!

Did any one else see the 3 pitch intentional walk in the 6th to Encarnacion?

I've never seen that before. Must be a new rule.

There was no 4th pitch. I think Toronto just conceded the walk and off to first base went Encarnacion with a 3-0 count.

Cut Miller! He's awful!

Welcome back Danny Salazar!!! We missed you!!!

They need a better way to statistically define a "Win" for a pitcher.

Yesterday Salazar pitched spectacularly: 7 innings, no runs, one hit - No Decision.

Bryan Shaw faced One Batter and gets the win. 1/3 of an inning in a 10-inning game.

It's almost like wins don't matter.

Yeah, I've always hated when people start bringing "wins" into a Cy Young discussion.

He looked determined and performed as such.

Exciting games yesterday.

Another great performance by Kluber. Strike throwing machine.

KKKKKKKKKKKKKKluber is a machine.

Kluber is the most underrated player I have ever seen, he had run support in his losses he would be 12 and 1

come on tribe. i hate losing to CIN

Tomlin strikes out the side in the 2nd.

Great job Josh, Tribe up 1-0.

Now get Tomlin out of there.

Tonight's my last in-person game of the season. Tomlin, perennial Cy Young candidate, looking swell.

2-1 Tribe!

So because:

1) Cincinatti and Cleveland finished 2017 2-2 against each other, and
2) In the case of a tie, the current holder retains the cup, and
3) Cleveland currently has the Ohio Cup (thanks to Rajai Davis - series MVP 2016)

The Tribe keeps the cup.





Carlos Santana wins series 2017 Ohio Cup MVP.

Kluber won a Cy Young.

He's not a national media darling. He's one of those unsung Cy Young winners.

I basically only read national sports media. The sites I read (Fangraphs, Baseball Prospectus, etc.) love Corey Kluber.

ESPN, Baseball Tonight, etc. is what I was getting at.

Not you and your fancy know it all sites that fly in the face of expert opinion hot takes.