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Willis returns as Pitching Coach ..

Opinion ; not a fan of hitting coach Ty Van Burkleo ..

Willis is a great choice.

Yankees can Girardi.

Joe Girardi out as New York Yankees manager
http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2017/10/joe_girardi_out_as_new_york_ya.html

NEW YORK - Joe Girardi's tenure as New York Yankees manager ended Thursday after a decade that produced just one World Series title for a team that expects to win every year.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman made the announcement five days after the Yankees lost to Houston in Game 7 of the AL Championship Series.

"Everything this organization does is done with careful and thorough consideration, and we've decided to pursue alternatives for the managerial position," Cashman said in a statement.

New York does not have an obvious candidate to replace him. The Yankees are the third of the 10 postseason teams to remove managers, joining Boston and Washington.

A former All-Star catcher for the Yankees, Girardi was at the end of his contract and said last weekend he had to speak with his family before deciding whether he wanted to return. New York made the decision for him.

"He has a tireless work ethic, and put his heart into every game he managed over the last decade," Cashman said. "He should take great pride in our accomplishments during his tenure."

A three-time World Series champion as a player with the Yankees, Girardi succeeded Joe Torre as manager after the 2007 season and led New York to its 27th World Series title in 2009 but has fallen short each year since.

The 53-year-old Girardi led a young squad on a surprising run to an AL wild-card berth this year with a 91-71 record, the team's best since 2012. New York beat Minnesota in the wild-card game, then fell behind Cleveland 2-0 in the Division Series. Girardi admitted he made a mistake not asking for a video replay review in Game 2.

"I screwed up. And it's hard. It's a hard day for me," he said then. "But I got to move forward and we'll be ready to go tomorrow."

New York won the next three games to advance, lost the first two games of the ALCS at Houston, then won three in a row to move within a victory of reaching the World Series for the first time in eight years. But the Astros swept the final two games.

Cashman said he and owner Hal Steinbrenner had spoken directly with Girardi this week.

Girardi's 910-710 regular season record with the Yankees is sixth in victories managing the team behind Joe McCarthy (1,460), Torre (1,173), Casey Stengel (1,149), Miller Huggins (1,067) and Ralph Houk (944).

I don't know that the Yankees actually "canned" him. It may of been a more mutual agreement. I think Girardi has his sights set on working in the commissioners office, and I'm sure he's tired of 10 years worth of "Yankee fan expectations".

By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian |

CLEVELAND -- Carlos Santana sat on the bench inside the visitors' dugout, staring out at the Safeco Field diamond before a late September game against the Mariners. As he awaited the start of batting practice, the Indians first baseman posed a question.

"Do you think I can win a Gold Glove?" Santana asked. "I hope so."

Santana is getting that chance. On Thursday, Rawlings unveiled the finalists (three at each position) for this year's Rawlings Gold Glove Awards in both the American and National Leagues. Santana made the cut at first base, joining shortstop Francisco Lindor, third baseman Jose Ramirez and catcher Yan Gomes as the Tribe's nominees.

The winners will be announced in a one-hour special at 9 p.m. ET on Nov. 7 on ESPN.

That's not a bad infield. Plus, is they would have been healthy, (and started the whole year) Zimmer, Brantley, and Chisenhall would have stood a chance as well.

We have (had?) a great defensive team when everyone is healthy.

Is anybody watching this World Series Game 5?? Just amazing!

That was crazy. People here are about ready to jump off a bridge.

that was the craziest baseball game i've ever seen, let alone in the world series. just back and forth ... tying HRs, taking the lead HRs, crazy at bats, etc.

maybe there really is something that MLB is doing with the baseballs

There have been multiple studies to show that the ball is definitely different. Whether the league is doing it on purpose is a different question entirely (I don't think they are).

This really feels like a must-win game for both teams.

Why do the sports Gods smite us? Why can a team whose 1st appearance in a WS win it all, yet we always lose and choke it all away? Just ranting and being bitter

Second World Series appearance. Also, they've been around awhile and have never won.

Katrina, worst flood in New Orleans history, a few years later they win their first super bowl ever.... Houston, worst flood in its history, a few months later they win their first world series....

Come on Cleveland, take one for the team.

Sounds to me like we need a good old fashion river burn.

I did call it back in August. Here's what I said:

man, houston is tenacious. and will be good for a while, at least offensively

Cleveland Indians exercise 2018 options on Michael Brantley, Josh Tomlin

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2017/11/cleveland_indians_54.html#incart_2box

A little surprised they stayed with Brantley at $12M, but glad they did. Here's hoping he can get back to normal. Tomlin is a steal at $3M.

I certainly understand Tomlin ( inexpensive ) but Brantley is really risky .. I darn sure want Santana and Bruce !

Tomlin is a good 5th starter....he can win 12 a year. Good move.

They just keep seeing the upside in Brantley and hope his injury streak is about over.


We need to keep Santana.....Bruce is a one year rental guy. I'd like to keep him, but he will become someone elses 1 year rental next year. I think Bruce will be happy signing as many 1 year contracts as he can. They generally pay a bit more than a 2-3 year deal.....on average of course.

Blue Jays declined their $18M option on Jose Bautista. Bautista had 23 HR and 65 RBIs, slashing .203/.306/.366. His OPS was .672, well below his career average of .842. That's a pretty steep regression.

either he's off the juice, age has caught up to him, or that's one big coincidence.

He's not good anymore. He couldn't get a multi year offer last off-season either. Bautista is a part time player at best.

Indians extend $17.4M qualifying offer to Carlos Santana.

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2017/11/cleveland_indians_carlos_santa_17.html

They are definitely spending money now.

spending 12 million on brantley is dumb, he's done..that money could have gotten us a reliever to replace shaw or another OF if Bruce isn't brought back. I agree about making the offer to Santana, I'd like to bring he and Bruce back, but if I'm being honest, I'd rather have Bruce. But I can't complain they are indeed trying. Gambling is ok, if it works out, I don't see Mr. Glass as working out.. Hope I'm wrong, but he really looked done.

Don't know if I would use the term " dumb " , but I do question the Brantley move with all other options ( players ) still on the table ..

I would have rather put that money toward signing Bruce

exactly...i guess we have to look at it at the end of the offseason to see the impact of it, but yeah, That would have been much better spent on Bruce.

I don't know, I think at this point, we needed to stick with Brantley. It's not that it is the same stuf injury wise. He is still young enough and when on, a top 50 player, maybe top 25 player in baseball. I think you need to ride that out until the end.

A replacement level player costs around $12 million. It makes sense for Cleveland to bet on a player they know rather than gamble on someone outside organization, especially considering Brantley's upside.

Quote:

Free agent Carlos Santana expected to reject $17.4 million qualifying offer from Cleveland Indians

By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com phoynes@cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Carlos Santana is not expected to accept a $17.4 million qualifying offer to play with the Indians next season.

The Indians made the offer to Santana on Nov. 6 and he has until Thursday to accept or reject it. If he rejects it, he will have draft pick compensation tied to him.

Jon Heyman of Fanrags.com was first to report that Santana, along with the eight other players who received qualifying offers from their old teams, would not accept them.

The Indians say they have not heard anything official from Santana's agents.

Santana, 31, has spent his entire big-league career with the Indians. Last season he hit .259 (148-for-571) with 37 doubles, 23 homers and 79 RBI in 154 games. He is the Indians franchise leader in home runs (174) and RBI (587) by a switch-hitter.

He ranks second in the big leagues over the last eight years with 689 walks. Cincinnati's Joey Votto is first. Santana ranks fourth in franchise history in walks.

The Boston Globe reports that the Red Sox are interested in Santana. They finished last in the AL in homers in 2017 and are looking for power.

Seattle has also reportedly shown interest in Santana.

Santana is one of seven free agents who spent all or part of last season with the Indians. He is the only one to receive a qualifying offer.

Last season, Santana made $12 million, with the Indians exercising the option at the end of the 2016 season. Eric Hosmer and Santana sit at the top of a crowded first base-DH free agent class. Yonder Alonso, Chris Carter, Adam Lind, Mitch Moreland, Mike Napoli and Mark Reynolds are some of the other free agents in that category.

Santana, who started his career as a catcher, has moved around the diamond from third base to first base. He has established himself as a quality first baseman, winning the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year award for first basemen last week. He was also a Gold Glove finalist.

The Indians have said they'd like to keep Santana, while Santana has said he'd like to return to Cleveland. If he signs elsewhere, the Indians will receive a pick at the end of the first round in the June draft as compensation if his contract is worth at least $50 million in guranteed money. If he signs a deal for less than $50 million, they'll receive a pick before the third round of the draft.

The other eight players who received qualifying offers were Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain and Mike Moustakas of Kansas City, Lance Lynn of St. Louis, Alex Cobb of Tampa Bay, Greg Holland of Colorado and Jake Arietta and Wade David of the Cubs.

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2017/11/cleveland_indians_57.html

So much for "home town discounts" ... not that I really hold it against a guy for getting as much as he can. This is probably his one chance at a combination of years (security) and what amounts to generational wealth for his family. The rationale for picking up Brantley's option becomes clearer; I bet he ends up playing 1B.

$17.4 million IS generational wealth. Combine that with what he's already made - it't TOTALLY generational wealth.

But, can't blame him if he thinks he'll get more.

(ask Pryor - okay, I know that's different)

I'm guessing that Carlos is looking for a $90M contract, so the Indians made a "representative" offer at $17.4M, but not really because they know he wants his career contract now, not after next year. I like Santana a lot, but I don't think the Indians could, or should, spend that kind of money for him.

Santana is line to make around $72 million. He'd be dumb to take the qualifying offer.

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf...ncart_big-photo

Cleveland Indians' Corey Kluber wins second AL Cy Young award

Updated 9:07 PM; Posted 6:17 PM
Congratulations to 2017 A.L. Cy Young Award Winner Corey Kluber


By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com phoynes@cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Corey Kluber, the quiet and efficient ace of the Indians, won his second AL Cy Young award on Wednesday night by vote of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Kluber went 18-4 with a 2.25 ERA in 29 starts. His 2.25 ERA was the best in the big leagues. It was Kluber's second Cy Young in the last four years and makes him the only Indians' pitcher to win his fraternity's top award twice.

[censored] Perry, CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee also won the Cy Young as members of the Indians.

In the National League, right-hander Max Scherzer of Washington won the Cy Young award for the second straight year and third time in his career. Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers finished second and Stephen Strasburg, Scherzer's teammate, finished third.

Kluber was first or tied for first in several categories for AL pitchers including wins, ERA, WAR for pitchers, WHIP, FIP, hits per nine innings, batting average against, slugging percentage against, on base percentage against, strikeouts per nine innings and walks per nine innings.

The only blemish in Kluber's season were his two starts in the ALDS against the Yankees. He went 0-1 with a 12.79 ERA.

"It's just a constant learning experience," Kluber told the MLB Network, which aired the BBWAA awards. "This year I dealt with more physically than I had in the past and you learn how to deal with those different ups and downs.


"There are different things that pop up for everybody during the course of the year and you're just trying to learn from those experiences."

Kluber credited the Indians' organization for his successful season.

"Obviously there are numerous people throughout the organization who are key to everybody's success," he said. "First and foremost -- catchers, teammates, coaching staff. The people you're with every day.

"It may be an individual award, but there are a lot of people who go into that success."

Boston's 17-game winner Chris Sale was second and New York Luis Severino was third in the BBWAA voting.

Kluber won the award in a landslide with 28 first place votes and two second place votes for a total of 204 points. Sale was second with two first place votes and 28 second place votes for 126 points. Severino finished third with 73 points.

Carlos Carrasco, Kluber's teammate, finished fourth with 43 points. Carrasco, who matched Kluber's 18 victories, received one third place vote and 16 fourth place votes and eight fifth place votes. Justin Verlander, Craig Kimbrel, Ervin Santana and Marcus Stroman also received votes.

During the Tribe's historic 22-game winning streak that started on Aug. 24, the rotation went 19-0 with a 1.74 ERA. Kluber was 4-0 with a 1.41 ERA, while Carrasco went 3-0 with a 0.62 ERA.

Kluber, after missing all but one start in May, returned at full roar in June. He was named AL Pitcher of the Month in June, August and September.

He received a $250,000 bonus for winning the Cy Young and the last three years of his five-year, $38.5 million contract received a $2 million bump. Kluber's base salary in 2019 went from $13 million to $15 million. In 2020 and 2012, both club options, the base salary will jump from $13.5 million to $15.5 million and $14 million to $16 million.

Well done !

Congratulations Corey!

Well deserved.

Free-agent 1B Carlos Santana has officially declined the Indians' one-year, $17.4-million Qualifying Offer. Doesn't end talks between the sides. Just helps Cleveland net a Draft pick in the event that he signs with a new team.

https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/931282858920038400

Indians' 2018 World Series hopes just took a shot to the midsection. Yankees traded for Giancarlo Stanton. Return of the Bronx Bombers; watch out if they get a FOR pitcher.

https://www.mlb.com/news/source-yankees-reach-deal-to-acquire-stanton/c-263175874