DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Indians Continued

Brad Hand looks very good.





Don't go away mad.

Just go away.

PS. Longest Pirates win streak this century finally ended.

11 game winning streak? That's cute. We did that last year twice ... in a row.

good W today

Glad to see some bats today. hats off to bauer!

Wahoo! Go, Tribe!

great game today! like I said, I'm completely neutral in this series.

There's wild rumors circulating that the Washington Nationals might trade Bryce Harper at the trade deadline, with the intention of re-signing him as a FA this winter. The Indians have been mentioned prominently in the radio and internet rumors with names like Tristan McKenzie and Danny Salazar being floated. Harper would be a 2-3 month rental for the Indians, just as Machado would have been. The Indians were thought to be involved in the Manny Machado "sweepstakes" right up to the point he went to the Dodgers. The following article is from MLB.com.

**********************

Should the Nationals consider trading Harper?

By Mike Petriello MLB.com

Jul. 6th, 2018

Should the Nationals actually trade Bryce Harper? It was a question we half-jokingly posed on Twitter earlier this week, figuring such a thing could never actually happen. Then they proceeded to run their losing stretch to five in a row and eight of nine, before Trea Turner powered an incredible comeback on Thursday night.

Maybe that's the start of it, that Thursday's wild comeback was the jolt they needed. Maybe it was just a nice night, given that allowing 12 runs to one of baseball's weakest offenses is still a problem. Either way, even with the win, the Nats are just a .500 team, with a worse winning percentage than Tampa Bay, Colorado or Oakland. They're in third place in the National League East, six games out and looking upward at six teams in the NL Wild Card race.

Washington has lost 21 of 31 since May 31, a .323 winning percentage that's better than only the Mets, Orioles and Royals in that time span. Maybe a question that sounds objectively crazy on its face actually isn't: Should the Nationals, in the face of a tremendously disappointing season, trade the man who was expected to headline one of the best free-agent classes of all time this offseason?

The answer is clearly, "Not yet, obviously," and not just because the Nationals certainly aren't going to do anything this wild before they host the baseball world at the All-Star Game later this month. This is not something that could or should happen soon. But what if that answer changes in the next few weeks? Let's try to find out what would need to happen for the Nats to completely change the face of the non-waiver Trade Deadline.

The Nationals would need to completely fall apart

For this to happen, the Nationals couldn't be on the fringes of the race. They'd need to be out of the race. If this were the American League, that would have already happened. Fortunately for them, they're in the NL, where no team has more than a 1 1/2-game lead in their division.

The Nats can point to a 20-7 May as evidence they can pull it together when they need to. They can say that they've added Kelvin Herrera and Juan Soto, that Daniel Murphy is finally healthy, and that Stephen Strasburg could return soon as well. They can point to a relatively difficult recent schedule full of the Red Sox, Phillies, Rays and Yankees, and note that only six of their remaining July games come against winning teams, when they face Atlanta and Milwaukee after the All-Star break.

That's all fair. There's a ton of talent here. But this isn't just bad luck, either. Since June 1, the Nats' offense has scored the ninth-fewest runs, thanks to the 14th-best OBP and 23rd-best slugging percentage in the Majors. Their pitching staff has a 4.96 ERA, the third-highest, due in large part to an NL-high 50 homers allowed and baseball's highest slugging allowed, .466. Other than Soto and the continued excellence of Max Scherzer and Anthony Rendon, this has been a team-wide effort.

Then again, time is short. In the nearly five decades since divisional play arrived in 1969, only three teams that were 10 or more games back at the Trade Deadline came back to win their division, most recently the 2006 Twins. Only two teams that were eight or more games out of a Wild Card spot came back to make the postseason, and the '11 Rays and Cardinals each required what was essentially the wildest day in baseball history to get there. (In the era of two Wild Cards, it's 7 1/2 games.)

So that's where we'll set our boundaries. If the Nats are coming up on the Trade Deadline at 10 games out in the NL East and at least eight out of an Wild Card spot, this is plausible.

Harper would need to turn around his slump

At first, you'd think this is the hard part: If Harper starts hitting, then the team would be more likely to start winning, negating the entire question. Right?

Well, it's actually the easy part. Harper has started hitting, and the team still isn't winning. Over his previous 15 games before going 0-for-3 with two walks Thursday, Harper was hitting .229/.415/.521. That's not an impressive batting average, but it's also the least important number there. That line is a .930 OPS, or a .390 wOBA, or a 146 wRC+. No matter which number you prefer, it's strong production.

Fifteen games doesn't guarantee anything, but there's plenty of evidence Harper's skills are intact. He has baseball's second-highest walk rate, behind only Mike Trout, and a Top-20 hard-hit rate, better than Javier Baez or Paul Goldschmidt. Harper isn't hitting more grounders, though he is pulling the ball 10 percentage points more than he did last year, leading to his shift issues -- and he's being shifted 60 percent of the time in 2018, up from 22 percent last year.

If you care about batting average, Harper's low mark is a deal-breaker. Most teams won't. It won't be hard to find a team in love with his skills.

The Nats would need to buy into the idea of a "reload," not a "rebuild"

If you trade Harper, you're admitting you're not likely to make a run in 2018, and that means you can make some noise. Murphy will be a free agent after this season, and so will Gio Gonzalez, Matt Wieters, Herrera, Ryan Madson, Shawn Kelley, Jeremy Hellickson, Matt Adams and Mark Reynolds. Not all of those names have trade value, but several do, and they could be packaged in groups.

But that doesn't mean that the Nationals would be entering a rebuilding phase. For 2019, they'd still have Scherzer, Strasburg and Rendon. They'd have Turner, Soto and Sean Doolittle. They'd have Adam Eaton, Ryan Zimmerman, Tanner Roark, Victor Robles and Brandon Kintzler.

Throw in whatever would be brought back via trade, and 2018's embarrassment could turn into '19's excitement -- if the team was willing to buy into that point of view.

So, if all that happens, and the Nationals are willing to make a move …

Where would Harper fit?

This is the fun part. It would have to be a playoff contender, obviously, and it would have to be one that could seriously use outfield help. That probably rules out the Yankees, Red Sox, Brewers, Cubs and Dodgers. Let's throw in the Braves, too, given Nick Markakis's season and now that Ronald Acuna Jr. is healthy again.

Then there's the "maybe, but probably not" teams. You could maybe see the Astros wanting to add Harper to fill left field next to George Springer and Josh Reddick, but it feels unlikely. That's probably true for Arizona and Philadelphia too, each likely preferring Manny Machado.

One team that would be a good fit but probably doesn't have enough to trade is Seattle, which could slide Harper next to Mitch Haniger in the outfield. But the best fit is indisputably in Cleveland, where the Indians still haven't fixed the outfield problem that was glaring entering the year. They have baseball's fourth-worst outfield hitting line (.257/.310/.380), as Michael Brantley has been the only useful bat.

"The Indians have bigger issues in the bullpen," you might say, and they do. But that's what makes it so perfect. If Washington is going to do this, it might as well do this -- and package Harper with Herrera for a larger prospect return. Whatever it takes to get catching prospect Francisco Mejia, really; no team has received less offense from their catchers this year than Washington.

Again: This is phenomenally unlikely. It still sounds a little nuts in the first week of July. But if the Nats don't turn this around soon, and the post-All Star run through the Braves and Brewers goes poorly? We might not be asking how they could do it. We might be asking how could they possibly not do it.

Mike Petriello is an analyst for MLB.com and the host of the Statcast podcast. He has previously written for ESPN Insider and FanGraphs.

https://www.mlb.com/news/should-the-nationals-trade-bryce-harper/c-284386676

Mark down July 27, 2018 as the day the Twins - the Indians only possible competition in the AL Central - put up the white flag. They traded infielder Eduardo Escobar to the D-Backs for 3 prospects. Escobar had 15 HR 63 RBIs and a .274 avg, with an fine OPS of .852. Indians now have the luxury of resting starters as needed, and still running away with the AL Central title.

yeah, the Twins then proceded to blow a game in Boston too

Well done article, and I think we need some players can hit the really solid pitchers we are sure to see in the playoffs. This article is interesting if we can pull it off. And if we can get this and a solid arm in one deal, get it going. We manage for late fall; shouldn't we trade for it as well with good players, if a solid fit on paper becomes available?

A couple guys got traded yesterday that could have helped the Indians replace Jason Kipnis' bat in the lineup ... the Phillies acquired 2B/SS Asdrubal Cabrera from the Mets, and the Brewers got 3B Mike Moustakas from the Royals. Neither team got a huge haul in return, as far as I can see, but I'm guessing that Cabrera & Moustakas were both making a lot more in salary than the Indians wanted to take on for the remainder of 2018.

To many COLD BAT days ...

Today's starting Tiger's pitcher - Jordan Zimmerman - agreed to a $110 million dollar, 5 year contact with Detroit in 2016.

Since coming over, his ERA with Detroit is 5.25.

He lead the AL with 108 Earned Runs Allowed last year. In only 160 innings pitched.

Ouch.

A big reason for Detroit's decline.



No wonder he's smiling.

Tigers also owe 35 year old Miguel Cabrera $28M per year through 2023.

Great work if you can find it.

Lot of demand for talent in The Bigs. This may be why . . .

Wahoo! Go, Tribe!!

....and they let Scherzer, Verlander, Price and Porcello get away.

And they signed him to the extension when they didn't have to.

Also, the Angels owe Pujols $87 million through 2021. He's currently 38. He was the worst position player in the league last year.

Miggy Cabrera is the best hitter I ever saw, but he has missed a lot of games in 3 of the last 4 years with hamstring and lower back issues, and at his age it isn't going to get better. That Pujols contract is a killer too, though.

Barry Bonds and Mike Trout are the two best I've seen, with Bonds being far better than even Trout.

There's a guy named Buck Farmer pitching for the Tigers. He's every announcer's worst nightmare.

When the first two Tigers' batters got hits to start the first inning today, I thought "Here we go again." "Man on second and third, No outs."

"Kluber's gonna get shelled again." (and the announcers were like making excuses for Kluber. "Well, his knee might not be 100%."

Boy was I pleasantly surprised.

It seemed Kluber was carefully saving certain types of pitches for when the batters came around to face him the second and third times in the game.

I'm learning what that expression: "He got stronger as the game went on." means.

On the radio, Hamilton was saying that Kluber was throwing a lot more offspeed and breaking stuff than usual, not as many 4-seam fastballs and cutters. I don't know what that means in terms of how Kluber's feeling, I just hope he's healthy.

I think we can comfortably assume Kluber's fine, that it was his strategy to win the game.

His box score for the game today was great.

1.23 game ERA
.185 game opponent batting ave.
0.82 game WHIP

An above average game for any of the best pitchers of all--time.

Jon Morosi
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Sources: #Indians, #Nationals have been in contact regarding possible Bryce Harper trade, but there is no momentum in talks. Latest story: https://www.mlb.com/news/indians-nationals-talk-about-bryce-harper/c-288080822 … @MLB @MLBNetwork

If the Nats traded Harper it would be the best player traded at the deadline. . . ever?

yes, it would have to be considered that.

I can't see them doing it, but if they did ... the Tribe might make sense

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#Indians acquire Leonys Martin from the #Tigers in exchange for Willi Castro, sources tell The Athletic.




Hayden Grove
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Indians getting a 30-year old, left-handed hitting OF.
.251 AVG
.321 OBP
.731 OPS
#Indians

Yep.

Looks like a warm body that can play center field.

But probably comes with gimpy hamstring.

Fans often want the sexy move -- not the realistic one. Martin has a 113 wRC+ vs. RHP and is a plus defender in CF. Helps bottom of lineup and ticks up runs saved in OF. Not a wow move, but it makes a lot of sense.
https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/1024343482104786944

They could still make another move....

It does. (make sense)

Isn't Tribe a little stretched thin in the outfield?

Good defense goes nice with good pitching.

I'm a believer in that "strength-up-the-middle cliche.

They are thin in the outfield. Chisnhall, Naquin, and Zimmer are out with injuries. Hopefully, Chisenhall comes back soon. Brantley is really the only constant with the others platooning for the most part.

I'll add that I think Martin was normally the lead-off hitter for Detroit. Not sure of his speed as it relates to other lead-off hitters in the league but it might add some speed to the bottom of the lineup.

I was hoping we could deal for a platoon OF at the very least

Cleveland Indians acquire OF Oscar Mercado from St. Louis for outfielders Conner Capel, Jhon Torres | cleveland.com
https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2018/07/cleveland_indians_acquire_of_o.html#incart_m-rpt-1

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Indians, with an eye toward rebuilding their outfield, have acquired outfielder Oscar Mercado from St. Louis and sent him to Class AAA Columbus. Johnny Field was designated for assignment to make room for him on the 40-man roster.

The Tribe sent outfield prospects Conner Capel and Jhon Torres to St. Louis for the Mercado.

"Oscar is a right-handed hitting outfielder who was on the (St. Louis) roster and currently at Triple-A," said Chris Antonetti, Indians president of baseball operations. "He's a very athletic player who transitioned from shortstop to center field a couple of years ago and has really made that transition well.

"We think he's an above average defender with above average speed that adds a very good option for us in the near term as a major league option."

Mercado, 23, was hitting .285 (109-for-389) with eight homers and 42 RBI at Class AAA Memphis. He scored 73 runs and stole 31 bases in 39 attempts, while posting a .759 OPS.

The Cardinals drafted Mercado in the second round in 2013.

Capel, 21, was the Tribe's fifth round pick in 2016. He's hitting .261 (84-for-322) with six homers and 44 RBI at Class A Lynchburg.

Torres, 18, was hitting .273 (27-for-99) with four homers and 16 RBI for the Tribe's Arizona Rookie League team. Torres, a native of Colombia, is 6-4 and 188 pounds.

The Indians are going to need to rebuild their outfield after this season because Michael Brantley, Lonnie Chisenhall, Melky Cabrera and Rajai Davis are free agents. It's also unknown if and when outfielders Bradley Zimmer (right shoulder) and Tyler Naquin (right hip) will be able to play. Zimmer needed surgery on his right shoulder and Naquin is going to New York on Thursday to get his hip examined by a specialist.

Cleveland Indians Scribbles: Small trade could help -- Terry Pluto
Updated 3:12 PM; Posted 3:12 PM

By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer terrypluto2003@yahoo.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Scribbles in my notebook after the Indians traded for Leonys Martin:

1. Do the Indians need more offense from their outfielders not named Michael Brantley? Of course. But their outfield defense also has been a problem. Picking up Leonys Martin from Detroit should help that. Fangraphs is not the ultimate authority on defense, but its rating system usually passes the eye test. While watching Martin with the Tigers, it was easy to see how he was superb in center. Fangraphs rates him as the best center fielder in the American League.

2. Martin is batting .275 (.782 OPS) vs. right-handers this season. Against lefties, the 30-year-old is batting .176 (.566 OPS). The Indians can platoon Martin with veteran Rajai Davis, who is batting exactly .256 against lefties and righties this season.

3. Fangraphs rates Davis as the No. 5 defensive center fielder in the American League. When Davis wasn't playing, the Indians had Tyler Naquin in center, and he struggled. Greg Allen also played some center, but Allen is batting only .210 (.532 OPS) with one HR and five RBI in 154 plate appearances.

4. With Bradley Zimmer out for 8-12 months with shoulder surgery, the Indians also need a center fielder for next season. Martin is making $1.75 million. He can't be a free agent until 2020. So the Indians can keep him for another year.


5. Naquin has sustained a significant hip injury. He could be out a long time. Lonnie Chisenhall is on the 60-day disabled list with a calf injury. It's possible Naquin and Chisenhall are done for the season, joining Zimmer.

6. The Indians found Melky Cabrera early in the season. Cabrera has helped, batting .273 (.692 OPS) with one HR and 12 RBI in 88 plate appearances. He is a switch-hitter. He is a poor outfielder, but they will live with that because they don't have many other options.

7. The Indians do have Brandon Guyer for right field. But he should never...and I mean NEVER...face right-handed pitching. This season, he is 5-for-50 (.100) vs. righties. He is batting .274 (.952 OPS) vs. lefties. They can platoon Guyer and Cabrera in right field.

8. With the 30-year-old Martin, the Indians decided they can go for an elite glove because the price for a big-time bat was too high. They didn't want to trade a top prospect such as Triston McKenzie. The right-hander will turn 21 on Thursday. He is 5-2 with a 2.96 ERA at Class AA Akron. Opposing batters are hitting only .192 against him.

9. They gave up Will Castro, a 21-year-old shortstop who was batting .245 (.653 OPS) with five HR and 39 RBI for Akron. He is rated as a top 10 Tribe prospect. The Indians are loaded with young middle infielders: Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez and Erik Gonzalez. Castro is projected as a big leaguer at some point, but there was little room for him with the Tribe in the next few years.


10. Baseball America on Castro: "Castro ranked as the Indians No. 9 prospect largely because of his tools and youth rather than his numbers...the switch-hitting Castro shows promising traits. He doesn't strike out much. He is an above-average runner who steals bases efficiently (13-for-17) and has the hands to remain at shortstop...few think Castro will hit enough to be an everyday player. Opposing evaluators still like him as a potential utilityman with his speed and middle infield defense.'

11. The Indians also received 25-year-old Kyle Dowdy in the deal. He is 8-8 with a 4.74 ERA between Class AA and Class AAA this season. Baseball America wrote his fastball "sits 92-93 mph and touches 95 mph. An upper 80s cutter is his best secondary (pitch). His change-up and curveball are below average."

12. Dowdy could end up being moved to the bullpen at some point in his career. The Indians are looking for strong arms to help out in relief.

13. Of concern with Martin is his recent history of hamstring injuries. He has been on the disabled list twice with them this season. He is healthy now. The Indians are desperate for outfielders. Martin's defense can be a major plus. Castro was not a premier prospect. It's a deal that should help the Tribe this season -- assuming Martin remains healthy.


https://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ss...art_river_index

Now you just hold on one second Kemosabe.

Four out of the top-ten RBI leaders in the AL are Indians:

#3 Jose Ramirez - 76
#4 Edwin Encarnacion - 73
#8 Francisco Lindor - 67
#10 Yonder Alonso - 64

There's 15 teams in the AL.

That''s kinda good.

Nice win for the Tribe today.

Brad Hand is proving his worth with every outing. 1.2 innings, no ER, and 2 K. Oh, and Carrasco had a really nice game as well, with 0 ER and 10 K. .

That first Indian's run today was a rarity.

I suspect it was a designed and practiced play.

If you didn't see it:

It was like a double steal. Ramirez on first Rajai on third. One out.

Ramirez breaks for second and draws the throw from catcher, meanwhile Rajai scammers home from third.

Rameriz starts his slide into second ~ 10 feet from the bag making the second baseman have to reach for him just a bit to tag him before throwing home.

Rajai barely beats the throw home and scores.

Ramirez gets a "caught stealing". But Rajai doesn't get credit for a stolen base.

A fielder's choice?

1-0 Tribe.

Five pitchers in MLB have at least 13 wins, and two of them are Indians - Kluber, 13-6 and Carrasco, 13-5. The others are Severino (Yanks) and Scherzer (Nats) with 14 wins, and Porcello (Red Sox) with 13. Then there's Bauer with 10 wins (10-6), who probably ought to have 13 or 14 wins. Its a very good thing to be able to trot out 3 legitimate aces in a postseason series.